Professional wrestling might have predetermined results, but those results only matter if the wrestlers in the ring agree to actually follow the script. As you are about to learn, that isn’t always the case. Whether it ends up being a stiff shot to remind a rival wrestler about the behind the scenes pecking order, an overly enthusiastic chair shot to the head, or a downright attempt on another wrestler’s life. Anything can happen once the script goes out the window, and the results can be disastrous.

This list depicts some pretty extreme and graphic violence against both male and female wrestlers. If you are uncomfortable with that, now would be the time to look away.

10The Stardom Incident

Known as the ghastly match in Japan, Act Yasukawa vs. Yoshiko was supposed to be a main event title match for the Japanese women’s wrestling brand Stardom. Instead, it ended up making national news and costing one of the wrestler’s their career. Early on in the match the much smaller Act seemingly catches Yoshiko with a real punch to the face, to which Yoshiko then responds with a series of very serious punches to Act. Then it pretty much devolves into a horror show as Act gets her face smashed up.

When the fight was finally broken up, Act had suffered a broken cheekbone, fractured orbital bone, and a smashed nose which required immediate surgery. Her injuries ultimately forced her into retirement, and it became mandatory for medical personnel to be present at every match following it.^[1] For her role in the fight, Yoshiko was banned indefinitely from Stardom but has had virtually no issue getting work with the country’s other wrestling brands.

9Mick Foley Gets Hit in the Head with a Chair Eleven Times

In 2010 the WWE completely banned the use of direct chair shots to the head in an effort to lessen the chance of their performers receiving concussions and possible brain damage.^[2] Unfortunately for Mick Foley, he was about eleven years too early for this rule to affect him, which is kind of funny in a horrible way as that is the exact number of unprotected chair shots to the head he took in a row in a single match with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Foley had originally agreed to take five shots to the head while the two wrestlers went from one area of the arena to another, but it took eleven blows in total as the pair struggled to make it to the agreed upon spot. Mick Foley suffered a horrible gash on the top of his head that bled profusely, all while his wife and young children sat in the audience and watched on in horror. After the show, Mick Foley only needed stitches, but it was the beginning of the end for the hardcore wrestler as he started to have noticeable issues with his memory.

8Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle Nearly Gets Arm Broken

In an attempt to catch the reality TV audience that was so popular in the early 2000s, the WWE launched their Tough Enough project where a group of would-be wrestlers competed in different challenges live on TV in the hopes of getting a million dollar contract.^[3] One such challenge saw the contestants facing Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle in a shoot-style wrestling match. Unfortunately for Kurt, one of the contestants was Daniel Pruder, a trained MMA fighter.

Pruder got Kurt into a kimura lock, bending his arm painfully backward. Seeing that things clearly were not going the way they expected, and knowing they could not let their star lose on live television, WWE officials quickly called the match in Kurt’s favor, claiming he had pinned Pruder during the lock. Both wrestlers tell wildly different stories of what really happened that night, but even the official who called the pin claims that it was done to save Kurt Angle’s arm and pride.

7Big Van Vader Loses an Eye, Puts It Back In

Big Van Vader was a wrestler of massive proportions who had a tendency to strike his opponents with real punches every once in a while. It just so happened his opponent Stan Hansen was also a giant man who had a habit of doing the exact same thing. When they faced each other in 1990, the two men started out swinging at each other with all they had in them with Vader seemingly getting the upper hand until suddenly reeling back in shock and pulling off his mask, revealing to the horrified world that his eye had fallen out.

While you would assume the match would end there, Vader instead decided to push his own eye back into his head and went right back to swinging like a madman, only pausing every once in a while to push his eye back in as it kept popping out while he was being hit. This continued on for an agonizing twelve minutes until the match finally came to a natural finish. Vader required surgery to save his eye.^[4]

6Wrestler Pulls off His Mask, Nearly Gets His Neck Snapped

For some wrestlers, there is nothing more sacred than their mask. One such wrestler by the name of El Santo was so serious about his mask that he had to travel from country to country in secret and had special arraignments with different countries just to keep his coworkers from seeing his face when going through customs. Only once in his career did he remove his mask on television, and it happened just days before his death from a heart attack. With that in mind, let’s talk about Dirtbike Kid.

