The MeeThinks Saturday Spectacular 08.18.07
Posted by John Meehan on 08.18.2007
WWE loses two alums, Congress widens their probe, and six performers get their walking papers. Rough week all over.
Hey all.
It's been a rough week for the Meehan family, as the 'fam gathered for two funerals in four days time to mourn the passing of a family friend and my maternal grandmother, ages 20 and 86, respectively. Obviously both situations are tremendously difficult on all parties involved, and even though there's something of a sixty-six-year cushion between the two -- it's still thoroughly deflating to lose a friend and loved one no matter *what* the age or circumstances surrounding their death might have been. As such, my apologies in advance if this week's column comes across as scattered or disjointed in any way. Like I said, it's been a rough one.
If you're the praying type and feel so inclined, I'm sure an anonymous knee-mail to The Big Man Upstairs couldn't hurt. Thanks again in advance, and here's hoping some lighthearted talk of sports entertainment might help provide a welcome distraction, if only for ten minutes or so, eh?
On tap this week:
Brian "Crush" Adams Dead at 44
John "Missing Link" Robertson Succumbs to Cancer at 68
WWE Responds to Congressional Subcommittee
Sylvain Grenier Gets the Axe
What's in a Title: WWE Pinches Pennies, Loses Nameplates
The loss of Brian "Crush" Adams is a sad one for the wrestling community on the whole, and with the Congressional steroid scandal looming large on the horizon, it is even more distressingly an unfortunately-timed one to boot.
Yes, Adams' death will most certainly be mentioned on the floor of the U.S. Congress (doesn't help that Adams was a patient of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando -- same folks who ordered copious amounts of meds for one Chris Benoit), and for that his family and closest friends can take some small degree of solace that the guy's passing will have served some greater purpose. But the bottom line is that to the U.S. government (and guys like Marc Mero), the man wrestling fans remember as Brian "Crush" Adams is no more than just another nameless, faceless number; a timely addition to help pad out their ever-growing list and further their "an investigation will' fix this!" delusion.
I will repeat: A CongressIONALLY-MANDATED, INDUSTRY-WIDE STEROID-TESTING POLICY IS NOT THE CURE-ALL TO "CLEAN UP" THE WRESTLING INDUSTRY. Sure, it's a noble gesture, an admirable "first step," and a nice thought and all -- but would it really have saved the life of a guy like Brian "Crush" Adams?
Doubtful.
1) Brian "Crush" Adams hadn't wrestled full-time for WWE since 1998, and his 2001 stint lasted just a few short weeks. Even with a full-on Wellness initiative in place (and a legit one, at that), a one-month stint in 2001 simply wouldn't have been enough time for WWE to catch the guy if he were doping *AND* to discipline him accordingly. 30 day suspension? Shoot, he barely had a 30-day CONTRACT.
2) Yes, Congress can clamp down on U.S.-based promotions, but a LOT of wrestling's biggest stars (and biggest suspects for steroid abuse) do quite a bit of "freelance" wrestling for indy feds in Japan and beyond. Steiner, Lesnar, Hogan... etc.
Adams' suffered a career-ending spinal injury (in 2003) WHILE WRESTLING IN JAPAN. Hey Congress: good luck getting backstage at every international wrestling fed and forcing every promoter the world over to regularly drug test all of the puroreso that hail from the U.S. -- not gonna' happen. Thanks to the wonders of international law, U.S. courts don't have the authority to enforce ANY testing outside of the U.S. (and U.S.-owned companies operating abroad). And since steroids are short-acting? All your average indy wrestler would need to do would be to hop overseas for a few dates each month (as many of them already do -- particularly TNA talents), load up on the gas, and then return stateside when they're riding an off-cycle in order to score a clean bill of health the moment their U.S.-based employer pops a drug test. Then just rinse and repeat, and all of the Congress-ordered drug tests in the world won't change a thing.
3) If Adams' "career-ending" injury was incurred WHILE IN JAPAN (as it was), then after the fact, it's pretty safe to assume the doctors were perscribing treatment and meds to a guy who was no longer active for a U.S. promotion, right? Fair enough. So who's gonna' force him to pee in a cup on a weekly basis in order to comply with Congress's latest steroid-scandal du-jour? The last U.S. company he worked for? Sorry, no. How about the same sketchy doctor/pharmaceutical company who *GAVE* him (and Benoit, and...) the meds in the first place? Not likely.
