ProWrestlingViews.com

In the wake of the Benoit double murder-suicide, one of the people who’s been making the most sense is Wade Keller of PWTorch.com. A wrestling newsletter writer and industry journalist for something like 20 years, he was not taken in by the big media push to blame steroids and only steroids for what happened. His business cards verify his expertise, as does the 20-year existence of his newsletter.

Instead, Keller has put forward five main talking points relevant to the incident. Steroids is one item, but Keller makes the point that their use is nearly taken as a given in sports entertainment. How else can these men maintain superhero-stature bodies?

He goes beyond that to suggest that WWE’s policy of allowing wrestlers to endure repeated concussions that are often left untreated as another contributing factor. His argument for reform in this area of WWE’s employee policy is long overdue to be adopted.

Benoit’s son suffered from a rare case of what is known as Fragile X syndrome. It makes caring for the child a much larger task, as would any unusual health complication. This undoubtedly added stress to Benoit’s marriage.

The most insightful cause that Keller cites, however, is the lack of planned time off for WWE performers. With a workforce of traveling entertainers who only get to spend significant time with their spouses and children for perhaps one week around the Christmas-New Year time frame, most WWE superstars only get significant time off the road when they are injured – which is hardly what qualifies as “quality time with your spouse and kids.” His argument for two six-week breaks a year would employ 25 percent more wrestlers and give WWE performers much-needed physical, mental and emotional health breaks.

He also mentions the role of WWE using “individual choice” as a shield against criticism of the working environment they provide. Of course, considering they are the only major fed employing today’s sports entertainers, that excuse doesn’t hold water. There is no “choice” with the only alternative is flipping burgers at Wendy’s.

Hop over to PWTorch.com and read Keller’s write up. He’s top-drawer.