PWTorch.com reported last night that Ric Flair has given notice to WWE and has quit the promotion over frustration at the way he has been used. Flair’s departure comes at a time when WWE is reeling from injuries and suspensions to top stars. According to reports at PWTorch.com and WrestlingObserver.com, Flair’s departure is not related to the current steroid investigation or suspensions. The reports say negotiations are underway between Flair and WWE about a possible return. The report also speculates on Flair making a jump to TNA.
A new study suggests that a series of concussions may have caused the rage that led wrestler Chris Benoit to murder his wife, his son and commit suicide. Benoit’s father, Michael Benoit, turned over part of the wrestler’s brain to researchers at West Virginia University and the Sports Legacy Institute.
Dr. Julian Bailes, head of neurosurgery at WVU, said the results of tests on Chris Benoit’s brain were striking. Showing a slide of Benoit’s brain tissue Wednesday morning on ABC’s Good Morning America Bailes pointed out what he called abnormalities. The researcher said Benoit’s brain scan looked similar to those of Alzheimer’s patients. Bailes has done similar research on the brains of former professional football players who committed suicide. He said he found similar brain damage in their cases.
The WWE is putting storylines in motion to remove the 10 suspended wrestlers from television. First at the ECW tapigs, CM Punk defeated John Morrison for the ECW World Title. Now at the Raw tapings, Jeff Hardy defeated Umaga at the RAW taping tonight to capture the Intercontinental Title. The match is set to open the show tomorrow night. Then later in the tapings Umaga was in a 2 on 1 Handicap match with Carlito against Triple H. The match ended with Triple H hitting Umaga with the sledgehammer several times. Umaga is rolled away on a stretcher. William Regal was also mentioned in the steroid report and at the Raw tapings he was layed out by John Cena and taken away by paramedics.
WWE has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstars Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard and Jayson Paul) as of September 2. PwInsider.com is reporting that there was an incident this weekend involving Cryme Time and WWE Tag Team champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch that took place on the Raw house show in Terra Haute, Indiana yesterday. The finish of their bout saw an odd countout finish although JTG had made it back to the ring, followed by Cryme Time attacking the referee of the bout and removing his belt for “auction” to the audience. WWE officials made the decision to release the pair at the Raw tapings this afternoon. There was a lot of heat on the team today at TV. Given the timing of the release, I’d say this is likely not a Wellness Policy issue but something stemming from the Indiana incident.
Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore was released by WWE on Saturday. The WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE SmackDown talent Eugene as of September 1. We wish Eugene the best in all future endeavors. Dinsmore was apparently surprised by the release and was at the building for the Smackdown tapings and was in the talent meeting conducted by Stephanie McMahon. Following the meeting, he was informed he was released from the company and led out of the building. Dinsmore was slated to take a more active role in Ohio Valley Wrestling working with some of the greener talent, so the release was said to have been a complete shock to him. Dinsmore was not among the names listed by media as being a customer of Signature Pharmacy, but his release is said to have been due to a Wellness Program violation. Dinsmore had been previously suspended due to a violation of the program.
Chris Cage, a former WWE developmental talent who was released some time ago following a Wellness issue, but has since returned to OVW in an attempt to earn a new deal, was booked to work as an extra on the taping, in some minor role. Numerous sources have told me he was also asked to leave the taping with the belief being the company didn’t want someone who had been released due to Wellness issues being around in the current environment.
The Punk era has begun in the Land of the Extreme. At a television taping in Cincinnati Saturday night, CM Punk made the most of his No. 1 Contender status and defeated John Morrison for the ECW Championship.
This pretty much says that John Morrison is one the ten suspended wrestlers. His name was on the list made public by The New York Daily News alleging that he received steroids.
Stephanie McMahon and John Laurinaitis held a meeting with the Smackdown and ECW talent last night in Cincinnati, Ohio prior to yesterday’s television tapings to discuss new changes to the WWE Wellness Policy:
*The company will begin to test for marijuana shortly. A positive will not result in a suspension but all positives will be met with a fine of, at least, $1000 per offense.
*The company will also begin testing for anti-estrogen drugs, which can be taken to offset some of the effects of steroid and HGH use. A positive for any anti-estrogen agents will result in Wellness suspensions.
*The company also announced that any new potential hires will have to undergo and pass the WWE Wellness test before they are signed to the company.
One of the most tenured performers on the WWE roster, Hardcore Holly, may be done as an active professional wrestler. Holly, who was slated to return to the Smackdown brand, is having continued issues with his arm stemming from his most recent surgery. The word going around at TV is that his condition worsened after the surgery and he’s having problems with feeling in the arm. The blame was being put on the doctors. Holly has been with the company since December 1993 when he debuted as Thurmann “Sparky” Plugg, the racecar driver. His name was later changed to Bob “Spark Plug” Holly before he finally morphed into Hardcore Holly during the Attitude Era.
New York’s Newsday is reporting today that WWE lawyer Jerry McDevitt has confirmed to them that an 11th wrestler has been suspended by the company due to the ongoing government investigation into the Signature Pharmacy dispensing growth enhancing drugs without legitimate perscriptions. McDevitt said no further suspensions are expected due to the findings of the government investigation. Of the 11 violations, 10 will be for 30 days while one is a second time offender and will miss 60 days.