3. Chris Benoits Tragedy Leads To Improved Concussion Detection
Its the biggest controversy in modern wrestling history, a hotly debated topic among wrestling fans, and a black mark on WWEs track record in terms of taking care of their talent. Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before hanging himself in 2007. It was a story that most people didnt even believe, and its consequences are likely to echo for a long time still to come. When an autopsy was performed on Chriss body, it was revealed that years of repetitive concussions led him to have the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimers patient. It wasnt roid rage, nor was it depression that drove the talented grappler to commit such a horrible crimeit was prolonged and periodic brain damage. Since then, while much of the focus has been on WWE erasing all record of Chris Benoits existence (that is, until the WWE Network came along), the other side has been the creation of a better concussion detection program. As part of their Wellness Program, the WWE has undertaken several steps to monitor head trauma more carefully. Since December 2008, the WWE has followed the impact ImPACT Concussion Management Program which, along with hundreds of schools, is used by the NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS and the US Olympic Training Center. As a compliment to the already strict and sophisticated drug policy, concussions are easier to detect, and proper measures are taken to avoid them. The goals of keeping the wrestlers safe and healthy, and preventing any future brain damage, appear to be working. Unfortunately for die-hard fans, this also has some setbacks. Chair-shots to the head are banned (Undertaker and Triple H got fined for doing so at WrestleMania 27), many moves targeting the head are no longer used, and wrestlers with a history of concussions are either de-pushed or sentenced to mid-card purgatory to keep them safe (Dolph Ziggler, for example). The latter is especially problematic, because a great athlete can suffer just one or two concussions, even mild ones, and then say goodbye to the main event spot. But it is for the best; its a preventative measure to not only keep superstars healthy, but to prevent the repetition of an extreme case of long-term brain damage causing a skilled grappler to commit a terrible crime.
Alexander Podgorski is a writer for WhatCulture that has been a fan of professional wrestling since he was 8 years old. He loves all kinds of wrestling, from WWE and sports entertainment, to puroresu in Japan.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University in Political Studies and French, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He speaks English, French, Polish, a bit of German, and knows some odd words and phrases in half a dozen other languages.
