By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

CNN published a story on Saturday night drawing attention to the high rate of deaths in the pro wrestling industry, with former WWE wrestler "Umaga" Eddie Fatu being the latest big-name wrestler to die before reaching 40 years old.

CNN's headline reads: "Wrestlers grapple with problems in, out of the ring." The story includes quotes from the Baltimore Sun's Kevin Eck on the physical demands of being a pro wrestler.

The story was published at the same time WWE is marketing the TLC PPV with images of wrestlers "crashing and burning" in past WWE matches. Based on the advertising, WWE is encouraging viewers to spend $39.99 to see more stunts, falls, and high-impact moves beyond the level of regular bumps and bruises that come with the job.

"As it (pro wrestling) has evolved, so has the need to do more risky looking stunts, and that's why guys get a lot of bumps and bruises, and you can sort of make the correlation that that leads to more painkillers," Eck said in the CNN story.

WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman's response to the story was to focus on WWE providing counseling and workshops for wrestlers in the company to live healthier lives.

Caldwell's Analysis: It's good to see that CNN ran a story taking a hard look at industry practices, but the likely result - based on the history of how this usually plays out - is that WWE will wait out the media inquiries about Umaga's death until the media moves along to something else to write or talk about. The benefit could be WWE being held more accountable to review their practices and report specific evidence of their Wellness Policy protecting the health of their wrestlers. WWE might have that specific evidence at their fingertips, but it would seem empty when they are currently promoting a pay event next Sunday that will glorify wrestlers punishing their bodies to fit the theme of the "crash and burn" event where wrestlers are turned into crash dummies for WWE's profit.

Link: CNN Report.

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