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Originally Posted by Derek Sutton
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.
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Other professional sports are not year round. The NCAA, by definition, gives their athletes the opportunity to go to college. Other sports also don't involve steroid use to such an extreme. Taking PEDs is one thing, but to put on a professional wrestler's size and bodybuilder style physique requires steroid abuse to a much higher degree and over much longer periods of time.
Another separating factor from other sports obviously is the kind of athlete it attracts and the lifestyle the lead. While I don't deny the hard work it takes to be big in wrestling, the system does not seem to follow the same regimented schedule that other sports would. The lifestyle would be somewhere in between being an athlete and a rock star.
I'm not denying that other sports/forms of entertainment are tough on the talent. Professional wrestling, however, takes it to an extreme degree, as evidenced by the much higher proportion of athletes who end up dead at a young age. Yes, you may be right they are recognizing this and turning things around. But to just say it's like any other sport is facetious.