We lose another and another and another. Maybe it is because of the recent death of Anna Nicole Smith, and the constant pending breakdown of Britney Spears being recorded for history by the national news now, that I am feeling more sensitive to this since I read yesterday of Mike Awesome’s suspected suicide, but when are we going to put some accountability to the pro wrestling business to at least have some sort of “transition into reality” program for the talent who are no longer active wrestlers?
I realize that Vince McMahon is not responsible for individual accountability, however, there should be something set up for these guys and girls who have spent their entire lives performing for the public, who have to move on into daily life outside of the business. This business is unique; no industry has countless deaths before the age of 50 other than the entertainment industry. As wrestling fans, are we over being shocked when we lose yet another guy or girl to tragic circumstances? Are we so desensitized and just waiting for the other shoe to drop?
I’m sad and I’m angry that this is such a normal ‘reality’ of what it’s like to be a part of this business. I hate it when I have to call people important to me to ask if they knew that such and such passed away. We are all shocked and want to know why and yet we just had this call when someone else passed away not that long ago. People in wrestling go through the highs and lows of the business: the success, the fame, the money, the ability to travel all of the world along with the depression, the insecurity, the down time of not performing, not living for the business. There are both good and bad ways to channel their energy once they leave the arena; and we all know that some transition better than others but there’s no reason that they all can’t have a little help with this transition.
I don’t want to take the apathetic position that nothing can be done, but something should be done. More people need to step in, whether it means providing therapy for talent before, during and after they leave the business, or even help in job placement when they are totally out of work for whatever the reason. There should be some corporate responsibility, to a reasonable point, of providing options for talent, not washing their hands just because there’s a wellness program in place. Maybe I’d feel better if there was a union, which seems to be the most least likely possibility out there.
There is something to be said for personal responsibility and that’s not lost on me. Yet it’s another sad day when another talent, whether you liked him or not, decided he couldn’t keep going forward. My prayers are with guys like Mike Awesome, all the talent (active and non-active), and for all of us, who write about this business, who watch this business and support this business on emotional, mental and financial levels. If we ever have a year in this business where we don’t hear about talent dieing before the age of 50 due to “unnatural causes” … at this point that’s just wishful thinking.
Thanks for reading.
