Steroids report puts heat on wrestling business

It's been relatively quiet on the steroids in wrestling front over the past year, but a recently released congressional report may reignite the conversation.

Rep. Henry Waxman, the outgoing chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, described the industry's drug-testing programs as inadequate following a yearlong investigation into wrestling's doping problem.

That same committee reprimanded Major League Baseball during a congressional hearing in 2005 that led to stricter drug-testing policies and more severe punishment for offenders.

Waxman, in a letter addressed to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, suggested that the wrestling industry had not met acceptable guidelines and asked government to take the "appropriate steps."

Waxman, D-Calif., requested that John Walters, director of the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy, "examine the systemic deficiencies in the testing policies and practices of professional wrestling."

Waxman's recommendation was based on interviews with key figures in the industry, including World Wrestling Entertainment's Vince and Stephanie McMahon, and Total Nonstop Action president Dixie Carter. The report produced hundreds of pages of documents.

Waxman noted that more than three million children and teens watch wrestling each week, and the industry sends the wrong message to kids.

Although McMahon claimed in a transcribed interview that adolescents constituted a "very small" segment of the viewing audience, WWE has made a concerted effort over the past year in its marketing approach to hook a younger audience, and recently announced the company was launching six new WWE Kids magazines by the end of 2009.

Waxman also wrote that 40 percent of wrestlers "tested positive for steroids and other drugs" during the first year of WWE's testing program that began in March 2006. Twenty-three other wrestlers were caught using a variety of other narcotics, and even cocaine, according to the report. Twenty-six of the 60 TNA wrestlers who were tested were on steroids or other drugs in January 2008.

Waxman wrote that one former wrestler who agreed to talk to the committee on condition of anonymity said that, in the wrestling business, "steroids are like white socks and tape, they're just part of your gear."

While acknowledging that both WWE and TNA have made efforts to improve drug-testing programs, "these efforts suffer from a lack of independence and transparency," added Waxman, who is leaving the oversight committee to become chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

One of the highlights of the report was the testimony of WWE chairman Vince McMahon before congressional investigators in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 14, 2007. From all accounts, the session was contentious in both tone and tenor.

McMahon, who had three lawyers present during the interview, refused to answer questions from the committee about his personal steroid use, informing the panel that even though he continues to perform in wrestling events, he is not subject to the WWE substance abuse policy, including its drug-testing provisions.

When asked what he would tell wrestlers who asked about potential health risks, he answered, "I don't know if there are really any long-term effects of steroid usage."

The interview grew even more heated when an obviously exasperated McMahon, who at one point told an investigator who was questioning him to "stop trying to put words in my mouth," declared: "I'm insulted, quite frankly, sitting in front of you today by answering some of these ridiculous questions. I'm a businessman. I'm a good businessman. I do things legally. We're a public company. We put smiles on people's faces all over the world. That's what we do. This is a fun business. So it seems to me that this inquiry is some sort of witch hunt."

One of the more entertaining aspects of the interviewing process was gleaned from the 138-page transcript of Stephanie McMahon's interrogation.

Stephanie - daughter of Vince, wife of Triple H (Paul Levesque) and chief WWE writer - was asked how performers get to become main-event talent. She claimed actual wrestling ability wasn't particularly a high priority, and mentioned Hulk Hogan.

"Basically, hard work and perseverance and overwhelming the audience ... When someone walks out on that stage, they either connect with the people or they don't. If you walk out on stage and nobody cares and you don't have any presence, you are never going to be a main-event guy. But if you walk out and you make the people notice you, you can be a main-event guy. You really don't even have to be a good wrestler. Hulk Hogan was a terrible wrestler, and he still is."

When the interviewer insisted that the Hulkster would disagree with her statement, she replied, "I am sure he would disagree with that. I forget this is all public. But, you know, he was. He was a terrible wrestler. But what an incredible psychologist and what an incredible charismatic person. There is no denying Hulk Hogan is one of the biggest stars in the history of our business and will always be perceived as such. But he was not a great wrestler, not a great technician."

Stephanie also revealed that only she and (talent relations head) John Laurinaitis decide who gets called up to the main roster from developmental (although dad Vince, of course, gets the final say).

- WWE announced a 10 percent reduction of its worldwide corporate staff Friday. The cuts are expected to result in annual cost savings of approximately $8 million. The company, however, will absorb a $3 million restructuring charge in the first quarter of 2009. The company's ultimate goal is to trim $20 million from its expenses in 2009.

WWE stock dropped to $10.51 at closing Friday following the company's official announcement.

Several performers also were released, including veteran Val Venis (Sean Morely), D-Lo Brown (Accie "A.C." Conner), Bam Neely (Justin LaRouche) and Kevin Thorn (Kevin Fertig), as well as longtime referee Jimmy Corderas, who was in the ring when Owen Hart fell to his death in 1999, and agent Tim White, who worked as Andre The Giant's assistant during the '80s and '90s in addition to his referee duties. Venis had been with the company since the height of the Attitude Era in 1998.