All in all --
Congress and the media are already losing sight of the bigger picture here, as even the most basic of looks into Adams' case would tell you that no amount of Congress-ordered drug tests in WWE, TNA and NWA would have made a lick of difference in the case of the very same guy they're so quick to trot out and use as their latest poster-boy du-jour. He wrestled indies, he wrestled abroad, he was injured outside of the United States, and he likely got hooked on meds after the fact but didn't have *any* U.S. wrestling company to keep tabs on his rehab when all was said and done. Blame his death on the risks and hazards associated with actual in-ring performance, fine. But blame his death on the industry's failure to properly screen their performers for drugs? Totally missing the point.
Regardless --
Bryan Adams/Kona Crush/Crush of Demolition/etc. was one heck of a performer in his day... and by all accounts, he was something of a real stand-up guy outside of the ring to boot (he asked for his WWF release as the result of his distaste with their treatment of Bret Hart and the Montreal Screwjob incident). Plus his fued with Randy Savage during the early-nineties WWF was money. My personal condolences and those of 411 to the family, friends, and fans of Brian "Crush" Adams.
Another major bummer to long-time wrestling fans this week, as former WCCW and WWF talent John Roberston (a.k.a. -- "The Missing Link") passed away early Thursday morning in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario following a long bout with cancer. Robertson, who wrestled briefly for WWE in 1985 (and who had famously been featured in this Sports Illustrated picture at a time when WWF and the North American wrestling industry was riding its first boom in popularity), had famously overcome drug addictions and homelessness in the 1980's, and went on to serve on the board of directors for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Robertson was 68, and had been active in smaller wrestling promotions -- including a number of Christian benefit charity shows -- as recently as May, 2006.
Now then --
As much as it totally sucks to lose a bona-fide, real-life "good guy" like Robertson, it is comforting to know that the man was able to overcome his demons and hardships and turn his life around well before it was too late. Even though he passed at age 68, he lived well beyond the "personal demons" that easily could have claimed his life some two decades earlier. And for the better part of 15 years, John Robertson served as a living witness that people *can* triumph over even the most overwhelming of obstaces.
Again, my personal condolences and those of 411mania to the family, friends, and fans of John "Missing Link" Robertson.
Late Thursday afternoon, WWE officials provided U.S. Congressmen with a full response to the inquiry first submitted some two weeks ago. Many wrestling sites took it upon themselves to editorialize on this development, saying that WWE had "finally" responded to the Congressional call for details. Of course, these same critics failed to recognize:
a) that WWE still provided Congress with the requested materials WELL in advance (three weeks or so) prior to the requested deadline,
b) that WWE had a *TON* of stuff to compile in order to comply with this request (medical records, e-mail logs, personnel files, etc.), and...
c) that WWE's head honchos have been kinda-sorta-busy handling all sorts of additional fallout from the Benoit murders over the past two weeks...
But hey, that's the IWC for ya'. Rush to judgment, and damn the details, right?
Anyhow -- here's WWE's letter to the Congressional Subcommittee in its entirety, courtesy of the WWE Corporate website. MeeThinks below:
Dear Chairman Rush and Ranking Member Stearns:
I write in response to your letter of July 31, 2007 to Mr. Vince McMahon, Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP serves as counsel to WWE for this and related matters, and I am responding on its behalf.
Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon and all at WWE were stunned and saddened by the tragic death of Ch ris Benoit and his family. Chris was well liked and respected by all at WWE. WWE remains mystified by the events surrounding the Benoit family deaths and awaits more definitive information from the autopsy and other forensic analyses that have yet to emerge from the ongoing investigation. WWE is actively assisting the authorities in Georgia in their inquiries and has provided several leads for their investigation.
The Subcommittee has asked about WWE's actions in the wake of the Benoit tragedy. Media coverage of the Benoit family deaths and investigation is both sensational and often speculative. To the extent that criticism in these accounts appears directed against WWE, we feel that it is unfair or misplaced. We note that some scientific findings, e.g. toxicology results, already serve to undermine key parts of such speculation . In fact, just today the Atlantic Constitution reported the existence of issues as to the alleged sequence of events which occurred that weekend. WWE believes that the responsible course is to assist
to the full extent of its ability in the investigation and, otherwise, to await the full results of that investigation. That is exactly what WWE is doing .
