One of the reasons I’m not a big fan of Sasha is that she often looks like she’s hurting herself more than her opponent, yeah. There was a report that Vince considered her Daniel Bryan-esque – not worth heavily investing in because she showed too little concern for her own well-being and was injury prone.
I dunno I think I’ve made multiple posts on this forum expressing concern for Tanahashi. I think I made one, like, yesterday.
I think one reason why Bryan’s been subjected to such a high level of scrutiny is because he’s probably the most open, sincere wrestler of all time. This is probably one of the big reasons why he’s so beloved. He expresses vulnerability in a way I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Like, there’s Foley but…Foley masked so many things with humor. Foley was way more of a carny. Foley was way more self-loathing. Foley seemed resigned to being a pro-wrestler. Bryan not so much.
So we know Bryan’s had seizures and we know he’s had cognitive issues and we know he’s had serious neck problems, etc, etc. Lots of warning signs, all shared by him. A dude like Tanahashi or Cena isn’t gonna do this, not unless it’s to push another match and prove “I’m the Ace.” Like all these other guys are doing angles and Bryan’s just…Bryan. He’s kinda anti-carny.
Like I remember getting into this sport and feeling emotionally involved with wrestlers on a level I never did with anything else. Even after the death of kayfabe a lotta guys were able to blur the lines and make you buy into them, to root for them as professionals and as people. That faded as I got older, and I learned more about the business, and so many of my favs died (or murdered children). But Bryan was the lone dude who still maintained that aura for me, and it’s still there. I believe that dude’s exactly as he appears, and I’m jaded as fuck.
Bryan doesn’t feel like a character. He’s human. And maybe I’m wrong, maybe this is all some next-level kayfabe. But I can easily put myself in his shoes. I can’t do that with, say, Togi Makabe, y’know?
I can also see myself making the same decisions he’s making right now – hi I’m also an artist and I’m continually making the worst possible choices because I do not know what else to do with myself aside from continuing to make art – which is another reason why seeing him risk his life is so frustrating.
ALSO:
I think WWE has not done anything to earn any degree of trust in regards to safe guarding their employees independent contractors. Jinder Mahal got a lengthy world title run last year largely because he developed the kinda physique that screams “dead from an enlarged heart at the age of 45”. They had Randy Orton take shoot elbows to the head from Brock Lesnar like 18 months ago. Multiple people okayed a 56 year old Sting taking turnbuckle powerbombs. WWE’s still a fuckin’ slaughterhouse and they’ll still grind you up as long as they can legally cover their asses while doing it.
Gonna stop posting about pro-wrestling now thank you for reading.