Wrestling Journalist James Caldwell Breaks Down the Head Chair Shot on Chris Kanyon

[posted 8/25/10 to http://wrestlingbabylon.wordpress.com]


“It’s frightening looking at that scene seven years later,” emailed James Caldwell, the assistant editor of Pro Wrestling Torch, in reference to the video linked at the last post of the Undertaker destroying Chris Kanyon with a chair in 2003.

Kanyon committed suicide this year. Lance Cade, who took the beatdown in a similar televised sequence with Shawn Michaels two years ago, just died of “heart failure” at 29; I suspect the forthcoming toxicology report will determine that a load of prescription painkillers helped Cade’s heart along to failure.

But, of course, as former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO and current $50 million “self-funded” Senate candidate Linda McMahon told CNN in 2007, studies of brain injuries “you know, have not been — they’ve not been proven, if you will.”

For those of you who demand a spoonful of semiotics with your soap opera content, Caldwell also offered this observation: “The unintended symbolism of that chair shot sequence is so strong. Commentary – “Kanyon is the sacrificial lamb,” which translates into Kanyon’s health being sacrificed for the angle with Taker and Paul Heyman. Heyman – “He’s a human being,” pleading with Taker for Kanyon.”


Irv Muchnick