8 Wrestlers Who Admitted To Cracking Under Pressure

Professional wrestling is an inherently tough endeavour.

This is scripted combat. Styles have shifted immeasurably over the decades and the sport's move towards more open-minded and expressive attitudes is overdue, as much about this artform remains prehistoric in mindset, though the core premise is still the same. From Bruiser Brody and Stan Hanen to Manami Toyota and Charlotte Flair, these are hardened, skilled warriors in battles predicated on grit, determination, fighting spirit, and iron will. Gimmicks vary from wrestler to wrestler, but it's supposed to be a fight.

That isn't to say that every wrestling character is an outward badass, but look at the beatings Marko Stunt takes: those traits are definitely within him, even if they aren't pushed to the front.

Professional wrestling is hard. It extracts a heavy toll from its practitioners, physically and mentally. The toughness at the core of the performers' television characters cannot repel the job's every pressure, stress, and anxiety for the human being on the other side and sometimes, self-reflection is the best form of healing.

These people might play superheroes on television, but life under wrestling's bright lights brings great strain...