Facing the Great Sasuke in a loser takes off his mask match, the Dirtbike Kid decided to remove his main mask before the match even started, completely ruining any stakes the show had built up.^[5] He then refused to react to any of Sasuke’s fake attacks until finally, his already frustrated opponent began assaulting him for real. By the time Dirtbike Kid realized what was happening, Sasuke had locked him in a neck wrench choke that was so violent you can hear Dirtbike Kid screaming in pain as it was applied. Sasuke was quickly declared the winner as Dirtbike Kid faded into retirement.

5Audience Member Whips a Nine-Volt Battery at Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels may be an iconic name in wrestling nowadays, but back in the 90s he was considered a bit of a primadonna. It was the lead up to Wrestlemania 14, and Shawn Michaels was scheduled to lose the title belt to Steve Austin, a decision he did not like in the least. The showrunners were so worried that Shawn would refuse to work the match that the veteran wrestler The Undertaker was said to have been on call to “convince” him to do his job.^[6]

While Shawn did eventually agree to lose the title, it almost all came crashing down during the filming of a promotional video when a fan in the audience chucked a nine-volt battery into the ring, and it hit Shawn square on his forehead. Shawn, already upset about having to lose, simply got out of the ring and walked out of the arena leaving everyone to wonder if that was the end. When the time came to finally do the job, Shawn Michaels delivered, but a battery almost ruined a multi-million dollar budget show.

4Asuka Purposefully Has the Most Uncomfortable Match Ever

It was a mixed tag team match featuring Asuka and Naomichi going up against Meiko and Suzuki, and everything was seemingly going as planned until the female wrestler Asuka got into the ring with her longtime idol, the male wrestler Minoru Suzuki. Suzuki opened up with a horrible sounding headbutt and then immediately set to work punching and kicking Asuka in ways that did not look fake in any way. The other wrestlers in the match, including Suzuki’s partner, tried multiple times to get him to stop, but he just kept going until finally pinning Asuka to end the match.

While it all seemed pointlessly brutal and unprovoked, Asuka was actually the one who set up the beating with Suzuki in the first place. Suzuki was well known for working stiff with people, and Asuka loved his style, so much so that she incorporated his fighting style into her own when she was first starting out. Asuka personally asked him not to hold back in their match and to give it his all, no matter how bad it might have been. To Asuka’s delight, and to the horror of the viewers, he didn’t.^[7]

3Wendi Richter Gets Cheated by the Company

Wendi Richter might not be as well remembered as the likes of Hulk Hogan or the Fabulous Moolah, but back in the 1980s she was one of the top female wrestlers in the business, and as the women’s champion, she was practically assured a good pay increase during contract renewal negotiations. That was until she was booked to wrestle a match against a mysterious newcomer named the Spider Lady that she had never met or heard of previously.^[8]

Even the announcers were confused when the Spider Lady finally arrived as it was clearly the Fabulous Moolah just wearing a mask. Despite this odd scenario, Wendi Richter was told she would win the match and not to worry. To her surprise, Moolah rolled her up into a pin and was immediately declared the winner and new champion despite Wendi kicking out and trying to continue the match. Realizing what had happened, Wendi tried to keep the show going by taking the belt and refusing to hand it over. Wendi did not get her new contract. In fact, she never wrestled for the WWE again, only appearing decades later to be inducted into the WWE hall of fame.

