William Regal issues warning to wrestlers that are taking bumps on their head and neck

I broke my neck twice — 9/93 in the ring and in a car wreck in ’97 — and stupidly never told anyone. I was taught properly how to bridge and not land on the top of my head. It’s a skill that maybe 99.9% of people don’t know or will ever learn anymore.

I kept going somehow, but I knew all the tricks that, again, people don’t learn now. They just watch film and copy. After Misawa-san passed from his neck problems, I thought this nonsense would stop, but it’s gotten worse. Whenever I talk to people about doing this stuff, the response is always, ‘Well, it doesn’t hurt…’ Believe me, it will.

I have people close to me now — Bryan being one — who are suffering daily like myself from neck issues. It’s a daily misery. Sleep and every other aspect of your life becomes more than hard.

Although people use the term ‘tough’ about me, you’ll never hear me say that, because I’m not, and I don’t think I ever have been. Money and whatever nonsense fame is supposed to be are not worth the pain or the supposed two seconds of glory you get from these ridiculous moves where you drop yourself on your head.

The vast majority of fans don’t know the difference between a vertical suplex and a brainbuster, and that’s a far tamer move than many I see now. I’m 57 and become less relevant every day, but fame has never been my thing.

Most of you doing this STUPID stuff aren’t going to listen to me, but hopefully a few will. Stop it now if you want a decent quality of life after wrestling, because that part of your life will be over before you know it.

Wrestling done right is hard enough. Broken necks or death are not something you should think is tough or cool. It’s idiotic thinking.”