The Steel Cage

I'd be lying if I said I remembered much about Chase Tatum's pro wrestling career, but nonetheless, I was saddened when I heard the news of his passing this morning. His death is another on the seemingly never ending list of young former wrestlers who passed way too early.
And if the news coming from his father that Tatum, 34, was battling a pain medication addition that began during his wrestling days is any indication, his death - like so many others - cannot be written off as an isolated incident.
The pro wrestling industry - through its promotion on superhero physiques; inherent physicality; history of punishing wrestlers who take time off to heal injuries; lack of unions to establish standards for working conditions; grueling road schedules; and so many other reasons - has long contributed to a toxic culture among performers.
That said, we must be careful in lumping all wrestler deaths together. Since the Chris Benoit tragedy last year, every time a wrestler with even the smallest bit of notoriety passes, it has become mainstream news. In a way, that's good. The spotlight needs to be shone on the unusually high mortality rate of wrestlers. But also, we should consider each death on a case by case basis.
Tatum only briefly competed on a national stage as part of the now-defunct WCW - his biggest run being as a member of the No Limit Soldiers in the ill-fated angle involving rapper Master P eight years ago. I don't believe he ever worked for Vince McMahon.
It could be that Tatum's demons had little to do with wrestling, and nothing should be done to trivialize his tragic death. Still, we should never lose sight of the bigger problem facing the wrestling industry, and its possible solutions.