Sunday, September 2, 2007

Speculation & Rants


A disclaimer to all: blogs and wrestling news sites are not newspapers. In addition, media sites don't always report the true story either, so taking information from any media outlet and immediately taking it as "the truth" can be dangerous.


An anonymous fan left this recent comment here:

"Morrison is suspended. If you know anything then you know that WWE and Vince McMahon are known to suspend wrestlers without pay but make them still attend and perform on the shows. Morrison has been suspended, thats why he was stripped of the title, and he worked that match for free. If you read all the articles you even posted yesterday you would know that some of the guys suspended have probably just had their pay suspended. Orton worked for free during a suspension in the past, it would seem Morrison did this one show. Dont expect to see him on the rest of the shows, nor at house shows for the next month."

I challenge anonymous fans to cite and present sources rather than saying this is how Vince and the WWE work. I also ask the anonymous fan if they are a pro wrestling insider or work for WWE to please state that. I do not make any claim to be inside the pro-wrestling business here, the blog presents info and commentary for you to digest. I do not work for the WWE or Vince McMahon or know him personally. If you disagree with the info, feel free to comment, but please present sources. "It would seem" that certain performers are suspended based on title changes and who's missing from the rosters, but that is never an official "confirmation".



The WWE's Outline of its Wellness Program states:

"Effective today, February 27, 2006, WWE is implementing a broad
WWE Talent Wellness Program."

- Since the Wellness Program has been around only a year and a half, it's tough to say Vince McMahon and WWE handle suspensions a certain way other than what you see in their Wellness Program Outline. Seeing as these came about this past Friday, it's also hard to believe there was a sweeping random drug test day, or they just discovered these guys were clients who made recent purchases with the Signature company. Let's not jump the gun and pretend to know how WWE handles things internally or what the suspensions entail. I'm not here to bash WWE or Vince McMahon either, but I can certainly see plenty of reasons why they may have held off on giving these suspensions.

Also from the WWE Wellness Program Outline:

"Under the Policy, WWE Talent may be tested on a random and/or reasonable suspicion basis. The initial test of all Talent will be considered "baseline" testing. No discipline will be imposed for a positive test on the baseline test. The results of the baseline test, if positive for any prohibited substance, will be utilized thereafter by Dr. Black to determine if use has continued. After the baseline test, subsequent positive tests for non-medical use of a prohibited substance will result in disciplinary action. For testing positive the first time, a Talent will be suspended for 30 days without pay. A second positive test results in a 60-day suspension without pay or, if Dr. Black so determines, in-patient care at a substance abuse facility, during which the Talent also will be suspended without pay. A third positive test results in termination."

Upon reading this it does not clearly state whether the suspensions are only "without pay" or also include "suspended from appearing at events". If the anonymous commenter has a source document better explaining the Wellness Program and how its policies are administered please provide that for other fans. The Outline of the Wellness Program on WWE.com is here. That is a source and is the only document WWE provides to explain how it works currently.

This is not meant as a criticism of fan comments at all. Comments and opinions are fully welcome here but again sources of information always lend a bit more support to any argument or points made.

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