2Katsuyori Shibata’s Life-Changing Headbutt

Nobody wins with a headbutt, and unfortunately, Katsuyori Shibata had to learn that the hard way. Like a lot of Japanese wrestlers, Shibata was a hard-hitting madman who performed his signature headbutt multiple times without issue, despite the horrible sound the hit made each time. All of that changed on the night he faced Kazuchika Okada for the NJPW promotion. As the two men hit each other with real blow after real blow, Shibata leaned back and cracked Okada with a headbutt, busting open his own head and unknowingly giving himself a subdural hematoma in the process.^[9]

As the minutes passed by and Shibata’s brain bled he slowly became paralyzed on his right side, losing the ability to walk. The match continued on as Shibata lost more motor functions and the ability to speak until Okada finally gave him one last huge hit and pinned him. Shibata, being ever the showman, attempted to walk out of the arena after his loss but collapsed before he could make it out. After multiple emergency surgeries and months of work to save his life, Shibata eventually learned to walk and speak again. He later appeared at an NJPW show to announce he was somehow still alive.

1Owen Hart Falls to His Death During Pay-Per-View

Considering the dangers that wrestlers put themselves through day in and day out for years on end, it is actually quite surprising that so few performers die while doing it. As rare as it is, unfortunately, it does happen though, and on the night of the WWE’s Over the Edge pay-per-view in 1999, Owen Hart paid the ultimate price for his career in a stunt that went horribly awry.^[10]

At the time of the incident, Owen Hart was playing a character known as the Blue Blazer, a superhero type character that was played up for laughs in his appearances. Owen was supposed to be lowered from the rafters in a harness that he would detach from so he could face plant into the ring, similar to a stunt he had pulled previously. But something went wrong, and Owen was prematurely detached from his safety equipment while still nearly 80 feet in the air.

He reportedly fell chest first into the ropes which launched him into the ring in front of everyone in attendance. He was quickly removed and rushed away by medical personnel as the show continued on without him as the audience looked on in shocked silence. It was announced shortly after to those watching that Owen had died from the fall. The Hart family sued the WWE for Owen’s death and settled out of court. The pay-per-view was not shown again until fifteen years later. It was heavily edited to remove the moments where Owen fell.

When you hear the words “professional sports,” what comes to mind? Is it football, basketball, or soccer? We have invented and played many games throughout history that show that we value competition and contests to determine superiority as a civilization. While most of us know various pro sports, some professional sports are weird if you think about them.

These peculiar professional sports prove that humans have become accustomed to bizarre sporting events. Let’s dive into the top 10 weirdest professional sports we can’t believe.

10 Arm Wrestling

Arm wrestling is a game we’ve all tried at least once in our lives. You probably have even won against your family or friends. While arm wrestling has been around for ages, it wasn’t recognized as a professional sport until a few decades ago. These days, professional arm wrestlers, or “pullers,” as they are known to fans, meet in pro tournaments where they test each other’s limits. 

To compete as a pro-arm wrestler in events organized by the World Arm-Wrestling League or WAL, you need to register by your arm. You register as left, right, or both. Arm wrestling competitions are organized by weight classes, with four weight categories for men. The sport is also gender-considerate, and women can compete too, in various weight classes.

Arm wrestling has referees who check whether there are any fouls and if shoulders and wrists are squared off during the match. Big events even have lasers at the center of the table to ensure no one gets out of line. The best thing about this sport is that matches can end in two seconds or last for two minutes. The unpredictable nature of arm wrestling makes it most exciting!

9 Tug of war

As far as ancient games go, tug of war is one of the most recognizable games on the planet. From Egypt, China, and Greece, athletes compete against each other in a game that tests teamwork and strength, but this is one of the weirdest sports ever when you think about it. On the international level, the Tug of War International Federation governs the sport, which has even featured in the Olympics. 

The rules of this bizarre game include both teams needing to have eight members that work together to pull the rope. Tug of war is simple since athletes can win matches via the best out of three format. For players, the objective is to pull the other team towards the centerline. While the sport looks simple enough, it’s complex since teams need rhythm and teamwork to excel.

The best thing about the tug of war sport is that the only equipment required is an 11cm wide and 33.5cm long rope with plain and whipped ends. Since there are no ties in the sport, winners must secure two out of three pulls to take the match!

