10 Ways The Chris Benoit Double-Murder/Suicide Case Changed WWE Forever

8. The WWE Medical

Vince Mcmahon Chris Benoit Raw June
Ring of Honor

It's unthinkable now that performers wouldn't have to pass a medical in order to score employment with the biggest wrestling company in the world, but the extensive physicals undertaken have often saved superstars from themselves.

Implemented first for incoming talent as part of the Wellness Policy and upgraded to include stars returning from injuries, the increased level of testing has seen numerous performers experience hardships for their own good.

Like most aspects of their improved safety precautions, much of WWE's care and attention is a public relations exercise, but the scheme has nonetheless produced some life-saving results.

Nigel McGuinness was one of the first high profile test failures, having left Ring of Honor in 2009 to chase his dreams before a pre-contract screening threw up abnormalities that WWE refused to overlook. TNA did, but 'Desmond Wolfe' was given few opportunities to thrive in the Orlando-based group before retiring in 2011.

Shortly after his successful WrestleMania World Title defence against Alberto Del Rio, Edge was told by a doctor to immediately retire lest he paralyse himself with one more bad neck bump.

Daniel Bryan's heartbreaking retirement came after months of warring with WWE doctors to gain clearance. He never would, but later revealed life-threatening seizures that were caused by multiple undiagnosed concussions earlier in his career.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett