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.
"Prior to receiving the letter, I got a call from Brian Knobs who informed me that Vince’s surrogate Johnny Ace called Brian, who hasn’t worked for WWE in a decade, and threatened him not to go near any WWE talent or events as no one who is associated with CCW will ever work for WWE again. Then I found out that Jimmy Hart, one of the hardest working and loyal people I have ever met, was told he was no longer going to be used for WWE promotions because of his association with CCW, even though he asked for and received permission to do our show! As we subsequently learned, Vince went ballistic after viewing an episode of CCW and ordered Johnny to make the calls."
"According to Brian, Johnny told him that Vince was furious that CCW “exposed” the business. If that statement weren’t so transparent it would almost be funny. Even the most die-hard WWE loyalist knows that Vince has exposed the business more than anyone in history whenever it suits his financial self-interest (see avoiding regulation and taxation by athletic commissions) or lame creative decisions (Hornswaggle)."
The Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 video game may miss its November deadline as Vince McMahon is going back and forth about whether to leave Chris Benoit in the game. The designers haven't completely removed Benoit from the game yet and Vince wants him out obviously. However, if they remove him, it would require the game to be delayed and they'd miss out on the 2007 holiday season revenue, which is always the most lucrative quarter for video games.
Current plans call for the Mr. McMahon paternity angle to lead to a WrestleMania 24 main-event match between Triple H and Mr. Kennedy. At last word, the plan was for WWE to continue slowly dropping hints that Kennedy is the illegitimate child before finally revealing his identity during a three-hour Raw special in October.
Stephanie McMahon will be returning to television on a full time basis in the near future -- likely in October or November. She will be returning because her status as her father's heiress will become threatened due to Kennedy. Triple H would reveal his real-life marriage to Stephanie, thus disclosing that he is Vince's son-in-law. This would set the stage for the Raw main event at WrestleMania, which at last word is going to be Triple H as a babyface vs. Kennedy, likely for the title and with all the members of the McMahon family somehow involved. Shane McMahon has been told he won't be needed in the ring until around Royal Rumble, so he'll probably be Kennedy's first family victim.
USA Network executive Bonnie Hammer is said to be very satisfied with the angle. She is the one behind the idea of a three-hour Raw special in October.
Furthermore, WWE has a contingency plan in case the storyline bombs with the audience. It would be revealed that Kennedy faked the lab results in order to gain access to McMahon's money.
King Booker just signed a new 3 year deal with the WWE, but that’s not the best part King booker signed the Contact under one condition… he gets to sit in on the WWE creative teams meetings. This just speculation but the rumor is that since King Booker is going to be working with Triple H on RAW, and since Triple H plays a large part in booking with the creative team. King Booker wants to make sure he’s not buried and jobbed out and put on the mid-card again.
But that’s not the only thing King Booker also wanted his Wrestling School To Become WWE’s New developmental territory he reportedly spend thousands on new equipment and a warehouse, Undertaker and Steve Williams were close to the School as well.
Why didn’t it happen? John Lauranitis. Haven’t heard of him? Don’t worry neither has the rest of the world. Yet WWE put this Clown in charge of talent relations despite having no talent himself. And what did he do you ask? He put one his own buddies, Steven Keirn, in charge of a wrestling school (Florida Championship Wrestling) despite Steve Kern having no experience at all.
Also despite Florida Championship Wrestling being a complete disaster (it just got air conditioning this month!), John continues to rave about Steve Keirn to Stephanie and Vince McMahon.
Why did John do this you ask? He did because he likes to party in Tampa, Florida.
So rumor has it that Mick Foley wants a more Prominent role on the WWE RAW brand but Vice McMahon and Triple H think that he doesn’t click with the fans anymore.
They’re right nobody gives a fuck about Mick Foley anymore all he does is show up and plug his retarded “tell all” books that nobody gives a shit about. He wears the same dirty looking outfit to every show. How does he expect anyone to take him seriously?
So Mick you want to return RAW, that’s fine but the question I ask Mick is, what the fuck would you do in the WWE? You been GM of RAW, You can’t wrestle anymore, you don’t have anymore stupid books to plug so tell us Mick just what the fuck were you planning to do?
Apparently he'll do anything for money now so guys do us all a favor buy one of his books and keep this guy off T.V.
