Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling (Recap)
By: Bryan Randles
Pandamonious@gmail.com
The one-hour documentary of sorts opens with the narrator talking about Chris Benoit. The murder, how he had the body of an Adonis, and how he was spinning into depression. We're introduced to Chris' father, Michael and his documentation that proves Chris' downfall. We see the journal Chris kept, and Michael talks about how the entries are letters to Eddie after he passed. Michael calls it the diary of Chris going mad.
They cut to shots of Chris, his wife Nancy and son, with shots of the taped off house mixed in. The narrator goes over some facts of the murder, back to Michael Benoit saying he feels responsibility, because he let his son chase his dream.
Now we get to see shots of WWE fans attending an event, while excited and saying Mark Henry sucks. The host mentions Raw and Smackdown are ratings giants. Also that WWE's PPV's brought in hundreds of millions in revenue each year.
A Dr. Pinkard says the amount of deaths in wrestling alarmed him. According to him one- fifth of those that have died under the age of 50, were from drug related causes. Chris Kanyon is now shown, and he admits to attempting suicide on September 14th, 2000.
The narrator mentions how the Benoit incident caught the attention of congress, and now it's a sit down moment with Vince McMahon, alongside Linda. Vince says, "they had nothing to do with it. How did we know he'd turn into a monster?"
Commercial.
When they come back they make mention of WWE's special tribute to Chris on Raw the night he had passed. Somewhat shoddy reporting here, as they say that night WWE knew nothing of what happened until the next day, when reports of what actually took place were coming out as Raw was airing. Than they show Vince taking back, but not taking back the tribute from his message the next night on ECW.
Now the Patriot, Del Wilkes, is talking about his steroid abuse and Vince, saying he "liked the big guys."
A man who used to work for WWE in the early 90's, who wants to remain anonymous is than interviewed. He really wanted to hide his identity, as he was completely shadowed, wearing a hood over his head, plus a hat, and had the voice altering. Let the speculation begin. He mentioned how Vince changed the business, before him the wrestlers looked like your uncle, and now they were huge. This is when the whispers of steroid abuse began.
They move to 1994 and the McMahon trial. They mention Hulk Hogan as the key witness, and him admitting he did steroids, and Vince did as well. Hulk estimated that 80% of the WWF wrestlers were on the juice. McMahon was acquitted though, but he did admit to steroid abuse, and than launching WWE's first attempt at a wellness policy.
Now the mention of the rise of Ted Turner's WCW. They talk to Bischoff of who basically just explains that from '96 to the middle of '98 they were on top. After that McMahon took back over, eventually purchased WCW and become the "Lord of all wrestling."
Back to the sit down with Vince and Linda, the interviewer asks if Vince likes big guys. Vince wiggles around the question, and than claims the WWE roster is lighter than ever.
They cut to clips of Batista and Cena.
Irv Muchnik is than questioned on his thoughts. He said, "wrestlers copy other wrestlers." He says theirs only so many top spots available, and those are the only guys really making enough money.
Now Jericho says wrestling has a "stereotypical image" of being all big huge guys. That smaller guys have made it to the top before.
Commercial.
Now it's back to Michael Benoit, showing pictures of Chris at 15 years old. He talks about how Chris always lifted weights and since 13 he wanted to be a wrestler. Michael talks about how he got Chris a weight set for Christmas and that looking back it was the biggest mistake he ever made.
Than they talk about Chris' hero the Dynamite Kid. Michael Benoit than mentions letting Chris idolize him may have been an even bigger mistake.
They than interview the ex-wife of Dynamite, who was abused by him, and she blames the steroids. She talks about his use, and how the bigger he got, the more fame that came with it. Than how his steroid abuse lead to injuries, which lead to painkillers and alcohol. She tells a story of Dynamite dragging her by the hair, and putting a gun to her head. She said she didn't know how to escape it all, and actually was going to kill her kids, and herself. The only reason she couldn't bring herself to do it is, because she couldn't be sure they'd all die. She actually never told her children this, but did the night before the interview, knowing they'd see her admit it on this show. She told the interviewer that they understood.
Now an interview with the Dynamite Kid who is now confined to a wheelchair, living in public housing, complete with a pin literally sticking out of his toe. He blames wrestling for his current state of health. He talks about a drug overdose saving his life, because it led doctors to finding he had an enlarged heart from the steroid abuse. The doctors told him he'd die if he didn't stop, so he did. He says McMahon encouraged guys to be bigger. In an odd moment of delusion, Dynamite says he wasn't violent, but admitted to putting a shotgun to his ex-wife's chin. He also admitted that steroids could make you aggressive, but not kill your wife or kid.
Commercial.
Now they turn the attention to concussions, with clips of the news conference from September of Benoit's brain tissue results. The announcement of Benoit having the brain of an elderly Alzheimer's patient, from multiple undiagnosed concussions, and that being enough to explain Benoit's behavior.
Chris Kanyon talks about how Benoit would take abuse out of his love for the show.
They play several clips of Benoit doing the flying head-butt.
The sit down with McMahon reemerges, with Vince saying they haven't studied the reports. He mentions they have cut back on chair shots to the head. Vince says he can't help what accidents happen in the ring. He than questions the facts of the report, and questioning him on these things, after the fact. Vince doesn't think concussions did this and wonders if Benoit had the brain of an 85-year-old with dementia, how did he function and get on an airplane?
Commercial.
Now the focus turns back to Eddie Guerrero's death, and the installment of a new wellness policy. Vince says the last time they had a policy they couldn't afford it, but now they can. He recreated it, because he wanted to, not because of outside pressure.
Dr. Waddler, who was a witness for the prosecution during the '94 trail of McMahon is convinced wrestlers are still on the steroids and calls their current policy a joke.
A Dr. Tygert, who runs the testing for the Olympics also considers it a joke, mentioning the loophole that if you have prescription for the stuff it's ok.
They than talk to Dr Black, who is involved with WWE's current policy and talks about the risk of getting involved if WWE wasn't serious. He claims Vince is serious, and said they're working on making the wrestlers healthier.
Super Anonymous man from earlier says after the first policy, when the guys got smaller, the business suffered.
Now the focus turns to CM Punk and his straightedge lifestyle. The host says he stands out in this business because of it, and asks Punk if he thinks that's why he's a champion? CM Punk basically admits he thinks he's where he is in WWE now, because of his gimmick.
Now John Cena is asked about taking steroids. He actually went on a going nowhere rambling expedition, than said, "I can't say I never did them, but you can never prove I did."
Back to Vince, who is asked if he is confident of WWE being clean now. Vince says no company or organization can say there are 100% positive they are completely clean.
They mentioned Vince's institution of paid rehab to former employees and now tighter testing.
Vince is asked if it's hard to hear about wrestlers dying young and he says he's not responsible for the actions someone takes in their life.
They close with Michael Benoit saying it's too late for Chris, but theirs time to do something for the future.
Overall: A pretty decent recap of everything most fans have probably already read about or heard. The Dynamite Kid segment was rough to watch as a fan of wrestling. The other new thing that will stand out in my mind is Cena's awful reaction to a question he had to know was coming. I don't think Vince would allow Cena to appear, only to have him admitting to taking steroids, than throwing in you can't prove I did? Decent and worthwhile to watch if you recorded it or they replay it.
