By Shane McKinley, Torch specialist

Everybody from politicians to sports writers are bringing to light once again how barbaric wrestling is nowadays. Chair shots to the head in particular are being looked at.

I'm in favor of downright banning chair shots to the head. It's not needed.

Some of you might look at this statement as hypocritical. "You only care about wrestlers's health when it's a hot topic. You guys don't mind a chair shot to the head every now and then." Let me explain to
why I feel this way.

Back in the Attitude era where there were unprotected chair shots galore, a common wrestling fan knew that "blunt object + speed + human head = bad results." But much like the Home Run chase in baseball, that was fueled by steroid-addled players and a lot of us put aside the truth for a sick thrill.

Some might say that I am overreacting. And by it's very nature, wrestling is a very dangerous and violent sport. However, with the long history of wrestlers dying before the age of 40, the new research done on the long-term effects of concussions, and the plain fact that unprotected chair shots are not required for a match or storyline, I would like to see all wrestling organizations take away unprotected chair shots to the heads. I would prefer watching match where the performers can tell a story without resorting to gimmicks or "garbage match" tactics. As a kid, I loved it when things got a little bit bloody, a little bit violent. Now as I grown up, I've realized that the health of these performers is way, way more important.

Naysayers would say that this will just make things more pansy. And even some wrestlers will scoff. There is a "machismo" thing going on. Wrestlers talk about how when the adrenalin is flowing and they are jacked up, chair shots to their head don't even seem to affect them (until the next day and possibly years down the road).

However, with what we are learning about concussions and damaging long-term effects, suddenly what is "acceptable" has changed. And wrestling needs to evolve with the times. Take a look at how the NFL is treating players when they get concussions. In the old days
when you played football and you got a concussion, you would pop some aspirin and keep on playing. Nowadays they will take away your helmet when you get a concussion. The NFL has changed with the times. Has
wrestling evolved with the times? It's hard to say.

It seems barbaric to say that these guys do protect themselves in regarding chair shots to the head: they now use to hand to "cushion" the blow. Because a sprained or broken wrist is better than a full-blown concussion.

As you can see in this video, sometimes these guys don't throw up their hands. Warning: this video will make you queasy.



Unprotected chair shots to the head were a relic from the '90s. Let's leave it there. If you want your wrestlers to do unprotected chair shots, go right on ahead. WWE has pretty much taken it out of the
equation because it's bad for business.

Now, fire. I'm totally fine with setting people on fire in wrestling. I have no qualms with that.

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