How long will it be until a serious investigation is carried out into institutions such as the WWE?
Three people, in VERY recent years, have died as a result of alleged substance abuse in the WWE. Three fit, young, and healthy men have died while striving to entertain millions and keep their job in a highly competitative industry. How many more have to perish before something is done about it? Had it been any other sport i’m almost certain more action would have been taken. I am not even a WWE fan anymore but it beggars belief how these people are able to die in such a manner.
First of all, who are these men? Eddie Guerrero, who had an undiagnosed heart condition, Chris Benoit, who had an undiagnosed brain condition, or Test, whom no one knows yet what happened to him?
Vince McMahon, and WWE, have done all that they can to stop different types of substance abuse. With the first offense they suspend, without pay, for one month, when someone tests positive, and they offer rehab; with the 2nd offense, they suspend, without pay for two months, and require rehab; the third offense means a pink slip. WWE even offers a helping hand to WWE Alumni whom might be experiencing problems with substance abuse. What do you want them to do? Lock these people up and throw away the key? At the end of the day, WWE Superstars and Divas are adults and are going to do what they’re going to do.
WWE employs their Superstars and Divas as independent contractors, which means they don’t have the same responsibilities they would if they were actual employees, like health insurance. However, WWE does supply hazard pay for on-the-job injuries, paying for every bit of treatment. (Think of the money they we’re out in 2008 between John Cena, Batista, Melina, and Evan Bourne alone.)
WWE does all they can to help their wrestlers, far more then WCW did and TNA does now. Yes, it appears that the part of the Wellness Policy dealing with cardiac care was added after Eddie Guerrero passed, and yes, the part about impact testing was added after Chris Benoit; but WWE is still actively testing and helping their employees.
As for Andrew "Test" Martin, now one knows, for sure, what happened yet. Yes, he had evidently had some problems with drugs and alcohol in his past, but many people have pasts they’re not proud of. I know people who have way more problems then he did, and no one tries to blame their boss.
WWE doesn’t need to be investigated, especially for things beyond their control. If WWE can be "blamed" for any of these three deaths, it would only be Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit as they were still WWE employees, but "Test" had been gone from WWE for two years; his life was beyond their control.
If anyone needs to be investigated, it’s TNA. WWE "punishes" their employees when something happens, TNA doesn’t, they just let their wrestlers go.
Steroids have long been a part of athletics, sadly, and the sooner people realize that when adults use something they know could injure themselves, it’s their problem. In America, when someone is 21 years old, they can literally do anything they want; drink, smoke, gamble, buy porn. go to war, and just about anything else. We Americans are used to doing what we want, when we want, and no amount of investigation into their company is going to change what wrestlers do in their private lives, for good or bad.
Wrestling is now looking after its wrestlers better, look at the young talent around not many you would say look like they use steroids because they are learning from others mistakes. Test however is from the 90’s when wrestling did have a major problem with drugs, it’s hard to judge the current generation at the moment because only time will tell if they truely have learnt and the WWE’s wellness policy effectiveness will be proved in 5 or 10 years, it’s already saved MVP’s life but more time is needed. The WWE in wake of the Benoit incident offered to pay for rehab for any former wrestler so is it not more Tests fault for not getting help while it was on offer IF the death is drug related? we still don’t know what test died of to the best of my knowledge. Jake "The Snake" Roberts has said the WWE paying for his rehab saved his life so wrestling is trying to help those that want help but you can’t save someone from them self. The Wellness Policy is looking after this generation and they have offered to look after the generations gone by so what more can they actually do?
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Maybe you won’t believe this. WWE is entertainment, it is not even considered a sport. It is all scripted. Did you not know that. Steroids are not illegal for entertainment items.
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First of all, who are these men? Eddie Guerrero, who had an undiagnosed heart condition, Chris Benoit, who had an undiagnosed brain condition, or Test, whom no one knows yet what happened to him?
Vince McMahon, and WWE, have done all that they can to stop different types of substance abuse. With the first offense they suspend, without pay, for one month, when someone tests positive, and they offer rehab; with the 2nd offense, they suspend, without pay for two months, and require rehab; the third offense means a pink slip. WWE even offers a helping hand to WWE Alumni whom might be experiencing problems with substance abuse. What do you want them to do? Lock these people up and throw away the key? At the end of the day, WWE Superstars and Divas are adults and are going to do what they’re going to do.
WWE employs their Superstars and Divas as independent contractors, which means they don’t have the same responsibilities they would if they were actual employees, like health insurance. However, WWE does supply hazard pay for on-the-job injuries, paying for every bit of treatment. (Think of the money they we’re out in 2008 between John Cena, Batista, Melina, and Evan Bourne alone.)
WWE does all they can to help their wrestlers, far more then WCW did and TNA does now. Yes, it appears that the part of the Wellness Policy dealing with cardiac care was added after Eddie Guerrero passed, and yes, the part about impact testing was added after Chris Benoit; but WWE is still actively testing and helping their employees.
As for Andrew "Test" Martin, now one knows, for sure, what happened yet. Yes, he had evidently had some problems with drugs and alcohol in his past, but many people have pasts they’re not proud of. I know people who have way more problems then he did, and no one tries to blame their boss.
WWE doesn’t need to be investigated, especially for things beyond their control. If WWE can be "blamed" for any of these three deaths, it would only be Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit as they were still WWE employees, but "Test" had been gone from WWE for two years; his life was beyond their control.
If anyone needs to be investigated, it’s TNA. WWE "punishes" their employees when something happens, TNA doesn’t, they just let their wrestlers go.
Steroids have long been a part of athletics, sadly, and the sooner people realize that when adults use something they know could injure themselves, it’s their problem. In America, when someone is 21 years old, they can literally do anything they want; drink, smoke, gamble, buy porn. go to war, and just about anything else. We Americans are used to doing what we want, when we want, and no amount of investigation into their company is going to change what wrestlers do in their private lives, for good or bad.
References :
And, what the hell does "beggars belief" mean?