Once, kayfabe in wrestling was held sacred. Wrestlers lived by the code to never let anyone know wrestling wasn’t for real, no matter what. Guys would even keep their own families in the dark and go to extremes (like the Wild Samoans letting themselves get arrested rather than speak English) to keep this up. In the 21st century, that’s pretty much died out as WWE and others openly acknowledge wrestling is all a big show. Also, thanks to social media, fans are far more attuned to the backstage goings-on and thus know the real lives of wrestlers intimately. While some guys try to keep up the act, it’s pretty much passé and with it many of the old-styled rules and codes of conduct. There’s also how a lot of that stuff (including harsh hazing) is looked down on a lot more today with word getting out about how nasty it can be.

However, there is still a code in WWE that every worker is expected to follow. A tradition has long been a “wrestler’s court” which gets together to judge co-workers on anything from bad behavior to who they date and it shows that a lack of respect from your co-workers is not going to be healthy to your long-term career. Indeed, the more you follow these codes, the better the respect which can help you out a lot. WWE may be family friendly and “corporate” but they’re still a wrestling company and hold to traditions that have been around long before Vince McMahon took over. Here are 15 strange backstage codes that WWE workers hold to and showcasing how wrestling maintains some control over their guys.

15 Travel Rules

One rule that’s pretty much died out has been that heels and faces never travel together. WWE learned that the hard way when Hacksaw Jim Duggan and the Iron Sheik were pulled over together and the news of the rivals traveling together was bigger than the bust. Today, the Network even has a show of wrestlers riding together so you’ll see guys who are on-screen rivals as road buddies. However, there are still rules when it comes to travel. First of all, you accept that the main eventers always fly first class. It makes sense as they bring in the big bucks and the bigger stars and most can accept this.

A few other codes hold for travel, one being that if you’re in the passenger seat, you don’t fall asleep. No one’s sure why but that’s how it is, if you want a nap, get a seat in the rear.

And yes, you do have to call things like the right bed in a hotel if you’re sharing with someone. Also, there’s a basic rule you never travel with your off-screen romantic interest if you have a ride set with some other guys. Odd as it may seem, the rules of the road are a real deal with WWE stars.

14 Hide the Belt

Every wrestler has admitted that when they win their first championship, their initial instinct is to carry it around everywhere. And even those who have multiple titles still get that thrill of showing it off. The way you see them in promos, it’s only natural to assume they’d go around with such titles constantly but in reality, that’s majorly frowned on. Many cite how you never see boxers or even UFC guys carrying title belts non-stop, so wrestling shouldn’t do the same. That includes the locker room

Some have learned the hard way that flaunting the title around when you’re not on camera gets you a chilly reception.

Hulk Hogan famously played a prank on the Big Show by having him walk through an airport with the WCW World title and Show was ribbed mercilessly for it by the locker room. Showing the belt off a lot makes you seem a huge egotist which won’t win you many friends in the back so unless there are cameras around, champions know you keep that title under wraps.

13 Keep Your Boots Dirty

Via WWE.com

Here’s a clear case of something that was started back in the “good old days” and just stuck around. Way back when, wrestlers really did travel around and often in “arenas” that were barely more than run-down gyms or studios. They used their own gear constantly to the point of wearing them down a lot with all the travel and work. Somehow, it got around that having a clean pair of boots meant you were vain and it was a sign you didn’t work as hard in the ring. It may sound weird but it somehow stuck and that’s a reason you saw some old-time guys wiping their boots on their way to the ring.

Today, WWE wants their workers looking great and trying slews of outfits, including plenty of footwear. However, it’s still something of a code to not clean them that often and never have them scuff-free. Bizarre as it sounds, having dirty shoes is seen as a sign of respect in the locker room.

12 Never Lose A Real Fight

via cagesideseats.com

Back in 1995, Vader was seen as one of the toughest men in all of wrestling. But then he got into a fight with Paul Orndorff who, despite being a decade older, easily beat Vader while wearing flip-flops. Vader never recovered from that, his reputation as a tough guy forever shattered. That is a throwback to an old code that a wrestler should be as tough outside the ring as he seems to be in it. Thus, if you get into a real fight, you better win it or lose major face.

Another famous case is also from 1995 when Shawn Michaels was pummelled by some Marines at a bar. Bill Watts openly said if he was in charge of WWE, he’d have fired Michaels on the spot for losing that fight.

