There have been many cases of wrestlers dying sudden and mysterious deaths. Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub got into a discussion on this topic on one of the episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience. Former WWE star Chyna had passed away at the age of 45, and it re-ignited the wider question about the health and well-being of WWE wrestlers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Chyna was found dead in her house in Redondo Beach, California. Joe Rogan had worked with her in the past and admitted how she was a very sweet person. Not just to him, but to all the others present there. Her demise came off as a very big surprise to him. Especially because of her age. Chyna, dubbed “The 9th Wonder of the World,” was a star of the previous World Wrestling Federation in the 1990s and 2000s. Later, she posed for Playboy magazine and appeared on “The Surreal Life” and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” among other reality programmes.
The toll of pro-wrestling and the passing away of Chyna
Chyna’s demise made it difficult not to address the elephant in the room. Schaub and Rogan were ready to take up that job. Professional wrestling is a very taxing profession with odd and long working hours. On top of all this, there is the constant traveling which also takes a toll on the body.
“I think it’s a conversation to have like the substance they put in their bodies and you look at their schedule be on the road 300 days a year, constant uppers downers,” said Schaub. Rogan agreed by saying, “It’s a lot of pain, it’s a lot of pain.”
People’s perception of the profession, according to Joe Rogan
Further talking about the problems persisting in the industry, Rogan said,
“Well, they’re certainly athletes, but I think a lot of people think of them as athletes more of like a Cirque du Soleil type thing like they’re doing a performance yeah than they think of them as competitors in a sport, so they don’t look to try to regulate it or change it they look at it as sort of like an entertainment thing these people are doing not you know...”It is a very common problem or misconception. When it comes to the nature of the sport, the masses are not ready to accept the price that comes with being a professional wrestler in a company like WWE. While they are performers, because of the scripted storyline, the injuries and the mental trauma are often overlooked.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Schaub said,
“I’m with you, man, I’m with you, but they’re taking some performance-enhancing supplements that a lot of the pro athletes are taking, even more, so I think cuz all their schedules are way crazier.” To which Rogan agreed.“oh yeah, no doubt,” he said.It is very hard to cope with such a fast-paced and deeply engaging job without the external support of stimulants.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What do you think about Chyna’s death and the dark side of this job?
Watch This Story: Rare & Unseen Videos of Khamzat Chimaev: Russian Dance, Sparring Chechen Leader & Storming Cages and More From the UFC Star