While things have improved over the past few decades, the pro wrestling business is well-known for its adherence to the motto, “the show must go on”.
In the past, this has been the case when wrestlers have been bleeding in the ring, or suffered injuries or concussions. The most infamous example is the aftermath of Owen Hart’s tragic death when a stunt went wrong during a WWE pay-per-view in 1999. Following the incident, a decision was made to continue the event regardless.
Ric Flair reflects on the insensitivity of the wrestling business
On a recent episode of Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast, Ric Flair discussed the recent NFL incident which saw a game called off after Damar Hamlin suffer a cardiac arrest on the field.
Ric Flair explained that if a similar situation occurred in pro wrestling, the reaction would’ve been a lot different.
“The other night we witnessed a real tragedy with a football player, and the NFL made the most awesome call I’ve ever seen watching the NFL. They stopped the game .. and they actually gave that young man so much respect and his family, and they made themselves look good.
“In our business, when guys are jumping off a goddamn top rope on tables, ladders, chairs, somebody gets hurt, show goes on. It’s the most insensitive business in the world.”
Over the years, the idea of pro wrestlers forming a union to improve working conditions has been floated several times, but it’s never come to be. Ric Flair explained why he thinks it hasn’t happened, saying wrestlers shied away because “everyone could be replaced”.
“We would’ve been replaced, number one. Then blackballed, number two. Don’t think you can’t be replaced. Everybody could be replaced. It’s our own fault we don’t have that. But I mean, it’s not one person that makes these decisions. We have ourselves to blame for it.“
H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the above transcription.