It still comes up as you’ll hear of locker room clashes and guys going at it for real. Wrestling is built on perception so if you can’t back up being tough in a real fight, no one is going to respect you for losing a fake one.

11 Never Use Someone’s Real Name

This is a bit surprising as it’s an old-school level of kayfabe you’d think would have long died out. That’s especially true given the rise of social media and how easily fans can find out a worker’s real name.

Even today, wrestlers will refer to each other by their on-screen names.

Thus, no one calls AJ Styles Alan Neal or Roman Reigns by Leati. Hell, Paul Levesque uses his real name a lot for his new role in management but everyone still refers to him as Hunter. It was encouraged to ensure you didn’t accidentally drop someone's real name in a promo and it’s basically stuck since. Many find it easy to help maintain their characters and enjoy their jobs. True, it can be tricky if you have a name change but can still make it work. Just wtach “Total Divas” and how the ladies call each other by ring names rather than their real ones all the time. So get used to your on-screen name to ensure that you get called out right backstage.

10 Obey The Dress Code

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WWE has taken on a more mainstream and even corporate attitude in the last few years. This includes a dress code as it used to be wrestlers could go around in pretty much anything they wanted. But WWE knows that with social media taking over, a wrestler can be photographed anywhere and having a guy in a bad outfit sends the wrong image. Thus, wrestlers have been told they have to obey a dress code. If they do public appearances, they should be in suits or other nice outfits rather than just their wrestling gear. For travel, they can be more “casual” but still try to be stylish. This means not as much in torn jeans or t-shirts and also using a lot of Tapout as WWE has a deal with that company.

Some have argued against it (CM Punk infamously breaking it a lot) and others seem exempt (notably John Cena). However, as WWE is introducing a more “family friendly” image, having their workers looking their best only makes sense and the talent understands that.

9 Don’t Be A Mark

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It’s easy for a rookie wrestler signed to WWE to feel awestruck being around some major stars. More than a few workers have gushed on having to fight to keep their cool when finally meeting some idols and maintaining a good attitude. That is a smart move as WWE frowns upon guys who act like total marks when meeting other wrestlers. Sure, you can be appreciative and talk of how much you admire someone but don’t go overboard with it. That’s not just in interviews but in person as everyone is supposed to be treated more like equals backstage.

Acting like the biggest mark for Undertaker or HBK is not going to endear you to them but just make you look like a fan and not a real wrestler.

It also ties in to how too many wrestlers basically fall for their own act and lose themselves and thus making sure that you come off professional is a key thing to rising up in WWE.

8 Specific Handshaking

AJ Lee and Paige

Here’s another weird thing that’s somehow stuck around long before WWE. Way back in the old days, kayfabe was still held so sacred that a few guys who got into the wrestling business honestly had no idea it was scripted until they started. Thus, a handshake was a good way to tell another guy they were “in the know.” There was also how a limp handshake was not a sign of disrespect but rather to let the other guy know they were in safe hands for an upcoming match. Ever since, that’s stuck around and one of the very first things a guy in WWE is encouraged to do is to go around and shake hands with everyone in the locker room.

Dolph Ziggler actually poked fun at this in his early act with him starting matches with handshakes. That was a rare wink at the audience about this tradition as some guys like to do twists on the shakes for everything from which backstage clique they belong to to how they really felt about a match. It can be tricky but for the most part, a good handshake is as key to getting over as anything you do in the ring.

7 Don’t Ask For Feedback

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This may seem odd but it’s existed for decades. A lot of wrestlers talk of how, once they finish a big match, guys will talk to them about how great it was. They make that seem like a big deal and it is. Because, as remarkable as it may sound, you’re not supposed to ask fellow workers for feedback.

It just seems one of those odd traditions that’s stuck around for decades, that guys are supposed to try and not make waves in the locker room.

If someone offers their opinion on a match (or a character bit), that’s great and you accept it. But you never openly ask how a match went or if they like an angle or such. Triple H has reportedly been trying to undo this with NXT as he’s encouraged seeking feedback to help workers find their way. But it still remains a massive faux pas in the locker room as asking for criticism is not something you do, especially as a rookie.

6 Never Steal Someone's Move

The Usos vs Big E

There’s two ways this work and both are considered very strict in the locker room. First, blatantly stealing a finisher is frowned on. It happens, of course as you’ll see plenty of guys in the indies using the moves of big stars but it’s mostly frowned upon, especially if you never asked permission for it first. More importantly, however, is using it on the same show. Now, “stealing the show” with a great match is common and no one minds that as the point of the business is to be competitive. However, a few times, you’ll see someone steal a signature move of a guy who’s due to wrestle later in the show. This is a massive no-no, considered very bad etiquette and guys are quite livid if, say, AJ Styles were to use an RKO before a Randy Orton match. So while it may seem something to “honor” a guy with his move, openly stealing is not accepted.

