Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski issued a memo to PWTorch today listing several former WWE wrestlers who have agreed to donate their brains following death to aid the research of brain trauma from repeated blows to the head.
"Over 20 wrestlers have already enrolled or recently pledged to join the study, including Rob Van Dam, Matt Morgan, Lance Storm, Ken Kennedy, Molly Holly, Tony Garea, Antonio Thomas, Dawn Marie, Kevin Fertig, and other big names who at this point choose to remain anonymous," Nowinski said in a memo. "The only group of professional athletes so far with a greater commitment to this research is NFL players, with over 60 current and retired players involved."
Nowinski issued the memo in response to ESPN's report that Andrew "Test" Martin showed signs of long-term brain damage as a result of repeated trauma to his head during his wrestling career...More?
December 9, 2009
Former WWE Wrestlers to Donate Brains for Research
Jim Ross Says Chair Shots to the Head Should End
"Concussions are a big issue in sports today and let's not forget that pro wrestling/sports entertainment or whatever in the hell one wants to call it doesn't have the franchise on this dilemma. However, chair shots to the skull should be forbidden in wrestling. Period. End of story. Bottom line."
Andrew "Test" Martin Suffered From Postconcussion Brain Damage
In 2007, professional wrestler Andrew "Test" Martin was interviewed for a soon-to-be-released documentary titled "The Circus: Live Fast, Die Young."
"I just turned 32 years old and went to eight funerals this year," Martin said at the time in his mild Canadian accent, sweat bathing his handsome features. "Do I want to join that club? Hell, no, I don't want to join that club.
"So either you clean up, straighten up -- or lay down beside them."
Seventeen months later, on March 14, 2009, Martin was found dead in his Tampa, Fla., condominium at age 33. The Hillsborough County medical examiner later ruled that the 6-foot-6, 280-pound specimen died of an accidental overdose of oxycodone, the addictive ingredient found in the painkiller OxyContin...More?
source: espn
WWE Dismisses Complaints from Disgruntled Former Wrestlers
A WWE spokesman dismissed complaints from disgruntled former wrestlers who don't feel like they got enough benefits from the organization, telling The Washington Times that "the average talent on World Wrestling Entertainment's programs is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars."
"These complaints about health insurance, made by old-timers and other disgruntled former talent, mirror the allegations recently made in a lawsuit against WWE challenging the practice and their status as independent contractors. That lawsuit was dismissed by a distinguished federal judge and there is, therefore, nothing really to address on that meritless issue."...More?
This Day in Wrestling History - Vengence Pay Per View 2001
December 9, 2001
December 8, 2009
Timbaland Straps Up For Wrestling Gig, Slated To Host Final WWE 2009 Show
Grammy-winning producer Timbaland will reportedly make his way to the ring later this month to host this year's final broadcast of Raw. While details are still being finalized, the producer-turned-rapper will hit the ring in late December.
source: sohh.com
WWE Seeks World Domination After Recession Bout
WWE is setting its sights on new markets in Brazil and Russia after successfully battling one of its toughest opponents -- the economic downturn.
"We, as a company, really have never been stronger… We've seen strength across the board and our footprint today is considerably more extensive … light years away from where we were in '97," Andrew Whittaker, the group's president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, told CNBC.com...More?
source: cnbc.com
Wrestlers Lob Past at McMahon
Linda McMahon’s detractors range from Bruno Sammartino, a crowd favorite known as “The Living Legend” for his exploits in the ring in the 1960s and 1970s, to Chyna, a popular late-1990s female wrestler who later appeared on the cover of Playboy and wrote a best-selling memoir.
“If there is a race to Capitol Hill, I hope she gets knocked off before she even starts,” Chyna, whose real name is Joanie Laurer, said in an interview with POLITICO.
“I would not vote for her because I know what she contributed to the wrestling world with her husband,” said Sammartino. “The vulgarity, the nudity, the profanity, all that kind of crap — it bothers me.”
“If the people in Connecticut are stupid enough to elect Linda, that’s their problem,” added Larry Zbyszko, a onetime Sammartino protégé who debuted in the early 1970s but later battled him in a famed “steel cage” match at Shea Stadium in New York. “I wouldn’t want to waste the time or money...More?
source: politico.com
Chyna and Sammartino?...They need to do better than that....
This Day in Wrestling History
Pedro Morales defeated Ken Patera for the WWWF(WWE) Intercontinental title.
December 8, 1980
Rocky Maivia defeated Steve Austin for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
December 8, 1997
The Rock makes a surprise return to RAW. Mick Foley had a petition to bring back Steve Austin and Rock signed it.
December 8, 2003
December 7, 2009