In addition, WWE continues to improve its Talent Wellness Program ("Wellness Program"). WWE believes that its Wellness Program represents the right protection against illegal and harmful drug use in WWE. WWE stands ready to describe to the Subcommittee what it knows about the current status of the Benoit investigation, as well as what it can say about what is or is not accurate in the press articles the Subcommittee has provided. WWE also welcomes the opportunity to brief the Subcommittee about its Wellness Program.
By way of background, WWE instituted its Wellness Program in February 2006. The Wellness Program includes not only rigorous random drug testing through its Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy, but also a program to monitor the cardiac health of all WWE performers by annual examinations by cardiologists, through its Cardiovascular Testing and Monitoring Program. The cardiac aspect of the Wellness Program is administered b y Dr. Frederick J. Feuerback of New York Cardiology Associates, P.C. The first round of cardio testing was completed in October 2006 and 157 performers were tested. The second round of cardio testing began on July 22, 2007 and is expected to be completed by the end of September 2007. To date, 72 performers have been tested in that round.
The Wellness Program Administrator is Dr. David Black, Director of the independent Aegis Laboratories in Tennessee. Dr. Black is one of the foremost authorities in the country on drug testing and performance enhancing drugs. Dr. Black and Aegis administer the program, schedule and conduct all drug testing, and make the final detennination whether a given test is judged positive or not. WWE's Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy component of the Wellness Program prohibits the use of all prescription medicines (as well as numerous over-the counter ones) without a legitimate medical purpose as determined by the treating physician. This requirement mirrors the underlying principle of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and other drug control laws of our country. As you know, Congress has always vested the decision to prescribe a drug in physicians treating their patients.
The Wellness Program sets forth the procedure to be followed on a positive test for all covered drugs. It fundamentally obligates any performer who has tested positive to have that perforiner's treating physician specify the medical purpose for which a given drug has been prescribed. In order to assist Dr. Black in evaluating such matters, WWE has also retained Dr. Tracy Ray of Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama to assist in evaluating medical necessity issues.
The WWE Wellness Program seeks, through these and other efforts, to prohibit
abuses that the current U.S. drug enforcement regime has yet to prevent. For instance, it specifically provides that so-called internet prescriptions are not acceptable. This prohibition recognizes the widespread problem associated with "internet pharmacies" and the ready availability of internet sites which will ship performance enhancing drugs to literally anyone's door without that person having ever even seen a physician. Please be aware that because the records and details of testing requested by the Subcommittee are, in large portion, in the custody of Dr . Black, we have asked him to prepare a response to the Subcommittee in this area and to provide such records as are
responsive to your request.' In addition, we suggest that Dr. Black attend our briefing of the* Subcommittee to discuss the Wellness Program. He can describe the testing process which he runs and answer more fully questions you may have. We are transmitting to your Committee a set of records responding to your requests.
*To assist you in determining the source of a record being produced, the records obtained from Aegis carry a Bates prefix of Aegis-0000001 et seq., and all others have a Bates prefix of WWE-0000001 et seq. We would further note that many of the records responsive to your requests contain personal identifying information. In addition to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"), other federal and numerous state laws govern the use and disclosure of health information, which includes any information that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual; the provision of health care to an individual; or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care for the individual. Accordingly, any health information that WWE may provide to the Committee will be de-identified, as that tern is defined at 45 CFR 164. 512(b), and is evident from the redactions we have made to certain of the records we are producing. We would also note that WWE has sent certain persons to rehabilitation, and we have not produced those records so as to comply with all applicable laws and to preserve personal privacy. If the Committee would like a summary of the number of persons sent to rehab, we will be glad to provide it.
Since the receipt of your letter fourteen (14) days ago, we have undertaken a thorough search of all reasonably accessible hard copy and electronic records that may be responsive to your request. While we have produced a significant amount of such records with this letter, including printed versions of e-mails and other electronic documents such as spreadsheets, our review of WWE's active e-mail system is continuing and we expect that we will produce additional records in the next few days. We hope this letter provides useful background to the Subcommittee. We welcome an opportunity to meet with the Subcommittee at your earliest convenience. We have learned much about drug testing, performance enhancing drugs, and the inherent limitations of drug testing policies to prevent the use of performance enhancing drugs. WWE believes its ongoing efforts in the battle against performance enhancing drugs and other drugs of abuse have resulted in a comprehensive, effective and humane policy. We hope to share with you the insights we have gained, and our sense of what needs to be done on a national level to counter the spread of these drugs, including what we perceive to be longstanding regulatory and enforcement issues which must be modified and re-examined if meaningful improvement is to be made.
