Here’s the last of my Super 7 Rule Changes. Each one is designed to thin down the rule book and reignite fan excitement in the sport.
To be clear, if I were I King for a Day, and could only chose one of my Super 7 changes to the Rule Book, it would be A Point Earned Is A Point Scored. That change alone is the most critical evolution our sport could ever make—if, that is, our goal is to shed the label of “non-revenue sport.”
A Point Earned Is A Point Scored is wrestling’s pathway to prominence.
But today, let’s talk about number seven: stalemates.
Stalemates must go the way of the dodo bird. They’re every bit as unnecessary and ineffective as those who conceived the rule in the first place.
Stalemates are just another way referees inadvertently spoil fan enjoyment—not because referees are at fault, but because they’re forced to enforce mandates handed down by rules committees. These committees seem to believe that the more whistles we hear, the better, and that a thicker rule book somehow makes them, and as a result the sport, more important.
Here’s the truth: stalemates are deceptive advertising.
I have never—let me repeat that—never been in a truly stalemated position. And I wrestled an awful lot of matches.
Later, as an official, I never once witnessed a situation where at least one athlete couldn’t disentangle themselves from even the most twisted scramble.
Someone can always get out. That’s often why you see one wrestler freeze and look desperately to the referee: he wants to be rescued because he knows if he keeps wrestling, he might very well give up points, or positioning.
If both athletes were properly motivated by the threat of a stalling call, wrestling would continue—and the fans would love the chaos of two athletes scrambling like kittens fighting over a ball of yarn.
But why should the wrestler in the worse position keep wrestling if the rules offer him an easy way out—a chance to stop, recover, and avoid giving up points?
Stalemates disrupt the rhythm of matches and rob fans of exciting action. They’re a big reason so many stands sit empty.
(Apologies to Penn State, Iowa, and now Oklahoma State—I honestly can’t remember a time one of their wrestlers was involved in a stalemated position. And on the rare occasion it happened, I’d bet money it wasn’t the Hawk, Nittany Lion, or Cowboy doing the stalling!)
Stalemates are bad for wrestling. Period. Any whistle blown—except to start or restart a bout—detracts from the performance fans came to see.
So, what should we do instead?
It’s simple: call stalling. Identify the athlete clinging to a bad position, and penalize them for inactivity. Will the offender bitch, you bet. But after the third week of this new rule, stalemates will disappear.
But don’t stop the match.
Make the offending wrestler re-engage. He or she got into that predicament—make them responsible for getting out. Keep penalizing them until they either improve their position or get disqualified. But a note to the officials—not all inactivity is the fault of the perceived aggressor.
Yes, the official will have to decide who’s stalling. But that’s the job—they’re trained for, experienced, and are being paid to make those calls.
And mark my words: the moment referees start dinging wrestlers for stalling in these situations, “stalemates” will vanish almost overnight.
Finally, for those poised to object: don’t confuse stalemates with potentially dangerous situations.
They might look similar, but they’re very different.
Speaking of potentially dangerous situations, most of them are the fault of the disadvantaged wrestler putting himself in that position for obvious reasons. Once they know before the season that Potentially dangerous situations will be looked at differently, you’re see a lot fewer calls.
Don’t be confused. My vote always goes for the protection of the athletes. It’s just wrestlers know when they’re in trouble and are aware of how to turn a bad situation into a stalemate or a potentially dangerous call.
In conclusion, let’s get rid of stalemates. Let wrestling be wrestling again—and let the fans enjoy the show they came to see.
