10 Things Next Series WWE Ruthless Aggression Should Focus On
5. The Health Of The Wrestlers
The aforementioned Benoit tragedy and the death of Eddie Guerrero in 2005 led WWE to change the ways they screen current and prospective superstars on the roster.
In Nigel McGuinness' WWE documentary (which is a must watch, by the way), he was caught between a rock and a hard place when he was truthful to WWE doctors about a previous bicep injury which didn’t receive surgery (as he couldn’t afford it). WWE refused to take on Nigel unless he opted for surgery out of his own pocket.
This is a small look behind the curtain at how WWE changed its health screenings - even though Bryan Danielson got the job just by lying about his previous injuries.
MVP had to take a hiatus in 2006 after WWE doctors had found an irregularity with his heart. These mandatory screenings were put in place after Guerrero’s death was discovered to be more due to a defect in his heart than his previous drug and alcohol abuse; WWE didn’t want more high profile deaths to move on from.