What if....

[DD84]

A wrestler passed away in the middle of the ring at the promotions biggest show for the World Title. How would it impact all of wrestling? What do you think will happen? Would it hurt or help wrestling's image (lets say its not a wrestlers that looks like they are on steriods.) I know this is kind of dark and all, but it has been in my brain since Test die, for whatever the reason.

 

[HEEL Blazy]

This is a pretty good question. Kinda hard to think about it. Would be sad for one thing. But I feel that if that happened and I know its not answering the question I'll get to that in a min. But it would impact wrestling big time for sure. The media would be all over it like butter on toast.

Now to answer your question. They media would try and say something about the work load most likely. They would try to bring up steriods even if he is or isn't on them. They would ask question like should they have let me wrestle when really it could have just been something no one saw coming or had any idea something was going on with the guy. Would it help wrestlings image not really. I say it would hurt its image more they anything because of the fact someone died in the middle of the ring.

I mean look how the Owen Hart stuff hurt them for awhile. Just think what would happen if a wrestler was to just drop dead with nothing really happening like it did with Owen.

 

[Razor Blade Dream]

This is a pretty good question. Kinda hard to think about it. Would be sad for one thing. But I feel that if that happened and I know its not answering the question I'll get to that in a min. But it would impact wrestling big time for sure. The media would be all over it like butter on toast.

Now to answer your question. They media would try and say something about the work load most likely. They would try to bring up steriods even if he is or isn't on them. They would ask question like should they have let me wrestle when really it could have just been something no one saw coming or had any idea something was going on with the guy. Would it help wrestlings image not really. I say it would hurt its image more they anything because of the fact someone died in the middle of the ring.

I mean look how the Owen Hart stuff hurt them for awhile. Just think what would happen if a wrestler was to just drop dead with nothing really happening like it did with Owen.

Imagine if it were someone like C.M. Punk (not saying HIM exactly, but close to his persona) like a guy that doesn't do steroids, doesn't really drink, leads a clean life pretty much. I'm not saying straight edged but close enough. Of course the media would scream steroids and after an autopsy it comes to light that he just had some weird heart condition that was never properly diagnosed or something weird like out of House. It would still be "another black eye" to wrestling. Of course the work load would be brought up but some guys would argue that their work load isn't as bad as it was 20 years ago. I'm saying it would be a total freak thing. Like once in a hundred lifetimes type of thing.
I think the backlash would be a little bit harsher since, other than Owen's death which was never seen other than at the arena if I'm not mistaken, it would be broadcast all over the world. I'm sure their would be some delay but how long is the delay? 8 seconds or so? That is not enough time to realize something is amiss unless the guy starts coughing out his organs. It would be a frenzy I feel because even though Owen died about 10 years ago(correct me if I'm wrong) America has been a HELL of a lot more leech like when it comes to media coverage with the internet and (God help us) TMZ.
I think then wrestling would be tighter regulated almost like the NFL where they HAVE to have an off-season for guys to recover properly and get any weird ailments looked at. Even UFC has a recovery time between fights. As much as people like to go, "Oh that shit is fake." Those guys are still pushing their bodies to bizarre limits. So I'm pretty sure the rules and regulations would be tightened up severely.
That was a good question though. I'm very surprised that it hasn't happened to be honest with you.
Only time I saw a wrestler that damn near died was the infamous "Manny Fernandez Receipt" when Manny Fernandez dropped a hard knee into Invader #3's ribs causing him to literally spew blood out of his mouth.

 

[WrestlingHistorian]

It would definatly hurt the image of Pro Wrestling, whenever something like this happens it opens up the floodgates for steiroid investigations and health and safty violations, it would be an absalute mess.

Let's hope we never live to witness something like this, the Owen thing was different because it was a stunt, but if it was a straig up match and someone died then it would cause a huge business backlash......

 

[DD84]

I think, very sadly though, if someone were to die in the ring, it would be the most watched clip on youtube. If this were to happen, it could hurt pro wrestling as far as casual fans, but real fans will still be there. If this happen in TNA, it could end them.