Support Chris Nowinski.

[monkeystyle]

Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski is ramping up his criticism of WWE for what he believes is an unsafe work environment for wrestlers. Nowinski says the McMahon family should be out of the wrestling business or subject to federal investigation.

"The only way to get real change is for the McMahons to get out of the business or for the federal government to come in and declare it an unsafe workplace," Nowinski told Justin Kendall of The Pitch news outlet in Kansas City.

Nowinski researches long-term brain damage to professional athletes, including NFL and NHL players. Nowinski studied Chris Benoit's brain after Benoit's death and discovered he had the brain of an 80-year-old man Alzheimer's. Nowinski says that's typical of athletes who accumulate brain, head, and neck damage while professional organizations keep pushing them to perform.

"The idea of going off the top of the cage into the ring may actually be as stupid as it looks," Nowinski said. "You cannot slow down the trauma to your brain. Your brain absorbs a ton of trauma. Even if it's not concust, it's a high level of trauma that didn't used to exist in the wrestling industry."

Nowinski is especially hard on WWE because they have more control over the "work environment" compared to professional sports organizations due to the scripted nature of WWE programming.

The must read story written for The Pitch also includes quotes from former NFL player Kyle Turley, who is donating his brain to research after he says he suffered multiple concussions during his career.

Turley shared some very alarming stories on what he's seen in the NFL related to concussions. The tip of the iceberg was watching a teammate pass out in the locker room after suffering a concussion.

"In football, you're just pressured constantly to get back on the field," Turley said. "You can play hurt. Sometimes concussions fall under those categories where you weren't knocked out. 'You're all right. Go ahead. Go back out there and bash your skull around some more.' There's been some sad cases where adults have died and some kids have died tragically."

Here's the link to the Torch article: http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_36055.shtml

The original news article: http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/10...ef_kyle_turley_donating_brain_to_research.php

And the Sports Legacy Institute Website: http://www.sportslegacy.org/default.asp

SLI has a donations page as well as tons of information as to what concussions can do to a person I suggest you read the page.

There is also a donations section, I donated $100 earlier this week anybody else willing to kick in on this?

 

[monkeystyle]

Seriously, I am really happy to see a wrestler, someone who was actually in the business trying to do something positive for the not only the wrestling business but his peers as well whether they appreciate it or not.

 

[noumenon]

He didn't seem to care when he went through Tough Enough to get into the business that he's cutting down now. Because they guy couldn't take bumps or chair shots suddenly the business needs to be shut down?
WRESTLING IS AN UNSAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT!??! No really Chris?
Wasn't he also working in conjunction with WWE with this for a while? Whats the matter they wouldn't give him air time anymore so now he's bitter?

Face it kiddo, you work in any full contact sport you're going to get hit and banged up. You should know the risks to your health when you sign up.

 

[monkeystyle]

He didn't seem to care when he went through Tough Enough to get into the business that he's cutting down now. Because they guy couldn't take bumps or chair shots suddenly the business needs to be shut down?

From what I recall they didn't rehearse unprotected chair shots on Tough Enough. Not to mention I have a lot of trouble believing that any wrestler has a clue what they're actually getting into until they step into a ring the first few times.

Also he could bump just fine it was post concussion syndrome that caused him to retire, not the fact that he couldn't work.

And truth be told before anyone gets on their high horses any further, all of us get into situations that we don't fully comprehend and we get burned for it much as he was. He's not being bitter about this at all he's working to make it a better industry which is commendable.

WRESTLING IS AN UNSAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT!??! No really Chris?

There are plenty of dangerous jobs out there, indeed. However I can't think of any that exacerbate the situation like WWE does. There are ways to wrestle and stay safe.

If I recall, you're an electrician right? Could be a dangerous job at times I can imagine. I bet though that whatever company you work for has safety guidelines in place to keep you healthy.

Wasn't he also working in conjunction with WWE with this for a while? Whats the matter they wouldn't give him air time anymore so now he's bitter?

I wonder why they wouldn't give him air time? Come on man, think. He's advocating safer working standards for wrestlers. Nowinski is making them look bad.

Face it kiddo, you work in any full contact sport you're going to get hit and banged up. You should know the risks to your health when you sign up.

That's right, even the NFL realises this, but they also recognize the fact that there are things they can do to make things easier on their players for their later lives.

