Dead Wrestlers

[jdobbin]

It has been hard not to notice the deaths of wrestlers at young ages.

Here is the latest:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2009/03/14/...-test-dead.html

Authorities say former Canadian professional wrestler Andrew Martin, who was known as Test and The Punisher to fans, has died at his Tampa, Fla., home. He was 33.

The former World Wrestling Entertainment champion, who was born in Whitby, Ont., was found dead at his apartment Friday night.

Police said a neighbour reported that she could see into his apartment window and that Martin appeared motionless for several hours.

A Winnipeg blogger grabbed a list from someone else and the number of dead young wrestlers was a large one.

http://hacksandwonks.blogspot.com/2009/03/...former-wwe.html

Chris Von Erich - 21

Mike Von Erich - 23

Louie Spiccoli - 27

Art Barr - 28

Gino Hernandez - 29

Jay Youngblood - 30

Rick McGraw - 30

Joey Marella - 30

Ed Gatner - 31

Buzz Sawyer - 32

Crash Holly - 32

Kerry Von Erich - 33

D.J. Peterson - 33

Eddie Gilbert - 33

The Renegade - 33

Chris Candido - 33

Test - 33

Adrian Adonis - 34

Gary Albright - 34

Bobby Duncum Jr. - 34

And so on. 70 names.

This is children's entertainment?

[guyser]

Gimme an S

gimme a T

gimme an E

gimme an R

gimme an O......

ya think?

Dont think it is geared to children for a long time now.

[jdobbin]

ya think?

Certainly, it is what comes to mind. I've often wondered if we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of damage from steroids.

Dont think it is geared to children for a long time now.

Still think kids watch a lot of it.

They probably watch a lot more of ultimate fighting though.

[kimmy]

Gimme an S

gimme a T

gimme an E

gimme an R

gimme an O......

ya think?

Dont think it is geared to children for a long time now.

It is not just a matter of steroids. Other drug use is a factor as well. I think that a closer look at Dobbins' list of dead wrestlers would reveal a large number of recreational drug overdoses.

Even though what is on TV is completely scripted, it is still physically demanding and strenuous, and they are constantly injured and frequently come to rely on painkillers. It is little wonder that when painkillers become a tool that get you from show to show, they can be subject to abuse and lead to the abuse of other substances as well.

A terrible lifestyle is probably a factor. These guys perform 3 or 4 shows a week in a different city every night. They spend little time at home and spend little time with people outside of their travelling circus. That can not be a healthy emotional environment, and probably leads to a lot of recreational drug use, for the same reason that drug use is ...allegedly... rampant among the rig hands at remote drilling sites, long-haul truckers, and probably any other group that spends long periods away from home in place where there's nothing to do and nobody outside their group to interact with. Nothing to keep them grounded.

I believe that when WWE became a publicly traded company, they implemented some sorts of drug testing and employee wellness programs, if not out of the kindness of their hearts then at least out of the necessity of assuring stock-holders that the company's most marketable assets would not be found dead in pools of their own vomit in their hotel rooms.

-k

[kimmy]

Still think kids watch a lot of it.

They probably watch a lot more of ultimate fighting though.

If I had kids, I would never let them watch WWE.

I'd have mixed emotions regarding UFC. It's certainly violent, but at least it is a genuine athletic competition, lacks the lurid "storylines" of WWE, and gives the viewer a much more realistic understanding of the effect of being punched in the jaw.

I just cringe at the idea of children or teenagers attempting to stage their own "mixed martial arts" events, which apparently happens.

-k

Edited March 15, 2009 by kimmy

[bush_cheney2004]

.....And so on. 70 names.

This is children's entertainment?

Hmmm.....it would be easier to compile a lot longer list of music and performing "artists" dead from drug overdoses.

Edited March 15, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

[noahbody]

Adrian Adonis died in a car accident.

[jdobbin]

Adrian Adonis died in a car accident.

But was he on steroids when he died? heh

[noahbody]

But was he on steroids when he died? heh

You tell me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alf6HkE-qLk

[jdobbin]

You tell me.

At the time of his death, we was 70 lbs down and was training every day for a comeback to the AWA. I wondered back then if dug use might have been a factor.

[noahbody]

At the time of his death, we was 70 lbs down and was training every day for a comeback to the AWA. I wondered back then if dug use might have been a factor.

Maybe the moose was on steroids.

Adonis was killed on July 4, 1988 in Lewisporte, Newfoundland and Labrador while riding in a minivan with fellow wrestlers William "Mike Kelly" Arko, Victor "Pat Kelly" Arko, and Dave "Wildman" McKigney. Adonis, McKigney, and Pat Kelly were killed when the driver, Mike Kelly, allegedly swerved in order to avoid hitting a moose and, blinded by the setting sun, inadvertedly drove into a lake. Mike Kelly survived, albeit with severe leg injuries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Adonis

[jdobbin]

Maybe the moose was on steroids.

