Anyone who ever saw the heart-wrenching movie “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke knows that drug and alcohol use are rampant among professional wrestlers.
The stories of drug and alcohol use and abuse among professional wrestlers has been going on since the days of “Lucha Libre.”
Most recently, according to the Bleacher Report, former Olympic Gold Medalist and current TNA star Kurt Angle arrested in suspicion of DWI.
It is no secret that many wrestlers are noted alcoholics or drug abusers. Alcohol and drugs have been a plague to the professional wrestling industry. Often, these wrestlers die too young because of their addictions to alcohol or drugs.
It's no surprise they turn to alcohol and drugs to alleviate the pain endured by countless bumps and bruises in that squared circle.
Alcohol and drug abuse has killed many professional wrestlers including: Rick Rude, Luna Vachon, Sherri Martel, Andrew "Test" Martin, Edward "Umaga" Fatu, Bam Bam Bigelow, "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig, Brian Pillman, Miss Elizabeth, Davey Boy Smith, the Von Erich Family, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero were just some of the names in the wrestling industry who died because of drugs or alcohol.
But, there is a beacon of light in the midst of terrifying darkness. A light of hope at the end of the tunnel of hopelessness.
CM Punk
Philip Jack Brooks grew up in a broken home because of his father's alcoholism. Therefore, Brooks dedicated his life to not partaking in drugs and alcohol. Brooks is better known as WWE Champion CM Punk, the best wrestler in the world.
CM Punk proved that you don't need drugs or alcohol to climb the proverbial mountain to reach the top. Punk's outspoken straight edge lifestyle has been positive to impressionable youth constantly tempted by a barrage of drug and alcohol ads.
I hope that CM Punk's real-life straight-edge lifestyle might very well cause a revolution among wrestling fans. It is strong role models like him who might help turn the tide against the rampant drug and alcohol use in society.