Posted in: Mr. Tito
TITO DAILY - Perspective on Evan Bourne's 2nd Wellness Policy Violation
By Mr. Tito
Jan 17, 2012 - 9:37:15 PM

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When I was younger, I was guilty of hammering a pro wrestling for a drug violation. I'm seeing that now with younger wrestling fans and am quite sad about it. Some of the Twitter and Message Board comments that I'm seeing about Evan Bourne's 2nd Wellness Policy Violation are just brutal. The younger, in-his-early 20's Mr. Tito would have jumped on that bandwagon and just hammered Evan Bourne for being so careless.

But old man Tito in his 30's is seeing things differently... I have watched many wrestlers make bad decision after bad decision, with many wrestlers ending up gone before the age of 45. I see the Hardys, both Matt and Jeff, making bad decisions and instead of yours truly spitting venom at them, I would rather encourage fans of those wrestler to pray for those wrestlers. As I get older, I'm beginning to notice that drug and alcohol addiction is incredibly hard to overcome especially in a very unforgiving pro wrestling business.

Pro wrestling is a TOUGH business. Pro wrestlers, beyond the age of 40, deal with crippling ailments that they have to contend with for the rest of their life. Bumping on that ring as well as other high risk moves takes its toll on a pro wrestler, and thus, with time, I have some understanding as to why pro wrestlers can't avoid painkiller addictions, alcoholism, or in Evan Bourne's case, the love for synthetic marijuana.

We, as wrestling fans, have no idea what is running through Evan Bourne's mind or how much pain his body is in. For all we know, the WWE Road Schedule is depressing to him. Being away from family and friends for the extensive touring schedule of the WWE isn't for everybody. Many wrestlers have failed to have a family life while being a pro wrestler and being lonely or depressed on the road might open the door to trouble.

I feel for Evan Bourne, I really do. Chances are that the WWE go beyond the "suspension" incurred from the 2nd Wellness Policy violation and possibly let Evan Bourne go. If let go, he'll be on his own to figure out whether he can control his bad habits or not for a WWE return or to benefit another pro wrestling organization. Sometimes, a good swift kick in the ass is what's needed, but often, it can put the wrestler on a path of self-destruction faster.

I feel for any pro wrestler these days knowing what I know about the business and being as close to it as I have in a few instances. I saw the nagging injuries that a few local Indy wrestlers were enduring and most of them just wrestled on the weekends. WWE wrestlers are destroying their bodies on a full time basis. Sure, WWE wrestlers are paid well, but we're not exactly talking about a 30 year job here... 10 years, at best.

If you watch the movie The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke, you'll at least get a small taste of how tough the pro wrestling industry can be to a wrestler long-term, by example. The real life version for many wrestlers is much worse. Just watch the ESPN E:60 special on Scott Hall for how bad it can get in the pro wrestling industry.

I don't condone drug abuse, and I'll criticize it more often than not... But gaining an understanding for the pro wrestling industry and seeing years of addition among individuals has added perspective. So I ask you, the younger fan, to hold back your criticisms and exchange those with encouragement to Evan Bourne if you can. He could be getting high just for fun, or he could be using to ease the pain of a very dangerous profession.

The 2nd Wellness Policy violation should serve as a wake-up call to Bourne, though, if his drug use is recreational. You are now known as a repeat offender by the WWE's public announcement of your suspension and you do have responsibility to clear your name and to prove critics wrong.

But if the pro wrestling industry is promoting you to use due to pain caused by the physical nature of the sport and the depression of the long road trips, it might be time to choose another profession.

Just Chill... Till the Next Episode!

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