Looks like chair shots to the head are banned

[slickster]

There will be no discernible difference for the casual fan. Only people like us will notice the difference...like how we notice the differences due to a TV-PG rating.

[Renslayer]

I suppose it's for the best. In addition to safety, the next time we see a chair to the head, it'll be a big deal in WWE land.

[azz0r]

Fantastic.

[Flying Leg Kicks]

Belt shots to the head?
Ring bells to the head?
DDTs on folded chairs?

[The Warsman]

The Rock has been retroactively fined every cent he's ever earned... and suspended [fink] FOR LIFE!![/fink]

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Wrestler response. "Well I can't hit some in the head with a chair oh well heres a metal trash can instead.

[Franchise]

I for one don't like this call. Yes, it helps with preventing head injuries, but there are many cons to the decision, in my mind.

First and foremost, it takes away an element of the performance aspect of pro wrestling. Chairshots, if used correctly, tell as much of a story in a wrestling match as any other move does. A single chairshot can be used to elevate a feud, work an injury angle, etcetera etcetera. So much can be done with it.

I'm an independent wrestler myself, and I have taken a few chairshots myself. Most of these were unprotected. Did it hurt? Absolutely. There's no way to fake that. But there's no way of faking a superplex, either. Or a powerslam. Or the kicks that cracked my friend's ribs last month. There are more than enough ways for someone to get hurt in this business, and that's a risk everyone who is willing to step into the ring has to take. Wrestlers choose whether to take an unprotected head shot or not, just as they choose whether to take a Tiger Driver or not.

Also, I find that using Benoit's actions as a reason why chairshots should be banned is really a cop out and not at all logical, no offense to those who have said this. Hundreds, if not thousands, of pro wrestlers have taken chairshots, both protected and unprotected. That I know of, Chris Benoit is the only wrestler to have ever commited the acts he did as a result of his pro wrestling career - it is important to note that he was also quite stiff with his diving headbutt, often legitimately hitting his head quite hard on his opponents shoulder or the ring. This isn't quite a fair comparison, but it's the only one I can think of off the top of my head: if a hunter were to, pardon my bluntness, murder his family with the gun that he hunts with, would you ban all hunters from using guns? The acts of one should not equal a loss for others - in this case in particular, the loss of thousands and thousands of WWE fans who enjoy seeing someone get hit with a chair in their wrestling programming.

Of course, this is all just my opinion.

EDIT: Fixed a spelling error.

[Greer]

Mar 17, 2010 17:43:13 GMT -5 Franchise said:

I for one don't like this call. Yes, it helps with preventing head injuries, but there are many cons to the decision, in my mind.

First and foremost, it takes away an element of the performance aspect of pro wrestling. Chairshots, if used correctly, tell as much of a story in a wrestling match as any other move does. A single chairshot can be used to elevate a feud, work an injury angle, etcetera etcetera. So much can be done with it.

I'm an independent wrestler myself, and I have taken a few chairshots myself. Most of these were unprotected. Did it hurt? Absolutely. There's no way to fake that. But there's no way of faking a superplex, either. Or a powerslam. Or the kicks that cracked my friend's ribs last month. There are more than enough ways for someone to get hurt in this business, and that's a risk everyone who is willing to step into the ring has to take. Wrestlers choose whether to take an unprotected head shot or not, just as they choose whether to take a Tiger Driver or not.

Also, I find that using Benoit's actions as a reason why chairshots should be banned is really a cop out and not at all logical, no offense to those who have said this. Hundreds, if not thousands, of pro wrestlers have taken chairshots, both protected and unprotected. That I know of, Chris Benoit is the only wrestler to have ever commited the acts he did as a result of his pro wrestling career - it is important to note that he was also quite stiff with his diving headbutt, often legitimately hitting his head quite hard on his opponents shoulder or the ring. This isn't quite a fair comparison, but it's the only one I can think of off the top of my head: if a hunter were to, pardon my bluntness, murder his family with the gun that he hunts with, would you ban all hunters from using guns? The acts of one should not equal a loss for others - in this case in particular, the loss of thousands and thousands of WWE fans who enjoy seeing someone get hit with a chair in their wrestling programming.

Of course, this is all just my opinion.

EDIT: Fixed a spelling error.

Very fair point, but it's a business decision in the end.

While you are correct about the whole Benoit thing to a point, it's still human beings taking a heavy metal chair to their skull being swung by very large and strong men. While it may not lead to someone going on a murdering spree, it can still have some type of effect on the future of a man's skull.

Just look at the NFL. Concussions can have physical long term ramifications.

Chair shots are a big part of wrestling but if it will be safer for wrestlers, then that's what needs to be done.

[Mesousa]

That's stupid. We have a No Holds Barred match between Bret and Vince on WrestleMania, and this happens.

(sigh)

[Deleted]

Remember Mike Awesome, too. Was very depressed later in life and hung himself, after years of taking hard chair shots to the head and table bumps that ruined his body.

I honestly don't need to see another chair shot. They barely get any pops these days because fans have seen them so often. The only time they would get a huge pop would be if Bret hit Vince on the head; I can live without seeing a guy who's career was shortened because of a concussion hitting a 64-year old grandfather in the head with a chair.

