10 substance abuse incidents in pro wrestling that would upset any fan

Drug abuse is probably one of the most tragic things that a professional wrestler could go through. Some lose hold of their career, some their well-being and some others even lose their life as they fall into the substance abuse trap.WWE has gone through many controversies regarding drug abuse which have forced them to strengthen their wellness policy and give importance to their employees. There have been many several incidents over the years which have made look WWE like a promotion that has only drug addicts. Wrestlers often went way out of line while being lost in their addiction, and there are a lot of unsavoury episodes that the WWE probably doesn’t want us to remember.Here is a look at some of those incidents which showed everyone just how destructive drugs can be.

#10 Hulk Hogan pimping out his wife

Hogan still is a big name in the professional wrestling business. The fans still love to see him make an appearance, and his recent return was evidence of that.

But Hogan has a pretty ugly record when it comes to substance abuse. He has come out and admitted that he took drugs for almost 20 years before giving up. But perhaps the most embarrassing episode that transpired during his dark years was him selling out his wife – literally.

The Ultimate Warrior revealed in 2011 that Hogan used to pump himself up with cocaine and then pimp his wife, Linda, around the locker room. Linda, now divorced from Hogan, also said that her husband used drugs during most of their marriage, which adds credence to Warrior’s claims.

#9 Naked Terry Funk chasing Ric Flairs dog

Ric Flair had a legendary career inside the ring, but he was also well-known for being a party animal. Flair used to throw parties with booze and girls every now and then, in which he used to be under the influence the whole night.

One of the most ridiculous stories that came out of Ric Flair’s parties is that involving him and Terry Funk. The hardcore legend who revolutionalised ECW had one of the most embarrassing moments of his life as revealed in 2004 in Flair’s autobiography.

One night after one of Flair’s trademark parties, Flair’s wife came home to see her husband completely drunk. But the weirdest thing was waiting for her in the backyard – a naked Terry Funk with a knife in his mouth, chasing Flair’s dog.

It’s one of those things that we’ll only see in movies, but it happened for real in the life of a legend like Terry Funk which is clearly a black mark on his career.

#8 Scott Hall killing out of \'self-defense\'

Scott Hall was one of the most decorated and talented wrestlers back in his time. He took over WWE as Razor Ramon and went to WCW, where he was part of the revolution called nWo.

However, his career and life soon fell apart thanks to his excessive use of drugs. Hall was charged with second degree murder in 1983 for killing a man outside a night club; Hall got away with the act without undergoing prison time after he claimed that he did it for self-defense.

Hall also has a history of getting arrested for abusing his girlfriend under the influence, and he was lost in the wilderness for almost a decade before getting back to a healthy life. With the help of his son and Diamond Dallas Page, Hall eventually conquered his demons and produced an inspirational story for the fans.

Now that WWE is inducting him into the Hall of Fame, Hall’s past is something that the promotion wouldn’t want everyone to remember, which might be also the reason why they decided to induct him as Razor Ramon rather than Scott Hall.

#7 The Vince McMahon steroid trial

There have been two instances when WWE almost met its fall. One was when Eric Bischoff decided to pump up a revolution called WCW, while the other was in 1994 when McMahon was accused of deliberately distributing drugs to his employees.

It was one of the most controversial trials that McMahon ever went through and he could’ve ended up in jail which would’ve resulted in the company folding up as well. The trial also led to the departure of Hulk Hogan from WWE.

The financial resources that Hogan had to shell out to resolve the case later came back to haunt him in his battle with WCW as well.

#6 Curt Hennig beating up Brock Lesnar

Hennig may be Mr. Perfect when it comes to his in-ring skills, but he was someone who constantly struggled with substance abuse, which eventually took his life as well.

One of the lowest points in Hennig’s career came when WWE fired him in 2002 for creating a scene during an aeroplane ride. Hennig and his fellow wrestlers were heavily drunk but Hennig in particular went out of line while under the influence.

He beat up a young Brock Lesnar inside the plane and since Lesnar was protected as a future big star by the company Hennig was immediately released for disgracing the company. Just one year later, he passed away due to cocaine intoxication which raised even more questions about the plane incident.

#5 Davey Boy Smith High match at SummerSlam

Davey Boy Smith and Bret Hart had an epic battle in SummerSlam 1992. However, Hart later revealed some shocking details about the match which raised everyone’s eyebrows.

Hart claimed in his autobiography that Smith was smoking crack all night long before the match and that he had to carry the whole match himself with Smith being almost dead weight. Hart also said that Smith was thoroughly messed up by the usage of drugs.

Smith’s early death due to regular drug abuse supported these claims. He never had the chance to be the World Champion despite being a great wrestler, and his story stands out as another tragic episode in WWE history.

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#4 Rey Mysterios drug addiction

Rey is one of the wrestlers who brought a new spark into the WWE ring. He gave the fans a fresh kind of wrestling and showed them things that they hadn’t seen until then.

But all of that took a toll on his body, and Rey had to take pain killers to keep himself ticking. That led him to develop an addiction to those pain killers which led to some suspensions.

The death of Eddie Guerrero later made Rey win the battle against his own demons and he gave up on the addiction. But such a popular name like Rey getting addicted is not something that WWE would want everyone to know, since he is a very popular figure among children.

#3 The Florida pharmacy incident

2007 saw WWE getting caught up in a steroid scandal which forced them to suspend an array of superstars then ruling the main event scene.

Many of the WWE superstars were linked with a pharmacy in Florida which was known for being a top dog when it came to steroid distribution. Names like Kurt Angle, Batista, Edge and Booker T were on the customer list of the pharmacy.

WWE saved most of the names from the scandal, but they let go of Booker T who didn’t have any backing. Booker eventually left the company.

#2 Rob Van Dam arrested for marijuana possession

Van Dam was the perfect face for Paul Heyman’s original ECW which was struggling to keep up with the network requirements during its twilight years. RVD then also found success in WWE, becoming a great fan favourite.

He was used as an integral part in the relaunch of ECW and he defeated John Cena to hold both the ECW title and the WWE title at the same time.

However shortly after his famous win, RVD along with Sabu were pulled up for possession of marijuana. RVD was soon stripped of both the titles and suspended for a month.

#1 The Chris Benoit incident

The reason why this one is so high in this list is because it’s one story that pops up every time there’s a discussion on substance abuse.

Benoit is arguably the most tragic story in the list as well; he was someone who would’ve ended up in the Hall of Fame if he didn’t do what he did with himself and his family. It is widely believed that Benoit’s substance abuse made him murder his family. In 2007, he killed his wife and son before ending his own life, probably as a result of the brain condition that made him lose control of his senses.

The Benoit incident is a prime example of how one man’s drug addiction can change the lives of everyone around him.