WWE TLC: Bryan retirement proves wrestling has come a long way

Barnaby Read 11:53 10/02/2016
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  • Bryan's WWE career was full of highs and lows.

    The WWE Universe was devastated, with some fans at Monday Night RAW left in tears at witnessing Bryan’s farewell.

    Although Bryan will be sorely missed for his ability in the ring, popularity with the fans, and the humility that has made him one of WWE’s most successful faces in recent history, the decision must be applauded by all involved.

    It was one that was not taken lightly.

    Management, doctors, Bryan and the Universe all wanted to see him return to the ring.

    Months of tests have led to this decision with Bryan stating that numerous doctors had given him the all clear to return to the ring, but the one that mattered couldn’t.

    Dr. Joseph Maroon, the WWE’s lead doctor, is no stranger to concussions.

    Dr. Maroon has also been the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1980 and has been long associated with the NFL, an organisation rightly chastised for its concussion record.

    Such is his involvement with the NFL that he has been immortalised in the Will Smith film Concussion, based on the chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) findings borne out of the 2002 death of Steelers centre Mike Webster, which  led to the NFL forking out $765m to thousands of former players battling CTE.

    As early as last year, Dr. Maroon said of concussion: “I think the problem of CTE, although real, it’s being over-exaggerated and it’s being extrapolated to youth football and to high school football.

    “There are more injuries to kids from falling off of bikes, scooters, falling in playgrounds, than there are in youth football… It’s much more dangerous riding a bike or a skateboard than playing youth football.”

    It seems that Dr. Maroon has learned since that NFL Total Access interview that there is no margin for error in these instances.

    YES, Bryan is a valuable commodity.

    YES, Bryan is one of the most talented wrestlers of his generation.

    YES, he has been over every obstacle thrown in front of him.

    But, YES his health must come first.

    And to see the WWE act in such a manner is both long overdue and great to see.

    Their hand may have been forced by the lawsuit filed by Evan Singleton (ring-name Adam Mercer) – who is now disabled – and Vito LoGrasso (known by the cruelly ironic Skull Von Krush and Big Vito) last year but the warning signs have long been there to see.

    The subsequent findings of mass CTE and the affect it had on the brain in the tragic murder-suicide of Chris Benoit and his family in 2007 gave some clarity to the horrific goings on in June that year.

    Andrew ‘Test’ Martin’s death at 33 two years later was another jarring reminder of the dangers professional wrestlers face in order to put on entertainment over their careers and no matter how “fake” the action may be to you, the toll it takes on the body and the risks they take for our entertainment is very much real.

    With Bryan just a year older than Test and six younger than Benoit, and with a desire to start a family with WWE Diva Brie Bella, the 34-year-old’s decision seems so much more straightforward.

    The hope must be now that Bryan continues to be the face of the company, an ambassador and advisor to those going into the profession as to the great rewards and riches as much as the risks.

    Can he do so?

    YES, YES, YES, YES, YES…

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