[Alex Shelley]

I think it's insanely selfish to not like this decision. Head trauma DOES NOT compare to any other type of body damage, and to say that a company should allow performers to intentionally concuss themselves is absurd. I lose respect for a performer who takes an unprotected chair shot to the head. It does nothing to further the story today, because of how often they occur - all it does is damage your head. It's just idiotic to do it. It isn't worth it to end up with brain damage by the time you're 40.

[Friday Night SmackOwn]

I'm all for the decision. In the end, would you rather have guys have prolongued careers than careers shortened by taking one too many chair shots to the noggin'?

[seamonsters]

Mar 17, 2010 20:42:49 GMT -5 Alex Shelley said:

I think it's insanely selfish to not like this decision. Head trauma DOES NOT compare to any other type of body damage, and to say that a company should allow performers to intentionally concuss themselves is absurd. I lose respect for a performer who takes an unprotected chair shot to the head. It does nothing to further the story today, because of how often they occur - all it does is damage your head. It's just idiotic to do it. It isn't worth it to end up with brain damage by the time you're 40.

This. 1000 times this.

Mar 17, 2010 15:57:24 GMT -5 Brother Ike: Thread Killer said:

suprised, I figured there would be a lot of chair shots and plunder in Bret vs. Vince. I figured this will be for the long haul but I assume a chair shot will return sometime down the road to set up a big angle (which I think is okay if used sparingly).

You thought that a guy who has had two strokes would be in a match where he could take shots well known to have caused concussions? There's not a word I can think of to describe what I think of that.

Mar 17, 2010 17:43:13 GMT -5 Franchise said:

I for one don't like this call. Yes, it helps with preventing head injuries, but there are many cons to the decision, in my mind.

First and foremost, it takes away an element of the performance aspect of pro wrestling. Chairshots, if used correctly, tell as much of a story in a wrestling match as any other move does. A single chairshot can be used to elevate a feud, work an injury angle, etcetera etcetera. So much can be done with it.

I'm an independent wrestler myself, and I have taken a few chairshots myself. Most of these were unprotected. Did it hurt? Absolutely. There's no way to fake that. But there's no way of faking a superplex, either. Or a powerslam. Or the kicks that cracked my friend's ribs last month. There are more than enough ways for someone to get hurt in this business, and that's a risk everyone who is willing to step into the ring has to take. Wrestlers choose whether to take an unprotected head shot or not, just as they choose whether to take a Tiger Driver or not.

Also, I find that using Benoit's actions as a reason why chairshots should be banned is really a cop out and not at all logical, no offense to those who have said this. Hundreds, if not thousands, of pro wrestlers have taken chairshots, both protected and unprotected. That I know of, Chris Benoit is the only wrestler to have ever commited the acts he did as a result of his pro wrestling career - it is important to note that he was also quite stiff with his diving headbutt, often legitimately hitting his head quite hard on his opponents shoulder or the ring. This isn't quite a fair comparison, but it's the only one I can think of off the top of my head: if a hunter were to, pardon my bluntness, murder his family with the gun that he hunts with, would you ban all hunters from using guns? The acts of one should not equal a loss for others - in this case in particular, the loss of thousands and thousands of WWE fans who enjoy seeing someone get hit with a chair in their wrestling programming.

Of course, this is all just my opinion.

EDIT: Fixed a spelling error.

With all due respect - considering how many wrestlers are still dying young because of the side effects of some of the drugs they have been taking down the years, (and guys who have continued after they've lost close friends and family like Chavo and Rey) perhaps suggest that wrestlers need saving from themselves.

[Throwback]

Where does Bret hitting Vince in the head with his cast fit into this?

[Loser troll. Please ban me]

- WWE has updated the wellness policy, to update the Impact Concussion Management Program. Basically, no violence, bcause that is just not very nice.

WWE has eliminated the standard wrestling mat with a large trampoline

- The intentional use of anything that isn't on the pre approved list of nerf foam weapons.

- Any use of real weapons will be deemed a naughty no no.

- The Timeout in the corner/Detention will be directed by the EVP of Talent Relations (John Laurinaitis).

[PKO]

I am absolutely fine with this. The company is trying to protect the health of their wrestlers by eliminating one of the more riskier spots? Fine. It's not like chairs will never be used, and if it helps the wrestlers at the end of the day it's for the best.

And it will help the wrestlers . Even if it only slightly helps, that's better than the enjoyment I'll get from seeing someone hit in the head with a chair.

[A/C Carcass]

A folding chair to the head every now and then isn't going to cause another Chris Benoit or Mike Awesome controversy. There aren't many chairshots to begin with anyway in the WWE. I think it's asinine to ban them completely. When people think of pro wrestling, they picture folding chairs to the head. They may as well ban powerbombs and replace the canvas with a big mattress too while they're at it.

[Neo Het Is Evil Dead]

Wow...I think they should replace the WWE ring with a bouncy castle because it will both make childern happy (who the wwe really want to impress now) and because it'll make the wrestlers safer.

[Boomaga]

There are probably 820,581 professional wrestlers in history who have taken chairshots to the head. And as far as we know, there is one that has murdered his son and wife before committing suicide. If they are using Benoit as an excuse to banning chairshots, they might as well use him to ban flying in a plane or eating at a sushi bar, because it's just as likely that they'll cause a wrestler to go nuts and kill his family.

[Kris Kobain]

I'm glad to see this.
Right before Eddie Guerrero died he took a huge chair shot to the head from Mr. Kennedy. I seriously feard for his safety.