As some of you know, I’m a journalist. I’m also a former professional wrestling journalist. Don’t laugh – there is such a thing. And hey, it was a start to writing. I wish it was all cartoony-antics, screaming interviews, ridiculous stunts and writing stories about fake matches, but I spent most of my time reporting on drug arrests and abuses, scandals, backstage drama and the almost non-stop pandemic of death that has occurred in the industry over the last 20 years.
I have a black memo book upstairs in a box that’s filled with names and numbers of wrestlers, many that you may of heard of – half of which are crossed with a red-line. Those were wrestlers I knew and have since passed since 1997 and a quick flip of the pages has been known to make some of my journalistic friends turn pale.
Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. Granted, this was always a stepping stone, but the deaths and the cruel, mob-like mentality of the business chased me to normal sports reporting during the early part of the decade. It’s also left an impact. Watching wrestling on TV for more than 10 minutes fills me with dread.
Most don’t leave so unscathed. One reason death is so rampant in the industry is because of the outlaw nature of the business, propagated by its figureheads, most notably the McMahon family. The McMahons have become billionaires during the last 10 years, in no small part due to the sacrifices of their employees, who have made as little as five-figures while struggling through months of the year on the road without health insurance or retirement. Most wrestlers, when they quit wrestling, become destitute. This is because of Vince McMahon, and how he’s used his own public bluster to avoid classifying his wrestlers as “employees” under the EEOC, ran competition out of business and made a nightmare of his own industry.
McMahon’s ruse has nearly come undone several times over the years. He was under federal indictment 20 years ago, and escaped because his employees continued to follow the Mafia-like business code and refused to give information on the stand. There was the time one of his wrestlers fell to his death in an attempted stunt in Kansas City due to shoddy workmanship of his harness. Then there was the double-murder suicide involving Chris Benoit.
Benoit was a well-liked, genial, hard-working professional, held in high regard by his peers. But over the course of 20 years, he suffered numerous traumatic head injuries, most prominently a severe neck injury in the early part of the decade and as innumerable concussions. In order to keep his career, he had to keep his high-risk style, which resulted in brain damage that caused depression and other mental illnesses during the last year of his life. Benoit’s personality began to change, he showed signs of post-concussion syndrome after nearly every match he wrestled, but those signs weren’t enough to have him pulled from the road or sent to a physician – the result was a well-noted tragedy. When a medical team, headed by Harvard-grad and former wrestler Chris Nowinski, examined Benoit’s body, they found a brain that resembled a heavily-damaged, 70-year-old Alzheimer’s patient – not an athlete in the prime of his life.
Benoit’s father, Michael, has tried to spear-head efforts to reform the industry but has run into resistance – the McMahon family.
I sought to educate the McMahons about the scientific findings on brain trauma and how their wrestling stunts could cause this serious and fatal health issue. They were having none of it. It was clear, the McMahons were more interested in making hundreds of millions of dollars at the expense of these wrestlers, whom they regard as little more than circus animals to be ridden until their value expires.On CNN in 2007, Vince McMahon, Linda’s husband, said they had stopped wrestlers from smashing each other’s heads with chairs. That practice, however, was not ended until January of this year — scores of “head shots” later. There are still all sorts of weapons and stunts that the McMahons use to equally dangerous effect. For a sport that is “fake,” there is an all too disturbing reality.
This is how Linda McMahon is funding her Senate campaign. Call this free enterprise – and my free-market credentials are as solid as anyone’s – but a market is no longer free when it’s ran roughshod by bad characters. This was enough to charm the state GOP in Connecticut, who gave their nod to McMahon over an honorable Vietnam vet, a moment that will certainly go down as one of the worst in the history of the GOP.
The McMahons belong in a lot of places, the last being the Senate.
I’ll have more to say on this topic. I’ve kept quiet, because like most, I wanted to see how McMahon’s campaign played out. People are often astonished at how the Venturas and McMahons maneuvered conventional politics so well, but if they knew anything about the pro wrestling business, it would seem natural. The term “foxes in the hen house” comes to mind. The closest relative to this industry isn’t some athletic venture, it’s the mob. To the shock of no one, the media is almost complicit in McMahon’s rise in the Senate race, as is the conservative media, which is uninterested in the sordid details of what may be a national candidate.
Seeing the things I’ve seen, hearing the things I’ve heard and watching McMahon get this far in the party I’ve supported for the better part of my life is quite distressing. I’m willing to shine whatever light I can, but I’m not sure any are willing to see for themselves. Here’s to hope and to the great voters of Connecticut – don’t let us down.
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Thanks for staying quiet no longer, JFN. Looking forward to hearing more.
This might make waves in the blogosphere, depending on which pundits and political journalists decide to pick it up.
