It seems as though a fire that appeared to die down for a bit is about to be rekindled in terms of the attention given to steroid use in professional wrestling.
U.S. Senator Henry Waxman submitted a report on the state of steroid use and abuse in wrestling to the Office of National Drug Control Policy's Director, John P. Walters. Along with the report, Waxman provided a letter he wrote, which details somewhat shocking, and most certainly embarrassing facts about steroid use in both WWE and TNA.
To read the complete letter, in pdf format, you can CLICK HERE
Some highlights (or lowlights?) in the letter, pointed out by Mike Johnson of pwinsider.com:
*Chris Benoit tested positive three times for steroids by World Wrestling Entertainment prior to his June 2006 murder/suicide of his family, but was never penalized by the promotion beyond "only a warning."
*40% of WWE talents tested positive for steroids and other drugs despite being aware they would be tested when the company instituted their "Wellness Policy."
*25% of TNA's talent roster tested positive for steroids during the promotion's first baseline test while 11 talents tested positives for other substances. Waxman went on to note that while the company has instituted a policy, there are "significant weaknesses" within the TNA program.
*Waxman was critical of WWE making changes to their Wellness Policy several months after instituting it to allow wrestlers to continue to perform (without pay) on TV and PPV events in order to maintain storyline consistency after they were nailed with suspensions. In an interview with Aegis Science's Dr. Black (who oversees the WWE Wellness program), Black noted that change was instituted, "because it was becoming difficult to deal with the talent who were being suspended". Black also noted he was "unaccustomed to programs that suspend and you're not suspended."
*WWE hired five of eight wrestlers who tested positive for steroids and other drugs during pre-hiring tests, despite their positives. It should be noted that according to material given to the Committee by WWE, those talents were only hired after later receiving negative tests at a later period.
*Waxman noted that WWE was allowing "therapeutic usage" of steroids from talents who were using a "testosterone replacement therapy" to combat issues brought on by previous steroid use in their past.
*Despite being a performer within his own company, Waxman noted WWE's Vince McMahon is not subject to the WWE's Wellness Policy testing procedures. Waxman noted McMahon would not comment on his own steroid use and claimed not to know of the damages brought on by long-term steroid use, claiming he was "not a doctor."
The letter includes transcripts of interviews with Vince and Linda McMahon, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque, Dixie Carter, as well as the doctors who created and oversee the WWE's Wellness Policy. I strongly suggest reading the letter, before everybody else (WWE, TNA, Media Journalists, etc) takes the facts out of context.
Nick Perkins' Personal Opinion
I have to admit, I haven't closely followed every news update about steroid use in wrestling. I guess I consider myself to be ever the optimist, but this letter has made me sick to my stomach. It's made me so sad, and maybe even a little embarrassed.
Wrestling has always been one of my best friends, and I mean that in the most literal way. There have been times when I've been sad, or angry, and I would turn on a wrestling show, and for two hours, I could escape reality. When even my closest friends couldn't make me laugh or smile, The Rock could with one of his multitude of comments about pie or strudel. Wrestling has been one of my favorite things for as long as I can remember.
Just like any relationship, I will immediately jump to the side of who or what I care about. I will defend professional wrestling against anybody. But honestly, it's hard to defend against facts. And the facts say that professional wrestling has, at the very least, been incredibly irresponsible with drug use, specifically steroid use, within it's companies. Lives have been lost because of steroid use, and regardless of whose fault it was, (the individuals, the companies, whatever)that is unacceptable. Plans have been put into effect to help make sure this doesn't happen again, but it still will. And that's a sad fact. I'm sure you, dear reader, will hear dozens upon dozens of opinions, facts, and opinions made out to be facts, but in the end, just know, that though our super heroes may seem invincible, they are not. Though our idols may seem like gods, they are not. They make mistakes. They make decisions that have negative consequences. They are human. Is it our place to judge them? Absolutely not. But we should be aware. And maybe, some day, this industry that you and I love so much can be something that we don't have to defend as strongly as we do now, and will have to do even more in the coming weeks, months, and years.