8 Croquet 

Croquet, even the name of this sport sounds weird, but if you ask the World Croquet Federation (WCF), they will confirm that croquet is a professional sport. As a sport that was once featured in the Olympics, croquet is one of the most inclusive sports and was the first outdoor sport to embrace gender equality.

While croquet is better known as a backyard game fit for barbecues and family gatherings, it’s a sport with a considerable following, professional associations, and clubs. Most croquet players start as amateurs in local tournaments hosted by clubs and build their skills and recognition.

General categories for croquet are single and doubles competitions. Team members drive three balls (blue, black, and green) in team tournaments as the other team drives their three balls (red, orange, and yellow). Each player can hit balls by other team members, and these allowances make the game great for teamwork, fun, and socialization.

One peculiar aspect that you can only find in croquet is that there are different croquet grips. There is a Standard grip, Solomon grip, and the Irish grip. These designed grips ensure that plays by participants are natural and comfortable.

7 Tandem racing

Bicycles made for two are rare in the streets, but they take bike racing to a whole new level in athletics. As a sport that involves two racers, tandem races are exhilarating to watch.

The International Cycling Union defines tandem races as amateur events where two athletes maximize their speed and pace compared to individual bike sprints. For pro racers, tandem races are advantageous since they can pedal faster with their doubled power output.

One benefit of the sport is that tandem racing has opened new avenues for blind cyclists. With a sighted pilot in the front, a non-sighted cyclist can participate in Paralympics and finish races that would be impossible if they did it as individual racers. This sport is truly for anyone. 

6 Polo

There are a few sports that bring humans and animals together, and polo is one of them. Polo, also known as the “game of kings” and a “rich man’s sport,” is weird since most people can’t relate to it.

Polo started as a game that trained nomads for war. The logic was that if riders could control a horse while chasing a ball, and play as part of a team, then they could perform greatly in battle. The modern version of the war game was reinvented by British officers in India who were drawn to the sport’s beauty.

In polo, the main goal is to score more points than the opponent. To improve chances of winning, players move the ball into the other side’s half and then attempt to drive the ball through their goal. With four players on each side, the sport requires cooperation between the player, the horse, and teammates.

To succeed in the sport, modern polo players pay attention to horse breeds. The ideal polo pony has stamina, speed, agility, responsiveness, and intuition. Some unique aspects are that players can ride opposing players off the field, hook each other’s stick, and the teams change sides after a goal.

5 Solo Synchronized Swimming 

Solo synchronized swimming is one of the weirdest sports globally, and it took three Olympics for the world to realize that a dancer couldn’t synchronize on their own! In this sport, the dancer performs a kind of water ballet while synchronizing with the music.

The sport reserved for female athletes was considered lonely since the dancer moved on their own while judges and audiences watched. After realizing that it was impossible to assess a single dancer, the Olympics expanded solo synchronized swimming to include duo and eight-person teams.

In this new format, it’s easy to watch synchronizing among the dancers and equally assess their ability to blend. In the sport, the primary goal is to satisfy the judges by executing the technical and free routines.

In the technical routine, the dancers showcase their mastery of predetermined positions and movements. In the free routine, athletes synchronize with the music blaring from high-tech underwater speakers. When you think about it, the sport requires some pretty advanced tech and skills.

4 Kabaddi 

Kabaddi, a contact sport played by indigenous Indians many centuries ago, is one of the most bizarre sports in the world. Kabaddi, which was made professional in 2014, is often described as a “high-octane” game of tag.

In the sport, teams have both raiders and defenders, and while the raiders look to tag, defenders seek to “tackle” players to earn points. If you watch a game of kabaddi, you can get confused by how proactive it is, especially the amount of muscle and lung capacity required.

Since the field is divided into two halves, the raiders attack the antis (defending side) while chanting “kabaddi.” The rules demand that the player shouldn’t take a breath or break the chant, and after attacking a defender (tagging), points are earned if they return to their half. But if the raider is tackled, they leave the field.

