First, the Roman Empire came crumbling down. Soon after ‘The Pride of Mexico’, lost his pride. This was followed by his lady love turning a bad Paige in her life’s story book. And finally, ‘All Red Everything’ met a red end, we mean dead end, in her career.
These are the recent victims of the WWE Wellness Policy...top/mid level performers suspended for an entire month, and even buried on air, for their actions. Why is the WWE so dead set on punishing those who violate the Wellness Policy, even if they are top level stars?
We don’t know the answers yet (because we don’t work in the WWE, but if we did we’d be fired for telling you the truth. Hi Joey Styles...) but we can make some pretty educated guesses. Here’s what we think.
#5 To show that WWE cares about talent health
The history of the WWE is filled with tragic tales. Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, two of the greatest performers in the history of the sport met their end under devastating circumstances. Steroids were speculated to be the cause for death in both cases.
To avoid a repeat, the WWE has been very cautious in their approach (case in point, Daniel Bryan’s forced early retirement after repeated concussions). More recently, over 50 past stars including legends such as Road Warrior Animal, Chavo Guerrero, Paul Orndoff and Jimmy ‘The Superfly’ Snuka have decided to sue the company for the effects of repeated head injuries.
To avoid such incidents in the future, WWE has decided to enforce the Wellness Policy upon all its employees.
#4 To make up for Brock Lesnar's non suspension
Despite how little Brock Lesnar cares about the WWE, the whole world of sports entertainment rejoiced when he defeated Mark Hunt in his UFC 200 encounter. Soon after, the controversies began to surface. The results of his drug tests came in, and Brock Lesnar tested positive.
However, plans for his match at Summerslam against Randy Orton remained unchanged, while Roman Reigns was taken off television for an entire month. This is because, unlike Reigns, Lesnar isn’t a full time performer for the WWE.
This decision, to not take any action against Lesnar resulted in a lot of backstage heat, and the entire media fraternity was critical of WWE. One wonders if they’re going overboard by taking action against those who’ve violated the Wellness Policy, to make up for the same.
#3 To set an example, backstage
Traditionally, sports entertainers have been known for taking drugs. And how!
Professional wrestling and steroids have always gone hand in hand, although most of the fraternity has denied it vehemently. After the many drug related cases in company history, we believe that WWE feels that it can end this menace once and for all, by punishing the top guy – Roman Reigns – for his error in judgement.
Just to prove how seriously it is taking its Wellness Policy.
If that does not set an example in the locker room, nothing will. This was close on the heels of the suspension of jobbers like Konor and Adam Rose. By showcasing that one rule applies to all, WWE believes it can end the trend of drug consumption for good.
#2 To be viewed as a major mainstream entertainment company
As Vince McMahon has said several times, he does not compete with other wrestling promotions; but with companies like Disney, in an attempt to put smiles on faces. After the Chris Benoit double murder-suicide controversy, the PG Era began in earnest and has continued ever since.
To be viewed as a legitimate entertainment company, controversies have to be kept to a minimum. Which means top stars with squeaky clean images like John Cena.
Because any tragedy, drug related or otherwise, can be a PR nightmare for WWE. In an attempt to minimize controversy, the Wellness Policy is a safeguard for keeping superstars in check.
Especially considering Vince McMahon himself has been embroiled in drug related scandals in the past.
#1 To compete with the UFC
The Attitude Era is never coming back. But fans get their share of blood, action and excitement these days from MMA. There is a big crossover audience that is a fan of both MMA and WWE, and we daresay, that the UFC fanbase may just be outgrowing that of pro-wrestling.
As a legitimate sporting body, the UFC treats drug tests very seriously. Not to be left behind, WWE probably wants to appear just as serious about its performers abusing drugs. And hence, the suspensions are a necessity in order to not be left behind by an increasingly transient audience base.
