5 Reasons wrestlers should not "die" like Allie on Impact, and 5 reasons why it's not wrong
Impact courted controversy when longtime Knockout Allie "died" in the Undead Realm, but they are not the first promotion to use this type of angle. Should they, or shouldn't they?
Pro Wrestling, when you get right down to it, is one of the most insanely ridiculous entertainment forms known to man.
Where else can you see a Zombie (Undertaker) take on a literal giant (Gonzales?) The same show can host post-apocalyptic warriors, black separatists, and self-appointed guardians of fashion - and that's okay.
You might also see gang bangers fighting blue blood aristocrats, garbage trucks used as weapons, and grown men dressed in turkey suits. Truly, pro wrestling boasts all of these elements and many more.
But one type of angle tends to be, for the most part, taboo in pro wrestling. While depictions of violence including the use of large objects such as vehicles to bludgeon opponents senseless are allowed, the actual mortal injury is thought to be in poor taste.
This is not to say that wrestling promotions have not used death in storylines before. The question we are pondering with this article is whether it's acceptable to do so or not. With Avengers: Infinity War killing off dozens of characters, you might wonder why pro wrestling is still met with controversy about this subject, but as we will examine it's not always as cut and dried as other entertainment forms.
Here are five reasons pro wrestling promotions should not use death as part of a storyline, and five that it's acceptable to do so.
Not Acceptable #1: Wrestlers are both characters and real people simultaneously
Perhaps the biggest difference between pro wrestling and any other entertainment form, such as film or movies, is the fact that there is a real human being in the ring.
While there are steps taken for the performer's safety - padded turnbuckles, a spring under the wrestling mat, and special training to avoid serious injury - it doesn't change the fact that the wrestler is literally putting their body on the line for the sake of entertainment. When you see Roman Reigns get put through a table, it's really him and not a stuntman or computer-generated imagery.
Yes, pro wrestlers play characters, but they are also real people at the same time. Because they occupy this gray area in a unique niche, they should not be seen 'dying' even for a story line.