His real name was Brian Adams. Toxicology reports are required to determine the cause of death, which suggests some sort of overdose.
The deaths are going to keep coming, as the 80s/90s stars reach further into their 40s (Adams was 43). The main problem, which still exists today, is that Vince McMahon likes the bodybuilder look for his wrestlers. Ability does not matter if you have a Hulking (pun intended) physique. Thus, the likes of Bobby Lashley and The Great Khali in the top money-making positions, even though they are average at best in the ring, and have no charisma to speak of. John Cena, the company`s top star, is a lousy wrestler, but at least he works hard, and is very charismatic.
This leads to wrestlers using steroids, which not only enlarge the muscles, but enlarge the internal organs, such as the heart. This is the top reason why so many wrestlers in their 40s are dying of heart attacks.
Painkillers are also a problem, but are considered by wrestlers to be a normal part of the business. Wrestlers are scared that if they request time off to heal an injury, that their place on the card will be given to someone else, and that the company will consider them unreliable. So instead, they work while hurt, and often end up with terrible addictions. England`s William Regal (known as Steve Regal in the World of Sport days) nearly died from painkiller addictions.
There`s so much to be said about deaths in wrestling, that a book could be written on the subject. I don`t think I want to be the one to do it, because it`s such a depressing tale. Yes, it`s "only wrestling", but not when families are being destroyed. Nor when children`s idols and role models (whether that should be the case or not) are perrenial drug addicts.
Brian Elliott is the Sports Editor for multi-faceted rock music magazine
Zodiac Lung, and is a regular contributor to
DVD Reviewer and
SLAM! Wrestling.
Please visit my website!This item was edited on Thursday, 16th August 2007, 23:42