Very truly yours,
Jerry S. McDevitt
Long story short?
WWE has done the smart thing here by presenting themselves as openly and in as forthright a manner as possible. Critics will undoubtedly dog the 'E's response for failing to "name names" as well as for failing to cite some of the more problematic nuances of the WWE's current Wellness Initiative (the Benoit ratios at the time of death -- even if doctor prescribed -- were WAYYY out of line with what WWE claims to consider to beyond the "positive" range in a test for steroids), but there's also something to be said for the fact that WWE has provided at least this much to begin with, and that they seem (on paper, at least), more than willing to comply and to provide additional information should Congress request it -- which they most assuredly will.
Asking for Dr. Black to be present is a smart move, as he's the brains behind the tests and should be able to explain them a LOT better than any lawyer or industry "suit" that WWE might otherwise be able to offer. Likewise, offering to provide Congress with a list of the performers who've been disciplined by their Wellness initiative (upon request and not for public consumption) is also a smart move -- that way WWE can continue to remain in compliance with the government's wishes *without* shooting themselves in the foot in the process and selling out each of their drug-busted employees. Moreover, WWE is sitting pretty with that added bonus of "we send guys to rehab! AND we cover the costs!" addendum (plus the fact that they'll happily pay for your rehab if you should end up injured as a result of your work while in their ring) -- which is something of a rarity when dealing with these sorts of issues.
Now of course -- WWE is not out of the woods yet on this one, and not by a long shot, as Congress will continue to shake down the 'rasslin biz until they get the answers they're looking for (or at least until the media latches on to the next big industry scandal. Sexual assault at the Playboy mansion you say? BLASPHEMY!).
All that said, if I'm a WWE exec these days? Can't help but feel at least *somewhat* comforted by the fact that the congressional probe has now widened to include requests for all drug testing records from both TNA and NWA, AND that the answers *I'm* giving look a hell of a lot better on paper than the ones being offered up from those boys down south. After all, if you're stranded in the woods and you and your buddies are trying to outrun a grizzly bear -- you don't actually have to outrun the bear, just so long as you can outrun your buddy, no?
(More on the Congressional investigation in the TNA section below)
Well in the past two weeks alone (give or take), WWE has cut Sylvain Grenier, Renee Dupree, and Rob Conway (ok, that was some time ago) -- thus officially ending the La Resistance experiment and each of its various incarnations. While we're at it, WWE also released developmental talents over the past few days -- including Shantelle Taylor, Idol Stevens, and Tomasso Whitney (who you may remember as Muhammad Hassan's "attorney" after the ill-timed terrorist angle). Going back a bit further (late May), you'll also recall that the company recently said goodbye to Vito, Shelly "Ariel" Martinez, Nick "Mitch" Mitchell of the Spirit Squad, and longtime enhancement talent Scotty 2 Hotty.
Well, there's something to be said for "summer cleaning," eh?
In all seriousness --
Grenier is no loss, as he has struggled time and again (perhaps as a result of his limited fluency with the English language) to establish himself as anything more than the "token foreigner heel" no matter WHAT spin the 'E tried putting on him. Quebecker, Frenchman, ambassador for some place where everybody dresses like a ponce -- whatever it was, Sylvain never really clicked with WWE audiences, and so MeeThinks he's going to be all missed now that he's no longer with the company.
Figure 4 Wrestling is reporting that "WWE is no longer going to be putting nameplates on the championship belts. This is a reported cost cutting measure. Even the World Title, often referred to as 'The Big Gold Belt' that has had the name plate forever will be dropping it."
Now then --
MeeThinks this little snafu is merely a bump in the road, and that WWE will -- in time -- eventually go back to their standard practice of putting the champ's name on his respective belt. After all, the cost to put a name on a belt vs. the cost to MAKE a belt in the first place is pretty insignificant. Heck, WWE could cover the entire cost of name-plating for EVERY SINGLE PERFORMER on the roster (yes, even Funaki) and STILL come in well under what it cost them to run the electricity in Madison Square Garden for a night's time.
