OK, as a former pro wrestling fan, this story comes both as a complete shock and as no surprise. I don’t know how they will ever link steroids to this tragedy, but I kind of hope they do. For non-wrestling fans, this is the equvialent of say a Tom Brady or Kevin Garnett or Shaq doing the same. Two guys who by all accounts are clean cut, trouble free, and at the top of their respective games.
The question is, what does this do to pro wrestling? And, have you really taken a look at the number of pro wrestlers that have died young? Take a look at http://prowrestling.about.com/od/whatsrealwhatsfake/a/wrestlersdeaths.htm. If that link only directs you to the main page, click on “What’s Real, What’s Fake” on the left menu list, and then on “Wrestler’s Deaths”. I recognize alot of these names, and couldn’t believe some were dead. Somewhere around 75 deaths under the age of 40 or so just since 1985.
Currently there is no evidence of steroids. The police have indicated that they do not believe steriods played a role and that the murders look “thought out” not an act of rage. Not that it makes it any better, but why add baseless speculation on top of an already tragic topic? Also Benoit’s last drug screen (april 10 2007) was clean. That being said the tox screen has not come back yet.
The thing about wrestling is that these guys essentially HAVE TO take steroids to recover from the bumps and the beatings (you know what I mean) multiple times per week. 4-6 shows a week for essentially a whole year … after year, after year.
I would not be surprised if Benoit was on steroids for a decade solid. No off cycles … like pro bodybuilders. Not only steroids, but they probably take insulin to help with steroid absorption and metabolism. They probably take HGH to gain/maintain size without having a lot of time to work out, and they also likely take a lot of other things like estrogen blockers, etc.
They might as well be the Bane character from Batman walking around with a backpack and intravenously taking “serum”. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they took sleep aids (and alcohol) to sleep and amphetamines to get going.
We talked about this tonight at T-Ball, one of the guys I coach with has done some amatuer wrestling (Local shows, etc just for kicks). He’s a pretty consistent fan, and he was stunned. Like you pointed out Beniot was considered a “good guy”, but was also closely associated with Eddie Guerrero.
Nothing would surprise me with WWE. It’s the classic example of guys killing themselves (literally) to make the owner rich.
The thing about wrestling is that these guys essentially HAVE TO take steroids to recover from the bumps and the beatings (you know what I mean) multiple times per week. 4-6 shows a week for essentially a whole year … after year, after year.
I would not be surprised if Benoit was on steroids for a decade solid. No off cycles … like pro bodybuilders. Not only steroids, but they probably take insulin to help with steroid absorption and metabolism. They probably take HGH to gain/maintain size without having a lot of time to work out, and they also likely take a lot of other things like estrogen blockers, etc.
They might as well be the Bane character from Batman walking around with a backpack and intravenously taking “serum”. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they took sleep aids (and alcohol) to sleep and amphetamines to get going.
you seem to know a bit about doping. baseball related?
CNN and other sources are reporting that prescription steroids and other drugs were found in the house. I grew up watching the Crusher, Ivan Putsky, etc. big guys with big guts. Wrestling went downhill decades ago IMO.
Also Benoit’s last drug screen (april 10 2007) was clean.
Just who exactly conducts those screenings? “Professional” wrestling isn’t exactly like the TdF. There is usually a preordained winner based on a script. It is far from a real competition. Who is really concerned about having fair wrestling matches? The promoters? Agents? Wrestlers? Fans? I think no one is really concerned. Why even bother with drug testing, it is essentially pure entertainment.
Granted WWE is not a real sport, its in the title after all the E is for entertainment. In regards to your post are you telling me no body in “Real” professional sports takes PEDs? Hell as far as that goes I am sure no amateurs take PEDs either. Also I am not saying the results cannot be faked. All I am saying is that currently the cops dont suspect steriod use (at least linked to the murder/suicide), the media is drawing that conclusion based on nothing more than what he did for a living and his physique. Last time I checked a man was innocent until proven guilty. At this point he hasnt even been legally accused of steroid abuse and that already seems to be the focus of this tragedy.
I have/had some buddies in various strength and speed/skill sports. Steroids are pretty common, even at the local/personal level. They would describe workouts that used to be “brutal” as now being “repeatable”. Any time sports require montrous recovery, you can be certain steroids are present. Wrestling requires an insane amount of recovery … strength, speed, agility, appearance, etc. It’s a no brainer.
