Wrestlers are tempted by the seduction of alcohol and other drugs to ease physical pain, calm down, or amp up. It helps them cope with their stressful careers in the limelight.
While the road to recovery is always available through many clinics around the country, many wrestlers are in complete denial. It is only when they hit rock bottom that they go to clinics like Pinnacle Peak Recovery, which offers addiction recovery in Arizona and fully customizable treatment programs for men struggling with addiction.
What makes them vulnerable to substance abuse that strips them of everything they have worked so hard to acquire? It's the lies of advertising.
The Advertising Lie
Unconsciously, many people at the top of their game in any field are following a lie perpetrated by advertisers. As a culture, for example, we’re inundated with commercials about alcoholic beverages that can magically restore our broken lives. These commercials show young adults with strong, lean bodies consume it without any intoxication or weight gain. Apparently, wine, beer, or hard liquor brings them more joy and makes them even better at their game.
What's more, these overt or almost subliminal messages are not limited to commercials. They are present in many popular movies as well. When the hero has his back to the wall, a quick drink restores the quickness of his mind and fortifies his courage. James Bond likes his Martini “shaken, not stirred.”
Unfortunately, these false messages of a miracle cure are often unconsciously absorbed by many people glamorized in the media, including wrestlers. They consume alcohol as if it’s a restorative tonic. However, instead, of making these celebrities more robust, they become broken people. Over time, they lose their strong, lean, ripped look. It takes a long time and effort to create their impressive physiques, but a much shorter time to get completely out of shape.
So before anyone is willing to admit that they need help-- unless they are willing to dehypnotize themselves from the belief that alcohol and other drugs are a solution -- they will not even try to step on the road to recovery.
Alcoholism is simply not seen as a deadly drug. Although its debilitating effects are obvious, they believe the commercials, the action adventure movies, and the one liners about taking “just one drink.” It’s only when their careers start to crash that they notice that their lives have been falling apart.
Tragic Stories
Miss Elizabeth
Do you remember, Miss Elizabeth?
She was often dubbed as the First Lady of Professional Wrestling for her beauty and charisma.
Lex Luger called the paramedics on May 1st, 2003, because he noticed that she wasn’t breathing. In the ambulance, she did not respond to any of their valiant attempts to revive her. By the time they got to the hospital, she was dead. She died of a combination of vodka and painkillers. She was only 42 years and at the height of her career as the first female valet on television.
The Iron Sheikh
The cruel tragedy of the iron sheikh is another example of what happens when drug abuse goes too far.
This man once famous for his larger-than-life personality today would rather be left alone to sit in a chair than entertain crowds who loved to love or hate him. He is neither rich nor healthy anymore.
Scott Hall
What about the ruggedly handsome Scott Hall? Today he is a wreck, a shadow of the man that he used to be.
Whatculture.com covers his story of decline:
“In 2010, Hall was arrested at a bar in Florida for being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest. Apparently he was being abusive towards the bar staff and amateur wrestlers. TNA quickly let him go after that and he went into rehab under the WWE's auspices. Halls health took a nose dive. He developed epilepsy, double pneumonia and also had a pacemaker fitted. Hall was not invited to Shawn Michael's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame amid concerns that he would not be able to keep sober."
A Short List of Other Celebrities
Here is a short list of many other famous wrestlers who became casualties of alcoholism:
• · The Von Erich Family
• · Rick Rude
• · Eddie Guerrero
• · Luna Vachon
• · Chris Benoit
• · Miss Elizabeth
• · Sherri Martel Davey Boy Smith
• · Andrew "Test" Martin
• · Brian Pillman
• · Edward "Umaga" Fatu
• · Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig
• · Bam Bam Bigelow
A Delusion and a Disease
Alcoholism is not just a delusion created by social propaganda, macho commercials that people live out as if they were the truth, but it can also be classified as a disease. Even when destructive behavior and physical debility become too strong to deny, the desire to drink is stronger. In addition, alcoholism is often coupled with other drugs that create a compound effect.
For instance, Miss Elizabeth died from the toxicity caused by hard liquor and painkiller medications. Famous wrestlers who were adored by their fans, with everything going for them, from popularity to wealth, end up losing everything to their addiction to alcohol, illicit drugs, and substance abuse of prescription drugs.