I didn't mean in his death. I meant in his transformation back to a lower weight and muscle bulk. I accept that some of the people on the dead wrestlers list died in accidents.

The pictures of Adonis in the sports pages at the time were quite a contrast. I didn't quite believe it was the same guy.

[BubberMiley]

Hmmm.....it would be easier to compile a lot longer list of music and performing "artists" dead from drug overdoses.

Hmmm...that wouldn't be because there are countless more music and performing "artists" in the world than there are wrestlers, would it? You also forgot to mention the fact that many wrestlers come from Canada.

But the original list also doesn't take into the account the many, many less-successful wrestlers and wannabe wrestlers that no one ever heard of, but who still destroyed their bodies in the hopes of getting better.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/09/24/4521770.html

Edited March 17, 2009 by BubberMiley

[bush_cheney2004]

Hmmm...that wouldn't be because there are countless more music and performing "artists" in the world than there are wrestlers, would it? You also forgot to mention the fact that many wrestlers come from Canada.

If the issue was "....never letting kids watch...", your point is irrelevant. Worshipping dead rock stars is no worse than worshipping dead wrestlers.

But the original list also doesn't take into the account the many, many less-successful wrestlers and wannabe wrestlers that no one ever heard of, but who still destroyed their bodies in the hopes of getting better.

You just contradicted yourself vs. number of "performing artists".....there are indeed many "wrestlers" in North America, beginning in grade school.

[BubberMiley]

You just contradicted yourself vs. number of "performing artists".....there are indeed many "wrestlers" in North America, beginning in grade school.

Aren't wrestlers just a tiny subset of the much larger category of performing "artists?"

[bush_cheney2004]

Aren't wrestlers just a tiny subset of the much larger category of performing "artists?"

No, as most amateur wrestlers are in a different category entirely...call "athletics".

[segnosaur]

I believe that when WWE became a publicly traded company, they implemented some sorts of drug testing and employee wellness programs, if not out of the kindness of their hearts then at least out of the necessity of assuring stock-holders that the company's most marketable assets would not be found dead in pools of their own vomit in their hotel rooms.

Yes they did... all wrestlers were given initial screenings for steroids (as well as other drugs), to establish a 'baseline', and then get subject to random tests. Failing a test can mean 'suspension', whereas failing multiple tests can mean you get fired from the company. (Its not a perfect system... people who are 'suspended' are often allowed to continue working in some capacity, since it would be difficult to explain why 'Wrestler X' has suddently disappeared when they were supposed to be in a match. But, it is better than the system they have in many legitimate sports.)

The WWE has also extended the offer of free drug rehab to any wrestler, past or present, who requests it, even if they aren't with the company any more. In fact, Test/Martin (the wrestler from the original post) had just gone through such a program when he died, even though he hadn't worked for the WWE for years.

[Rue]

It has been hard not to notice the deaths of wrestlers at young ages.

Here is the latest:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2009/03/14/...-test-dead.html

A Winnipeg blogger grabbed a list from someone else and the number of dead young wrestlers was a large one.

http://hacksandwonks.blogspot.com/2009/03/...former-wwe.html

And so on. 70 names.

This is children's entertainment?

It is a sordid industry if anyone does as you do, and take a look at the number of deaths and of course what the death rate doesn't begin to explain are the thousands left permanently disabled and drug addicted.

It is an unforgiving profession. The average wrestler if they intend to make it have about a three year window of opportunity provided their knee, back, kneck, shoulder, etc., doesn't prevent them.

Mos wrestlers end up permanently crippled with serious kneck, shoulder, back and knee injuries as well as post concussion syndrome.

They take steroids for two reasons. One they need to bulk up to sell themselves. Two they need to find a way to heal their injuries quickly.

A wrestler is on the road 360 days a year going from show to show living in a circus performer world. They drink heavily and become addicted to drugs partly because of being lonely and alienated and partly to deaden the pain of their injuries and then it becomes a vicious cycle.

It is a brutal business and few make it and the ones who make it are cursed.

Very few can get out of it like the Rock Dwayne Johnston. Most have a year or two if they do make it before they are forgotten and cut.

99% of pro wrestlers never make it. Of the 1% who do the vast majority of them have brief careers.

The tragedy involved in this industry is inescapable and it goes on and on.

These guys are the last of the gladiators. It may look harmless what they do but when you jump and engage in the theatrics they do with their body size it is highly dangerous. Someone is always breaking a nose or a neck or ripping a knee or destroying a shoulder, etc.

To me there is no difference between the professional porn business and professional wrestling. I put them in the same category. The actors and actresses are expendable. They can find them because it pays good for people who are not educated to do anything else. But few if any last at it long.