While many might consider kabaddi to be a weird sport, it’s one of the most followed sports in India. Since athletes can play it indoors and outdoors, kabaddi is slowly becoming popular, and perhaps, in a few years, it won’t be weird anymore.

3 Equestrian Dressage

Dressage, a term that loosely translates to “training,” is a professional equestrian sport that is considered the highest level of horse training. In this peculiar sport, riders and their horses demonstrate their ability to perform a series of programmed events for the judges and audience who assess accuracy and creativity.

As a sport, dressage tests the abilities of riders to train their horses to perform naturally, and in events, the rider fulfills various challenges. A top performer in these events has an animal that responds to guidance effortlessly and upon request.

So, why is it weird? The horses are expected to perform in the events as artists, making them the show’s true stars. While riders are responsible for training and directing the animals, equestrian dressage competitions display the horse’s performance at different levels or tests.

Earning points from 0-10, the performing duo aims to satisfy the tests of every block to qualify to the next levels of competition. Other considerations that affect the scores include the gait, impulse, and submission of the rider and their horse, respectively. All these features indicate that the horse is highly trained.

2 Race Walking

Race walking has been a part of the Olympics since 1904. Race walking started as a pastime in the Victorian era, and when it moved to the United States, it was a spectacle sport for indoor arenas. For sports lovers, race walking was one of the most exciting sports since it demanded a lot from performers.

Race walking has a couple of rules that make it a challenging sport. First, athletes always have to have one foot in contact with the ground, and if this is not visible to the naked eye, they are given a penalty. Another weird rule is that the athlete should never bend their knees during a race; this is a violation that judges assess. If an athlete gets three warnings, they are automatically disqualified from the race.

At the Olympics, both men and women compete in the short distance race (20km), while the long-distance (50km) features men only. Race walking is so strange that it could make you rethink how well you walk in real life.

1 Face Slapping 

Face slapping requires no introduction, and if we are honest, being on the receiving end of a slap doesn’t seem like the best place to be. Yet, in Russia, face slapping is a wild sport that attracts big crowds excited to watch two contestants slap the hell out of each other.

In this respectful sport that will have you cringing and laughing simultaneously, players stand across white tables, facing each other. In what can only be described as polite turn-taking, each player awaits the slap from the other player and can only move after they finish their turn.

The fun in the “Slapping Championships” is that each match goes on until a player surrenders, gets disqualified, or passes out. One of face slapping’s most legendary players is Siberian farmer Vasily Kamotsky, whose slaps went viral. Kamotsky hilarious battles with opponents often end up with knockouts, but in 2019, he also got knocked out cold. 

Face slapping might not be as brutal as boxing or MMA, but it’s not for the light-hearted. If you think about it, if you have a score to settle with someone, entering “Slapping Championships” might be the best way to settle the differences respectfully.

When you hear the words “professional sports,” what comes to mind? Is it football, basketball, or soccer? We have invented and played many games throughout history that show that we value competition and contests to determine superiority as a civilization. While most of us know various pro sports, some professional sports are weird if you think about them.

These peculiar professional sports prove that humans have become accustomed to bizarre sporting events. Let’s dive into the top 10 weirdest professional sports we can’t believe.

10 Arm Wrestling

Arm wrestling is a game we’ve all tried at least once in our lives. You probably have even won against your family or friends. While arm wrestling has been around for ages, it wasn’t recognized as a professional sport until a few decades ago. These days, professional arm wrestlers, or “pullers,” as they are known to fans, meet in pro tournaments where they test each other’s limits. 

To compete as a pro-arm wrestler in events organized by the World Arm-Wrestling League or WAL, you need to register by your arm. You register as left, right, or both. Arm wrestling competitions are organized by weight classes, with four weight categories for men. The sport is also gender-considerate, and women can compete too, in various weight classes.

