Professional wrestling as a sport sees those involved give their body, mind, and soul for the sake of their performance. The body is subject to a controlled maiming, the mind is tested to endure the pain that is compounded by injury, and prolonged periods of travel make proper rest scarce.<\/p>\n
To succeed in wrestling requires a deep-seated passion for the business, where payouts are mere pittances outside of the highest level. The life of a road warrior, away from loved ones and the comfort of home as they make town to town, can severely impact one\u2019s mental state.<\/p>\n
For some, substances can provide the solace they seek until they can no longer chase that dragon.<\/p>\n
Eventually, it snowballs into more potent means which yields its own personal and social issues.<\/p>\n
Unlike any other industry, wrestling has seen scores of premature deaths relating to its talent. Whether it be self-inflicted or accidental, the nature of these deaths leaves their families and the wrestling community as a whole reeling.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not to say some wrestlers don\u2019t get to live a full life, but headlines of talent dying young are all too common.<\/p>\n
When tragedies like this strike, it\u2019s up to the industry to pick itself up and pay tribute to those who\u2019ve given their time to the ring.<\/p>\n
In no particular order, here are some of professional wrestling\u2019s greatest memorial shows. given their time to the ring. In no particular order, here are some of professional wrestling\u2019s greatest memorial shows.<\/p>\n