In professional wrestling, as in all physical sports, athletes pushing themselves to the limit is par for the course. Unfortunately, this means that injuries are inevitable and simply a part of life for world class wrestlers.
Normally, a mechanical injury sustained in the course of ring action results in temporarily diminished performance, a few missed shows, or in the case of CM Punk, some much needed "me time."
Injuries are not always so simple however, especially in the case of concussions like the one Dolph Ziggler suffered this week. Ziggler came into the week with the World Heavyweight Championship in tow and the Wrestler Wrankings lead to his name. Quite simply, he's at the top of his game, and finally performing at a level that justifies his huge ego. Then, Jack Swagger decided to go Chun Li on Ziggler's cranium, to a devastating effect.
The effects of a single concussion can range from a minor inconvenience to potentially months of ill-effects including headaches, anxiety, and fatigue. Another particularly terrible symptom is memory loss, from which the former Spirit Squad member is currently suffering.
What is less understood, but nonetheless feared, are the cumulative effects of multiple concussions. It should be noted that Dolph Ziggler reports that he has suffered many concussions over the course of his career/life and only now is suffering this gamut of symptoms. While we can't know if the head trauma suffered at the feet of Jack Swagger's patriotic plantar fascia is worse than what he sustained earlier in life, it is easy to suspect that the cumulative effects are causing these more severe symptoms.
Wrestler Wrankings officially recommends that Dolph Ziggler and other concussed wrestlers not take their Wranking into account and recover fully from their injuries before returning to ring action. After all, Bret Hart is probably the greatest professional wrestler the world has ever known (just ask him) and it was multiple concussions over a short period of time that eventually ended his excellent career. What a shame it would be if the ever-promising career of "The Show Off" met the same fate, before he had the chance to achieve his own legendary status.
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OFFICIAL WRESTLER WRANKINGS FORMULA
ANY WIN = 2 POINTS
US OR INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE BOUT = 1 POINT
WWE OR WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT = 3 POINTS
NON "BIG 4" PPV BONUS = 1.5X
SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE = 2X BONUS
WRESTLEMANIA = 3X BONUS
The WWE season begins on the day after WrestleMania 29 and culminates with WrestleMania 30. The wrestler who accumulates the most points over the course of the season, wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!
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Monday Night Raw -- 5/6/13
- Alberto Del Rio - 2 points (win)
- Randy Orton - 2 points (win)
- Sheamus - 2 points (win)
- R-Truth - 2 points (win)
- Antonio Cesaro - 2 points (win)
- Ryback - 2 points
Main Event -- 5/8/13
- Randy Orton - 2 points (win)
SmackDown -- 5/10/13
- Kofi Kingston - 2 points (win)
- Big E. Langston - 2 points (win)
- Big Show - 2 points (win)
- Chris Jericho - 2 points (win)
- Dean Ambrose - 2 points (win)
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WRESTLER WRANKINGS, WEEK 5 *TOP TEN*
1. KOFI KINGSTON -- 12 points
T2. Dolph Ziggler -- 11
T2. Alberto Del Rio -- 11
T4. Wade Barrett -- 10
T4. Fandango -- 10
T4. Randy Orton -- 10
T7. Jack Swagger -- 8
T7. Big E. Langston -- 8
T7. Mark Henry -- 8
T10. Sheamus -- 6
T10. R-Truth -- 6
Thanks for reading Cagesiders. We'll see you back here next week!