To this day, I am among the few friends I have that have not taken at least one cycle of steroids or some other PED. Some of them used in college, some of them continue to use to compete at their local/regional level, and a small few just use privately and occassionally to add 5 pounds, to cut some weight, or to get through a plateau. These are guys that have lifted/trained for 15-20 years and have essentially maxed out their natural potential. Steroids in strength/power sports (powerlifting, bodybuilding, football) even/especially at the local level is ridiculous.
Again, steroids are everywhere there is physical competition. I used to be amazed at how prevalent they were at the small college, local gym, and high school sports level. Now, with the internet availability, nothing would surprise me.
Last month James Toney had a boxing match where both he and his opponent tested positive for two well-known steroids (almost as if they were using together). It’s in every sport. Again, the disappointing thing to me is how prevalent it is at the “local/regional” level.
i have no experience with speed/strength sports, but had assumed that. Sad to see confirmation of it. goes back to the fact that people are dumb, i guess.
**goes back to the fact that people are dumb, i guess. **
Many of these same folks would look at us or other drug-free athletes and surmise that we aren’t real serious about it or we’d “get with it”. I’d be willing to bet there’s a good number of AG triathletes that have decided to “get with it”. I’d also imagine quite a of them (perhaps even most) are my age (33) and not naturally FOP, but are MOP guys that will do ANYTHING not to be MOP … again, even at the local level. The names and sport change, but the mentality is essentially the same across the board.
IMO, anyone that is serious about what they do has pondered the steroid alternative at one time or another (or continually). It’s a temptation/alternative that’s always right there. Again, with the internet and the “how-to” information that’s all over the place (if you look for it), it’s not surprising that it’s rampant.
We are an impatient society that’s looking for instant gratification, recognition, and validation in all areas. It’s actually kinda surprising that it’s not even more rampant than it already is. My guess, is that when I’m 55, many amles will be using some type of “hormone replacement therapy” as a means of fighting aging and retaining some muscle, etc.
Sorry for the ramble, back to Benoit … I have no idea what part steroids played in what happened. It’s hard to eliminate or blame them when they can be so intertwined with everything he does. The big problem you see with guys that are in “year-round” sports in that they don’t have “off-cycles” where the body can somewhat normalize and elevate/decrease it’s hormonal levels naturally. This is where steroid use actually becomes steroid abuse (two VERY different things … scare tactics aside). I’ve read accounts of guys with prolonged abuse, and essentially they feel trapped. They feel crap ALL the time and constantly worry about dying, but they can’t let go of what they’ve attained or constantly feel as if it’s the only way to get to or stay at the top. Again, this information is readily available if you lok in the right spots. I’m not trying to paint myself as some kind of steroid undergrund expert or anything. That’s hardly the case.
Don’t forget my premature male pattern baldness and “leathery skin” appeance, and my uncanny ability to “hold water” (look bloated) … oh, and my protruding ab muscles (“roid gut” … looks like turtle shell) =)
Unfortunately for me, I’m more of a white Scottie Pippen … without the basketball ability, that is.
Back to wrestlers and early deaths … the guy I can’t believe is STILL alive is Randy “Macho Man” Savage. I’ve seen pictures of him when he was a minor league pitcher and his transformation is unreal. Given how long and the amounts he had to have used, he’s either got an unreal tolerance to steroid abuse, or he’s facing some serious health concerns in the near future.
I’d like to know how many of these guys are (permanently) on prescribed blood pressure medication.
When it comes to wrestling, it’s like bodybuilding, we’ve become so used to seeing the “cartoonish” look, that we can never go back. There’s no way someone like Jake “The Snake” Roberts could make the wrestling scene today. You have to essentially look and perform as if you’ve just stepped out of a comic book … and that’s not just commenting on the outfits.
Let’s all thank Vince for that. I stopped watching years go. I’m sure he’ll find a way to turn a profit over this incident also.
I actually knew personally a former WWF/WWE wrestler. The steroid abuse in pro wrestling is unbelievable. Even the women are on roids,at least the ones that can actually wrestle, not so much the diva bimbos with the massive boob enhancements.