 

[LKP]

I think this is a waste of time. He knew he was going to work in an unsafe environment. U wanna become a wrestler the downs come with it. Get over it kiddo.

 

[monkeystyle]

I think this is a waste of time. He knew he was going to work in an unsafe environment. U wanna become a wrestler the downs come with it. Get over it kiddo.

Let's take a high rise window washer as an example here. Potentially dangerous job right? But they know that so if the company they work for decides to not give them safety rigging it's the workers fault, right?

 

[noumenon]

Well when you think about it WWE has all around become a safer working environment over the past few years. Less chair shots, hardcore matches, insane spots and stunts, not consistently busting people open. There is only so much they can do to pad their product until it really compromises the quality of it from a business standpoint.
I dunno, something in my head would tell me approaching a career in a business where you're constantly being slammed onto your head, back and other places from 6+ feet in the air can't be too great for your health.
Yeah it sucks that the guy got injured and it fucked up his career and it's great he's trying to do something for people out there who have suffered similar injuries but for him to go to the extreme of saying that Vince should be shut down is ridiculous.
Bottom line is that WWE provides both physical and mental treatment readily available to all of their employees and athletes along with regular drug testing and punishment for such. With such things set up there really isn't a case for calling them an unsafe working environment.
That would be like me getting electrocuted at work and them shutting down the entire job site. Sure there are risks and dangers associated with any job. All I'm saying is there guys get into whatever full contact sport, football, boxing, wrestling, MMA...whatever...with the knowledge that their career revolves around them getting beat on and taking physical damage.

 

[xtremebadass]

See this is what happens when you get a wrestler graduating from Harvard, he is just smarter than everyone else.

Good for you CHRIS!

 

[LKP]

Nowinski was shit anyways.

 

[monkeystyle]

Well when you think about it WWE has all around become a safer working environment over the past few years. Less chair shots, hardcore matches, insane spots and stunts, not consistently busting people open. There is only so much they can do to pad their product until it really compromises the quality of it from a business standpoint.

I've still seen unprotected chair shots to the head. That should not happen period at this point given what we know about Benoit and Misawa more recently.

I dunno, something in my head would tell me approaching a career in a business where you're constantly being slammed onto your head, back and other places from 6+ feet in the air can't be too great for your health.

I'll answer this after the last quote.

Yeah it sucks that the guy got injured and it fucked up his career and it's great he's trying to do something for people out there who have suffered similar injuries but for him to go to the extreme of saying that Vince should be shut down is ridiculous.

It's a bit extreme but that's what it's going to take to make significant change. They have made no significant effort to do anything since Benoit which should have been the wake up call for everyone.

Bottom line is that WWE provides both physical and mental treatment readily available to all of their employees and athletes along with regular drug testing and punishment for such. With such things set up there really isn't a case for calling them an unsafe working environment.

Except their drug testing is a joke and looking at Rey Mystrio currently, their punishments are a joke too. It's all for nothing more than good PR. It's a token effort. A really unfunny joke.

That would be like me getting electrocuted at work and them shutting down the entire job site. Sure there are risks and dangers associated with any job. All I'm saying is there guys get into whatever full contact sport, football, boxing, wrestling, MMA...whatever...with the knowledge that their career revolves around them getting beat on and taking physical damage.

None of these full contact sports though put their participants through the same shit 300 days a year. That's irresponsible.

 

[monkeystyle]

Nowinski was shit anyways.

I fail to see what his wrestling ability has to do with his mental acumen or his desire to change a business he obviously cares about.

 

[xtremebadass]

I'll never forget that genius stable in 2003 or 2004, it was Eric Bischoff, Chris Nowinski, 3 Minute Warning, Coach, and Cheif Morely, THAT WAS GOOD TV

 

[monkeystyle]

I mostly recall his debates with Scott Steiner and dying laughing at them.

 

[LKP]

Lol if that was good tv then the new church in tna was aawsome lol.

 

[gatesoftanhauser]

It's good he's gone on to success post WWE, but he wants to hurt the product. I don't expect wrestlers to suffer after a long career, but if they are willing to risk it all, it's not our place to tell them no. Most of these people are dedicated to their craft and to tell them they have to work a pure Kurt Angle style of mat work would kill them and their motivation to want to entertain.

If he's upset about the health risks, maybe he's onto something. Perhaps MORE specialists should be brought in, and perhaps wrestlers need some better healthcare, while in the ring, and after their time is done and they're retired.