Thursday, April 10, 2014

Time for change after another pro wrestler dies young

From where I sit it looks like the WWE continues to deal with far too many tragedies...


via philly.com

Ultimate Warrior (born James Hellwig) is the latest legend from my youth to die far too young. It doesn't take much research to find the staggering list of names. This isn't even secondary people or bit players. These are some of the biggest names from what was the WWF. Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, The Big Bossman, The British Bulldog, Mr Perfect, the list is far too long to keep going. All of those deaths were related to drugs and/or drug abuse. If any other sport was losing stars at that rate the outcry would be staggering. The only comparison that comes to mind is car racing. The days of the 60s and 70s were simply deadly. Wrestling isn't any better. Add to that a lack of real transparency, the industry as a whole needs to reassess where they're at. Car racing is, by it's very nature, dangerous. I'm not trying to down play the physical nature of wrestling. They are amazing athletes plain and simple. However, the deaths behind the wheel are directly related to the sport and the risks involved. These deaths are from outside the ring. From bodies being pushed beyond their limits, mainly by drugs. It's sad. It needs to change. The future of the sport, and more importantly the lives of the stars depend on it.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

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