It is likely that this information is too late, JFN. Once the election is between Blumenthal and McMahon all we’re talking about is which is the lesser evil. Blumenthal is a vote for continuation of the Reid/Durbin/Schumer regime in the Senate while any sins committed by McMahon may be a) so sensational that they are immediately discounted b) still less than those likely to be perpetrated by the Democrats retaining control and nominating a replacement for Justice Ginsburg. It is just a bad place to be and I sympathize with your discomfort.
Nothing shows the voting public that good, solid conservative Republicans are for the People over the powerful like nominating a money-grubbing power-broker who made millions treating people the way Michael Vick treated his dogs.
Looks like Connecticut voters’ choice in November is between a liar and pimp.
And when I argue about culture influencing politics this kind of crap is not what I have in mind.
Well, most of the public doesn’t really know what the business or this family are like. They’ve sold their image well. As John already mentioned, Jesse Ventura did much the same thing. Many people ask what we Minnesotans were thinking, but they had the benefit of hindsight, after he had presented himself, quite compellingly, as being in touch the common man and one to bring in common sense policies.
As for the Linda McMahon and her nomination, it’s easy to be cynical and bluster about how stupid the Connecticut GOP was in nominating her, but I’m likely myself to be a fair approximation of a voter in the primary where she was chosen, and I didn’t know any of this. I would’ve seen the public persona, like many others, and would’ve probably been comfortable with her as the nominee. So, tragic mistake? Yes. But I’m not going to be quite so harsh on the CT state GOP.
Well, you have a point. However, if one has ever seen a little of the product WWE puts out, one should be skeptical of the McMahon’s “little guy” persona. Just based on that trashy circus this woman no more deserves a seat in the well of the United States Senate than Jerry Springer when he floated a Senate run in 2003.
And no, I don’t cut slack for Minnesotan’s who put that clown Ventura in that state’s governor’s mansion. He was a nutter before he got into politics. And he’s completely off the deep end today. The dude’s main claim to fame was professional wrestling with the WWF. That’s a qualification to be a state’s political leader?!?
This is pop culture’s dark side. People on the left and are too easily swayed by the cult of celebrity. If John Cena decided to get into politics, a lot of conservatives would run screaming into his camp based on, since there would be nothing else to go on, the persona he’s created as a wrestling and movie celebrity.
When Reagan got into politics the guy had experience as head of the Screen Actors Guild. He knew how to succeed politically. Today’s celebrity culture thinks all that’s required for victory is a pretty face and moving story. And, because our politics has been so dumbed down by people who are famous just for being famous, that’s an accurate recipe for success. Which is part of the reason why Oprah’s “The One” now resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Wow! Thank you, JohnFN.
Once again the GOP has taken a dive in nominating McMahon to be its candidate in the senate race. In the last senate race the GOP supported Bush’s kissing buddy Lieberman over the GOP’s own candidate Mr. Schlessinger. And who can forget the dive it took when it gave us Methusaleh McCain knowing very well that the largest voting bloc are nubile women who think that voting for President is kind of like voting for the sexiest man alive. So the next Senator from Conneticut is likely to be a lying coward named Blumenthal. He should fit right in.
Rather bad taste to stick those Linda McMahon ads into Benoit’s article.
Scott, I Google internet ads are generated by the content on the page, which explains why a story about Muslims or Russia will generate a Muslim or Russian dating service ad. The group to blame, if blame you must, isn’t the Hartford Courant. It’s Google.
Yeah,John,let’s see:Eddie Gilbert and Rick Rude(dead of heart attack),the British Bulldog(dead from pain killer abuse),Crash Holley(suicide)…that’s just a few.
Do you know why the wrestlers stay if the risk is so great and they are treated so shabbily? If you has a bystander couldn’t take it anymore, how can they? And why wouldn’t they testify against McMahon? I will be very interested to read your future posts on this, JohnFN.
It’s interesting that you noted the fact that Vince doesn’t classify the wrestlers as “employees”. Guess he still thinks of his wrestlers (or as he calls them now “sports entertainers”) as “independent contractors”. Problem is, once you sign a contract, you’re not. The old territory days of wrestling are long gone, but he wants to still live by the rules of those days
“And no, I don’t cut slack for Minnesotan’s who put that clown Ventura in that state’s governor’s mansion. He was a nutter before he got into politics. And he’s completely off the deep end today. The dude’s main claim to fame was professional wrestling with the WWF. That’s a qualification to be a state’s political leader?!?”
Well, he was the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. But you’re right.
It’s also worth noting that he was a big star in the Minnesota based AWA, which meant that he was a very well known personality in Minnesota long before he went to the WWF
McMahon is going to be the GOP candidate. Simmons dropped out earlier this week, and there’s one other guy running for the Republican nomination whose name I—and the rest of Connecticut’s citizens—can never remember.
People had been talking about her business hurting her in the race, but since I don’t follow wrestling I was thinking they meant just the sheer cheese factor, that wrestling would hurt her with the snobs.
