Reality and Reason Behind WWE Banning Moves Involving the Neck for New Show

A rumor in the wrestling world might live up to the phrase “things can't get much worse than this.”

As I wrote earlier on Wrestlezone.com, it's believed that for the talent who perform matches on the new Saturday Morning Slam program a rule is being given that they cannot do any moves that take aim at their opponents neck.

We'll have to believe it when we see it, or don't see it, but that's the latest rumor.

It won't be officially confirmed until we begin to see the program on August 25th, but I fear what we'll find out.

The show is expected to be aimed entirely towards the demographic of young children. The production is expected to feature interviews, social media, recaps and a match a week.

The business logic of this rumored rule is understandable; WWE wants this hour to be consumed by children, who are impressionable.

Despite the "don't try this at home" advice, they still want to imitate what they see these larger-than-life characters do on television. If you're to target one part of the body you don't want anyone untrained to be physical with, the neck and head region would be it.

Mom always said, “stop doing that, you'll break your neck.”

WWE is trying to play the role of a responsible parent. By making this rule known to their talent, it's another step taken to be responsible in the public eye. This rule may serve as protection against another tragedy that we've read about before, where children get injured or killed via “backyard” or “at-home” wrestling.

The trouble is WWE shouldn't have to be a parent, in my opinion. My personal morals are the same as with anything else in entertainment: You don't like it, turn it off. Yes, let the parents—the actual parents of the children—be the ones to teach right from wrong.

Beyond my moral compass, think about the logistics in this.

When you get trained to be a professional wrestler, the first thing you learn is how to fall. The second thing you learn is the collar-and-elbow tie up, which you transition into a headlock takedown.

If you did't already know this, go watch how many matches start with this sequence or contain the sequence somewhere within the match. You'll get tired of counting. You see it so often, you'll start to not see it.

There are certain wrestlers who just won't be on this show in a match. They either won't be on because they're too high profile or their style in the ring would make it impossible to entertain and follow the Saturday morning rules.

Randy Orton is an example. He can't use the RKO finisher and is too high of profile to be used.

Damien Sandow is another. His finisher is a variation of a neck breaker.

CM Punk has a neck breaker in his sequence of trademark moves.

The Miz has a version of a neck breaker in his moves.

Kane and Big Show have a choke slam where their hands are wrapped around their opponents neck.

As with anything, especially regarding staying in the lines of appropriate content, WWE will be judging on a case-by-case basis.

In my opinion, an example of something that could be viewed as a violation but given the free pass, would be a back suplex.

The move begins in the position of the person giving it, having their right arm wrapped around the side of their opponents face and neck.

They then use the left hand to lift their opponent vertically and slam them on their back. A case can be made for it to be boycotted, but it isn't putting direct pressure or harm on someone's neck.

Could the move be screwed up and injure someone's neck? Yes. This can be said for nearly any move.

When a wrestler goes to chop the chest of an opponent in the corner, they could miss. Rather than landing the chop on their opponent's chest, they could accidentally chop them in the throat and neck region.

Interesting times in WWE.

It really couldn't get much worse than this.

The next step would be two guys coming out with a full entrance, the bell rings and they stand in the ring playing a game of charades to demonstrate what move they are theoretically putting on their opponent.

If this happens, I'll be finding a new job.

Follow @JustinLaBar