Don't believe Mee? Let's look at the total value of Cena's "spinner" belt alone just to get an idea of how trivial the cost of a little tin nameplate actually is.
Ted DiBiase's famed "Million Dollar Belt" was rumored to have cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $145,000 when it was made way back in 1989. Taking inflation into account (plus that neat little "spinner" mechanism Cena's so fond of!), and this little interview from back in 2005 in which Cena told WWE.com (consider the source) that "there are over 2,800 mini square Princess Cut diamonds, plus there are clear triangular and marquise cut diamonds, Marquise cut emeralds, clear Baquette [rectangular] cut diamonds, and one big 16mm clear diamond on the side plate. Altogether, there's a 3,484 diamonds and gems" -- it seems pretty clear that there's a lotta' coin being spent on a title belt, when the situation calls for it. Custom made, custom designed, and EASILY worth well over a quarter of a million dollars.
The cost for a small gold (or brass) etched nameplate? A hundred bucks, tops -- available at any sporting goods place that sells trophies to rec league softball teams.
In other words, yeah, it might be a "cost-cutting measure" in the knee-jerk environment of modern-day WWE for the time being, but once the dust settles (and the stock rebounds)? MeeThinks that when they're not busy destoying limos, totalling "rental" cars, or ruining "$5000 suits" for the sake of getting an angle over, the 'E will probably find it in their budget to cover that "astronomical" cost of a few hundred bucks or so each year in order to ensure that each of their champs are properly recognized in the belts worn 'round their waists.
Here's the letter in its entirety, courtesy of PWInsider.com:
August 13, 2007
Ms. Dixie Carter
President
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
209 10th Avenue South, Suite 302
Nashville , Tennessee 37203
Dear Ms. Carter:
We are writing to request information regarding the response of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) to allegations of pervasive use of steroids and other drugs by professional wrestlers. The tragic death of Mr. Chris Benoit and his family has focused attention on the seriousness of the problem. Illegal steroid use in professional sports has gained plenty of attention, but the record suggests that the problem is most pervasive and deadly in pro wrestling, an unregulated form of entertainment that is watched on TV and in arenas by an estimated 20 million fans a week, including children. See e.g., attached USA TODAY investigative report, "High death rate lingers behind fun facade of pro wrestling."
As Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over sports-related matters, we are monitoring this situation very closely. We request a briefing on this matter at the earliest possible time We also are considering a hearing on this matter, and whether there is a need for Federal regulation to protect the health and safety of the wrestlers. In the 109th Congress, the Subcommittee held a hearing on "Steroids in Sports: Cheating the System and Gambling Your Health," and reported legislation, H.R. 1862, the Drug Free Sports Act
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. implemented a Talent Wellness Program in February 2006. Please advise the Subcommittee by close of business on August 28, 2007, whether TNA has adopted a similar program. If so, please provide the Subcommittee with a copy of your program, as well as any other relevant records detailing the specifics of the program as well as TNA' s implementation and interpretation thereof. Records include memoranda, correspondence, and electronic communications. Please also describe any and all actions that TNA has taken - either within or outside any such program - to detect and prevent steroid abuse. Information, including the aggregate number of random tests conducted in each month this year, would assist the Subcommittee in its review, and we request that you provide that information, as well. We are sending similar information requests to other wrestling leagues.
Should you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact us, or have your staff contact Christian Tomatsu Fjeld or Consuela Washington with the Majority Committee staff at (202) 225-2927 or Brian McCullough or Will Carty with the Minority Committee staff at (202) 225-3641.
Sincerely,
Bobby L. Rush
Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
Cliff Stearns
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection
Attachment
cc: The Honorable John D. Dingell, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Honorable Joe Barton, Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Well then -- can't say we didn't see *THIS* one coming, eh?
Now then...
I've gone on record a number of times saying just how pointless and excessive an all-out Congressional investigation is when it comes to something as trivial as "the rasslin' biz." Dead and crippled wreslters is sad, alright -- but it's small potatoes when you consider the bigger issues that continue to plague this country (and it's government's approval ratings) on a daily basis (coughTHEWARcoughcough). But anyhow -- REGARDLESS of Congress' priorities (or absolute lack thereof), some folks are thrilled to see the government calling TNA (and NWA) into account for their role in the abnormally high mortality rate of their performers. After all, "if nothing else, at least this will force TNA to develop a drug-testing policy and help clean up the industry on the whole," right?
