Why is the mortality rate for wrestlers like this?

[The MAC]

Look back on the last 3 maybe four years - wrestlers have dropped like flies..and they weren't terribly old..

is it steroids?

[loopydate]

I think a big chunk of it is the physical stress they put their bodies through. Unless they're stopped by a serious injury, these guys are out there 52 weeks a year (plus a handful of PPVs), getting the crap beat out of them. It takes a toll after a while.

As a result of this, quite a few do wind up turning to drugs, alcohol, whatever. And that accelerates the process. Now, that's not to say that they are always a factor in wrestling-related deaths, but they have been involved in quite a few.

Also, most wrestlers are huge. Then, to add to their physical size, they pack on tons of muscles, and that much girth puts a lot of strain on internal organs. That's why so many workers die of heart-related problems, even if they never abused drugs.

Add to that the possibility that, in such a dangerous business, accidents happen. Whether it's the Owen Hart tragedy or the horrible fluke that wound up killing Chris Candido. The very act of getting into the ring can be a life-threatening proposition.

Hope that helped.