The Wrestling World Speaks Up: Marc Mero and Others Talk About Wrestling's Worst Hour

Marc Mero has been the recent talk of the town lately as he has shown up on everything from MSNBC all the way down to 'Inside Edition'. We have been hearing him speak of WWE's reputation of their wrestlers becoming addicted to anabolic steroids, prescription drugs(such as painkillers), and even in some cases, controlled substances such as cocaine. So, let us look at the facts and see if we can try to decipher this situation as closley as possible and make a determination.

On July 12th on CNN, former wrestlers Marc Mero and Steve Blackman appeared on the 'Nancy Grace Show' in a panel discussion on the recent tragedy of Chris Benoit and the murder-suicide of his family. Mero began as he always did, speaking of the atrocities that have been coming from the sport and then showing the list of deaths of the professional wrestlers that he has known throughout his career, speaking of how there needs to be drug screening and better checks to make sure that the wrestlers are not being over-worked or become addicted to drugs that will minimize their pain. he also spoke of there being an off season of no less than tow months, which usually happens after Wrestlemania when the franchise goes to its overseas venues. He spoke of the use of GHB and other steroids just so the wrestler would be able to compete for shots at upcoming titles or just to ensure winning the night's event. Soon after, Steve Blackman returned that wrestlers knew the risks and lived in pain every day of their lives and that when they began taking painkillers, it was a matter of an adult choice and that no one was forcing them down their throat. Both had admitted to even being steriod users, with Blackman taking them for two years from 1987-1989, and then quitting after he had become succeptible to an allergic rection from them. Mero himself admitted to steriod use, as well as painkillers and some controlled substance abuse. The former champion also admitted that he was in need of a heart valve replacement and was not exactly sure if the steroids that he had been taking had been the reason that the above stated valve was the cause of the much-needed surgery. As the scenario came to a conclusion, Mero admitted that they had both basically came clean and that both had admitted to being drug abusers inside and outside of the ring. Other wrestlers, such as former WWE wrestler Lex Luger, has also admitted to being addicted to prescription drugs and that there needed to be stronger regulation in the sport due to the statistics of recent deaths within the realm. So, the real inquiry lies in exactly how many are using drugs and to what degree.

However, even with all of Mr. Mero's good intentions, there were already detractors that were willing to speak against him and were willing participants in the upholding of the WWE. Ken Kennedy, a WWE wrestler who has not been with the company for more than two years, openly attacked Mero and Blackman in a broadcast interview, sarcastically referring to them as 'experts' and 'wrestling advocates', and then going on to more colorful analogies such as 'idiots' and 'frustrated ex-jocks', and then ending saying how crazy they were to speak out against the WWE and how they were not only tarnishing the company, but also the very wrestlers that still worked at that company. Mero had a return comment, of course, simply stating that Kennedy was new and that he was not about to speak out against the company that is paying his bills.

On June 28th, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon spoke with MSNBC, starting with a statement that steriods were not the cause of the atrocities that happened in the Benoit home, but rather that everything that happened was an agenda that Benoit had created himself. The home company, which is based in Stamford, Conn, made the same statement that there was no possible way that steroids could and would be involved in the massacre. Of course, when McMahon was questioned about the statement, he retracted and said that they were only reacting to the hysteria that was being brought on by the death of Benoit. He had described him as mild-mannered and had absolutely no idea that there was a monster lurking in the shadows within him. Also, the chairman further enforced this by speaking of a wellness program that was implemented in February of 2006, where all of the athletes had went through drug screening and that all of the results had come up negative.

So, the next real question is: where were the police and what did they have to say? Why was there not enough exposure given to them and their findings? The only thing that was known about the case was that Benoit's wife was found strangled and that his young son was found smothered to death. There were also anabolic steriods and prescription drugs that were found in the home. They also found that Benoit had not committed suicide on the same day, but nearly a day after, where he was found hanged by the cords of a weight machine. We know that the marriage was strained and three months after she filed for divorce that Benoit had attacked the public servant serving the papers and went into a rage, and then a reconciliation, and then finally, death. So, with all of this information that has been presented by the local police in the area, why is there all of the denials coming from the WWE and from Vince McMahon, especially since drugs were found at the crime scene?

The following Monday after the tragedy, WWE's 'Monday Night Raw', held a tribute to Benoit which lasted three hours, with McMahon stating again that steroids were not the reason that benoit had committed the act of murder-suicide.

With all of this attention being placed on the wrestling world today, Mr. Mero will have a long road ahead of him, as rumors of Mr. McMahon having political afiliations,(true or untrue), that would further his cause could put a possible wrench in the works on Mr. Mero's plans for stricter regulation upon professional wrestling. The other problem is that professional wrestling in not considered a sport, but rather what is called "sports entertainment". With this title being slapped upon the industry, it further prevents wrestlers from getting screened for such things as controlled substances and other types of drugs that could possibly present them as a danger not only to themselves, but to their viewing public that attend the events. Wrestlers go into the ring to do one simple thing, and that is to wrestle, putting their bodies and lives on the line every night to further the advance of wrestling history and to make sure that their bills are paid on time, and making sure that the WWE is well represented in the world community and to its fans. This is, unfortunately, is the nature of their business.

But, one thing is for certain, until the truth is found out about what exactly happened in the Benoit home that night, all of this is conjecture until the crime lab experts can piece together everything and get as close a description as possible on how this occurred. Also, drug use in sports, although a common thing, must be extended to other sports, even if classified under another title such as 'sports entertainment' to futher advance the legislature of drug screening and enforcement. Next, there must be further intervention to prevent atrocites and deaths such as this, and that means putting plans into action that will be effective and decisive, and not just to be used as a window dressing for the wrestling companies to futher appease the media and/or the government.

In order for wrestling to continue, there needs to be change, and in order for change to occur, there has to be willing minds within our governing body that will need to take a serious look into this matter. Baseball has already had their time in the spotlight with drugs and their enforcement of them within their sport. Should it not be high time that other sports, such as wrestling, be looked at with a more scrutinous eye?