While reviewing WCW Souled Out 1999 for our returning “Into the Vault” series, there was this one thing in the match of the night that really irked me and others. For those who haven’t seen that PPV, the fatal four-way for the Cruiserweight title is the main wrestling match you need to see.
The match had this weird rule that threw off the pace and action of the match quite a bit. It’s something that seemed out of place for this kind of match: tagging in.
Tagging Into Certain Matches Was a Random Match Flaw in WCW and TNA
So, it’s a fatal four-way which is a triple threat with an extra person or a four-way dance without the eliminations. By its very nature, this match is a scramble for the win. You’re not eliminating opponents here, the first one to get the pin gets the win.
That means it would behoove superstars not to tag out even if they’re tired. Hell, the champion shouldn’t tag out just so they don’t lose their title while they’re on the apron holding a tag rope.
Also, the tag rope. There was a time when I didn’t even know it was a thing. Apparently, it’s been around for years but I always figured that a wrestler must be at least touching the top rope before a tag is valid.
Then you notice guys holding the tag rope which seems so…lame. It’s like the talking stick of wrestling or something. The rope is there to show how far from the corner a partner can before for a tag to count.
Which makes sense. I mean, I’ve rarely seen someone get a legal tag from the middle of the apron.
Anyway, enough about the tag rope and back to this tagging in nonsense. I grew on the Attitude Era and there weren’t a ton of televised tag matches in cages that weren’t something like the War Games or stuff from Japan.
It’s probably because of matches like those that when I saw the AMW vs. Triple X cage match in TNA that I was thrown off. This is a cage match. It’s barbaric. Leniency is often expressed because a referee can only DQ someone for so much. Hence the wrestling head-scratcher “How do you get disqualified in a cage match?” They’re surrounded by a weapon and things will break down in the match eventually.
In that match, both America’s Most Wanted and Triple X stood on the apron as they would in a normal tag match and awaited their partner’s tag. However, this doesn’t make sense. It’s a cage and bedlam was expected and occurred. Why would someone be sandwiched between a steel cage wall and the ropes waiting for a tag? Shouldn’t tag team cage matches automatically be tornado tag rules?
Sure, tagging in allows for the commentary and cameras to focus on those in the ring and not have to call some wild stuff that might be off-camera or could expose things but c’mon.
Sometimes the nature of the match requires a bunkhouse approach. Let us know what you think. Have you noticed this in modern cage tag matches? Also, what are some minor wrestling things that grind your gears?
Let us know down below and we might just touch on them soon!
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