Arm wrestling has referees who check whether there are any fouls and if shoulders and wrists are squared off during the match. Big events even have lasers at the center of the table to ensure no one gets out of line. The best thing about this sport is that matches can end in two seconds or last for two minutes. The unpredictable nature of arm wrestling makes it most exciting!

9 Tug of war

As far as ancient games go, tug of war is one of the most recognizable games on the planet. From Egypt, China, and Greece, athletes compete against each other in a game that tests teamwork and strength, but this is one of the weirdest sports ever when you think about it. On the international level, the Tug of War International Federation governs the sport, which has even featured in the Olympics. 

The rules of this bizarre game include both teams needing to have eight members that work together to pull the rope. Tug of war is simple since athletes can win matches via the best out of three format. For players, the objective is to pull the other team towards the centerline. While the sport looks simple enough, it’s complex since teams need rhythm and teamwork to excel.

The best thing about the tug of war sport is that the only equipment required is an 11cm wide and 33.5cm long rope with plain and whipped ends. Since there are no ties in the sport, winners must secure two out of three pulls to take the match!

8 Croquet 

Croquet, even the name of this sport sounds weird, but if you ask the World Croquet Federation (WCF), they will confirm that croquet is a professional sport. As a sport that was once featured in the Olympics, croquet is one of the most inclusive sports and was the first outdoor sport to embrace gender equality.

While croquet is better known as a backyard game fit for barbecues and family gatherings, it’s a sport with a considerable following, professional associations, and clubs. Most croquet players start as amateurs in local tournaments hosted by clubs and build their skills and recognition.

General categories for croquet are single and doubles competitions. Team members drive three balls (blue, black, and green) in team tournaments as the other team drives their three balls (red, orange, and yellow). Each player can hit balls by other team members, and these allowances make the game great for teamwork, fun, and socialization.

One peculiar aspect that you can only find in croquet is that there are different croquet grips. There is a Standard grip, Solomon grip, and the Irish grip. These designed grips ensure that plays by participants are natural and comfortable.

7 Tandem racing

Bicycles made for two are rare in the streets, but they take bike racing to a whole new level in athletics. As a sport that involves two racers, tandem races are exhilarating to watch.

The International Cycling Union defines tandem races as amateur events where two athletes maximize their speed and pace compared to individual bike sprints. For pro racers, tandem races are advantageous since they can pedal faster with their doubled power output.

One benefit of the sport is that tandem racing has opened new avenues for blind cyclists. With a sighted pilot in the front, a non-sighted cyclist can participate in Paralympics and finish races that would be impossible if they did it as individual racers. This sport is truly for anyone. 

6 Polo

There are a few sports that bring humans and animals together, and polo is one of them. Polo, also known as the “game of kings” and a “rich man’s sport,” is weird since most people can’t relate to it.

Polo started as a game that trained nomads for war. The logic was that if riders could control a horse while chasing a ball, and play as part of a team, then they could perform greatly in battle. The modern version of the war game was reinvented by British officers in India who were drawn to the sport’s beauty.

In polo, the main goal is to score more points than the opponent. To improve chances of winning, players move the ball into the other side’s half and then attempt to drive the ball through their goal. With four players on each side, the sport requires cooperation between the player, the horse, and teammates.

To succeed in the sport, modern polo players pay attention to horse breeds. The ideal polo pony has stamina, speed, agility, responsiveness, and intuition. Some unique aspects are that players can ride opposing players off the field, hook each other’s stick, and the teams change sides after a goal.

5 Solo Synchronized Swimming 

Solo synchronized swimming is one of the weirdest sports globally, and it took three Olympics for the world to realize that a dancer couldn’t synchronize on their own! In this sport, the dancer performs a kind of water ballet while synchronizing with the music.

The sport reserved for female athletes was considered lonely since the dancer moved on their own while judges and audiences watched. After realizing that it was impossible to assess a single dancer, the Olympics expanded solo synchronized swimming to include duo and eight-person teams.

