"Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."-
- Philosopher and critic George Santayana

After watching the Royal Rumble on Sunday night and the Raw and Smackdown shows from the last few weeks, I was left was many memories of the old World Class Championship Wrestling promotion. Reportedly Kevin Von Erich has just sold the library to WWE, Let's open the vault and see what we can find coming to WWE 24/7 and how it relates to WWE now.

During Rey Mysterio's dedication of the Royal Rumble to Eddie Guerrero, I was reminded of World Class Championship Wrestling's Fritz Von Erich in Texas using death to get his sons world title shots and Parade of Champions events over. Fritz and WCCW said when David Von Erich died in Japan, the cause was acute enteritis. It was later reported the cause of David's death was an overdose on Placidyl. WWE says Eddie's death was the result of his hard-living and his past lifestyle. The medical examiner reported one of the causes of Eddie's death was an enlarged heart, an often affect of Steroid and HGH usage, and that steroids were found in his system.

However, in this business, one knows facts can't get in the way of a good wrestling story like a chase for the World title. When David Von Erich died, WCCW fans filled the Cotton Bowl to watch Kerry Von Erich win the NWA title from Ric Flair. Before the event happened, it was renamed the "David Von Erich Parade of Champions" and Kerry dedicated the match to his dead brother. The Song "Heaven needed a Champion" was played on radios all over Texas to honor of David Von Erich. At least, Vince hasn't renamed the April Pay-per-view - The Eddie Guerrero Memorial Wrestlemania. Well, not yet.

Sometimes death and faith can go hand in hand. World Class wanted fans to know that all the Von Erich's were "good Christian role models". The Von Erich Clan even worked Pat Roberston on the 700 Club into to thinking they were the great American Christian role models and in the process, got a sweet national cable spot on his CBN network at the time to boot.( Kevin Von Erich would years later admit that the family really wasn't very religious.)

WWE is continuing the "time honored tradition" of using faith and religion to get an angle over. WWE is setting up Rey Mysterio is set up to feud with Randy Orton over the WWE title shot at No Way Out.( It is interesting how some of the rumors of Randy's parting excessively and being a second generation star can remind some of similarities to the Von Erich's legacy also. ) Orton on Smackdown and mentioned that Eddie died and went to hell. (Yes, Eddie was a committed Christian by all accounts, but whatever it takes to get heat.) It seems that Rey Rey won't get to fight the battle to win the World title at Wrestlemania this time since he will most like lose the title shot to Orton before then. Regrettably, that may be for the best as I could see Rey's opponent taking a ghost bump and Rey thanking Eddie for helping him in his match. When Vince McMahon said that Eddie Guerrero wouldn't be forgotten, I don't think anyone thought this was what he meant.

Drug usage was rampant in the WCCW promotion. Many deaths of the promotion's stars from were from drug usage or the effects of it. On Raw, when Vince and Shawn were recreating the story of Satan's temptation of Jesus (more religion), Vince mentioned about wanting the "pill popping" Shawn Michaels back. You would think McMahon would realize that the former "pill popper" has been under exclusive contract to him since the early nineties. If I were a business owner or Chairman of a company, I am certain I wouldn't want that to be brought to light with the recent events in Baseball's congressional hearings. The institution of the drug policy days after Wrestlemania will be very interesting.

World Class could write a book on nepotism. If you were a Von Erich, you were pushed to the moon. While many of the Von Erichs were good to decent workers, the basically unathletic Mike Von Erich was even given a huge push and prominent spot in the line up. In WWE, Triple H (son-in-law), Goldust (son of creative team member) and Animal (Brother of VP of talent relations) all had spots in the Rumble and figure to be pushed upcoming months. Shane-O-Mac ( son of the Chairman, brother of the main writer) got to eliminate a former World champion from the Rumble and he wasn't even an entrant in the match. I guess the Nepotism book will be getting another chapter.

In World Class, Kerry Von Erich was always close to the top, if not, on the top of the card. Even after he lost his foot in a motorcycle accident, he was still on top. The person, Kerry Atkinson, was also very deep in drug usage at the time. Kerry's recreational usage and having to deal with his handicap contributed to his later suicide. In WWE, Kurt Angle is at the top of the Smackdown card. While Angle hasn't lost a limb, one can't be sure how the neck injury he deals with and the numbness in his hands is affecting him mentally and physically. If pain is an everyday occurrence for wrestlers without major injuries, how much pain is Angle is in with his neck which he will not have surgery on? What kind of dosage of painkillers would it take to keep a person in massive pain performing? While the cases of Kerry and Kurt aren't entirely similar, one thing is apparent. For the good of both wrestlers, they should have been sent home before more damage took place. Whether it is physical rehab or chemical rehab, an individual in trouble needs to be saved from themselves sometimes. We have no guarantees that more rehab or therapy would have helped Kerry, but can the WWE afford to take the chance with someone like Angle?

Sadly, the death of the World Class promotion was caused by fans deciding to stop going to the matches. A rabid wrestling town was turned off by the deaths and lies, so they found something else to do. I loved the Freebirds and the Von Erichs feud of years past. Now the only people left from the two teams are Kevin Von Erich, Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts. That feud was one of my favorites and got me hooked on wrestling. Too bad the deaths and tasteless promotional tactics overshadow that great feud and promotion now.

The definition for insanity has been referred to as "doing things over and over the same way and expecting a different result." Vince likes to rewrite history. However, Vince McMahon wouldn't have to rewrite as much history if he learned and studied more of it. Some things in the wrestling business shouldn't be repeated. As talented as WWE and Vince McMahon are, they don't need these negative aspects to produce a quality product and get stars over. I just hope the key people in that company realize this before it is indeed too late.