ROH: A Beginner’s Guide Before Final Battle 2018

Ring of Honor’s Rules

Ring of Honor is also characterized by having slightly different rules than you might be used to when you watch a wrestling show. The first rule is one I’ll draw attention to because it’s the simplest. In WWE, and many other promotions, there is a 10-count on the outside of the ring to determine if a wrestler is counted out. In ROH, it is a 20-count, mirroring their partner NJPW, and the Japanese style in this regard. ROH taking this from Japanese wrestling is one example of where ROH has tried to make itself different from other American promotions. It’s minor, but it’s a nice little difference.

Another way ROH is similar to Japanese promotions is something called the Code of Honor. While no Japanese promotion actually requires a handshake before and after matches, there is still a theme of sportsmanship that is expected in the wrestling shows. When a heel violates these rules of respect, it generates good heat, and can often setup further matches. ROH used this very well in their early days when Christopher Daniels and The Prophecy refused to shake the hands of any wrestlers. This angered CM Punk, who was a heel, but operated with respect, and turned Punk babyface in the process.

Today, the Code of Honor is not forced, but you will still often see wrestlers shake hands before and after matches. The Code of Honor is summarized in three parts:

1. Shake hands before and after the match
2. Keep the playing-field level (don’t cheat)
3. Respect the officials (don’t attack the referees)

When a fight gets very personal, sometimes wrestlers with have a Fight Without Honor, which is basically a streetfight with no rules. These matches are often used to settle major grudge matches, and result in bloody, violent wars between the two opposing wrestlers. While these seem like relatively simple things, these little differences influence how ROH tells their stories and provides other ways to set up a heel causing trouble.