To them, I've got just three words: Major League Baseball.
Rush and Sterns' letter brags about how the U.S. government investigated and "cleaned up" pro baseball during the 109th Congress AS IF THEIR INVESTIGATION ACTUALLY CHANGED *ANYTHING*. Well it didn't. Upwards of Fifteen hundred men play for MLB each year (not counting the farm teams and developmental, minor-league ball clubs), and to date, just FIFTEEN of those fellas have been disciplined for violating MLB's "new, beefed-up, and CongressIONALLY-APPROVED!" doping guidelines. Fifteen out of over fifteen hundred, people... that's not even one percent. Shockingly, Congress hasn't pressed the issue whatsoever, foolishly even going as far as to tout the results of those hearings as a success.
Simply put, if Congress were serious about curbing steroids in MLB, then they'd have a U.S.-sanctioned physician standing behind home plate and waiting to take a urine sample every single time a player hit a home run. For obvious reasons, they DON'T, and so instead all we get is a Congress that says "please don't do drugs! And provide us with proof that you're at least TRYING to test for 'em!" So life goes on as it always had, simply with the addition of some Congress-approved window dressing that doesn't make a lick of difference in changing ANYTHING in the long run.
What'll come of this for wrestling, you ask?
TNA will probably have to draft up some sort of "official" company drug policy to save face, as will NWA and a number of the smaller, regional 'rasslin promotions scattered about the U.S. But smaller feds have smaller funds, and Congress simply can't compel every non-WWE promotion in the world to cough up the major coin required for the most rigorous of testing measures (kinda' like the local dive in a town near you doesn't use infrared/barcode-scanning technology when carding folks for admission to your friendly neighborhood bar). In the end, policies will be drafted alright -- but they won't be any more "beefed-up" than MLB's "new" drug policy or WWE's Wellness initiative (if that). And if the U.S. government's history since the MLB hearings is any indicator of just how "serious" they are about an industry-wide crackdown? Then we're basically looking at no more than "as long as you have a policy written down on paper and at least 1% of your employees fail your tests, well that's good enough for us and our work here is done."
Bold prediction for 2008:
By this time next year, many IWC know-it-alls will already be laughing and whining about just how much of a joke the Congress-approved drug testing policies in professional wrestling will have become.
This one comes from the usually-quite-reliable Steve Gerweck of Gerweck.net:
Speaking of nickels and dimes, a fun fact for the smart marks out there. While many believe that the big names that come into TNA start out with ballooned salaries would be shocked to find out that it is not so in many cases. Many of the "big name" talent start off at the minimum wage pay of the standard contracted TNA wrestler which is $500 an appearance. After they "earn their stripes" it is at that time they start to make the money they come to expect being a "big name" for the company. The known pay grades among the TNA talent ranges from $200 for local talent that were used for squash matches, $500 per appearance for the new TNA Contracted wrestlers and then the next tier of pay is $750 an appearance. This is what most of the wrestlers that have been with the company for over a year are bumped up to. It should be noted as well that the standard TNA contracted wrestler is only guaranteed 26 appearances. So for those doing the math, the first year you are guaranteed $13,000/year and in your second year you can almost expect to be making $19,500/year not including outside bookings or "house show" contracts.
So wait, what you're saying is that most of us make MORE money than the Voodoo Kin Mafia and Andrew "Test" Martin, and that we DON'T have to put our health on the line on a daily basis and consume copious amounts of drugs in order to work through the pain (though Test recently said that there's nothing wrong with steroid use since they're "mostly used for cosmetic reasons,"and that they're "really no different than a facelift or Botox.")?!?
SCORE!
Note to self -- don't ever get a job working for TNA.
This one is still in the EARLY RUMOR stages, and since I'm short on time this week I'll keep things equally brief and speculative -- but word has it that TNA headliner (and resident poster boy) Kurt Angle has been making overtures the way of former WWE champ Brock Lesnar. Reports are saying that Angle has been really high on bringing in The Next Big Thing, and that a deal between the two parties could easily be brokered in time for the fall (and TNA's alleged "two-hour-timeslot" we've been hearing so much about). Even better for Lesnar, Angle (and TNA) is reportedly promising that the wrestling/taping/travel schedule down in Orlando will still give Brock time to focus on his burgeoning MMA career (if you can call one match "burgeoning").
