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Storm warning about concussion risk

James Storm’s fun-loving personality is no act, but he is learning firsthand that brain injuries are no laughing matter.
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James Storm’s fun-loving personality is no act

James Storm’s fun-loving personality is no act, but he is learning firsthand that brain injuries are no laughing matter.

Storm said he suffered the third concussion of his pro-wrestling career in late October during an Impact Wrestling television taping in Macon, Ga. Storm isn’t sure how he was injured during a match against Robert Roode, but quickly realized something was wrong.

Storm proceeded to grapple at two live Impact events in California that same weekend before taking a hiatus from extensive in-ring action. Storm has since received medical clearances to face Kurt Angle on Sunday’s Final Resolution pay-per-view event emanating from Orlando, Fla.

Storm describes his California bouts with Roode as being “really good matches, especially for someone who had a concussion.

“We probably wrestled about 15 minutes.”

Storm, though, admits he was taking a risk by returning to the ring so quickly.

“It’s one of those things if you’ve had them before as a wrestler that you don’t want to tell people you’ve had a concussion.

“You’re scared you might get replaced or written off the show,” said Storm, a 15-year veteran. “But it’s something that should be taken really seriously. This is my third one. It definitely could have been worse, but I wish I had told someone before about the other two. Maybe it would not have led to this one.

“If you have a concussion or may have suffered one, tell someone and get it looked at so maybe it won’t happen again. If we don’t get cleared and you do go out and wrestle, someone could die from this.”

Storm, 34, said he was treated by medical staff in Macon following his match with Roode.

Impact Wrestling, which is backing his claim that this is a legitimate injury, declined to explain why Storm was allowed to perform in California despite the concussion. Impact spokesman Scout Finch said Storm “completely passed his concussion test” Nov. 27 at an Impact taping.

“Doctors said he showed no symptoms and that he was free to continue his training and wrestling,” Finch said in an email. “However, as a precautionary measure heading into Sunday’s (pay-per-view), we had him avoid physical contact.”

While concussion effects are believed to have contributed to some of the industry’s real-life tragedies — including the 2007 murder/suicide involving Chris Benoit and his family — it’s understandable why Storm would find it hard to take a break. He had just started receiving the biggest singles push of his career in a feud with Roode, who was his longtime partner in the Beer Money tag team. Storm had defeated Angle to win the Impact heavyweight title in mid-October, but dropped the belt eight days later in Macon to Roode, who turned heel in the process.

“Now that Beer Money is done and I’m on my own, it feels really good to get the praise,” said Storm, who lives outside of Nashville, Tenn. where Impact headquarters is based. “Not that it didn’t feel good when I was part of a tag team.

“But being on your own, it’s kind of like all the glory is yours. It seems like all the hard work I’ve put in for the past 15 years is starting to finally pay off.”

Storm already was an Impact mainstay since the company’s 2002 inception as both a singles performer and tag-team partner with Chris Harris in America’s Most Wanted.

But it was a happenstance 2008 pairing with Roode that brought out the best in both performers.

When Impact matchmakers didn’t have meaningful storylines planned for either, Storm and Roode were put together and became one of wrestling’s top duos. Roode initially had trepidation about splitting Beer Money, but ultimately acquiesced because of the opportunity presented to him and Storm.

“We both know what we’re capable of doing and that this is the time where we can do something very special,” Storm said. “At the same time, we can always come back as Beer Money one way or the other. Right now, it’s our time to build our names as individuals.”

Storm said his goal for 2012 is “more perfection.” To that end, Storm closely reviews his matches and scours material from previous generations for anything he can add to his own act. That includes 1980s footage from the now-defunct American Wrestling Association as well as the interview style of Michael “P.S.” Hayes of Fabulous Freebirds fame.

“Sometimes what’s old can become new again,” Storm said.

Roode vs. A.J. Styles and Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett are the “Final Resolution” headline matches. For more information, visit www.impactwrestling.com.

Alex Marvez takes a ringside look at the latest in professional wrestling in LIFE on Thursday. Contact him at alex1marv@aol.com