CHAPTER 172
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING
[Prior to 9/24/86, Athletics Commissioner[110] Ch 1]
[Prior to 10/21/98, see 347—Ch 96]
[Prior to 8/16/06, see 875—Ch 96]
875—172.1(90A) Limitation of bouts. All bouts, unless expressly approved by the commissioner, will be limited to three falls; the contestant gaining the most falls will be the winner of the bout. If there have been no falls, or if each contestant has won one fall at the end of a specified time limit, the referee will declare the bout a draw. If, at the end of a time limit of a two fall out of three bout, only one contestant has been awarded one fall, that contestant will be declared the winner. If, at the end of a time limit of a single fall bout, no falls have been awarded, the bout will be declared a draw.
875—172.2(90A) Fall. Both shoulders touching the mat at the same time and held for three consecutive seconds shall constitute a fall.
875—172.3(90A) Out-of-bounds. If a contestant works off the mat so that any part of the contestant’s body is in or underneath the ropes, the referee shall order the contestants to break and place them in the center of the ring in a standing position.
875—172.4(90A) Disqualification. If a contestant crawls through the ropes or out of the ring and refuses to return at the count of ten by the referee, said contestant will be disqualified.
875—172.5(90A) Failure to break hold. If a contestant does not break a hold and take two steps backwards before continuing when ordered to do so by the referee, the referee will then count to four. If the hold is not broken the referee will award the fall or bout to the offending contestant’s opponent.
875—172.6(90A) Prohibition against hanging on. No contestant will be permitted to grasp or hang onto clothing, mats or ropes for support.
875—172.7(90A) Abusing referee. Striking, pushing or in any way abusing the referee will not be allowed. After being warned by the referee, repeating of the offense by the offender will forfeit the fall or bout to the opponent.
875—172.8(90A) Prohibited materials in ring. Contestants must not take anything into the ring with them or pick up anything thrown into the ring to be used in any way to gain an advantage over an opponent.
875—172.9(90A) Contestants’ grooming. Rescinded ARC 1240C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14.
875—172.10(90A) Time between falls. Following each fall the contestants may leave the ring. The timekeeper will not allow more than three minutes between the falls. If one or more of the contestants retire to the dressing rooms, five minutes will be granted.
875—172.11(90A) Contestants’ arrival. All wrestling contestants must be on the premises where the bout is to be held at least one-half hour before the start of the card.
875—172.12(90A) Contestants of the opposite sex prohibited. Rescinded ARC 1240C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14.
875—172.13(90A) Separation of boxing and wrestling. No boxing bouts shall be permitted in any professional wrestling show, nor shall any wrestling bouts be permitted in any boxing show.
875—172.14(90A) Public safety. Rescinded ARC 1240C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14.
875—172.15(90A) Health of wrestler. The promoter shall ensure that no wrestler shall be permitted to wrestle who is suffering from any illness or disability which in any way interferes with or prevents the wrestler from giving a full, complete and satisfactory exhibition of ability and skill, or endangers the wrestler’s health or the health of the wrestler’s opponent.
875—172.16(90A) Wrestling outside of ring. All wrestling must take place within the ropes and no wrestler shall deliberately leave the enclosed ring during the course of an exhibition or contest in pursuit of another wrestler.
875—172.17(90A) Advertising. All professional wrestling programs under the supervision and the authority of the commissioner are exhibitions only and not contests. All wrestling can only be advertised or announced as exhibitions, unless a special license is issued for a contest.
875—172.18(90A) Responsibility of promoter. Rescinded ARC 1240C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 90A.
[Filed 2/9/71]
[Filed emergency 9/5/86—published 9/24/86, effective 9/24/86]
[Filed 7/26/06, Notice 5/10/06—published 8/16/06, effective 9/20/06]

[Filed ARC 1240C (Notice ARC 1107C, IAB 10/16/13), IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14]