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In response to your original post, the correct number of points to award is 4: The offensive wrestler has already earned a 3-point NF (since he's held the defensive wrestler there for 5+ seconds). Therefore, you are to stop the match, signal that the defensive wrestler's injury clock should be started, and award the offensive wrestler a 4-point NF. And yes, it is to be scored a FOUR-POINT NEAR FALL, not a 3-point near fall and a stoppage point.
Note that if the scenario were the same except that instead of crying out the defensive wrestler were to commit a TV or an illegal hold(s) of some kind, you would NOT stop the match (unless you had to) but when the near fall / pinning situation ended you would award the same number of NEAR FALL points (that is, 4) but in addition you would award the appropriate number of points for the infraction(s).
Bottom line -- forget all about any point for stopping the match (that is the point of the adjusted near fall totals awarded). This entire issue has received a ton of coverage, mainly due to the fact that this section of the Rules Book was so poorly worded last year. And don't you know, the Fed for all intents and purposes ignored the issue and repeated the horrendous wording again this year?
In summary, regardless of whether the situation involves an injury or a penalty, the near fall totals are as follows:
Near fall criteria imminent (but not met yet): 2-point NF
Near fall criteria met, but no NF earned yet: 2-point NF
2-point NF already earned, but 3-point NF not earned yet: 3-point NF
3-point NF already earned: 4-point NF
Again, the only difference for a penalty situation involves not the points awarded for the near fall, but instead the point(s) awarded for the infraction(s).
It's just that simple -- don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
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