Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules

Last updated
Baron Mountevans headed up a committee which created rules for British professional wrestling. These rules were used to legitimatise wrestling to the public as an actual sport, but their actual purpose was to radically alter the style of presentation used. Commander Evans 5126121136 99388b2868 o.jpg
Baron Mountevans headed up a committee which created rules for British professional wrestling. These rules were used to legitimatise wrestling to the public as an actual sport, but their actual purpose was to radically alter the style of presentation used.

Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules were a set of professional wrestling rules mainly used in the United Kingdom in the second half of the 20th century. Introduced in 1947, they were named after Edward Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans, who ordered a unified set of rules written up for professional wrestling in the British Isles in order to re-legitimise professional wrestling in the eyes of the public and the press. Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom had become discredited before World War II due to the prominence of the preceding "All In" style, which came to emphasise an "anything goes" style of presentation. Professional wrestling promoters in the United Kingdom rallied behind the Mountevans rules and radically altered how professional wrestling was presented in the United Kingdom thereafter. The style of wrestling under the Mountevans rules was advertised by promoters as Modern Freestyle Wrestling.

Contents

Mountevans rules would remain the predominant style of professional wrestling in the United Kingdom until the 1990s, when they were increasingly abandoned in favour of a style and presentation in line with American professional wrestling. Some UK promotions continue to use either the full rules and/or hybrid systems for all or selected matches.

History

Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom, under the All In rules, had been popular in the 1930s. However, as a result of a shift in focus away from technical skill and towards violence including usage of weapons, it was banned towards the end of the decade by the London County Council. [1]

After a failed attempt to relaunch the sport with a show at Harringay Arena, Middlesex in 1947 was condemned by journalists as being "fake", [2] Admiral-Lord Mountevans along with radio personality Commander Archibald Bruce Campbell, Maurice Webb MP and Norman Morell, an amateur wrestling champion and professional wrestling promoter, formed a committee to formalise professional wrestling in the United Kingdom and write up a set of unified rules. [3]

Once the rules were written, they were almost universally accepted with 95% of promotions in the United Kingdom adopting them. [4] In 1952, the rules were adopted by the newly formed Joint Promotions, officially as a way to uphold the committee's ideology but was also considered to be a way for Joint Promotions to effectively control British wrestling. [1] In practice, independent promotions at the time adhered to the rule system in all but name and most major promoters in mainland western Europe adopted systems broadly modelled on the Mountevans Rules.

In London, the new rules led to the ban on professional wrestling being lifted however a by-law authorised by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police kept female wrestling banned within the Greater London area until 1987. [5]

Over the course of the 1990s, matches without rounds became increasingly prevalent. In the 21st century, Premier Promotions implements the full Mountevans rules, with other old school promotions (such as All Star Wrestling and Rumble Wrestling) occasionally promoting matches under the full rules as a gimmick match but usually adopting hybrid rules mixing elements of the Mountevans system with American rules more familiar to modern fans. [6] Some "New School" (Americanised) promotions also run " World of Sport Rules" matches as a gimmick match [7] sometimes as parody. WWE also parodied the Mountevans Rules with its Duchess of Queensbury Rules match at Backlash (2001). [8]

Weight divisions

The rules set out seven weight divisions with maximum weight limits and called for champions to be crowned of each limit : Lightweight (154 lb or ~70 kg), Welterweight (165 lb or ~75 kg), Middleweight (176 lb or ~80 kg), Heavy Middleweight (187 lb or ~85 kg), Light Heavyweight (198 lb or ~90 kg), Mid-Heavyweight (209 lb or ~95 kg) and Heavyweight for all weights above 210 lb (95 kg). [2] In the early days, the champions of these weight divisions were also known as Mountevans Champions as the Championships also included Mountevans in their official names. [9]

All seven weight divisions have undergone title changes in the 21st century. All Star Wrestling continues to promote the British Heavyweight Championship brought across from Joint Promotions by Tony St. Clair as its top championship (often referred to as the "Superslam" title.) All Star also revived the British Mid-Heavyweight Championship in 2002, two decades after the death of previous champion Mike Marino and the British Light Heavyweight Championship in the early 2010s. The British Middleweight Championship was last active for RBW in 2004 and the British Welterweight Championship last changed hands for LDN Wrestling in 2008. The British Lightweight Championship was reactivated in October 2021 by Rumble Promotions and won by Nino Bryant, the first ever Mountevans champion to have been born in the 21st century. This leaves only the British Heavy Middleweight Championship which was last active in the 1990s, although the Mountevans World Heavy Middleweight Championship was won by Mikey Whiplash in 2009 for All Star.

