sek69

SK posted this on his blog, any Torch readers wanna speculate? When it comes to Eddie's death hitting someone hard, I would have guessed Benoit, but Angle's personal life is a mess and it wouldn't take much to push someone like that over the edge.

I have to give Jake credit, he helped get the Undertaker over as a legit threat as opposed to just another odd WWF cartoon character.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the snake bite the second recipient of the famous WWF Giant Red X censor when it was replayed on the morning recap shows? (The first Giant Red X was for Ron Bass raking his spurs across Brutus Beefcake's forehead)

I was sitting around, trying to find some good to come out of this tragedy, and I was thinking....could this be what finally gets pro wrestling some respect in the US? Most non-fans think wrestlers are all drooling caveman idiots, and seeing guys like Chavo and JBL on mainstream news shows giving articulate statements on their lost friend and family member. I'm hearing people who never even acknowledge wrestling exists talking about Eddie's death. I don't remember that happening when Owen died, or any other high profile wrestling death for that matter. Maybe it's because Eddie pretty much wrestled as himself with no silly cartoon gimmick, or maybe it's because he was still with the company in a high profile position. Either way, it's been very impressive to see how well the press has treated the business in all of this. To see someone like JBL come on a mainstream news show and say how the loss affected him might make some people think "hey, these wrestler guys aren't so bad after all". Of course, it'd all be pissed away the next time they do a Dr. Heinie skit, but it's nice for a little while to see mainstream media types treat wrestlers with respect for once.

I've had battles with people on this subject in general and specifically about Kurt Angle. How someone can see a guy suddenly increase his muscle bulk despite an increased travel schedule, start to develop acne, and go bald so fast he shaves his head, and still say "I don't know if he's taking something or not"? I would go as far as saying all of the active roster is probably taking some form of supplemental muscle builder. Even little guys like Spike Dudley and Rey got suddenly ripped in WWE and I don't think it's because they have better gym equipment at Titan Towers.

Test may type like a five year old, but he's right. Mixing the enhancing drugs you need to take to get noticed in WWE with the painkilling drugs needed to work their schedule is a recipe for having your very own tribute episode of RAW. Someone in the wrestlin business needs to step up and take care of their workers. It's disgusting that Vince could be worth nearly billions yet he can't be bothered to take care of his employees.

I'm sure Nunzio always jobs at MSG. Hey, maybe Booker will get a win if WWE ever tours Africa.

Nunzio won the cruiser title at a live event Tuesday in Italy, so I guess Juvi's got more heat with someone.

Considering what everyone assumes the plan was for Smackdown, Vince came within hours of his greatest fear: someone dying while holding a WWE title belt.

I think the first point is just a way to counter the steroid-defenders who try to say it's no big deal in baseball since roids don't allow you to hit a 95 mph fastball by saying while that's techincally true they let you hit them further when you do. The second point I think is just giving that vibe because baseball is what always brings attention to steroid abuse.

One thing leapt out at me reading that: Working out doesn't make your heart grow bigger, muscle enlarging supplements do. Anyone looking at Eddie in WCW and comparing it to him in WWE couldn't help but notice how bigger he was. Guess we know why now.

I'd have to go with Joe at this point. In terms of matches, his ROH and TNA work is just top notch. I'm just starting to collect ROH footage, and what I've seen so far locks up the #1 spot for him already.

I found this lengthy but informative story in my local paper. They did a series on steroids, and they talked to McDevitt (who I didn't know was from here).

When they honored Owen, it was like the whole show was "Owen would have wanted us to continue the PPV". This was more of an actual tribute to the man. The only similarities I saw was Benoit's display of emotion reminding me of Jeff Jarrett and Debra talking about Owen.

Piper looked like a 12 year old in Portland compared to his NWA and WWF stints.

A lot of people think that only the obvious jacked up guys take enhancement drugs, but you have to realize that not everyone on roids or HGH looks like Scott Steiner. My favorite example is that Roddy Piper probably owed one of his hip replacements to steroid use and he was never a guy you would even consider on the juice.

I tried to focus on the matches, and in doing so I realized that it took a tragedy to have Flair, Michaels, Mysterio, Regal, Benjamin, and Angle all on one show. That, and Shawn mentioning he never got to have a match with Eddie made me realize how much WWE wasted with all the stupidness.

Even if it was pretty much a carbon copy of Bubba's tribute to Hawk, Cena laying the WWE title on an Eddie t-shirt and leaving the ring was a very nice way to end the show. Especially since they pimped Cena and Orton as the future of WWE, it was a nice visual way of the future paying respect to the past/present.

Man, it was hard watching Benoit. You'd have to be an emotionless bastard for that not to effect you.

I think at this point, Jake is the Keith Richards of wrestling. There's no logical reason for him to still be alive considering the sheer amount of abuse he's put himself through.

I never heard stories about RVD other than the weed stuff, and Rob's said that was exaggerated by Heyman to get his 4:20 gimmick over.

If HHH isn't suffering from some moderate to severe HGH related issues within the next 10 years, I'll eat my hat.

I think wrestling deaths have slowed down for now since most guys don't party like the did in the 80s with nonstop drugs and booze. I do get the feeling a lot of guys now think HGH is a safe alternative to steroids and than in 10-15 years we'll see a lot of guys sick with side effects.

Not to mention it makes you remember all the times he said it after Owen too.