WWE: Understanding Concussions While Class Action Concussion Lawsuit Looms Over WWE

Over 50 wrestlers who have worked for the WWE have joined a class action lawsuit that has been filed against WWE by the Kyros law firm. The lawsuit is seeking a verdict that holds the WWE accountable for the brain injuries that the wrestlers experienced due to the working conditions expected of them while under a WWE contract. The WWE states that they will fight very hard against this class action lawsuit.

In pro wrestling, blows to the head are one of the most common moves in a wrestler’s arsenal. Whether it is a punch, DDT, or a diving headbutt from the top rope, a wrestler’s head is going to encounter some sort of impact. The wrestlers do try and do the best they can to protect each other while performing these moves, but accidents happen. When impacts to the head are severe enough, a concussion can occur.

In the last few years, the medical community has learned an enormous amount about concussions and how they impact an athlete for the rest of their lives. It is this knowledge that has led to improved helmets in football and baseball and has even caused the WWE to stop doing some of the more dangerous moves that impact the head.

What Is A Concussion?

At the most basic level, a concussion is essentially a bruise on the brain. It is believed that when the concussion occurs, axons and dendrites within the brain become damaged. This damage can become permanent depending on the severity of the concussion.

A concussion occurs when the brain impacts the skull either due to direct blow to the head or a violent whiplash-type movement. The brain is not the same size as the skull so it has room to move. A violent impact or shaking will cause the brain to basically bounce back and forth inside the skull. The concept of the brain bouncing back and forth inside the skull is known as coup-contrecoup.

Once a person has received a concussion, they are more likely to get one in the future if they remain in the same activity that caused the concussion. Studies have shown that concussions are the leading factor into a person developing dementia later in life. A large amount of concussions in an athlete can also lead to a condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that is seen in the brains of athletes, as well as others who have had repeated injuries to their brain. According to research, many traumatic brain injuries cause an increase in a special protein known as tau. Tau is responsible for the death of brain cells which will lead to altering how the person’s brain works. Depending on which part of the brain that has received the most brain injuries, the person could develop trouble speaking, remembering, or even changes in their personality. Currently, there is no way to test a person for CTE while they are still alive. Only during an autopsy can the condition be confirmed.

One of the most famous WWE wrestlers who had CTE was Chris Benoit. It is well known that Benoit killed his family and himself. It is believed that the large amount of concussions that he suffered severely altered his brain to the point where he lost his mind. During his autopsy, the doctor confirmed that Benoit’s brain looked as if it had come from a man in his late-80s. Benoit was only 40 when he died.

[Image Via AP Photo/Douglas Healey]