Family Guy: WWE and Its Famous Dynasties: The Pressure of a Generation

Hart, Hennig, Smith, Rhodes, DiBiase, Von Erich, Fatu, Anoai, Maivia, Flair, Vachon, Guerrero, McMahon. Legends all. These are just some of the families that have made it into the world of professional wrestling.

However the pressures of the wrestling world has taken its fair toll on those mentioned above. It is telling that of those listed, EIGHT of the families have suffered tragedy as a result of their profession, with the Hart and Von Erich families arguably suffering the most.

The world of wrestling is fraught with difficulty and danger. To climb to the heights requires luck and character and so the luxury of a famous surname can have its benefits.

The WWE at present is awash with superstars that can claim a famous bloodline, Snuka, Hart, Rhodes, and DiBiase once again headline wrestling events.

The success of wrestling dynasties are however mixed. Not all are guaranteed an easy succession and in some cases like that of the Flair family, there is little legacy to speak of.

In contrast the success of Vince McMahon, Bret Hart and Dwayne Johnson shows that sometimes the subsequent generation can actually take wrestling to new levels of success and achievement.

McMahon in particular took the WWF from a typical territorial organisation into an international sensation. He may not have played by the rules, but the success is nonetheless staggering.

At present in the world of European Soccer, France and Spain are vying for the signature of the son of Zinedine Zidane.

Only 15 and playing for Real Madrid, Enzo Fernandez has the world at his feet and the weight of the world on his shoulders. With such pressure, it will take huge efforts to even get close to the achievements of his father.

Not all must surpass their relatives to succeed, but the pressure will always be there. Fail to live up to the name and even relative success will be deemed a failure.

In wrestling circles, today its arguable that none of those that are presently second generation are going to measure up.

Its even arguably that the Harts, Usos, DiBiase, and Rhodes are merely playing parodies of former superstars - Harts (Foundation), Usos (Headshrinkers), DiBiase (DiBiase Sr), and Rhodes (Lex Luger).

Such is the lack of creativity that those in power, simply repackage the current generation in the hope of recreating past success.

In the case of Dustin Rhodes, son of the legendary Dusty, he spent much of his wrestling career trying to break away from his famous heritage.

The creations of Goldust and Se7en were designed to escape. However he has continuously resorted to fighting under his real name only to quickly return to a gimmick.

If we examine those mentioned even further, it might be said that had it not been for their famous name, their path into wrestling might have been more difficult than it was.

DiBiase in particular may be a gifted athlete, but his mic skills and overall personality and character compares unfavourably to the Million Dollar Man character of the mid 1990s.

Some family members are almost duty bound to follow in the footsteps. Casting aside the pressure and the tragedy, they lace up their boots and try to make it in the murky world of professional wrestling.

Not all succeed, not all get their chance, some even suffer more tragedy, all in the name of wrestling superstardom.

Modern wrestling fans will know of the Hart family and the sadness they have faced. The deaths of Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Brian Pillman, as well as Bret's stroke, have drawn comparisons with that of the Kennedy Family in terms of 'fate,' 'tragedy,' and 'curses.'

However the Von Erich Family is one that has slowly crept into history. A Great wrestling name has now become the epitome of how a dream can become a nightmare.

Led by father Fritz Von Erich, four of the sons that went into wrestling would die either from their own hand or by drug use (Although this has been a source of controversy for years).

A generation of once proud wrestlers gone in the space of six years leaving behind a father that outlived five of his six sons.

The drug element in some of those deaths will mean that the WWE will no longer speak of the family in the same tone as before.

They did though make it to the Hall of Fame in 2008. And yet despite the tragedy, the heartache, the pain and suffering, the third generation continues to aspire.

Lacey Von Erich, part of TNA's Beautiful People, carries the torch today, whilst the remaining brother Kevin, has a son who is contemplating entering the wrestling profession. To dream after so many nightmares takes pure grit and determination.

Success takes a great deal of luck for anyone. For those with a famous name, the passage may be initially easier, but obtaining real success, is arguably harder to achieve. 

For the Hennigs, Harts and Rhodes of today, the need to create something distinctive is a necessity.

Ultimately though, who would be a wrestler? Who, after witnessing such suffering, would want to lace their own boots and follow in those footsteps?

The perils and pressure for subsequent generations: typecasting, unfavourable comparisons, drug abuse, physical and mental suffering, and death.

They face the prospect of all.

It takes courage to do what they do despite these obvious risks.