Now then --
There are a LOT of variables at play here. First, it's Lesnar -- who needs to take a cue from Troy Bolton and "get his head in the game" (yes, that was a blatant HSM reference for those of you keeping score at home). Second, it's Angle, who's been known to spin a whopper or two of his own (kinda like "I'm DEFINITELY going to do MMA in 2007!"). Third, there's still that unresolved issue of the "mystery" second hour of TNA programming that's jamming up the works. It's all well and good that we're hearing about it, and all -- but we've been hearing about it for the better part of six months now... so don't assume *anything* until the press release hits the web, eh?
All that said --
Lesnar is a tremendous talent, and could well prove to be a very valuable addition to the TNA roster if he's serious about being a full-time professional wrestler out for the good of both the business AND the company for which he is employed. I'm not necessarily fond of TNA gobbling up every single WWE-ject that they can get their hands on, but Lesnar has been away from the 'E for the better part of four years now, and adding him to a TNA roster could go a LONG way in filling the credibility gap that might well exist in the company's main event picture sooner than later after TNA's tremendously frustrating mishandling of the Samoa Joe/Kurt Angle money feud.
Again, TNA has no business padding their uppermost ranks with talent that is exclusively composed of imports from the 'E, and they need to do a better job in showcasing AND developing their OWN, homegrown stars if they're ever going to make it on the national stage -- but every so often, a "free agent" like Lesnar could totally serve to freshen things up, if used properly... and so mark Mee down for "cautiously optimistic" over this one.
Now of course, TNA has given their fans little reason to believe that if/when Lesnar is signed, that he WON'T immediately be pushed directly to the top of the company (at the expense of the company's homegrown stars like AJ, Joe, Abyss, etc.) -- and given their recent mishandling of Samoa Joe, it's probably also quite fair for many fans to be pretty darned worried that "WWE talent in" = "TNA talent out"... but let's save the theatrics and the overreactions until The Next Big Thing actually shows up on a TNA broadcast, yes? Like I said at the beginning of this section -- this story is still VERY early in the rumor stage, and there's really no point in getting worked up over the "what ifs?" until all the chips have landed where they may.
Word out of Orlando this week is that due to budget issues (a lot of which may or may not have to do with the recent signing of Adam "Pacman" Jones), TNA has been cutting costs left and right, which has resulted a bunch of surprises.
1) Lance Hoyt and Christy Hemme weren't flown to Hard Justice
2) The Bashams (or, more specifically, "Basham and Damaja" were fired
3) Matt Bentley was fired
4) Brother Runt (a.k.a. "Spike Dudley") was fired
5) Jerry Lynn asked for his release
Now then, to each of these points in order:
1) Good. Hard Justice was bad enough the way it was, and there was no point in further muddying up the waters with a Hemme/Hoyt cameo when recent booking plans would have totally rendered them useless. After all, Hoyt is supposed to be a HEEL for turning on VKM and siding with Hemme (and the Bashams), right? Well, now that VKM is back to their rule-breaker antics (swapping roles with LAX, while the Steiners and Team 3D likewise each pulled an about-face), doesn't make much sense to have VKM's longtime rival (Hemme) and her new-found rule-breakin' boy-toy (Hoyt) show up alongside the two dudes he just turned on (Kip and B.G.), who also just so happen to have recently made the switch to rule breakers as well. Ya' know what? Next time maybe they should just kill two birds with one stone and can the VKM outright, while they're at it.
2) This is also a good thing. First of all, neither of these guys looked particularly "Wellness" affected from the moment they set foot in a TNA arena (and more steroid-suspect performers is the LAST thing TNA needs). Second, word has it that one of these boys no-showed a taping some two weeks ago, and so they've already demonstrated an inability to play for the team. Third, Basham and Damaja were just another example of TNA hurredly picking up ANY WWE-ject they could grab simply for the sake of doing so. For the better part of two years now, TNA has demonstrated a nasty habit of picking up WAAAAY too many WWE b-level castaways and immediately pushing them ahead of home-grown up-and-coming talents. Now that the Bashams are gone? Maybe LAX (or the remaining members of Seratonin) will have a better shot at scoring themselves some much-needed TV-time.
