Things that go bump in the night
I’m sure you’ve all heard the axiom about most accidents occurring in the home. Well, I’m walking around gingerly today with an aching back and a bruise on my upper thigh the size of a baseball after taking a spill on the steps at my house last night.
After popping some Advils and putting an ice pack on my back last night, I sat down to watch a couple of matches from WrestleMania XXIV on WWE 24/7. The two matches I watched were Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair and the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Seeing guys battering each other with ladders – Shelton Benjamin took an especially sick bump – and Michaels crashing on the announce table after missing a moonsault put my aches and pains into perspective. I began to imagine what it would feel like to fall down the steps four times a week for years at a time in addition to traveling on airplanes all over the world and trying to work out on a regular basis.
I’ll probably be in some discomfort for a few days, but the soreness I’m experiencing is something that professional wrestlers live with every single day of their lives. In fact, in the case of a lot of wrestlers, I have little doubt that their daily pain is significantly more severe than what I am feeling.
As fans, I think we sometimes get so caught up in critiquing wrestlers’ performances that we forget just what these men and women put their bodies through. Even though wrestling can bring fame and fortune, most of them are in the business because they love it.
I love the business, too, but I realized early in life that I lacked the toughness and wasn’t willing to make the sacrifices that it took to be a wrestler. That’s why I have so much respect for anyone, whether performing in a high school gymnasium before 100 people or 70,000 people at a stadium, who puts on the tights and gets in the ring.
Comments
Kevin , sorry to hear you hurt yourself . Are we getting the full story though ? Did Mrs. Ring Posts lay one upside your head ?
Seriously your're right about how we as fans take things for granted . And from all the pressures to be able to perform night in and night out come the problems of self medication , and we've all seen the potentially disasterous results .
Get well soon big guy !
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | March 16, 2009 9:05 PM
Great read Kev, best wrestling read on the Internet in this fan's opinion.
Did you catch Destination X? I have to say I was letdown and I was in attendance. Pretty good card on paper, but booking was terrible. The Ultimate X match was amazing, but other than Styles/Booker T and Team 3D/Beer Money, nothing else stood out. Even Sting/Angle was underwhelming, with a few botches...I don't think Sting can keep up anymore.
Posted by: Ryan | March 16, 2009 9:14 PM
Thanks for helping us keep perspective on what these brave folks endure for our entertainment.
Keep up the good work, Kevin. And start feeling better soon...
Posted by: TP | March 16, 2009 9:19 PM
Well said Kev. Not enough people really understand that the reason a guy might not be moving well that night is the bumps and bruises he suffers to entertain fans.The shortened life-spans, the debilitating injuries, and the fact that healthcare, retirement, and job security are illusions for these guys really puts into perspective the love they must really have for the business.Bravo Kevin.
Posted by: Walter Hollman | March 16, 2009 9:24 PM
This is a great post.
Posted by: Andrew Gray | March 16, 2009 10:05 PM
Kevin,
Speaking of 24/7, have you happened to watch the Legends of WrestleMania Part 1 feature in the Legends section? I just watched Hogan-Slaughter from WrestleMania VII. At one point, Slaughter busts Hogan open with a steel chair shot. From that point on, every shot where Hogan's face was completely in the picture was shown in black-and-white. What's up with that? Do you think that's a result of WWE going PG with their programming? It just seems silly to me to censor something that happened 18 years ago and is still relatively tame compared to many of the things we've seen over the years.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I haven't seen it yet. I don't know what that's all about.
Posted by: Rob | March 17, 2009 12:31 AM
Hey Kevin, did you happen to see John Cena on SNL this weekend? He had a brief cameo during the cold open.
RESPONSE FROM KE: No, I didn't see it.
Posted by: James | March 17, 2009 12:33 AM
Hey kevin,
Like you, I'm a long time fan but lack the ability to take bumps. My brief stint in Marial arts proved I'm better suited to triathlon (expect for bike crashes) and being a chiropractor
I had the honour of being the chiropractor for the Smackdown tour in Australia where I live and let me tell you, these guys need a chiropractor by their side all the time!! I adjusted Undertaker, Morrison, MVP, Batista and many others before their matches, only to see my work undone and do it all over again 30 minutes later!! I have to say, they are a different group than my regular patients.
Since I'm in Australia and you're in America, I can't adjust you myself, but after a spill like that, it is much healthier to see a chiro than take pain killers.... Please go see one!
Posted by: Rob | March 17, 2009 12:51 AM
Well said Kevin. I have recently discovered your blog and I am a big fan. Keep up the great work & Get well soon!
Posted by: Darcy | March 17, 2009 12:56 AM
that's why i hate it when people that don't even like wrestling said that wrestling is fake. The risks aren't fake, and I respect those wrestlers that put their wellbeing on the line for our sick entertainment...look at what happen to Droz, and they say wrestling is fake...how dare they.
Posted by: Gab | March 17, 2009 4:26 AM
Hey Kevin in my comment to you yesterday I made mention of wrestlers self medicating , specifically painkillers .
Well lo and behold , I just read that painkillers and steroids were found in Andrew Martins apartment . Surely not a shock to anyone . Having a little more than casual knowledge of steroids I would go out on a limb and say that after a toxicology is done , the cause of death would be attributed to abuse of painkillers not steroids . Some may argue the long term health issues of 'roids and their morality , but the fact remains that the common denominator of most of these early deaths is abuse of painkillers . Abusing painkillers is known to cause sudden respiratory or cardiac arrest . Actual steroid use has never been cited anywhere as a primary cause . More time should be spent policing that aspect if they're really looking out for these guys health than poking and pi_ _ing anyone who has a 20 inch arm.
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | March 17, 2009 11:42 AM
Often when I get a little fed up with what I might be seeing watching wrestling, I think about what these guys do, especially the big names, and it helps me appreciate what many of these guys and girls must go through to do it on a continuous basis for so many years. You have to be pretty tough to due it and that alone should command some "respect".
Posted by: AMC | March 17, 2009 11:49 AM
the soreness I’m experiencing is something that professional wrestlers live with every single day of their lives.
My opinion as an outsider is that there are too many shows and too many hard bumps. Wrestlers need more time off and screw this "hardcore" crap. It's no wonder so many wrestlers wind up burnt out, broken down and addicted to pain pills.
Posted by: e. nonee moose | March 17, 2009 12:12 PM
Not that I condone taking illegal drugs or taking without a valid prescription, but now you see why so many wrestlers are on pain medicine, sleep aids, etc It's such a tough life. I am off work on weekends and work from home two days a week. These guys don't get much rest at all. I tweaked my lower back last week and had a hard time walking upstairs. I can't imagine trying to wrestle for 5-10 (or more) minutes after i had to take a long plane ride to get to the arena. If I was a wreslter I may even wish for a muscle tear so I could take off for a couple months (well only if I was a big star in good standing with management).
They truley are great athletes.
Posted by: Iron Mike Sharpe | March 17, 2009 2:27 PM
I had back surgery 2 years ago,and since then I do everything I can to protect it.I couldn't imagine falling on 4 times a week,and that's just what these guys do,all because they love to preform for us.
Very well said Eck,sometimes we all need reminded of what these guys really do for us,for our entertainment!
Posted by: Andre the Midget | March 17, 2009 6:18 PM
Thanks for the reality check & I hope you're back on your feet without the hitch soon.
Posted by: Brian | March 17, 2009 9:08 PM