If you missed iMPACT! last night, Mick Foley announced that he will be returning to the ring at the TNA Genesis PPV. Foley will team with AJ Styles and Devon to battle Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner and Booker T.
Here are estimated pay-per-view buys figures for TNA pay-per-views in 2008:
- 20,000 for Final Resolution (Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage I)
- 30,000 for Against All Odds (Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage II)
- 20,000 for Destination X (Samoa Joe, Kevin Nash and Christian Cage vs. Angle Alliance)
- 55,000 for Lockdown (Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle)
- 25,000 for Sacrifice (Samoa Joe vs. Scott Steiner vs. Kaz)
- 20,000 for Slammiversary (King Of The Mountain Match)
- 25,000 for Victory Road (Samoa Joe vs. Booker T I)
- 35,000 for Hard Justice (Samoa Joe vs. Booker T II)
- 20,000 for No Surrender (Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage)
- 35,000 for Bound For Glory (Sting vs. Samoa Joe)
- 30,000 for Turning Point (Sting vs. AJ Styles)
The figure for this month's Final Resolution pay-per-view has not been released yet.
As you can see, Lockdown was by far the most purchased TNA pay-per-view of the year.
TNA drew an average of 28,600 buys per pay-per-view in 2008, up from last year's figure of 27,250 (through November 2007).
Also, here are the figures from last year in comparison:
- 35,000 for (2006) Turning Point (Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle)
- 34,000 for Final Resolution (Abyss vs. Sting vs. Christian Cage)
- 23,000 for Against All Odds (Christian Cage vs. Kurt Angle)
- 36,000 for Destination X (Christian Cage vs. Kurt Angle)
- 35,000 for Lockdown (Team Angle vs. Team Cage)
- 21,000 for Sacrifice (Kurt Angle vs. Sting vs. Christian Cage)
- 22,000 for Slammiversary (King of the Mountain Match)
- 15,000 for Victory Road (Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle vs. Team 3D)
- 26,000 for Hard Justice (Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle)
- 17,000 for No Surrender (Kurt Angle vs. Abyss)
- 36,000 for Bound For Glory (Sting vs. Kurt Angle)
- 27,000 for Genesis (Sting and Booker T vs. Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash)
A contributer for the UK Sun called into the Voice of Wrestling radio show last night claiming that a couple of WWE wrestlers he had interviewed last week, including William Regal, stated that WWE may be interested in A.J. Styles once his contract expires.
WrestleZone.com can now report with relative certainty that although WWE did approach A.J. Styles about coming over, it is most likely Styles will be staying with TNA.
If you watched the latest TNA Impact Show on Spike you heard Mick Foley announce the Main Event for Final Resolution as Sting, Booker T, Nash & Steiner vs AJ Styles, Samoa Joe & Two partners of their choice with AJ Styles winning the TNA Championship if any of the 4 Mafia Members are pinned.
So who will AJ & Joe pick?
Well if we were being logical we'd say Abyss & Matt Morgan. They faced Nash & Angle on the same episode as the announcement. Abyss is a true TNA original, and Main Event guy. Matt Morgan may have been in WWE, but it can be said he didn't have "opportunity" until he came to TNA, so he's as much an original as anyone.
Except that likely won't be the way it goes. Beer Money got involved in the finish of the match so likely Abyss & Morgan will end up with Beer Money at the PPV. I'd bet they could win the tag titles even.
So that leaves who???? Creed & Lethal? (Beat up by Mafia) Eric Young? (Beat by Booker T) Rhino? (Oh that's right he's facing Angle) A returning Petey Williams??? (He's out a month so likely not so much) Christian Cage (He was buried), maybe LAX (They are in really good Rough Cut segments for a while), Christopher Daniels (MIA but possible), Kaz (Legit recovering from surgery). All clearly are or could be with the TNA "Originals" in this fight, so those not already booked could be the choice.
But I'm betting they won't be.
So who then?
Well Team 3D, of course. Bubba mentioned the Mafia in his promo (BTW, great job by Devon..."testify my brother") Will Team 3D help AJ to win the title, and can they be trusted, or will they join the Mafia and screw the "Originals". I think that's the story or at least it's what I hear it could be.
