I know that Dawn Marie was trying to do something for wrestlers that are no longer competing due to health concerns, but it got me thinking a little more in depth as to what the qualifications should be. Please hear me out.
1 Wrestled for at LEAST 15 years
Like any job, after serving 20-30 years, you "get" to retire. You've paid money into a retirement fund, and it's time to reap those "rewards". However, in wrestling, due to the amount of punishment the body can take from being in the ring (and on the road), the minimum career would be at least 15 years. If you started at 20, chances are at 35 you've either made it or not. If you haven't, chances are again, you wouldn't serve much purpose as an actual wrestler from 35 on. You have made it...then you more than likely will be staying with that company.
2. You pay money into retirement like the rest of us
Just like when normal people work, they pay money into a retirement fund (if you're lucky enough to have a company that would do that). So, with each contract that is signed, --for example, let's say you sign one for 350K a year. So, take a portion of that off the top, ...say....3%. That would be $10,500.00 that is put into retirement. These funds can either be directed into an account, or they can go to a wrestling retirement home fund (more on that in a minute)
3. Each organization is responsible for setting up the fund
No matter if you're wrestling for WWE, TNA, ROH, etc, .....the heads of the organization front office would be responsible for submitting the funds for set up. Think about it....UPS and FEDEX are rival companies doing the same product....but they may also have the same insurance, or the same prescription company. It also would allow smaller indy federations to either be more organized, or shut down. Sink or swim. Grant it, the smaller federations would not be reponsible for paying in as much as say a WWE, or TNA....but neither do smaller companies in the normal work force. It also may allow for several smaller indy federations to consolidate, providing more wrestlers to that particular federation, more ideas, more revenue.
4.Retirement home
This would be a fully functional rehab /living facility. I hate to use the term "nursing home", but it is what it is. Former wrestlers with health problems stemming from bruises, broken bones, hip problems can live here when they feel that can not make it on their own. It also would serve as a rehab facility---both physical therapy and for drug/pain killer/ alcohol prevention as well. That way, wrestlers are around other wrestlers....and out of the limelight like when they may go to another rehab center with "normal folks" like us. If it can be possible, it can be funded by the state, or private company. It too, would also be allowed to have an account set up to deposit the retirement funds there if it required for the ailing wrestler to have round the clock attention.
I'm saying this because of the guys that I personally grew up with are well into their 50's and 60's now, and I like everyone else, they deserve a shot at having a normal life and having funds available to pay for the things that they may not have thought of back in the day.
Thoughts??
1 Wrestled for at LEAST 15 years
Like any job, after serving 20-30 years, you "get" to retire. You've paid money into a retirement fund, and it's time to reap those "rewards". However, in wrestling, due to the amount of punishment the body can take from being in the ring (and on the road), the minimum career would be at least 15 years. If you started at 20, chances are at 35 you've either made it or not. If you haven't, chances are again, you wouldn't serve much purpose as an actual wrestler from 35 on. You have made it...then you more than likely will be staying with that company.
2. You pay money into retirement like the rest of us
Just like when normal people work, they pay money into a retirement fund (if you're lucky enough to have a company that would do that). So, with each contract that is signed, --for example, let's say you sign one for 350K a year. So, take a portion of that off the top, ...say....3%. That would be $10,500.00 that is put into retirement. These funds can either be directed into an account, or they can go to a wrestling retirement home fund (more on that in a minute)
3. Each organization is responsible for setting up the fund
No matter if you're wrestling for WWE, TNA, ROH, etc, .....the heads of the organization front office would be responsible for submitting the funds for set up. Think about it....UPS and FEDEX are rival companies doing the same product....but they may also have the same insurance, or the same prescription company. It also would allow smaller indy federations to either be more organized, or shut down. Sink or swim. Grant it, the smaller federations would not be reponsible for paying in as much as say a WWE, or TNA....but neither do smaller companies in the normal work force. It also may allow for several smaller indy federations to consolidate, providing more wrestlers to that particular federation, more ideas, more revenue.
4.Retirement home
This would be a fully functional rehab /living facility. I hate to use the term "nursing home", but it is what it is. Former wrestlers with health problems stemming from bruises, broken bones, hip problems can live here when they feel that can not make it on their own. It also would serve as a rehab facility---both physical therapy and for drug/pain killer/ alcohol prevention as well. That way, wrestlers are around other wrestlers....and out of the limelight like when they may go to another rehab center with "normal folks" like us. If it can be possible, it can be funded by the state, or private company. It too, would also be allowed to have an account set up to deposit the retirement funds there if it required for the ailing wrestler to have round the clock attention.
I'm saying this because of the guys that I personally grew up with are well into their 50's and 60's now, and I like everyone else, they deserve a shot at having a normal life and having funds available to pay for the things that they may not have thought of back in the day.
Thoughts??
