Was Mania VII the deadliest PPV ever?

Was Mania VII a Deadly PPV?




By Phil Allely



Over a quarter of the performers taking part in the WWE's Wrestlemania VII PPV event have died due to unnatural causes according to popular publication The Wrestling Observer. In the wake of the tragic death of Macho Man Randy Savage last week, it has now been noted that 14 of the 51 wrestlers at Wrestlemania VII have died in the past 20 years. Many of those deaths have been attributed to drug use/abuse, or an associated condition in some way. Over that period such stars as Savage, Miss Elizabeth, Andre the Giant, Hawk, the British Bulldog, Mr Perfect, Crush and many more have passed away due to a heart attack or drug overdose. Savage was the only one of the 14 who was over the age of 50 by their death. Of course whilst drugs, steroids and alcohol can play a huge part in the life of a grappler (especially during the 1980s-190s) thats not always the cause of their downfall, Dino Bravo was famously fatally gunned down and 'Texas Tornado' Kerry Von Erich his own life. No other form of sports entertainment has this mortality rate as high as this. Its a sobering thought that when vieiwng retro shows like Mania VII to note how many of our heroes never even reached their 50s or see thier legacy unfold.

Figures such as this are why now TNA and the WWE have such stringent drug tests and much more to ensure their workers are fit and well enough to perform in the ring.