honor87 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 In my ponderings this week, I had the thought of how utterly crazy the world of pro wrestling is as a career path. Obviously all of us on here love wrestling and many of us probably fantasised of stepping in the squared circle and some may have, but as a full time gig surely the negatives outweigh the positives. Essentially your becoming an athlete that acts his scenes & whereby your talent may not always derive any success. How many really talented guys have never been the top guy as there can only be 1 place atop the mountain. The same cannot be said for messi and ronaldo by comparison as they are recognised as the best in their field but in pro wrestling it becomes very much more subjective. And with only really 2 big companies left options are somewhat limited. It's not like your a premier league star how can go to la liga if you fancy a career change of similar standard. If your in wwe you have a terrible work life balance being on the road 300 days missing key family events, not seeing your kids grow up and maintaining relationships must be difficult. Injuries are almost unavoidable and many will need neck surgery, when in old age many most likely you have to deal with a life trying to manage pain. On top of that the prevelance of many using pain meds and PEDs has lead many to an early grave. So what drives so many to pursue this dream, is it childhood infatuation? $$$ - which certainly are a given unless you reach the top? Or if lucky to be able to perform in front of thousands, does it provide such a high that you can't replicate it? Let's Discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Undefeated Steak Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I think up until the last 10 or 20 years, the type of people who would get into wrestling were the same carny type who would get into circuses and travelling shows. You have to be mental to pursue wrestling as a career. I suppose a lot of the bigger guys would've been approached because of their look. Nowadays pursuing a career in MMA is more appealing too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briefcase Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 It has to be said that its mental how much WWE wrestlers actually do, on the road 300+ days a year, from state to state, city to city, country to country, then theres all the media related things that they do, promotional, charity work, hitting the gym. I do wonder how on earth they even get any time to themselves and stay 100% fit/healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam O'Rourke Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Lets not forget the incessant horseshit that comes with a bunch of emotionally underdeveloped, needy, self-aggrandizing weirdos engaging in high school drama horseshit that would drive most normal people insane by itself. As one of Dave Meltzer's best friends once told me, "Wrestling's not the place for smart people, Liam." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Pitcos Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It has to be said that its mental how much WWE wrestlers actually do, on the road 300+ days a year, from state to state, city to city, country to country, then theres all the media related things that they do, promotional, charity work, hitting the gym. I do wonder how on earth they even get any time to themselves and stay 100% fit/healthy.Nobody in WWE is doing 300+ days on the road. Maybe Cena when he was full time, but apart from the very top guys who are doing loads of appearances, nobody else is even close to 300. If they ever were, it was decades ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrasslin Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I think I remember reading the brand split gives the guys an extra day off a week too nowadays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 On your first day off you are travelling home, so not really a full day off. And depending on shows can be travelling on your last day off. Guess a lot count that too as still being work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CavemanLynn Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 When you're in the ring, essentially play fighting for cheers, it's an amazing feeling. At the top level, if you're smart with your earnings, you can be made for life in less than ten years. Chances are slim, especially in this country, but as a secondary job (until or if the opportunity to go full time strikes), it can be rewarding and fill all hole that "conventional" work misses out. What's missing these days among workers seems to be the fact that wrestling is a business, you're a valued asset, and should value yourself as such. Too many go too hard for too long when the rewards don't warrant it (dangerous dives and stiff striking in local halls for low pay), and end up physically broken without the returns to make it worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchell Jones Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 XXXXX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Van Dammer Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 It has to be said that its mental how much WWE wrestlers actually do, on the road 300+ days a year, from state to state, city to city, country to country, then theres all the media related things that they do, promotional, charity work, hitting the gym. I do wonder how on earth they even get any time to themselves and stay 100% fit/healthy.Nobody in WWE is doing 300+ days on the road. Maybe Cena when he was full time, but apart from the very top guys who are doing loads of appearances, nobody else is even close to 300. If they ever were, it was decades ago. Yeah they do 4 days on, 3 days off now dont they? Its still rough though, as you arent home after your show finishes or before it. It's still a suitcase life and you're probably losing half a day of your 3 off in travelling, but its nothing like it used to be. Im sure around Mania season and all year round for the big boys that that time off is easily eaten up by extra appearances and what not. Thats still 250 days of being completely away from your home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon-Carr_92 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Yeah. A lot of them are probably lucky to only get one day a week at home. Typically you got to do Raw/SmackDown, house shows, training, local media commitments to drum up some publicity, meet & greets whether that's VIP Experience at the shows, an in store like some shops over here have a wrestler before a show or a charity thing like Make-A-Wish to name but a few. And obviously. There's the travelling. Probably fair to say, it's a physically demanding job in more ways than one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosler28 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Physically demanding and emotionally demanding, mssing birthdays, christmas's, weddings, funerals. Your under contract to perform, if you say no youll get pushed to the back and someone else will take your spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonworden Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Are there any guys that do lead the suitcase lifestyle full time? Not having a base so they just wing it to the next city and chill for a few days. Hard going no matter what but a single guy or girl with no regular pull to home would definately have an easier life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikehoncho Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 A base will always be needed; a condo/apartment even if it's small. Comms as they are today can mean a worker can figure their schedules out, if in regular loops for "regional promoters", far easier than ever, but laundry needs to be done, training, travel, etc. It's a single person's game doing it that way, for sure. Brand split = 3 out of 7 days off. Unless travel involves crossing more than one timezone, then generally in the continental US workers can use day one of "on" as the first bit of work-travel ... it all slots in after that, as it has always done. Listen to come of Michael PS Hayes stories on Freebirds lore to find out how workers historically figured travel & how it's undoubtedly improved using tech. Those boys & girls with "stay at home families" are still able to negotiate certain times to be at home, hence the writers get their storylines on-deck in good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briefcase Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Yeah. A lot of them are probably lucky to only get one day a week at home. Typically you got to do Raw/SmackDown, house shows, training, local media commitments to drum up some publicity, meet & greets whether that's VIP Experience at the shows, an in store like some shops over here have a wrestler before a show or a charity thing like Make-A-Wish to name but a few. And obviously. There's the travelling. Probably fair to say, it's a physically demanding job in more ways than one. Plus they are long days as they would be up early to hit the Gym, then do everything before a show starts and shows won't finish til late. I'm sure on TV taping days they need to be at the arena 4 hours before doors open to go through everything. It sounds like a brutal schedule. You only have to look at the scheduled events alone to see that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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