Rules

The Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules defined what holds were legal [10] and how a fall could be scored: [11]

The legal techniques were:

A fall could be awarded by the following means:

In singles matches which consisted of six three minute rounds, with a thirty second break between each round, could either be 2-Out-of-3 Falls or the wrestler with the most falls wins at the end of the final round, [12] a win was immediately awarded in the event of a knockout or disqualification, regardless of whether or not falls had previously been scored. Later when Tag Team wrestling was introduced to Britain, generally the disqualified or knocked-out wrestler was eliminated and a single fall awarded to the opposing team. The partner of the eliminated wrestler would then continue the match for any remaining falls under handicap tag conditions.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride Fighting Championships</span> Japanese mixed martial arts promotion

PRIDE Fighting Championships was a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion company. Its inaugural event was held at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997. Pride held more than sixty mixed martial arts events, broadcast to about 40 countries worldwide. PRIDE was owned by the holding company Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavyweight</span> Weight class in boxing

Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom</span>

The history of professional wrestling in the United Kingdom spans over one hundred years beginning in the 1920s, when it was popularised under the concept of "All in Wrestling", which emphasised an "anything goes" style and presentation. Following World War II, the style and presentation of professional wrestling in the UK underwent a dramatic shift, as the Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules were introduced to make British professional wrestling appear much closer to a legitimate sport. Professional wrestling entered the mainstream British culture when the newly-formed independent television network ITV began broadcasting it in 1955, firstly on Saturday afternoons and then also in a late-night midweek slot. Domestically produced professional wrestling was at its peak of popularity when the television show World of Sport was launched in the mid-1960s, making household names out of Adrian Street, Mick McManus, Giant Haystacks, Jackie Pallo, Big Daddy, Steve Veidor, Dynamite Kid, and Kendo Nagasaki.

Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the opponents. In most sports that use it, welterweight is heavier than lightweight but lighter than middleweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional wrestling championship</span>

A championship or title in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in predetermined rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various competitors, which cast them as villains and heroes. The bookers in a company will place the title on the most accomplished performer, or whom they believe will generate fan interest in terms of event attendance and television viewership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)</span> Weight class used in professional wrestling

In professional wrestling, Cruiserweight is a weight class but also a term for a fast-paced, aerial-based style of performer. The term was first coined in the United States in 1996 by World Championship Wrestling. Prior to this, the terms "Light Heavyweight" and "Junior Heavyweight" were more commonly in use. The older term Junior Heavyweight is still favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called Junior Heavyweight titles. Prominent titles include New Japan Pro-Wrestling's IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, Pro Wrestling Noah's GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship, and All Japan Pro Wrestling's World Junior Heavyweight championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Star Wrestling</span> British professional wrestling promotion

All Star Wrestling (ASW), also known as Super Slam Wrestling (SSW), is a British professional wrestling promotion founded by Brian Dixon in 1970 and based in Birkenhead, England. Founded as Wrestling Enterprises of Birkenhead in October 1970, it has also been known over the years as All Star Promotions and Big Time Wrestling. ASW tours theatres, leisure centres, town halls, holiday camps, and similar venues, many of which are the same locations that were used for televised wrestling in the UK from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) since 1991. As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via legitimate competition; it is instead won via a scripted ending to a match or on occasion awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline. The official definition of the light heavyweight division in Mexico is between 92 kg (203 lb) and 97 kg (214 lb), but the weight limits are not always strictly adhered to. Because CMLL puts more emphasis on the lower weight classes, this division is considered more important than the heavyweight division, which is considered the most important championship by most promotions outside Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CMLL World Middleweight Championship</span> Professional wrestling world championship

The CMLL World Middleweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship promoted by the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). While lighter weight classes are regularly ignored in wrestling promotions in the United States, with most emphasis placed on "heavyweights", more emphasis is placed on the lighter classes in Mexican companies. The official definition of the middleweight division in Mexico is a person between 82 kg (181 lb) and 87 kg (192 lb), but the weight limits are not strictly adhered to. As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via legitimate competition; it is instead won via a scripted ending to a match or on occasion awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CMLL World Welterweight Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The CMLL World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The official definition of the welterweight division in Mexico is between 70 kg (150 lb) and 78 kg (172 lb) but the official weight limits are not always adhered to. As with other professional wrestling championships, it is not won or lost competitively but is instead scripted by the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The title is awarded after the chosen wrestler "wins" a match.

Daniel "Boy" Collins is an English professional wrestler. Noted for his agile, gymnastic style in the ring, he has toured successfully across Europe and Japan and held British, European and World titles in five different weight divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weight class (boxing)</span> Measurement weight range for boxers

In boxing, a weight class is a measurement weight range for boxers. The lower limit of a weight class is equal to the upper weight limit of the class below it. The top class, with no upper limit, is called heavyweight in professional boxing and super heavyweight in amateur boxing. A boxing match is usually scheduled for a fixed weight class, and each boxer's weight must not exceed the upper limit. Although professional boxers may fight above their weight class, an amateur boxer's weight must not fall below the lower limit. A nonstandard weight limit is called a catchweight.

