Nice article from Bryan Alvarez on f4wonline.com
Don't think nobody has noticed that just a few weeks after a second "SAY NO TO DRUGS" speech to the locker room, Vince McMahon and Triple H are gigantic. Vince's arms were insanely big Monday, and although Hunter came back looking significantly smaller and leaner at SummerSlam he's also getting bigger and bigger with each passing week.
The wrestlers are very aware of this and amazed at how they're told one thing and then the two most powerful on-screen characters in the company seem to be sending a completely different message. This is the most fascinating business in the world. Several months ago I wrote a column for the Fight Network where I basically lamented about how when Benoit first died I thought this was going to be the one that really lead to change in the business, but in the end it looked like it was going to come and go and in the end no one would care all that much and things would return to a fucked-up normal.
Then Congress actually started talking with people and requesting information about WWE, and then it was flat-out stated that hearings were going to likely be taking place in mid-September. I thought, wow, maybe something really is going to happen here. Well, by the time those of you who get the print version of this newsletter receive it, it will be October and there are no hearings on the books. Nothing. It's terribly quiet. And those who have worked closely with the government in Washington DC tell us that everything pretty much shuts down from Thanksgiving to the New Year.
If you look at how quickly the world changes, and where pro-wrestling hearings probably rank on the importance scale anyway, the chances of this being picked up in January looks very slim. If nothing happens within the next 30 days or so, there may be little chance of it happening anytime soon. Judging from a lot of different things, my feeling is that WWE was forthright in sending all their policy information and whatever else, they snowed a lot of people with their recent "hard-line suspensions" and rehab offer to all former wrestlers, and maybe in doing investigations Congress came to the conclusion that hearings would largely be a waste of time.
Regardless of what might be said, Vince and Hunter appear to be sending their own message to the world that this is all over and it's time to get back into the swing of things again. I guess if this is the end I can't get too depressed about it, because I suppose deep down I never really expected anything to change.
The rehab letter, which was a form letter sent to I believe everyone who has ever worked for the company, reads: "Over the last ten years, an inordinate number of wrestlers have passed away. Some of those deaths may in part have been caused by drugs and alcohol. In an effort to prevent such tragedies in the future, the WWE is willing to pay for drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation at a certified treatment chosen by WWE for any performer with a prior WWE booking contract who may need this service. The WWE will pay for this service in full. There is no cost to you or your family. Help will be provided regardless of the circumstances of your departure from the WWF or the amount of time you performed for the WWE. If you do not have a drug and/or alcohol problem, but know you know a former WWE performer who does, we are asking you to try to help them by encouraging them to take advantage of this opportunity. Liz Difabio has been appointed as a representative in this matter. Liz has been with the company for over 24 years and has been directly involved with the majority of WWE performers who have received treatment for substance abuse. She understands emotions that individuals and family members go through in this process. Any conversation you have with Liz will remain confidential and will not be released to the public. In many instances, an individual in need of help is in denial and will not want rehabilitation. There are professional intervention companies that will help persuade that person that they need treatment. Liz will be able to facilitate such interventions, should they be necessary. An intervention and treatment will be at the cost of WWE exclusively. This service is being provided for performers with a prior WWE booking contract only. No family or friends. Please reach out to Liz if you think you might have a drug or alcohol problem or if you know someone who does. We all need to do anything we can to help prevent another tragedy." The letter is signed by Vince McMahon.
Over 500 wrestlers got the letter, including some who probably read it and had a good laugh.
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