Douglas Nunnally: Welcome back to The Wrestling Roundtable. After last week's great edition on the Rumble, we are back to talk about steroids in wrestling; our most controversial subject yet! Like last week, we have Matt Green (author of Get The 'E' Out), Mike Johns (author of The Trademark Rants), Joe Pritchett (author of Joe Pritchett's Real Talk), Tim Wronka (author of From The Eye Of The Dragon), and myself as the moderator. I'm sure we've all got some things to say about such a big issue in wrestling so let's just get into it.
Joe Pritchett: I think when dealing with the issue of steroids in professional wrestling there a few things that first need to be considered. Steroids have made news and been a huge issue in all sports, but wrestling is unique in a few ways. The first being that steroids may be important to a wrestler not just for their physical performance in the sport, but also for their physical appearance. Athletic ability is only one component in what pushes a wrestler to the top, with their mike skills and look being other factors. Also, we have to realize that unlike other athletes who may be using steroids to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent, that may not be the case in a physical sense in professional wrestling seeing as results are "predetermined." Yet steroids still can give a wrestler an extra boost in order to get noticed and to be pushed to the next level for one reason or another.
Tim Wronka: I agree with Joe. Looks are a lot of the issue with steroids in wrestling, and not so much the physical performance that is involved in other sports. Sure you need to be strong, but a lot of times flashy looks mean more. For example, I have friends who are non-wrestling fans that we'll watch with me on occasion and not understand why Carlito is a big part of Raw because he is so much smaller. It's definitely understandable that wrestlers want to be bigger, especially with how WWE really likes their big guys. Sure you can get big the natural way, but with how much they travel and how demanding their lives are, steroids definitely help the process.
Mike Johns: The thing about steroids is that while they do sometimes help the look and appearance of a wrestling, it also makes them more injury-prone. The harder the muscles are, they less elastic they are and the less likely they can withstand the impact of constant bumping. It also tends to hurt the wrestlers stamina, which actually hurts their work. These, of course, are long-term effects, but it does happen. The worst part is the fact that steroids are linked to the highest causes of premature death in professional wrestlers so while the short-term effects of a better look and increased performance do occur, most people never consider the long-term effects of steroid and place their careers is jeopardy for what is usually a temporary push.
Matt Green: I have no real problems with steroids in the business because fact is, most workers use them, but the people it shows on like Guerrero, Benoit, Dynamite Kid, Bulldog et cetera all use them without the rest. Steroids are meant to be used in spurts rather than seven days a week. That’s where it hurts the wrestlers in the business: by not using them properly which is mainly for physical appearance which Vince McMahon should have to answer for with his Greek god fetish. That leaves the only way for small guys to get a push is to jack up on 'roids and, of course, suffer the consequences Mike so kindly listed above. If they’re used properly, they can help the business, but used in the way most guys use them, it's the reason why the business gets so much flack in mainstream media.
Tim Wronka: Mike and Matt both made excellent points. While I did pretty much defend steroids a few minutes ago, I do see their hazards. I just hope that those who use them know what they are doing and take the proper precautions. The possibility of a drug tests in WWE may have a negative effect on the business. It's almost a double edged sword. On one hand, most WWE wrestlers feel that they need to be physically big to get anywhere, but on the other, WWE will now be testing for these things. If wrestlers no longer have this option to use enhancers, they may be less likely to give it their all to becoming a bigger player, instead of having to work harder to gain mass and enhance their look.
Douglas Nunnally: Tim raises a very good point about the drug tests that seem to be coming soon in the WWE; what are the rest of your takes on it?
Joe Pritchett: It would be nice to think that wrestlers can use steroids "properly." Granted, many can, but until all of them can, we will still see the tragedies that we've witnessed so often. It is hard when the business, especially the WWE, has put so much pressure on wrestlers to be bigger, and a lot of the blame can be placed there, but I think there are two areas that really need to be examined when it comes to steroids in wrestling. The first being is it ethically right? I'd say this is, in the end, a moot point as we've already established that wrestling operates much differently than other sports and wrestlers aren't using steroids to one-up their competitors in the sense of gaining a distinct athletic advantage, but we also have to look at health risks. Like I said, it'd be nice to think that wrestlers can use steroids "safely," but in the real world that will not happen. Period. The only way to possibly curb the excessive use of steroids may be drug testing.