The British Heavy Middleweight Championship was a top British wrestling championship found throughout the country's circuit. The title's history dates back to its foundation by Joint Promotions in 1953. Officially heavy middleweights were required to weight between 12 st 8 lb(176 lbs) and 13 st 5 lb(187 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The official definition of the middleweight weight class in Mexico is between 82 kg (181 lb) and 87 kg (192 lb), but is not always strictly enforced. For example, previous NWA World Historic Middleweight Champion Último Guerrero is billed as weighing 95 kg (209 lb). Místico is the current champion, he is the eighth champion overall and he is in his first reign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship</span> Wrestling championship

The NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship governed by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). CMLL had held the NWA World Welterweight Championship for over 53 years even after leaving the NWA in 1989. In 2010 the National Wrestling Alliance, represented by Blue Demon Jr., the president of NWA Mexico, sent letters to CMLL telling them to stop promoting NWA-branded championships since CMLL was not part of the NWA any longer. On August 12, 2010, CMLL debuted the new NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship belt and named Mephisto, the final CMLL-recognized NWA World Welterweight Champion, as the inaugural champion. The championship was initially announced as the CMLL Historic Welterweight Championship, but when the belt was unveiled, it was labelled the "NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All-in professional wrestling</span> First wave of professional wrestling in the United Kingdom

All-in wrestling was both a style of professional wrestling that emerged in the United Kingdom in the Interwar period as well as a term that came to describe professional wrestling in general during the 1930s and 1940s in the United Kingdom. As a style, "All-in" referred to a style that hybridised catch as catch can and other forms of British folk amateur wrestling with the emerging performances and showmanship of professional wrestling. Unlike Olympic freestyle wrestling, "All In" professional wrestling was presented as "no holds barred".

In professional wrestling, a weight class is a standardized weight range for the wrestlers. The top class in almost every promotion is heavyweight, but super heavyweights exist. Weight class matches in modern-day American professional wrestling are rare, but weight class championships still exist. However, Japanese professional wrestling, Mexican wrestling and traditional British wrestling use the weight classes more seriously.

Tony St. Clair is an English retired professional wrestler. He is well known for his stints in Joint Promotions and All Star Wrestling in the United Kingdom, Catch Wrestling Association in Austria and Germany, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He is also known as a trainer, with his trainees including "Gentleman" Chris Adams and Osamu Nishimura.

The Mexican National Championships is a group of Lucha libre professional wrestling championships that are sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.. While the Commission sanctions the championships, it does not promote the events in which the championships are defended. Being professional wrestling championships, they are not won legitimately; they are instead won via a scripted ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler or wrestlers as a result of a storyline. The earliest Mexican National Championship, the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship, was created as far back as 1926. The Mexican National Welterweight Championship crowned its first champion on June 17, 1934, making it the oldest, still active, professional wrestling championship. Eléctrico, the current Lightweight champion, is the longest reigning Mexican National Championship, having won the title on August 13, 2013. Atlantis, the reigning Light Heavyweight Champion, has the shortest active reign of any champion, having defeated Mephisto for the championship on August 25, 2015.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Mexico City-based professional wrestling promotion. It was founded in 1933 and is the oldest active promotion in the world. In the company's long history it has promoted a number of professional wrestling championships as part of their shows, using various divisional, special stipulations, and weight-class championships. Over the years a total of nine CMLL championships have either been abandoned or control of the title was given to another promotion. CMLL actively promotes twelve world championships, seven national championships, and eight regional championships.

References

  1. 1 2 Listner, John (2005). Slamthology: Collected Wrestling Writings 1991-2004. Lulu.com. p. 255. ISBN   1411653297.
  2. 1 2 "The History of British Wrestling: Part One". Bleacher Report. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  3. ↑ The Wrestling Simon Garfield, Faber & Faber, 1996
  4. ↑ "(1946) The Rules Governing Professional Wrestling & All the Techniques to go Along With Them". Scribd.com. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  5. ↑ "Historic Bouts". Geocities (archived). 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  6. ↑ Have A Good Week Till Next Week - chapter on John Freemantle, John Lister 2018
  7. ↑ "– On November 30, O’Connor defeated Claymore in a World of Sport Rules Match to retain the SWE Heavyweight Title" Big Damo May 5, 2017, Jamie Cruickshank, Gerweck.Net
  8. ↑ William Regal vs. Chris Jericho's Queensbury Rules Match Was One Of The Weirdest In WWE History Josh Coulson The Sportster May 25, 2022
  9. ↑ "No Angel of Islington". Wrestling Heritage. Archived from the original on 2012-08-24. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  10. ↑ "The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery - Wrestling Holds". Wrestling Furnace. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  11. ↑ "The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery - Wrestling Rules". Wrestling Furnace. Archived from the original on 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  12. ↑ "A-Kid Believes British Rounds Rules Are Perfect for the Modern Fan". December 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.