3) Half-good. Bentley has accomplished a sum total of ZERO since that very first iMPACT! special on SpikeTV where he kicked some serious ass in that Ultimate X match. Ever since then, he's spun his wheels in the background of TNA's undercard, and has done absolutely nothing to set himself apart from the herd. Now, of course, Bentley will tell you that his lot in life was largely dictated by the booking hang-ups of TNA honchos like Dutch Mantell and Jeff Jarrett (and for that, I can sympathize). But the bottom line is that Bentley has struggled to stay relevant since a) splitting with Kazarian, b) losing Traci, and c) changing his stage name (first from Michael Shane, then to "Martyr") -- and so you can't help but think that if nothing else, he's had PLENTY of niches offered up his way in order to develop at least SOMETHING of a fan following. But no dice. Sucks to lose him, as Bentley is a solid performer -- but he's been stuck in a rut since his last round of contract negotiations in 2005 (word has it that he was asking for $2500 per show, when the average TNA guy starts out at only $500), and so I really can't feel all that bad now that TNA decided to pull the plug. In all actuality, he's probably better off earning a name for himself in the indies (or abroad) for a bit rather than being saddled with a goofy sidekick-to-Raven gimmick simply for the sake of a paycheck. He's a quality talent who should have no trouble finding work elsewhere, and MeeThinks odds are good that we haven't seen the last of "Maverick" Matt on the national platform -- not by a long shot.
4) Very good thing. After getting his ass handed to him by just about every "hardcore" brawler on the TNA roster (Abyss, Raven, etc.), the erstwhile Spike Dudley had pretty well tapped out the bulk of his worth as 2006 drew to a close. Frankly, it's been surprising that Spike has been able to remain on a TNA payroll in spite of the fact that he hasn't been on one of their broadcasts since April, and with impending talk of his "brothers" Devon and Ray considering a TNA departure in the near future -- perhaps it's not all that bad for the little guy if he too considers mending fences with Vinny Mac & Co. and heading back to jobber-to-the-midcard status back up north. Now that all illusions of the "original ECW" have been dismissed, Spike could easily trade on his "hardcore" alumnus status and find himself in a sweet little "enhancement talent" position with the new tribe of extreme (think Stevie Richards). Hey, it's a paycheck.
5) Not a great thing, but probably for the best. For as good as he once was, Jerry Lynn's best days as an active, in-ring talent were well behind him, and the guy hasn't been anywhere near what he used to be since the earliest days of TNA. His altercations with Shelley, Sabin and Backlund were entertaining and all -- but the bottom line is that without a substantial gimmick overhaul or a full-on charisma transfusion, a 40-plus, b-level "legend" like Jerry Lynn simply wasn't going to get over any more with modern audiences than he already was. Though he is easily as good an in-ring performer as anyone else currently on a TNA roster, Lynn simply is not (nor is likely ever to be) the kinda guy that casual fans point to and say "THAT guy is a great wrestler" in the same way they say it about Finlay, Regal, Eddie, or even Chris Benoit... and since Lynn lacks the charisma of just about all of those men (save Benoit), your average fan never much bought Lynn for being as big a "pioneer" as TNA so frequently said he was, and so he was severly limited in what little "rub" he could lend to other up-and-coming acts even though he could easily help 'em shine once they stepped through the ropes. A tough loss, but not an unbearable one, as Lynn can continue to be of tremendous use to the business *behind* the scenes, ala Lance Storm and Al Snow.
YouThinks Reader Mail
Sorry to disappoint there, folks, but I'm short on time this week and long on non-wrestling-related "Thinks" that have necessitated some truncating of this week's column. Apologies to those who sent e-mails my way and didn't get a chance to see 'em in print this week, but I've had a ton of "real life" stuff that simply deserves precedent over the (welcome) distraction of los intrawebz. Hope you understand and all, and with any luck this feature should be back in full force by next week.
And With That, I'm Outta' Here...
Well that'll do it for Mee this week. Thanks again to all who've taken the time to read, and here's hoping that next week brings us something to smile about from this wacky and wild world of professional 'rasslin. I dunno about you, but I could sure use a distraction or two after the summer that I've had. 'Till next time, enjoy the hard-sell for SummerSlam, the unfolding drama of the TNA title situation, and always stay positive.
