Well it's not about the payoff for some people.

I guess when you're younger and still making a name for yourself in the indies or wherever, some people can be more.....daring with the things they try and think that they're going above and beyond with giving the viewers their money's worth and building something that can maybe help take them to the next level. There's also that sentimental notion of "I'm gonna steal the show every night and do everything I possibly can because aren't I the best in the world, fuck it all!" combined with maybe a feeling of being untouchable and invincible and a certain level of disregard for longevity and the future.

And as for Japan, even if it's not like their Wrestlemania or whatever....if you consider something like Misawa/Kobashi, I guess every match they're having is this big thing, and a fuckload of people have paid to see it, combine that with just the insane level of pride that's embedded into these guys who claw their way up in the Japanese wrestling industry. Put yourself in their shoes and see it their way.

And sometimes these things just get out of control, I mean guys face each other so many times and keep having this pressure to top themselves so it just escalates madly.

Think about it. Mick Foley got it into his head that he had to top the first Cell match and once that idea of taking that bump off the top was in his head....I don't think anyone could have talked him out of it because he didn't want to be talked out of it. And the way I've heard him and other people talk about it, to him it was just this creative thought for the good of the match, it wasn't like this super huge dramatic moment of truth and impending acceptance of his fate or whatever. But he was adamant about it. I might have missed something here but that's my perception based on what I remember hearing from the man himself and Terry Funk and Taker too.

The people he discussed it with did discourage it but eventually he just went ahead and fucking did it and Taker agreed to it. And it was an unforgettable moment in time and Mick paid the price for it, even if he got a discount and dodged...y'know, DYING or being crippled instantly for life.

So the point is.....it's equal parts admirable and stupid but at the end of their day, it's their life and their choice and if they feel they can live with the end result, whatever it is, who are we to judge? The risk and reward is all on them. I wouldn't place an expectation or demand to see them do it though and I don't think anybody should.