Stay tuned.......
The following is from Richard of PWInsider.com:
TNA taped the next two episodes of Impact tonight, leading up to the No Surrender PPV, in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios Soundstage 21. Complete results of the taping featured:
Impact 8/30
*Team 3D vs. The Motor City Machine Guns was announced, but before it could begin Scott Steiner came out. He tells Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley to get out of the ring. Steiner brawls with Team 3D. He has control of the situation and goes to get a table. Devon attacks Steiner and they nail him with the 3D. Devon grabs several chairs. Ray sets a chair on Steiner's throat, playing off his surgery, and Devon nails it with another chair. Brother Ray said that Steiner would be going back to the hospital. Security comes to the ring to clear it. Security tries to help Steiner to the back. 3D attack security and bring Steiner back into the ring. They set up a table in the ring. They lay out Steiner through it. Steiner does a stretcher job.
*Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin return to the ring. Sabin says that no team can match them for their total sexiness. Shelley says that TNA needs some heroes and they challenge anyone to face them and bump up the ratings. Voodoo Kin Mafia come out...
*The Voodoo Kin Mafia defeated The Motor City Machine Guns in under 90 seconds. Kip James gets the mic and asks if they are any tag teams that want to challenge them. LAX, XXX and Eric Young & Shark Boy all come out. All four rings brawl in the ring. It settles down to LAX and Young/Shark Boy.
*Sting defeated AJ Styles, Christian Cage and Samoa Joe in order to become the new TNA Tag team champion (with Kurt Angle). Samoa Joe had the Samoan dance troupe for his entrance. Before the match started, TNA Everything champion Kurt Angle and Karen Angle came to ringside to watch. Sting forced Styles to tape to the Scorpion Deathlock. Before the finish, Joe was given the Unprettier on the floor by Cage and was out for awhile. Cage and Styles were discussing how to finish off Sting. Cage goes to get a chair but Joe stops him from getting back in the ring and they brawl to the back. Sting is down in the ring. Styles tried to distract the referee as Tomko interferes. Styles only gets a two count. Sting forces Styles to tap.
*After the match, Sting gets his belt from Kurt Angle and Karen raises their hand. The Angles leave. Ron Killings and Pacman Jones attack Sting (well, Killings did) and Jones spraypaints Sting's back. Angle makes the save.
TNA Today or Road to No Surrender Bout (not sure)
*Eric Young & Shark Boy defeated Sonjay Dutt & Petey Williams when Young hit a double death valley driver on Williams.
Impact 9/6
*Tomko defeated Kaz. During the bout, Robert Roode and Traci Brooks come out. Roode tries to interfere but it backfires. Kaz hits a baseball slide on Roode and brawls with him. After the match, Brooks checks on Kaz but Roode yells at her and attacks him. Tomko gets in Roode's face and shoves him to the mat.
*Samoa Joe defeated Raven. AJ Styles comes out with a kendo stick and hits Joe to try and help Raven. Joe chokes out Raven. After the match, Joe pulls Styles into the ring. Tomko hits the ring, followed by Christian Cage. Christian hits Joe with a chair. They handcuff Joe to the ropes. The members of Samoa Joe's dance troupe tried to protect Joe but they were laid out. They hit a One Man Conchairto to one of the dancers while Joe is cuffed to the ropes. Security comes out and they uncuff Joe. Joe grabs a kendo stick and runs off in pursuit of Cage and company.
*Abyss and Jay Lethal defeated TNA Tag Team champions Kurt Angle and Sting in a non-title match when Abyss pinned Angle with the Black Hole Slam. During the match, Karen came to the ring. Angle picked her up and carried her back to the stage. He backed up into Abyss and they began fighting. Abyss had Sting and Angle for a double chokeslam, but Abyss decided to let Sting go. Abyss had Angle set up for a powerslam, but Angle escaped. He hit an Olympic Slam. He went for the Ankle Lock but Abyss escaped and hit the Black Hole Slam for a three count. After the match, Abyss retrieved a bag of something from under the ring. Jim Mitchell comes out and Abyss sees him, then chases Mitchell to the back. Angle is still down in the ring, so Pacman Jones and Ron Killings come out through the crowd and attack Sting, then spraypaint Angle's back.