In this new format, it’s easy to watch synchronizing among the dancers and equally assess their ability to blend. In the sport, the primary goal is to satisfy the judges by executing the technical and free routines.

In the technical routine, the dancers showcase their mastery of predetermined positions and movements. In the free routine, athletes synchronize with the music blaring from high-tech underwater speakers. When you think about it, the sport requires some pretty advanced tech and skills.

4 Kabaddi 

Kabaddi, a contact sport played by indigenous Indians many centuries ago, is one of the most bizarre sports in the world. Kabaddi, which was made professional in 2014, is often described as a “high-octane” game of tag.

In the sport, teams have both raiders and defenders, and while the raiders look to tag, defenders seek to “tackle” players to earn points. If you watch a game of kabaddi, you can get confused by how proactive it is, especially the amount of muscle and lung capacity required.

Since the field is divided into two halves, the raiders attack the antis (defending side) while chanting “kabaddi.” The rules demand that the player shouldn’t take a breath or break the chant, and after attacking a defender (tagging), points are earned if they return to their half. But if the raider is tackled, they leave the field.

While many might consider kabaddi to be a weird sport, it’s one of the most followed sports in India. Since athletes can play it indoors and outdoors, kabaddi is slowly becoming popular, and perhaps, in a few years, it won’t be weird anymore.

3 Equestrian Dressage

Dressage, a term that loosely translates to “training,” is a professional equestrian sport that is considered the highest level of horse training. In this peculiar sport, riders and their horses demonstrate their ability to perform a series of programmed events for the judges and audience who assess accuracy and creativity.

As a sport, dressage tests the abilities of riders to train their horses to perform naturally, and in events, the rider fulfills various challenges. A top performer in these events has an animal that responds to guidance effortlessly and upon request.

So, why is it weird? The horses are expected to perform in the events as artists, making them the show’s true stars. While riders are responsible for training and directing the animals, equestrian dressage competitions display the horse’s performance at different levels or tests.

Earning points from 0-10, the performing duo aims to satisfy the tests of every block to qualify to the next levels of competition. Other considerations that affect the scores include the gait, impulse, and submission of the rider and their horse, respectively. All these features indicate that the horse is highly trained.

2 Race Walking

Race walking has been a part of the Olympics since 1904. Race walking started as a pastime in the Victorian era, and when it moved to the United States, it was a spectacle sport for indoor arenas. For sports lovers, race walking was one of the most exciting sports since it demanded a lot from performers.

Race walking has a couple of rules that make it a challenging sport. First, athletes always have to have one foot in contact with the ground, and if this is not visible to the naked eye, they are given a penalty. Another weird rule is that the athlete should never bend their knees during a race; this is a violation that judges assess. If an athlete gets three warnings, they are automatically disqualified from the race.

At the Olympics, both men and women compete in the short distance race (20km), while the long-distance (50km) features men only. Race walking is so strange that it could make you rethink how well you walk in real life.

1 Face Slapping 

Face slapping requires no introduction, and if we are honest, being on the receiving end of a slap doesn’t seem like the best place to be. Yet, in Russia, face slapping is a wild sport that attracts big crowds excited to watch two contestants slap the hell out of each other.

In this respectful sport that will have you cringing and laughing simultaneously, players stand across white tables, facing each other. In what can only be described as polite turn-taking, each player awaits the slap from the other player and can only move after they finish their turn.

The fun in the “Slapping Championships” is that each match goes on until a player surrenders, gets disqualified, or passes out. One of face slapping’s most legendary players is Siberian farmer Vasily Kamotsky, whose slaps went viral. Kamotsky hilarious battles with opponents often end up with knockouts, but in 2019, he also got knocked out cold. 

Face slapping might not be as brutal as boxing or MMA, but it’s not for the light-hearted. If you think about it, if you have a score to settle with someone, entering “Slapping Championships” might be the best way to settle the differences respectfully.