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WWE fans were left stunned this week with the news that United States Champion Andrade had been suspended for a violation of the company’s Talent Wellness Program.
The 30-year-old, who retained his championship as recently as the Royal Rumble this past Sunday with a victory over Humberto Carrillo, was announced as being suspended for 30 days by the company, just hours after being written out of television with an injury.
The development came as a huge surprise to many, with company officials and fans said to be high on the Mexican’s talents and abilities. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time that a suspension for a breach of the company’s extensive Wellness Program has come out of left field, however.
The Program, which WWE says “is administered independently by world renowned medical professionals and includes cardiovascular testing, ImPACT, testing for brain function, substance abuse and drug testing, annual physicals, and health care referrals,” has identified issues that have led to the temporary removal from active competition of a number of the company’s personnel.
Here are just a handful of the names who have been suspended over the years, plus some of the background behind some of them, and more details about the Program itself:
Roman Reigns
Arguably the highest profile of all the Talent Wellness Program failures, the suspension of Roman Reigns sent shockwaves through WWE in the summer of 2016.
It is believed that the suspension was the reason behind Reigns losing the WWE Championship to Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank just days prior, which in turn led to Dean Ambrose 'cashing in' his Money in the Bank contract seconds late
Arguably one of the company's biggest and most recognisable talents, Reigns would Tweet about the suspension, taking full responsibility.
Robert Roode
The Glorious One was suspended for a violation in December 2019, alongside Primo.
It meant a halt for Roode of the top-level programme that saw him working alongside King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler to thwart Reigns.
Paige
WWE announced in October 2016 that Paige was suspended for 60 days as a result of what was her second violation of the Program.
The Brit, and her family, took to social media to sternly contest the suspension, stressing that the violation had come about as a result of prescription medication, rather than anything more sinister. Paige herself even went as far as to suggest that she was being unfairly treated in comparison to others within the company.
Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio was suspended for his first violation in the summer of 2016.
The former world champion, its thought, was prevented from having any involvement in that week’s SummerSlam pay per view as a result.
Mike Chioda
One of the more surprising names to fall into our list was WWE’s top official, Mike Chioda, who was suspended by the company back in August 2011.
Chioda is a vastly experienced referee who debuted more than 30 years ago, since officiating numerous Wrestlemania main events.
As is the case with many such suspensions, it was never revealed just what had caused the 53-year-old to fall foul of the programme.
William Regal
Regal’s suspension in 2008 was, arguably, the worst-timed of them all. The Blackpool, England native had just won the King of the Ring tournament and was enjoying the biggest push of his WWE career.
The 51-year-old has long since been open about the vast addiction and drug issues that plagued the formative years of his career. While it’s not known what precisely triggered what was his second violation of the program – and thus a 60-day suspension – it’s safe to say it left many fans, and the man himself, wondering what might have been.
Did you know…?
Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, R-Truth, Heath Slater, Luke Gallows and Dolph Ziggler all also failed the WWE Talent Wellness Program in the past, leading to suspensions.
The company’s talent wellness program continues to evolve along with advances in medical science. The WWE Talent Wellness Program is unique in the entertainment industry and is considered to be as good as or better than the testing programs initiated by major sports leagues, government agencies and corporations.
The program has successfully identified health issues in our WWE Superstars that may never have been diagnosed if they had not undergone the various tests required by the program.
