It was announced that ten wrestlers were suspended for Wellness Policy violations but no names were mentioned. After watching tonight's show and analyzing the five members of the SmackDown roster named in the reports, I think I have finally figured out who the ten suspended wrestlers are.
Edge & Gregory Helms
Both wrestlers are currently out of action due to legitimate injuries. Both wrestlers also were originally named in this scandal earlier this year and denied using the substances (Edge's plea, Helm's plea) in question after the Wellness Policy started in February 2006. Their cries of innocence are contradicted by the Sports Illustrated article that says that Edge got somatropin, genotropin, and stanozolol between September 2004 and February 2007 and Helms got testosterone, genotropin, and nandrolone between November 2003 and February 2007.
Opinion & Analysis: Because both men are already out of the ring due to injuries, it is very easy for the WWE to suspend them without pay. This way the WWE look like they are doing something about the problem while they save money by not paying wrestlers that are sitting out with injuries that they got while making money for the company.
Batista
Batista was linked to this by an ESPN article that does not contain the same level of detail that the SI article has. On tonight's show, Batista was given a main event title shot at Unforgiven. It must be noted that Batista claims innocence and has written the following on his website:
"To my fans and friends:
I categorically deny a report on ESPN.com, and repeated by other media outlets, that I am or ever have been a customer of Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, an on-line pharmacy company that is a target of an investigation by the Albany, New York District Attorney's Office.
I am being tested regularly by the WWE, and I am in full compliance with the WWE Wellness Program.
I regret the inaccurate reporting, and I will do all I can in the future to stop any publication or anyone from making such false accusations."
Opinion & Analysis: This is a tough one. On the one hand, the two statements by Edge and Helms pleading their innocence look to be untrue. While it would be easy to say that the media must be right, the recent death of Richard Jewell should remind us all against rushing to judgment and remember that we live in a country where people are innocent until proven guilty. Batista is stuck in the middle of a bad situation because names are not being named. This unfortunate situation should not happen again after November 1.
Obviously Batista hasn't been suspended. In what I will call a coincidence, since the names came out last week, the two biggest stars have each been given a main event title shot at Unforgiven. I don't want to say that the policy and the punishment seem based on your position in the company but if it looks like a rat and smells like a rat then it just might be one.
Chavo Guerrero
If I discovered the dead body of my uncle that died due to this junk, I know I would stop putting that stuff in my system. According to Sports Illustrated, it took six months for Chavo to stop ordering somatropin, nandrolone and anastrozole.
Opinion & Analysis: Chavo looks like he is one of the suspended wrestlers. No other active wrestler is as linked to the deaths of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit as Chavo is. He found Eddie's body and received bizarre text messages from Chris Benoit. I really for sorry for Chavo for all that he has been through but if the embarrassment from all this makes him stop taking this stuff then I would rather he be embarrassed then having to add his name to the list that his friend and uncle occupy.
Funaki
According to SI, Funaki received somatropin in March 2006. Funaki did not appear on tonight's show. In all fairness, it is very rare when he does appear on a show.
Opinion & Analysis: This is a very easy suspension for the WWE to make. Of all the wrestlers named, Funaki's is the most surprising. I think he either got a really bad batch of this stuff or was buying it for somebody else because his physique looks like the before picture in a before and after comparison of a steroid user.
Who are the 10 Suspended Wrestlers?
There were 13 names of active WWE wrestlers brought up in the recent media reports. The two biggest names have been granted main event title shots at Unforgiven. Since the TV tapings, it has been reported that Santino Marella has appeared on house shows. That means that if everything that has been said is truthful and all the names have been publicized then these are the 10 suspended wrestlers: Chavo Guerrero, Shane Helms, John Morrison, Mr. Kennedy, Funaki, Charlie Haas, Umaga, William Regal, King Booker, and Edge.
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