8 Big Concerns Raised By WWE's Injury Crisis
5. The Pursuit Of Star Ratings
Pro-wrestling working standards are through the roof in 2018, which is great for the fans, but hard on the wrestlers.
Having a 'solid' match is no longer enough. With genuinely excellent bouts happening all around the world every single week, 'good-to-great' is the new norm, and anything that doesn't hit that level is considered a disappointment. Star ratings are a divisive subject, but several wrestlers have revealed they now actively seek Dave Meltzer's seal of approval, amplifying the pressure to go all-out, which itself amplifies the danger.
There's no metric to point to to prove the hypothesis that the workrate revolution has worsened the injury crisis, but it makes sense. If wrestlers are more drawn towards critical acclaim in 2018, then of course they're going to push their limits, despite what it could potentially mean for their bodies.
Jason Jordan has been busting his ass for months, resulting in a long series of fantastic TV matches with the likes of Roman Reigns, Cesaro, and Samoa Joe. Now, he's sidelined with an undisclosed injury, and may be kept out of the ring for sometime. Was it worth it? Perhaps in the moment, but wear and tear is eternal.