A chair shot.
Those words can spark a mixed array of emotions and ultimately describe the dark side of pro wrestling. From the shock of the impact, excitement of nostalgia, and the disgust at the site of blood (blade job), a chair shot has always aided a match/segment by providing the “real” feeling pro wrestling unmistakably lacks.
While fans overwhelmingly favor the usage of chairs in pro wrestling, they fail to realize what it’s doing to the target Superstar. One way to describe a chair shot and its profound effect on a WWE Superstar is the lyrics of the hit song, “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence.
“Bid my blood to run, before I come undone.”
This strange commodity has had its fair share of victims. The numerous injuries, early retirements, and accompanying health issues have gotten to a point where I believe all forms of chair usage should be exiled.
I know what you’re asking yourself. Why?
“Since chair shots of today are less effective and more protective, why should chair shots be banned?”
Before you write this article off, let’s examine the reasons why I believe chair shots should be banned.
Medical Issues
The primary reason chair shots should be removed from pro wrestling is the risk of injury to the target.
The usage of chairs has shortened dozens of pro wrestling careers. The majority of these superstars suffered injuries that have eventually led to their retirement. The risk of injury was highlighted by the shocking retirement of former World Heavyweight Champion, Edge.
In 2003, Adam Copeland suffered a severe neck injury. The Rated R Superstar underwent a surgery that placed a metal plate and screws in his neck. Because of this, Edge knew his time as a WWE Superstar would be limited.
The injury sidelined Edge for almost a year.
In case you’ve missed my point, the primary target of a chair shot is the skull. If swung with enough force, a chair shot to the skull could cause a considerable amount of damage to the neck and spinal areas.
With Edge being a victim of multiple chair shots after the injury, it’s highly possible that Edge would be an active member of the WWE roster today.
Edge’s case is a shocking one but he’s just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to injuries sustained by a chair shot. Fellow Canadian, Chris Benoit, was said to have suffered multiple concussions during his time in the WWE. The primary cause of these concussions was chair shots Benoit sustained in multiple matches.
These multiple concussions eventually led to a considerable amount of brain damage. This eventually leads to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE can eventually lead dementia and a number of strange/violent emotions.
Former professional wrestler, Andrew “Test” Martin, unwittingly suffered from the disease.
The number of professional wrestlers that have suffered concussions is a cruel notion to my argument. From Mr. Anderson, Randy Orton, Test, and Chris Benoit, chair or not, concussions aren’t to be taken lightly.
In the end, from the head to other parts of the human anatomy, chair shots have always proven to have a negative effect on their target. As pro wrestling fans, we should invest our interest in the well being of the performers instead of anticipating a cheap pop from a chair shot.
This brings me to my next point.
They’re Pointless
I’ll be the first to admit, wrestling would have an odd feeling. That being said, as fans, we can adjust to the idea in favor of product quality. Like I stated above, the primary reason for a chair shot is a cheap pop. Hardcore Legend, Mick Foley, also dislikes the usage of chair shots.
“It was overused, it was an easy pop, guaranteed reaction and they have showed that when you use it sparingly as in The Undertaker-Triple H match at WrestleMania that a chair really means something.”
My point is the use of a chair shot is no longer needed as it’s easy to spark a crowd reaction based on moves inside the squared circle. For example, CM Punk vs. John Cena received a five star match rating. The match revolved around pure wrestling skill and refused to incorporate weapons as the crowd was already responsive to the in ring action.
While the Punk/Cena match received a five star rating, the Undertaker/Triple H was panned as forgettable compared to Taker’s bouts with Shawn Michaels.
Simply put, chair shots don’t add much to the match and aren’t essential as they once were.
END
In closing, I’d like to say chair shots have played their role in pro wrestling history. A number of matches/segments would’ve been less effective had the chair not been used. With that being said, I would rather witness WWE Superstars hang it up on their terms. We’ve lost too many Superstars because of the effects of a chair shot. Injuries are serious.
This is a contact sport and despite the smoke and mirrors associated with professional wrestling, these performers are subject to injury.