Blumenthal will hammer her on this, and I can’t say she wouldn’t deserve it.
Well,here’s another seat the GOP could have picked up..stupid assholes.
That’s some real insight into pro wrestling. As to the “why do wrestlers do it if they’re treated so poorly?” of it, it’s because they enjoy show business; and, if they can stay with it long enough, the paydays can be good, very good. That they’re not prepared to handle the wealth is a shame; they really need some education on that topic. They’re not the only pro athletes that suffer from that fate, though. Look at the NFL or NBA; you’ll find the same stories of rags-to-riches-to-rags.
JohnFN: I realize that a lot of your wrestling friends have passed; but, it would be interesting to see what the others might say to you, if it were done anonymously.
I guess it’s the prospect of glory and money that has so many people trying to break into that business as performers. How many thousands of people across the country are trying to imitate what they see on TV in the hopes of ‘being seen’ and going to the big time? How many people cripple themselves, or abuse some drug or another to gain the performance and visual advantage?
Why is Monday Night Raw the highest rated cable show, and has been for many years? Why are WWE performances held 5, 6, or 7 nights a week at arenas all over the US, Canada, and Europe?
I think the McMahons are very smart business people, who aren’t very nice people. Their family has degraded itself to the point of ridiculousness in order to make money. And a ton of money they do make …
No one is forcing the atheletes/performers to risk their lives. Yes, they’ve got to do it if they want to make it in the business, but they don’t have to choose that occupation.
Linda running does present a problem – she shows a lack of scruples in her business dealings. But … she shows a very good track record of managing budgets and money, and a wildly successfulo company. I’d rather have her in office than a Dem, who has no scruples, and has no clue how to manage money or a budget.
I think one more thing to add is that while I’m sure Linda is a great businesswoman, Vince really deserves the credit for making The WWF/E what it is.
Thanks for the interest. I honestly expected this post to go over flat, so I’m delighted by the reaction. Let me address some things I’ve read here:
Someone mentioned the high death rate, I’ll be touching on that in the future. I think a third, at least, of the wrestlers on the WWF roster in around 1990 are probably dead. I have a hard time doing the math on that because knowing exactly who was where is always difficult, and I’m using figures from other people. I’ll be touching on a lot of the issues with the McMahons later, including the drug and steroid mess, as well as the content on the television show, the independent contractor issue (which I reported on extensively when Time-Warner/WCW was sued) as well as other subsequent issues such as whether a union would work. The big issue to me, is the lack of media and regulatory interest and I’ll take that up as well.
I realize that a lot of your wrestling friends have passed; but, it would be interesting to see what the others might say to you, if it were done anonymously.
There’s nothing I wrote in this post that I didn’t write seven or eight years ago when I was still reporting on the business, so most of them gave me input. In fact, it was my calling card. Some were happy a few in the independent and internet media were making a stand for the wrestlers, others hated us because they thought writers like myself were trying to hurt the business, or had vendettas, etc. The few wrestlers who do speak out are quickly labeled “bitter” or “has-beens” and written off, even guys who were legends like Bruno Sammartino.
This is doubly important in wrestling. To give you an indication, I’m sure most of you know how political local sports can get, even little league, and that gives an idea of what a mess it can be at higher levels. Imagine all of the politics of professional athletics, except the top guys, owners and decision makers get to decide who wins all the games. It’s a political nightmare, and having good standing in the locker room is important if you are a run-of-the-mill type.
This means following stringent codes. I know wrestlers who have lost jobs over some of the mildest grievances one could imagine, like not saying hello to someone enough.
If you have questions, let me know, I’ll try to answer. My goal is to shed some light on the McMahons, the type of business they run, the product they produce and the consequences there of. I don’t see how anyone could think this family would be a fit for political leadership.
>>Imagine all of the politics of professional athletics, except the top guys, owners and decision makers get to decide who wins all the games.>>
In other words, no Curt Flood to ultimately save the day and/or turn the tide, eh?
Pretty much. Things were much better during the days of the territories, or when there was two or three vibrant companies 10 years ago. It was no walk in the park then, either. It wasn’t until Ted Turner became involved that wrestlers began to get retirement, guaranteed contracts and health insurance. Most of the wrestlers worked hard, and appreciated what they got. Still many, usually the guys with the biggest contracts and the most drawing power, abused the guarantees by taking weeks of a time off, or making excuses not to perform or get in the ring. Wrestlers have proven to be their own biggest enemoy over the years.
Case in point: Harley Race. In the 70s, there was talk of establishing a union and Race was the NWA champ. Getting him at a meeting would be a boon to the movement. So four or five of the organizers made an effort to get Race there. As soon as a he showed, rival wrestlers began calling promoters to rat out Race as a union organizer and have his title revoked.
Nominating McMahon is something the GOP will most certainly regret. Dark moment for the GOP indeed.