Mike Johns: The drug testing is merely a reaction to years of public outcry over the use of steroids and the links to several wrestlers' deaths, such as Curt Henning, Crash Holly, and most recently, the alleged connection between steroids and Eddie Guerrero.
Matt Green: I'll think you'll find Crash died from choking on his own vomit after mixing booze and pain pills while Henning died from acute cocaine intoxication.
Mike Johns: Anyway, WWE did this solely to protect their ass, which honestly may be too little too late. The truth is that the decision to use steroids is the wrestlers' choice. The wrestling business is hardly ethical, so any question of the ethics of steroid use is, personally, laughable. No offense intended, but we are talking about a business where lying, cheating, stealing, and political power plays are damn near respectable business accomplishments. So, the idea that anyone believes that the new policy is WWE's attempt to right a wrong are, well, being worked. As for what is considered acceptable or excessive steroid use, I'll just say that as far as my professional experience is concerned, neither I nor my business partner condone steroid use, and every wrestler we are hoping to bring into the business are encouraged to avoid steroids. Whether or not they listen is yet to be seen, but I’m not going to talk about experiences I haven't had, so I'll just leave it at that.
Douglas Nunnally: Now, Mike, while you say that it is their choice, what do you think about Vince McMahon's obsession with great bodies leading to more wrestlers using steroids to get bigger just to get a shot at being in the WWE, most notably cruiserweights?
Mike Johns: This actually makes me want to mention Jamie Noble.
Douglas Nunnally: Go ahead.
Mike Johns: Okay, well, from what I understand, he was initially released from WWE due to some sort of drug-related problem, allegedly Human Growth Hormone, which is a form of steroids. So, what I see here is a contradiction: WWE wants larger wrestlers at what seems to be any cost, but they then release a wrestler who's tying to get bigger. Considering that Noble is now back on the roster after a rather impressive run in ROH, it makes me wonder if maybe Noble's release was merely a "scapegoat" tactic. In other words, I think it's all a work. WWE wants these guys to use steroids, but then imposes a drug policy to make the public, or at least us, shut up about their indifference to steroid use. Basically, I don't get it.
Joe Pritchett: I agree with a lot of what you said. I have a lot of doubts about the WWE's drug testing plan, most of them pointed out by Mike already. The steroid issue is just a hard one to crack. Any drug, to be safe, should be administered and monitored by a professional MD. Steroids, on the other hand, do not fall into this category most of the time. So until we can control their excessive use, the bottom line is that they are going to continue to be a threat. Unfortunately, as stated earlier, it is obvious that some find this the only way to make it in the business. I think that mindset created by the WWE is a far greater evil than steroid use.
Douglas Nunnally: Well Joe, since it is a hard one to crack, how do you think the business, not just WWE, should go about handling it?
Joe Pritchett: The only way the business can go about handling it, in my mind, is to stop putting pressure on professional wrestlers to go to such unhealthy lengths physically in order to make it, but professional wrestlers lead a very hectic lifestyle. The lifestyle in and of itself is one that is not good in many ways and only promotes the use of "quick fix" drugs such as steroids and pain killer.
Matt Green: This drug test thing is a complete and utter joke. They had the steroid testing in 1994 which involved urine tests that were conducted by the same company that tested Olympic athletes at the time. Now according to Paul Bearer, the boys really didn't take any threats of being fired serious and kept on doing the stuff they always had done. Bearer himself was fined three times and after the WWF ditched the test, Bearer was paid back his fines in one lump sum. Drug testing is being brought back purely to paint McMahon in a good light and when it suits him, it'll be gone again and unfortunately, 3 or 4 years down the road the drug scene will still be in the same place
Tim Wronka: I must say I do find it unfortunate that WWE is doing this for publicity reasons only. In a perfect world, you could say that they are doing this to look out for their talent, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. However at this point, it's too early to judge. Maybe this time around, the drug testing will be taken more seriously, especially in the wake of Eddie's death. Call me naive for saying so, but who's to say WWE will be more intent on keeping their wrestlers in good health? I hope that this is more the case this time. When you look at it, why does WWE have to give drug test in the first place? There's obviously a reason that WWE wrestlers take these drugs. Perhaps they could sit back and look at other aspects of the business in attempt to make their wrestlers now want to do drugs. They could lessen the work load or even take away the notion you have to be big to get anywhere. So overall, my point is other things can be changed outside the actual tests.
