Know the Reason for the Death of Wrestlers at the Young Age

The news that professional wrestler Jay Briscoe had passed away at the age of 38 stunned the sports world at the beginning of January. Briscoe died as a result of a vehicle accident, but he was simply the most recent in a long line of wrestlers to pass away too soon. Here is everything you need to know about this depressing pattern:

How many wrestlers have passed away too soon?

There isn’t a complete list of everyone who has passed away. We do, however, know that professional wrestlers pass away significantly more frequently than the general population. According to a 2014 FiveThirtyEight research, the actuarial death rate for persons between the ages of 50 and 55 was a little over 5%. However, the mortality rate among former World Wrestling Federation (WWF) athletes was 20%. Even among those who were younger, there was an increase. Compared to wrestlers, whose actuarial mortality rate was over 15%, persons aged 40 to 45 had a death rate of about 5%, according to FiveThirtyEight.

 

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Wrestlerdeaths.com, a website that chronicles wrestler deaths, is depressingly frequently updated. Over 480 of the site’s over 2,000 listings for deceased wrestlers were under 50 when they passed away. Massive superstars like Andre the Giant, Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, and Yokozuna are among those that passed away at such a young age.

Numerous female wrestlers are also included on the list, including Hana Kimura, who committed suicide in 2020 at the age of 22, as well as Bertha Faye, Chyna, Marianna Komlos, Luna Vachon, and Hana Kimura.

Why do so many young people die?

A number of things play a role, including the physical nature of wrestling and the frenetic lifestyle that goes along with it. According to Salon, “Causes of death for wrestlers tend to center around suicide, drug overdose, or heart attacks. Concussions or traumatic brain injury are also commonplace.” 

As a solo sport, wrestling frequently forces competitors to travel alone. Along with the “rollercoaster of celebrity” that wrestling entails, “drugs are often a substitute for the feelings of adoration and esteem that have long since passed,” according to Salon.

Steroid use, according to Esquire, is another element that contributes to wrestler deaths. Since wrestling, unlike other sports, has no genuine offseason, many wrestlers turn to steroids to keep them going throughout the year. Because wrestling is less regulated than other professional sports and steroids were ingrained in the culture, “they rely on pills and other substances to dull lingering pain, and wrestling is less regulated than other pro sports and steroids became part of the culture.”

Is this trend exclusive to the sports industry?

Wrestling has a significantly higher death rate than the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB, as well as all other professional sports leagues combined. While young deaths among competitors in other sports are not unheard of, the figures for wrestling are just incomparably low.

Wrestlers
Ray (Wikipedia)

The fact that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), America’s largest wrestling conglomerate and the successor to the WWF, classifies its wrestlers as “independent contractors” rather than employees, despite the fact that they are signed exclusively to WWE, is one reason for this, as was mentioned in a segment on HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

This enables the WWE to circumvent some of the rules that player unions and associations in other sports generally impose. According to Last Week Tonight, the WWE does not have to offer many fundamental benefits, such as health insurance, because they treat their performers as independent contractors.

Some insurance policies are available for separate purchase, making them affordable for millionaire professional wrestlers. Additionally, “Many wrestlers out there are married. What, are they suddenly not on their wife’s or husband’s plan?” Insurance, though, could not be an option for wrestlers who aren’t married or who earn less money.

Even while it doesn’t insure its greatest performers, the WWE does offer insurance to its business staff. According to the company’s job webpage, “WWE is proud to offer competitive employee compensation and benefits along with an exciting variety of health and wellness initiatives.”

Are any actions being taken?

The WWE has tried to lessen the risks connected with wrestling in recent years by taking a few actions. A Talent Wellness Programme is available, “administered independently by world-renowned medical professionals and includes cardiovascular testing, ImPACT, testing for brain function, substance abuse and drug testing, annual physicals, and health care referrals.”

However, the organization also attributes some of the blame to the wrestlers. “Unfortunately, some past performers were part of a generation of wrestlers who made unhealthy and poor personal lifestyle choices, which in some cases continued beyond their years in the ring,” a WWE spokesperson told BBC News in 2015. “Today’s athletes take great pride and personal responsibility for their overall health and well-being.” 

The representative added that present-day wrestlers are routinely tested for drugs.

Professional wrestler Melissa Anderson claimed to have noticed a change in the way premature deaths are handled in the field, particularly among women. “When something like that happens, it just spikes an awareness and serious conversations start happening in all of the locker rooms,” Anderson told USA Today. “The conversations have definitely been more serious as far as being more supportive toward each other and looking out for each other.”

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