By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Phil Mushnick, the long-time New York Post columnist and WWE critic, published a column today focusing on the seemingly-inconsistent coverage of the Senate race in Connecticut centered around former WWE CEO Linda McMahon.

Mushnick drew attention to WWE's history of scandals, questionable TV content marketed toward children, documented drug issues in WWE, and an epidemic of early deaths. Yet, as he noted, the media focus has been on McMahon's Democratic opponent in the Senate race, Richard Blumenthal, misleading voters on his Vietnam War record.

"And now, because money can do what money can do, she is the GOP frontrunner to become a U.S. Senator from Connecticut," Muchnick wrote. "How is it possible that anyone noble enough not to do dirt to kids, smart enough to read, write and vote, and wise enough to consider the uncontested leaders of a profession that produces early-death performers - so many of them in the employ of the McMahon's - could even consider Linda McMahon for any public office is beyond comprehension."

Muchnick seems to be shaking his head at the early tone of news coverage surrounding the Senate race following McMahon's Republican endorsement last week. This week, the New York Times and Associated Press ran editorials and reports focusing only on questionable TV content McMahon has produced rather than looking at the real story of early-deaths in the wrestling business and current prescription pill concerns within the industry.

It started with influential New York Times columnist Gail Collins railing on WWE's historically controversial TV product, yet never mentioning the real story of pro wrestling's well-documented health issues that have contributed to the deaths of far too many wrestlers before the age of 40.

The op-ed piece was another head-shaking moment in the mainstream press's coverage of the Linda McMahon Story as she tries to win the U.S. Senate nomination in Connecticut.

The early tone in McMahon vs. Blumenthal in the Senate race has been an almost-obligatory nod to McMahon's background producing "questionable TV," which is visible to anyone with access to YouTube.

What isn't visible - and requires far more of an understanding of McMahon's background as WWE CEO - is looking at the body count in pro wrestling, the prescription pill issues exacerbated by WWE's full-time schedule, and the health hazards performing for WWE. Just this Sunday, Ted DiBiase, Jr. showed signs of a concussion in the middle of a match on live pay-per-view, yet the match continued on for another five minutes.

The real story has been covered here and there during McMahon's Senate campaign, but McMahon has been able to shoo away concerns with half-truths and references to the current Wellness Policy, which was installed well after the health issues became prevalent in pro wrestling and the bodies started piling up.

It will be interesting to see if mainstream and local coverage of the Senate race begins to focus on the alarming information related to pro wrestling's health issues. Most mainstream reporters have shown they don't want to get their hands dirty having to touch pro wrestling anymore than simply watching any number of simulated sex scenes on WWE TV over the years.

Link: Mushnick Post column.

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