WWE suspends 10 wrestlers for violating drug policy

[VickreyAuction]

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As to the point that the WWF essentially forces guys to take steroids by rewarding those that do. Again the EXACT same thing happens in virtually every entertainment based industry. Are you and others as equally upset when you see a hot looking model, or when a sexier but less talented singer is promoted, etc, etc.

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The key difference (for me, and I suspect most fans) is that steroids are very unhealthy. A singer who gets more money because she gets breast implants or is better looking isn't making a choice that actively dangers her well-being.

A model who is severely anorexic is harming herself, and that would bother me.

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I mean again I understand the grief when a celebrity you are attached to dies but unless you are prepared to stop watching/supporting the product all together then it seems more like just being upset your favorites aren't more prominent then actual concern for the performers.

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The problem is that most fans just plain enjoy watching wrestling. Yeah, it sucks that WWE pushes big guys who can't move. But a lot of fans would rather watch wrestling in some form than whatever else is on on Monday nights (although that will change for football season).

I'm a huge ROH (Ring of Honor) fan, and ROH shows feature guys who aren't terribly big or muscular, but are probably the best wrestlers in the world. And their shows are awesome.

[metsandfinsfan]

bring back the luchadores!

[VickreyAuction]

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OK I follow but that doesn't mean that in the absence of steroids that time won't go instead to non steroid taking body builder types over "more talented wrestlers". Infact given that you state the WWE has a preference for the large muscular type it would seem logical that's exactly what would happen. Would fans who share your opinion then be against weight lifting in wrestling?

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The WWE loves big guys. They built their company in the 80's on Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and the Ultimate Warrior, all of whom were huge. The WWE will ALWAYS prefer big guys to small ones, as long as Vince McMahon is at the helm. And I'm cool with that. I think big guy wrestling is boring compared to technical or high spot wrestling, that's all. I would say that most fans who are familiar with Japanese, Mexican or indy wrestling would agree with me.

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It just seems like the real problem is with how wrestling is managed rather than with steroids.

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Hell yes. Hell yes, hell yes, hell yes. Wrestling is so backwards these days, it's ridiculous. As I said, the WWE is in the mindset that its top guys have to be huge. That is completely untrue; most fans would accept smaller wrestlers if they were given the same push.

TNA is the other company with a national timeslot. They have made every possible bad decision over the last 6 months. Presently they're paying Pacman Jones, whose main claim to fame is that he shot a guy in the spine, $25,000 per appearance. And he doesn't even do anything.

[Jack Bando]

Great points Vickrey, earlier TNA did have a lot of non-WWE main event type wrestlers at the top (Samoa Joe, Christian (singles), AJ Styles) putting on good matches.

Slighty off-topic, but the other problem I have with WWE's style is that 99.999% of matches end with a signature finisher, I once wathed a match where I didn't know what the person's finisher was and it was the most captivating match I watched in years since I didn't know if that big move was the ending.

So, I think hosses are WWE's main problem-followed by predictable match endings and Cena.

[EMc]

I wonder if this will have the same effect as it had in the early 90s with smaller guys (HBK, hart) getting pushed big

[VickreyAuction]

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I wonder if this will have the same effect as it had in the early 90s with smaller guys (HBK, hart) getting pushed big

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They actually have a guy named CM Punk who is straightedge; no drugs, no alcohol, no promiscuous sex, lots of tattoos. That's not just his gimmick, either, he's straightedge in real life too. Plus the kids love him, and he had some amazing matches when he was in ROH (his 60 minute time limit draw with Samoa Joe was the first 5-star American match in 7 years). So, if it's anyone, it'll probably be him.

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Great points Vickrey, earlier TNA did have a lot of non-WWE main event type wrestlers at the top (Samoa Joe, Christian (singles), AJ Styles) putting on good matches.

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I know! They just overbook the hell out of everything now. Christian vs Angle vs Joe vs AJ in a ladder match for the title would have sold a million PPVs. Old and new big names, all quality workers, and a match with huge potential.

Instead they turned it into Christian vs Angle vs Joe vs AJ vs A Mystery Man in a reverse ladder match with a 2 minute penalty box and a qualifier that you have to pin someone to be able to climb the ladder in order to hang the I CAN'T EVEN FINISH THE DESCRIPTION JUST LET THEM HAVE THE MATCH

[superadvisor]

I can see how the WWE would want to enforce a no-drug policy as these wrestlers are paid according to their performance and condoning the use of steroids in order to profit more is unfair to all professional wrestlers who don't want to break the law and damage their bodies in order to do so.

[jh12547]

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I wonder if this will have the same effect as it had in the early 90s with smaller guys (HBK, hart) getting pushed big

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They actually have a guy named CM Punk who is straightedge; no drugs, no alcohol, no promiscuous sex, lots of tattoos. That's not just his gimmick, either, he's straightedge in real life too. Plus the kids love him, and he had some amazing matches when he was in ROH (his 60 minute time limit draw with Samoa Joe was the first 5-star American match in 7 years). So, if it's anyone, it'll probably be him.

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Great points Vickrey, earlier TNA did have a lot of non-WWE main event type wrestlers at the top (Samoa Joe, Christian (singles), AJ Styles) putting on good matches.

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I know! They just overbook the hell out of everything now. Christian vs Angle vs Joe vs AJ in a ladder match for the title would have sold a million PPVs. Old and new big names, all quality workers, and a match with huge potential.

Instead they turned it into Christian vs Angle vs Joe vs AJ vs A Mystery Man in a reverse ladder match with a 2 minute penalty box and a qualifier that you have to pin someone to be able to climb the ladder in order to hang the I CAN'T EVEN FINISH THE DESCRIPTION JUST LET THEM HAVE THE MATCH

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CM punk just won the title on ECW. I suppose we could of guessed that would be happening so you could be right.

[amplify]

Vickrey,

If Vince Russo is still involved with TNA, that's your problem right there. What you described is classic Russo overbooking. CM Punk is a good wrestler and I'd definitely watch him wrestle Samoa Joe for 60 minutes, but I'm pretty sure that Joe is carrying that match.

[bottomset]

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Presently they're paying Pacman Jones, whose main claim to fame is that he shot a guy in the spine, $25,000 per appearance. And he doesn't even do anything.

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while likely a really dumb move

Pacman's main claim to fame is he's really really good at football