5 Low Blows And Foreign Objects Must Be Approved

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Overbooking with too many things like foreign objects and low blows has been a determinant to many a promoter. Dynamite Kid overloaded Stampede with them and it helped sink that promotion and ditto for a lot of late WCW. Thus, this actually makes sense that in WWE, if a guy wants to use some sort of object from a chair to a ladder, he needs to get approval from the agents in charge. This does make sense as too many matches on the same show with so much brawling can turn off a crowd and come off as too much stalling. There’s also how WWE may not want someone to rely on this sort of thing but try and get over on their own while saving the wild stuff for the major stars. Either way, guys know better than to just break script and do this on their own and thus if you want to bring some weaponry into a fight, you need some approval first.

4 Only Cena Does “Yeah-Boo”

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2006 was when the “Cena Sucks!” thing really started to come to the forte. While he’d gotten some odd reactions before, this was when Cena started to be polarizing to fans for his pushes and coming out on top. At ECW One Night Stand, he faced Rob Van Dam in front of a pro-ECW crowd willing to riot if Cena won. Part of this involved them having a back and forth fight with the fans cheering RVD punching and booing Cena doing it. Since then, it’s become a common thing and almost as part of Cena’s act as any of his catchphrases.

Unlike other things in wrestling that started with one guy and then have gone to another, the “yeah-boo” bit seems to stick to Cena.

It can seem to go to other guys (see Roman and Nakamura at the Royal Rumble) but that’s not encouraged. In fact, WWE guidelines openly state only Cena is allowed to encourage this and use it for his heat, which shows how Cena carries a lot of pull in the locker room.

3 No Rest Holds Early In the Show

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The first match of a show is a critical, if often overlooked, part of wrestling. A good or even great opener can set a fantastic tone that gets things off right and keeps the crowd hot. A bad one can suck the energy right out of the audience and make it harder for whoever follows. Just look at how the ladder match at NXT Takeover New Orleans was a fantastic affair that got the crowd going. It keeps with the first couple of bouts and thus a rule has been accepted that there should be no stalling. This makes total sense and is well accepted inside the locker room.

Stalling always sucks the heat out of a bout and using it this early in the show is a very bad move as an opening bout should be high energy and get everyone going. So this is one code many in WWE can agree to and use it to make sure the show kicks off nicely.

2 Refs Can Never Accept Talent’s Judgement Of Injury

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Injuries are a constant in wrestling. No matter how careful these performers are, things can go wrong and thus can be accidentally busted open, twist ankles or far worse. Naturally, they want to carry on with the show and keep the fans happy. Thus, in something that goes back decades, wrestlers will tell the refs they’re okay and keep on fighting. It used to be that refs would go ahead and let it happen but today, WWE is far more strict on this. After all, they’ve seen the effects of a star making an injury even worse and also know that trusting the judgement of a wrestler is a foolish thing. Often, they’ll have no idea just how bad off they are, more than a few thinking they have just a minor ache when they’re torn a shoulder or such.

Thus, officials are told to use their own judgement on whether or not a wrestler can continue and not be afraid to call a match if they decide the worker too badly hurt. Which means that today you’d never see something like Hardcore Holly continuing to wrestle with a deep gash across his back. Given how much risk is involved, it’s no surprise WWE can’t trust the talent to know when they’re in serious trouble.

1 Only Undertaker & Kane Can Use Piledrivers

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The piledriver was once a true finisher that ended a match. Jerry Lawler made it such a huge deal that it was “banned” for a time to sell its effectiveness. It’s tougher than it seems to pull off and can be dangerous if not used correctly. Steve Austin can attest to that as a botched piledriver from Owen Hart nearly broke his neck. However, as time has gone on, the piledriver has slowly faded out from constant use. It pops up sometimes in NXT but still mostly isn't done in the main roster. The reason is less due to danger or such but rather how using it sparingly makes more of an impact. Two guys are exempt: The Undertaker and Kane. The Brothers of Destruction have long used the Tombstone for their finisher and it’s such a part of their act that they have to keep using it. Thus, while most guys see the piledriver as off-limits, the veterans are still free to utilize theirs.