Xplosion:
*Robert Roode pinned Homicide with a Perfectplex.
*Gail Kim & Chris Harris defeated BG James & Roxxi after Gail pinned Roxxi with a missile dropkick. The women were the showcase of the bout.
WWE expects to spend $15 million to $20 million over the next year or two in converting its television studio for High-Definition production. They also expect to spend another $40 million to $60 million in expanding the television production facility.
TNA has secured a two hour time slot with Spike TV, but the network has given the promotion a condition - the wrestling company must purchase High-Definition equipment, as Spike TV will be upgrading to HD broadcasting by 2009.
TNA is apparently putting up resistance to the condition as the current contract is set to expire at the end of September. Spike TV has previously provided funding to TNA, such as contributing money to bring Sting to TNA, but the cable network hasn’t been open to providing addition financing for the purchase of HD equipment for the promotion.
Here is a fun fact for the smart marks out there. While many believe that the big names that come into TNA start out with ballooned salaries would be shocked to find out that it is not so in many cases. Many of the "big name" talent start off at the minimum wage pay of the standard contracted TNA Wrestler which is $500 an appearance. After they "earn their stripes" it is at that time they start to make the money they come to expect being a "big name" for the company. The known pay grades among the TNA talent ranges from $200 for local talent that were used for squash matches, $500 per appearance for the new TNA Contracted wrestlers and then the next tier of pay is $750 an appearance. This is what most of the wrestlers that have been with the company for over a year are bumped up to. It should be noted as well that the standard TNA contracted wrestler is only guaranteed 26 appearances. So for those doing the math, the first year you are guaranteed $13,000/year and in your second year you can almost expect to be making $19,500/year not including outside bookings or "house show" contracts.
When TNA debuted on Spike TV in October 2006 we all had high hopes for the up and coming company, finally there was someone for the WWE to compete with (or at least steal story lines). Sadly that’s not that case since October 2006 TNA has not improved all they do is scoop up dozens of WCW and WWE rejects and for what, the 1.2 rating they get every week? Or is it so that they hope some wrestling fan is going to stop on TNA impact! One night and spot a WWE or WCW reject and say, “hey I remember that guy”.
1. TNA Thinks Decrypt Old Fucks Brings In Money and Ratings
News Flash TNA that is Not Happening. The fact is nobody could give two shits about Kurt Angle, Christian Cage, or Sting or TNA would be getting higher ratings and not 1.1’s or more accurately .8’s. Try originality I hear it’s great.
2. Mike Tenay And Don West Screaming Threw The Whole Show
` These guy are the most annoying Duo I’ve ever heard commentate a wrestling event even more so than Joey Styles and Michael Cole. I think these guys are unbearable on the mic Don West is Screaming the whole time and Mike Tenay tries to explain everything happening even when there nothing going the fuck on. TNA needs new commentators really bad.
3. Low Production Values
If any of you have ever watch TNA you Know that the Product looks like an old Shitty WCW show from 1993 when it was produced on that Disney sound stage. Every thing is wrong wit the TNA set up from the crappy lighting to the circuit green lasers. But what really gets to me is the disgusting looking backstage set up you’d think with their financial backing from Panda the would able to fix up the backstage area.
4. The Theme Songs And Entrance Music
All I can say is who composes that crap? The Music sounds like cat getting raped by a dog (I know I exaggerate but it still sucks).
5. The Matches, Finishes, And Booking
Do TNA Matches have rules? Because I don’t seem to recall that when there is interference in a match there’s no DQ. Also who the fuck booked Kurt Angle to win all the titles? And why is there always in interference in main event Impact! Matches?
These are the top Reasons why TNA still sucks, so I suggest is don’t watch that crap until they get the Message…for now TNA sucks.