Douglas Nunnally: Now, we've all talked about WWE and steroids, but what about TNA and the Indies especially assuming WWE does go full-out with their policy. In the past, those fired for drugs in WWE have been welcomed on the Indy scene and TNA. What are your thoughts?
Joe Pritchett: I think with the Indy scene and TNA we don't see the same emphasis put on larger athletes. It may be good for wrestlers who join TNA or the Indies after leaving WWE for steroid related problems. I don't see the same kind of pressure being put on the wrestlers judging purely from the "size" of the talent. It is easier to get over as a smaller guy in TNA or other Indies anyway.
Mike Johns: I don't want to paint the Indies in a bad light, but I do feel that the readers deserve to know the truth, and it's simply this: most Indies are desperate to get whoever they can get to give their guys a rub and if that guy just happens to have a drug problem, many times, an Indy promoter will simply look the other way just to get that name-brand star on their card. And, I'll be honest; if I didn't know I'd catch hell from Terry, I'd be tempted to do the same thing. For example, say that I had the opportunity to book Raven on a show. Now, Raven has had some drug problems. Pain killers mostly, but drug problems nonetheless. Terry has already told me he doesn't want any users on the roster but at the same time, Raven is a major name. Many promoters have booked him anyway, despite the problems, because of the name status, and that's just the nature of the business. Sorry, I kind of went off on a weird tangent here, but I hope I’m making my point.
Tim Wronka: Just going by what he said, what if a major name in WWE turned out to be using drugs? It makes you think if someone like Triple H or Undertaker was caught doing drugs, would they be released? I guess this goes along with the drug test being a joke concept. I'd have to agree with Mike that in the end, it's all about name value over drug problems and maybe that’s how it should be.
Douglas Nunnally: Well, you've all seemed to cover every base pretty well, in addition to going into other drugs as well. Any final thoughts on steroids, WWE's testing, or the Indy/TNA issue from any of you?
Mike Johns: I guess in the end, it's about the wrestlers' health. Since their bodies are the primary source of their income, they have to take care of themselves. Their health needs to be their number one concern. Once they lose focus of that, they leave themselves in some dire jeopardy of not only losing their careers, but perhaps their lives as well.
Tim Wronka: I’ll just say that I agree with Mike, and that I hope wrestlers are safe with these enhancers and drugs, and they understand the long term effects to them. There is definitely more to life then being huge, and their health should go first and foremost.
Matt Green: Personally, I feel as long as wrestlers follow the guidelines that the steroids are supposed to be under, there is no major threat to their well being. However, once they go from temporary users to the jacking their bodies to gas balls like Benoit, Guerrero, Mysterio, and others, it becomes a matter of physical health rather than taking to improve performance. If WWE wishes to have their wrestlers use steroids, then they should monitor it for the good of the company and more importantly the wrestler’s health. Will that happen? Not while you having girls wetting themselves over the likes of John Cena.
Mike Johns: Young girls wetting themselves for John Cena. Yeah, that's a thought I needed right now.
Douglas Nunnally: Now, to end it on a cliffhanger somewhat, going on a purely educated guess, what percentage of American wrestlers would you guess are on steroids or some form of it?
Tim Wronka: Seventy percent.
Mike Johns: Sadly, seventy % or more.
Matt Green: I wouldn't like to guess on Indies, but going purely by WWE and TNA, I would say in the region of seventy-five to eighty percent.
Joe Pritchett: I'll be optimistic and say around sixty percent.
Douglas Nunnally: Wow. Well on that note, I'll think I'll close this out and hope that this helped the readers make a more informed opinion on steroids in wrestling. Thanks to you four again for participating and for all you readers out there for joining us. We'll be back next week with a review of WWE No Way Out 2006. Thanks for reading!
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