5. Eddie Guerreros Death Leads To A New Drug Policy
Eddie Guerrero was a great wrestler; that much is undeniable. Though smaller than the average McMahon guy, he was still very charismatic and connected well with the fans. Furthermore, he was considered the nicest guy by his fellow wrestlers. This is why his untimely death hurt that much more. His passing was shocking, to say the least. He was said to have kicked a drug habit years ago, and was in quite good shape. Eddie was only 38 years old when he passed on. Rumor has it that he was scheduled to beat Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship and enjoy another run at the top. Of course, even a tragedy such as this one has a silver lining. Following Eddies passing, the WWE adopted a new drug policy used to detect the presence of drugs in a wrestlers system. The WWEs Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy was originally implemented on February 27, 2006, just over three months after Eddie passed away. This new policy is very rigorous and is almost draconian in its consequences (though maybe such strictness is necessary). Its overseen by one of the top neurosurgeons in the United States. Superstars and Divas are tested at random four times a year. If theyre caught with something illicit in their bodies, theyre suspended for 30 days the first time, 60 days the second time, and fired the third time. If someone tests positive for something, theyre tested another 12 times for the remainder of that year. And these guidelines arent just for steroids or over-the-counter medications. If a Superstar is tests positive for marijuana or for alcohol, they pay a $2,500 fine on the spot. The most interesting thing about this program is that contracted WWE employees arent the only ones who can receive help with drug addictions or other medical issues. According to the WWE Wellness Policy FAQ page, WWE is committed to assisting former WWE Talent in receiving appropriate drug and alcohol assistance and has expanded this offer to include any individuals who had ever performed under contract to WWE during their careers. Letters to former talent are sent out annually offering this assistance. This goes to show not only how much Eddie Guerreros tragic passing was shocking to the WWE and its fan base, but how much the WWE is committed to preventing a repetition of such an occurrence. I guess the whole 'better safe than sorry' mantra is clearly visible in this case. You can read the policy in its entirety here: http://corporate.wwe.com/company/abuse_policy.jsp
Alexander Podgorski is a writer for WhatCulture that has been a fan of professional wrestling since he was 8 years old. He loves all kinds of wrestling, from WWE and sports entertainment, to puroresu in Japan.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University in Political Studies and French, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He speaks English, French, Polish, a bit of German, and knows some odd words and phrases in half a dozen other languages.
