Quote:
Originally Posted by blankall
With wrestling you have the added effects of steroid/pain killer use, road scheduling, and a toss you aside once we're done attitude.
You basically put people in a situation where they are physically and psychologically messed up from years of pressured steroid and pain killer abuse. Then you pay them marginally well (I know the superstars get paid well, but that's not the norm) and force them to be on the road, so they can't pursue other avenues. After all that, the industry seems to treat them as though they were disposable.
You can argue they know what they're getting into ahead of time, but that doesn't make it nice. You don't have that same deadly combo in other entertainment industries....well maybe porn. But even then, they don't have the same grueling road schedule.
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You've described every professional sport. Yes the athletes playing at the highest level of the big four are all paid well, but for every one that makes it, there are 1000's beating the hell out of themselves to cling on in the minor leagues. Heck, the NCAA and CHL are doing the same with teenagers, to single out pro wrestling is very narrow minded.
For about 10 years (98-08?), yes there was a huge problem with early deaths in wrestling, it took time first recognize and accept there was a problem, put some action plans in place and see some results. Things are certainly much better now, just look at all the wrestlers currently out with injuries. The WWE health and wellness policy does seem to apply more to some then others, but since becoming a public company they have turned things around.