- Jim Cornette's Midnight Express book is scheduled to be released in February. Cornette is one of the best storytellers in the business, and this one is sure to be a page-turner.

WWE will be releasing the "Andre the Giant - A Legendary Life" book later this month. Michael Krugman, who previously worked on the WWE autobiographies of The Hardys and Lita, penned the book. Andre, one of the greatest attractions in the wrestling business and one of the most famous athletes in the world, died in 1993 at the age of 46.

Bret Hart's highly praised contribution, "My Real Life in a Cartoon World of Wrestling," is one of the best mat autobiographies out there. Published in Canada well over a year ago but only hitting American bookstores this past November, Hart's 600-page account is brutally honest and startling. "The only way I knew to provide for my family was what was keeping me away from them," wrote Hart, reflecting his love-hate relationship for a business he was born to follow, and the betrayals and personal losses that came with it.

Closer to home, my pal Ken Burger has written a gem of a novel titled "Swallow Savannah." While it's not exactly wrestling related, it contains all the main elements of a great grapplin' storyline: good guys, bad guys, a strong theme and compelling characters. And if the title isn't enough to hook you, Ken's engaging writing style surely will.

- With Randy Orton booting Manu (Afa Anoa'i Jr.) and Sim Snuka (James Reiher Jr.) out of his Legacy stable, look for a Samoan-Fijan uprising in the upcoming weeks. Watch for the returning Umaga (Eddie Fatu) to join his two island brethren against Orton, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. in a battle among second- and third-generation stars.

The family scorecard reads something like this: Orton is the son of Cowboy Bob Orton and grandson of the late Bob Orton Sr. Rhodes is the son of "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Runnels). DiBiase is the son of "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and grandson of the late Iron Mike DiBiase. Umaga is a member of the famous Anoa'i wrestling family. His mother was the sister of Afa and Sika of The Wild Samoans, and his two older brothers are Sam Fatu (also known as The Tonga Kid) and Solofa Jr. (better known as Rikishi). Manu is the son of Afa The Wild Samoan and the cousin of Rikishi and Umaga. Snuka is the son of "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, who is linked to the prolific Anoa'i clan by marriage, but not actually a blood relative.

- Ashley Fliehr, daughter of 16-time world champ Ric Flair, pleaded guilty to resisting an officer in connection with a fight last fall in Chapel Hill, N.C., involving her father and her boyfriend.

Fliehr, 22, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, which was suspended to supervised probation and a $200 fine. A charge of assaulting an officer was dismissed as part of a plea deal.

- The uber-talented Krissy Vaine is getting back into the ring after a two-year hiatus. Vaine, who last appeared on Smackdown in late 2007, will reform Team Blondage with Amber O'Neal. She's also writing a new weekly column, "Krissy's Catwalk," on www.wrestlingdotcom.

- Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett headlines tonight's TNA Genesis pay-per-view in Charlotte. Also on top is a six-man match with Mick Foley, A.J. Styles and Brother Devon vs. Booker T, Kevin Nash and Scott Steiner, along with Sting vs. Rhino for the TNA title.

- Former pro wrestler Kanyon (Chris Klucsaritis) dished some dirt on some former colleagues during a recent appearance on the Unholy Matrimony comedy radio show.

The openly gay grappler called Dennis Rodman, whom he helped train years ago for his pro wrestling debut with WCW, an "---hole" and remarked that the former NBA star smelled like he hadn't showered in days. He also said he was surprised that longtime friend Diamond Dallas Page made a recent comment that he thought Kanyon was "half" homosexual. Kanyon, who broke into the business in Columbia under the tutelage of the late Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison), said he knew he was gay since he was 10, but decided to "come out" just a few years ago.

- Katie Lea Burchill (Katarina Waters), who recently was sent to the ECW brand with storyline brother Paul Burchill (Paul Burchall), said in a recent WWE Universe blog that she'd like to join JBL's "corporation."

"Surely a blind man can see that having mouse-faced, grumpy-man Shawn Michaels in JBL's corner is eventually going do him more harm than good. I predict that the 'Kid' ... will snap one day turning things pretty ugly for everyone involved. I would think (and I'm good at thinking), that it would be a far better option for JBL to have a virile and beautiful young woman by his side, willing to do absolutely anything he asks of her. Needless to say, I have sent in my application."

- The WWE Web site on Friday inadvertently posted an announcement of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin leading the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2009. The release was quickly pulled, although it's been widely speculated for quite some time that the Texas Rattlesnake would be inducted at this year's Wrestlemania in his home state.

- Old School Championship Wrestling is holding a show Jan. 18 at Weekend's Pub, 428 Red Bank Road, Goose Creek. Main event will feature Chris Mordetzky (formerly WWE's Chris Masters). Call 743-4800 or go to www.oscwonline.com for more information.

Reach Mike Mooneyham at (843) 937-5517 or mooneyham@postandcourier.com. For wrestling updates during the week, call The Post and Courier Info Line at (843) 937-6000, ext. 3090.