8 Big Concerns Raised By WWE's Injury Crisis
7. WWE's "Safe" Working Style
WWE's in-ring restrictions are legion.
Piledrivers, apron brainbusters, back drop drivers, and other gratuitous head-drops are banned, as are risky top-rope moves like the Shooting Star Press (unless you're Shane McMahon, apparently). Blading? Absolutely not. Unprotected chairshots? Get out of here.
All of these things were outlawed in the name of safety, and it's hard to argue with WWE's stance. There's absolutely no need for performers to take such risks on mainstream television, and while matches often feel diluted, conforming to a PG-friendly style has been an objective financial success for the company.
... but is it actually working? WWE's injury problems suggests that no, it isn't.
We're not arguing for a switch to a stiffer, more impactful philosophy, but something's got to give. This company's injury list rarely drops below double figures. 'Soft' it may be, but the WWE style still hurts dozens of performers each year, and while some can be written off as freak accidents, it's impossible to apply that argument to this many individual cases.
WWE's intentions are noble, but it's tough to say they've been effective when so many performers are sidelined at once, though it's hard to see how they could possibly tone it down further.