As I watch RAW and SmackDown each week, it’s tough realizing I’ll never experience the exhilarating feeling that comes once Metalingus by Alter Bridge explodes through the arena.
You can read the other side of the story here. Who’s side are you on? Let us know in a comment below.
July 31, 2011 at 2:15 PM
No chair shots in the WWE? As, Zack Ryder would say…
“Are you serious, Bro?”
Chair’s are what made Edge and Christian one of the best tag teans of all time,
You’d need to get rid of a “Chairs Match” also a TLC Match will now be a TL Match? Tables And Ladders Match?
July 31, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Also one contributing factor to arguably the greatest technical wrestler’s death.
August 12, 2011 at 5:00 AM
Chair shots made many superstars like Edge, and increased the awesomeness and viewing pleasure of many fans around the world with many matches such as the 1998 Hell in the Cell with Undertaker vs. Mankind, and 1999 WrestleMania Hell in the Cell with Undertaker vs. Big Bossman. Those were awesome matches. And even if they do ban them, they will still live as the best moments ever when wrestling was king.
August 31, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Taker/Trips’ match was panned as forgettable because Taker is old and can’t do what he used to do. It had nothing at all to do with chair shots. I think banning chair shots period is a drastic move. Why not just prohibit chair shots to the skull? It seems like the more reasonable thing to suggest.
January 24, 2012 at 7:50 PM
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December 9, 2011 at 4:39 AM
This shouldn’t even be a debate. If professional wrestling bans chair shots, the NFL, NHL, as well as every Boxing and MMA organization need be shut down as well. It sounds to me like you just miss watching Edge. Sorry buddy, he’s gone. I’m glad he is too. He was a hell of a performer but tried way too hard to be a bad guy and it just came off as cheesy. The E&C days where he was a favorite were his best, not all the Randy Orton and Cena feuds that he’ll unfortunately be most remembered for. The one feud they needed him to be the bad guy for was the one WWE fucked up on big time and never booked… Edge vs. Christian.
Banning chairshots from wrestling makes about as much sense as giving Snooki the highest spot in a Wrestlemania match with John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler.
January 15, 2012 at 12:39 AM
I think that numerous overrate the chair-shots damage to a competitors career, but I do agree that they should be banned. What I am saying is that there is worse things that have been done and they’ve been neglected, but to take out all the danger is to take out all the intrigue. As a professional wrestler, you are going to come across hundreds of injuries before the curtain lowers, but chair-shots don’t seem worth it. They don’t truly add to the realism aspects too greatly, and do more harm than good, that is why they should be banned, because they can provoke serious injury, but can’t provoke too much of anything else.
January 15, 2012 at 12:44 AM
For the record, I was discussing chair-shots to the head, not legs or torso, those are fine.
January 24, 2012 at 4:47 AM
Wrestling is a great sport. It’s not just physical but mental however, severe injuries that can carry you for the rest of your life is simply not worth it. Injuries should not be severe enough where it can force you into retirement. Many forced into retirement were just at the top of their game and would do anything to lace up the boots, hear the crowd and embrace that energy and go for one more match!! When you dream of someday being a wrestler just like any other sport and it becomes a reality especially if it’s a career in which you love you don’t want to be forced out for any reason!!! You put it the hard work, effort, blood, sweat and tears you most certainly don’t want your career for anything to end unless it’s on your terms, especially from something that can prevented!! BTW you can not for any athelete do this forever and at the end of the day you are someone’s son, husband, father etc….don’t you want them to enjoy that part of their life. Life is to precious!!!
April 15, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Why would this be a debate? Without chair shots wrestling would be a difficult for wrestlers. For an example Cm Punk vs Mark Henry, Mark is too big for Cm Punk. Still with the chair shots Punk can bring him down and be able to win, if he’s opportuned to. Without it we can tell that Mark Henry is going to win. And so many other wrestler who are too small to fight the big ones. Banning chairshots is a big mistake when people can predict that the huge wrestlers are going to win in a match with the small ones, when the small ones got no chance to.
As for punk’s match with Mark Henry i think that’s cheating because he is against Laurinatus. They should take it easy on him cause he’s not the only one against John Laurinatus, his followers and their evil plans.