WWE News (Page 8)

The WWE has issued the following statement concerning the toxicology results on in the Chris Benoit case:

WWE understands that the toxicology reports for Chris Benoit indicate that he tested positive for testosterone and negative for anabolic steroids. On Mr. Benoit's last drug test in April 2007 administered by Aegis Labs, he tested negative for anabolic steroids and for testosterone. Given the toxicology report of GBI released today, it would appear that Mr. Benoit took testosterone sometime after his April 2007 test and the time he died.

WWE understands that his dealings with Dr. Astin are currently being investigated, and WWE has no knowledge of whether Dr. Astin prescribed testosterone for Mr. Benoit at some point after the April 2007 tests.

For over 20 years, the WWE has been demonstrating our concern for the well being of our contracted athletes, instituting drug testing in 1987 leading up to our current Wellness Program which began on February 27, 2006, administered by Dr. David L. Black of Aegis Sciences Corporation - one of the world's foremost drug testing authorities.

We believe our Wellness Program is at the very least comparable to those of professional sports and is a program that will benefit WWE Superstars for generations to come.

Celebrity gossip site TMZ says it has uncovered the next possible drug scandal that could lay the smackdown on the wrestling world, known as "Soma Coma" - the abuse of the powerful muscle relaxer.

In an exclusive interview, former WWE Diva Terri Runnels tells TMZ, "The boys eat Somas like candy."

While the Chris Benoit tragedy has everyone buzzing about steroids, Runnels says wrestlers have been getting high on Soma for years. "I've personally seen a WWE Superstar nearly die right in front of me after taking 13 Somas ... while still behind the wheel of his car!"

Runnels was previously married to WWE wrestler Golddust, and says that "if the wrestlers' addictions and mental health issues continue to be ignored, I'm afraid that I'll have more friends turning up dead - all because no one cares."

In an exclusive statement to TMZ, the WWE vigorously defended their drug testing policies, claiming the organization does everything in its power to ensure that their wrestlers are clean:

WWE finds the abuse of drugs and steroids to be unacceptable, and such behavior is actively discouraged. For 20 years the WWE has been doing something to address the issue of steroid and drug use. We instituted our first drug testing program in 1987. In February 2006, we instituted our latest and most comprehensive drug testing program ever as part of our new Talent Wellness Program as a deterrent to steroid and drug abuse.

We cannot account for the poor personal decisions a small minority may make outside the workplace to undermine these efforts.

• Ric Flair missed this week’s SmackDown taping because of an ear problem. According to reports, it’s a chronic problem that he’s been dealing with for years and was serious enough to keep him off of TV this week.

• The new ECW theme song is “This is the New Sh**” off of Marilyn Manson’s 2003 album, Golden Age of Grotesque.

A FOX 5 Atlanta report identified a number of wrestlers as patients of Dr. Astin, who served as the physician of the late Chris Benoit.

Buff Bagwell, Lex Luger and Bob Holly were apparently among the patients of Dr. Astin. Mark Jindrak, Johnny Grunge, Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio, Jr. had already been identified as such.

The wrestlers were identified as patients in the medical records seized by federal investigators.

Now that Viscera has been drafted by ECW, the giant has undergone a makeover.

He's now known as "Big Daddy V" and is sporting the following look:

Check out more pics of Big Daddy V at WWE.com.

Last night, WWE sent out the following press release to announce that shows originally postponed after the Chris Benoit tragedy are now canceled.

WWE Canadian Shows Canceled
STAMFORD, CT, July 10 - Due to a scheduling conflict, the WWE show dates scheduled from July 14-17 for Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary and Edmonton have been canceled. Ticket refunds can be obtained at the place of purchase.

• To further update everyone on Rob Van Dam, he is not under a non-compete agreement. His WWE contract ended on July 1st after opting not to renew. Opting not to renew and being released are two very different situations. In the event of someone’s release, they cannot wrestle on national TV during a 90-day period, during which WWE pays them. Van Dam, however, can compete anywhere he wishes but is choosing not to as he wants to rest up.

• WWE will be releasing a 3-disc DVD set on Rey Mysterio. The set title, “Biggest Little Man” will be released on October 23.

• Larry King Live tonight will feature John Cena, Chris Jericho and Bret Hart. The show airs on CNN at 9ET.

Three days after professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero was found in his Minneapolis hotel room, dead at 38 from heart failure, Carlos (Konnan) Ashenoff stood at his friend's funeral and had an epiphany.

"For me, that was it," Ashenoff says, remembering the November 2005 funeral in Arizona. "All these guys are dying and nobody gives a ----."

Ashenoff says he swore off a culture of steroids, painkillers and drugs that was so over-the-top that he and his pals used to keep a "dead pool" with their rowdier friends' names on it, knowing it wouldn't be long before someone collected.

Ashenoff, a legend from his days in the Mexican circuits and a one-time World Championship Wrestling champion, is 43 and semi-retired now, with an artificial hip in his side and a kidney transplant in his near future. The hip degenerated after years of steroid abuse and the physical toll of his sport, and he thinks painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs ruined the kidney.

In the wake of Chris Benoit's murder-suicide rampage, Ashenoff says he is tired of waiting for wrestling to fix itself. Ashenoff wants Congress, state legislatures, anyone with some authority, to step in and force professional wrestling to deal with the drugs that are killing performers at an astonishing rate.

"Everybody - I can guarantee you, 100% from top to bottom - everybody's either on steroids, painkillers, they drink or they take recreational drugs, and in the case of half the guys, all four," he says from his home in Chula Vista, Calif. "Nobody gives a ----. When that baseball player (Orioles pitcher Steve) Bechler died from ephedra, everybody got all upset and reacted and they banned ephedra. (In wrestling), it's all these guys - big names - and, nothing."

Click here to continue reading this New York Daily News article...

A Newsday article which covered the latest in the Chris Benoit story has been updated to include comments from Dr. Gary Wadler, who sits on the committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Wadler explained that testing positive under WWE's Wellness Policy requires a higher level of testosterone than tests in other sports. He also criticized WWE for giving test subjects as much as a one hour notification prior to administration and for prohibiting wrestlers from using banned substances only in "non-medical use."

"It's sort of opening up a Pandora's box to define what 'non-medical use' is," said Wadler.

WWE did not respond to specific criticisms, although it did tell Newsday that its policy is "one of the most aggressive of its kind compared to testing programs initiated by competitive sports organizations, and is unique for an entertainment company."

It added that it would make any necessary its vision "to send a very clear message that WWE finds the abuse of drugs and steroids to be unacceptable.

The following statement was made by Vince McMahon at the beginning of last night's ECW on Sci Fi live broadcast:

"Last night on Monday Night Raw, the WWE presented a special tribute show, recognizing the career of Chris Benoit. However, now some 26 hours later, the facts of this horrific tragedy are now apparent. Therefore, other than my comments, there will be no mention of Mr. Benoit tonight. On the contrary, tonight's show will be dedicated to everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident. This evening marks the first step of the healing process.

Tonight, the WWE performers will do what they do better than anyone else in the world – entertain you."