Re: The WWE™
"I think it's way past time for something to be done about the drug problem with wrestlers. I'm sure Vince will scream about how there is no problem, but I think we all know the truth. Too many wrestlers are dying at a young age."
Unfortunately theres no easy answer here.
I havent been following wrestling in past years. What kind of schedule is the company keeping nowadays? How much time are they spending on the road? How many shows are there a week?
In the past the company was required to tour to survive. Touring means spending 250 days a week on the road. That means wrestling injuried and /or in pain. How many times have we seen guys putting off surgeries for months to stay active and until downtime can be arranged.
Im not sure this is a WWE problem or a nature of the business problem. After all to get butts in the seats - fans want to see Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, Triple H and such. Johnny Nitro, The Boogeyman and such arent going to fill 10K seat arenas.
Im not trying to let WWE off the hook here. But I also think alot of finger pointing is being done at them at the moment. Every guy who steps in that ring knows the dangers. The reality is, they can die in there. They know they will have to wrestle hurt, they know they will be traveling most of the year and so on, and they accept this. They know what the grind will do to their bodies and how it can affect affect after wrestling life down the road.
I was willing to accept that when I decided to train and so do all these guys.
Alot of guys have gotten pushes based on ability not appearance. I think steroids are more necessary for guys who dont have the natural ability and need a little something extra. Hennig and Benoit were both physically large. They didnt need steroids to enhance their physical appearance. They were so over anyway. IMHO thats a personal choice. While I doubt McMahon and co asked any questions, I dont think they either encouraged nor discouraged them.
WWE is a business. They exist to make money. But they also take care of the guys who work for them - they can lead a very good life with the money they make there. But Im not sure this is WWEs fault any more than if a guy from the NFL went crazy or even a postal worker for that matter. Why did Austin go crazy when so many others havent. Indivdual mindset has to be taken into account and so does individual responsibility.
(Debra was on Hannity & Colmes last night and said Austin didnt even remember attacking her. Again there has to be individual accountability. Shoudl someone whos going through a steroid cycle, painkillers and anti depressants go on a alcohol binge??)
If Benoit was depressed, he should have seeked help. If he was having problems with his wife, he should have seeked therapy. In the past, the companies have been usually pretty supportive to its guys in times of real family crisis.
I do think because of the stressfull life they live it would be in the WWEs best interest to have a Wellbeing or Health Policy and enforce it. Theyre really going to be under alot of pressure to do that now. While that policy existed, I dont think it was taken seriously and it should have been. Especially with guys who have a history of spousal or temper problems, are known to be drinkers, have had trouble with the law, etc.
