Some people call the sport of professional wrestling ‘fake’, while some others look down upon the business and its fans. Although it is a predetermined sport with choreographed spots, professional wrestling is arguably the most demanding job in the world.With the superstars traveling and working for over 300 days in a calendar year, it takes a lot of effort and commitment on their part to entertain the fans around the world. Although it isn’t a legitimate contact sport similar to Mixed Martial Arts and boxing, professional wrestling is equally dangerous, and can result in unfortunate injuries or worse.Professional wrestling in the past had to endure harsh criticism from the media as well as the government. However, at times, professional wrestling can also lead to something great – moments that cannot be written better than how it is played out in real life. Whether you talk about WWE reaching out to Connor “The Crusher” Michalek, making his last few months memorable for him and his family, or CM Punk getting in touch with his ardent fan who got shot, the business can do something so magical that it leaves everyone spell bound. That one moment separates professional wrestling from every other sport, and gives meaning to the sacrifices made by the superstars throughout the year.In this article, we take a look at five such real life heroes in professional wrestling, who not only captivated the fans with their charisma and larger than life personas, but also showed heroics in real life, and made a difference in the lives of others.
#5 Daniel Bryan
The former WWE World Heavyweight champion is arguably the most beloved superstar in the world today. Starting from scratch and clawing his way to the top, Daniel Bryan had to go against the world, and he did just that while gathering millions of fans around the globe. In a fairytale esque ending, Bryan won the WWE World Heavyweight championship at WrestleMania this year, thus cementing his legacy in the WWE. While Daniel Bryan is known to be the fiery underdog who doesn’t give up in the WWE, he has proved time and again that he can be the same in the real world.
Not only did Bryan give Connor Michalek something to hang on to while he was fighting for his life, he also made headlines around the world when he captured a burglar who entered his house, along with an accomplice when no one was home. Bryan, who was recuperating from a neck surgery returned home to find the burglars still in the vicinity of the house, and while one of them managed to scamper away from the scene, Bryan wrestled the other to the ground, and held him down till the cops showed up. Bryan was hailed as a real life hero, and his remarkable grappling skills came in handy in real life as well.
#4 Chris Masters
Chris Masters was known for his chiseled looks and his Herculean physique in the WWE, and he was seen putting all the superstars and random plants (developmental stars made to look like wrestling fans) in the dreaded Master Lock nearly a decade ago. Although Masters was unable to climb the ranks of the roster to cement himself as a main event level character, he made quite an impact in the industry, and when he got released from the WWE, he went back to the independent scene, where he still wrestles to this day to hone his craft. Although Masters played the character of a dastardly heel on – screen, his heroics in real life earned him mainstream attention.
Last year, Chris Masters’ mother was held hostage by her neighbor, who threatened to set her apartment on fire. Masters received a call regarding some disturbance at his mother’s apartment, and when he reached the spot, he understood the gravity of the situation. As soon as the police reached the scene, Masters directed the police to save his mother from the fire, and tackled a tree to the ground to clear the area. He then broke the remaining part of the window, which led to the area where his mother was held hostage, and was able to get his mother safely out of the burning apartment! In the end, Masters suffered a few cuts and bruises, but became a real life hero overnight.
#3 Diamond Dallas Page
DDP was known for being a multi time world champion in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and as the innovator of the Diamond Cutter, which Orton later picked up as his own finisher. Although DDP didn’t make a huge impact in the WWE, he was always seen as a good worker, and he started his own fitness program called the ‘DDP Yoga’ after his retirement from professional wrestling. Although most of the younger fans wouldn’t know who DDP is, he has made a lot of difference in the lives of yesteryear’s superstars, who fell victim to their personal demons.
DDP has worked with the likes of Scott Hall and Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, who hit rock bottom due to their drug and alcohol addiction. There was a point when Hall was admitted into a hospital, and no one was sure if he was going to make it through the night. Jake faced similar problems, and when even the WWE couldn’t help them anymore, they turned to DDP Yoga, which not only saved their lives, but also helped them in getting back to good health. DDP Yoga also helped hundreds of fans around the world to turn their lives around, and get back on their feet, and for this, DDP is one of the most respected legends in the business today.
#2 Perry Saturn
Although Saturn will go down as one of the most underrated superstars in the history of the WWE and professional wrestling, he did initially find fame in the WWE, as a member of the Radicalz stable that invaded the WWE. Saturn, along with Malenko, Benoit and Eddie Guerrero jumped ships to the WWE from WCW, and the stable immediately made a huge impact in the company.
Although the group disbanded immediately afterwards, Benoit and Eddie managed to win the World and WWE titles respectively in the organization, while Malenko became a road agent in the company. Saturn however, was released from the WWE, and most of the fans didn’t hear about Perry until news surfaced about his heroics.
Saturn came to the aid of a woman who was being raped by two thugs, and during the scuffle, he was shot in the neck and in the right shoulder. He initially thought those were punches, but realized later that he was shot by them.
In the end, he not only saved the woman from the two thugs, but also managed to get to the hospital in time. His story was later picked up by the media, and he was hailed as a real life hero!
There have been rumors since then that Saturn was shot during a drug deal that took a wrong turn, and a lot of buzz merchants believe that his addictions at the time are proof enough.
#1 Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon’s name might come as a shocker to most of the fans, but the chairman of the WWE should be given due credit for offering help to the former and current WWE superstars and other personnel. After the backlash WWE had to endure after the Chris Benoit tragedy, Vince and WWE came up with the Wellness Policy and the rehabilitation program for the former and current WWE superstars who are fighting their personal demons. WWE actively reaches out to the former superstars to try and see if they can help them – an act which has saved quite a few lives.
WWE has since partnered with the likes of Be A Star and Make A Wish Foundations, and has also recently renewed its partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, to fight breast cancer, and has been active in promoting other campaigns for a good cause. This has not only affected the lives of millions of fans in a positive way, but has also helped the organization’s motto of giving back to the community. WWE’s anti – bullying campaign has also helped millions of youngsters around the world to fight against bullying, and in return has received great support from wrestling fans around the world.
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