Ravishing Rick Rude — Died at 40 of an apparent heart attack in 1999, a bottle of prescription pills for his bad back at his side. The autopsy report said he died of “mixed medications.” Rude was an admitted user of anabolic steroids.
Louis Mucciolo, a.k.a, Louie Spicolli — Died in 1998 at age 27 when he suffocated on his own vomit after ingesting massive amounts of Soma and alcohol. Investigators also found an empty vial of testosterone, pain pills and an anti-anxiety drug at the scene.
Brian Pillman — An admitted user of steroids, he died of a heart attack at age 35 in 1997 on the morning of WWF’s In Your House: Badd Blood pay-per-view event.
Rick “the Renegade” Williams — Died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 33 after being released from his World Championship Wrestling contract in 1999.
“Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig — Found dead of a cocaine overdose at age 44 in his motel room on April 10, 2003, the morning of a match. Hennig’s father maintained that steroids and painkillers contributed to his death.
Rodney “Yokozuna” Anoa’i — Died of a heart attack in 2002 at 34.
Davey Boy Smith, “The British Bulldog” — Died of a heart attack at age 39 on May 17, 2002. An autopsy report indicated that past steroid use had likely played a part in his death.
Michael “Road Warrior Hawk” Hegstrand — An admitted steroid user, he died of a heart attack at age 46 in 2003.
Michael Lockwood, “Crash Holly” — In 2003, at the age of 32, he choked to death on his own vomit after ingesting 90 painkiller pills.
Jerry Tuite, “The Wall” a.k.a. “Malice” — Died at age 36 in 2003 of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room.
Raymond “Hercules” Hernandez — Dead of heart failure in 2004 at age 47.
Ray “The Big Boss Man” Traylor — Found dead of a heart attack in 2004 at age 42.
Eddie Guerrero — After a long battle with painkillers, he was found dead of a heart attack by his nephew in his hotel room at age 38. The first person his nephew reportedly called was Guerrero’s best friend, Chris Benoit.
Chris Candido — Died in 2005 at age 33 from a blood clot after breaking his tibia and fibula and dislocating his ankle in a pay-per-view event.
Owen Hart — Fell to his death at age 34 in 1999 when the rigging that was lowering him into the ring malfunctioned.
In regards to your post are you telling me no body in “Real” professional sports takes PEDs? Hell as far as that goes I am sure no amateurs take PEDs either.
You are missing my point entirely. In the Tdf, other (serious) professional competitions and amateur competitions, there is real pressure to win. You’ll only get the big bucks in you win. If you are an amatuer in high school, you need the scholarship to a prestigious college, and then move on to some level of pro sports to make the truly big bucks.
But in “pro wrestling” the winners aren’t determined in the ring. There are significant physical requirements to pull the stunts that they do, but you only need to meet those requirements. You don’t have to do them better than everyone else. Everyone is getting money, win or lose. Looking the part is a far bigger factor.
Bottomline is I am actually saying the opposite of what you are interpreting from my previous post.
man i haven’t watched wrestling for years. i had no idea all these guys had choked (i knew about Owen Hart). thanks for posting that, as sad as it reads…
"All I am saying is that currently the cops dont suspect steriod use (at least linked to the murder/suicide), the media is drawing that conclusion based on nothing more than what he did for a living and his physique. Last time I checked a man was innocent until proven guilty. At this point he hasnt even been legally accused of steroid abuse and that already seems to be the focus of this tragedy. "
The police found steroids in his house, and his name is part of an investigation into MedXLife.com where they have records he bought steroids, HGH, and testosterone. I guess they were all for his 7 yr old son, who had needle marks all in his arms. Interviews with family friends indicate that the boy was being given HGH because he was small.
ST has tried, convicted, and sentenced cyclists for less evidence than this.
There are conditions where HGH is administered to children for exactly this reason (hypothyroidism, pituitary gland disorders), although nothing in the initial reports clarifies whether his “condition” had been diagnosed and treated by a physician or just perceived by an overzealous father with his own body dysmorphic disorder.
I found it interesting that the WWE press release essentially jumped to the defense of anabolic steroids, as if they are the client themselves.
(clip)
However, WWE is concerned with the sensationalistic reporting and speculation being undertaken by some members of the media following the press conference held by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney. During the press conference, the investigating authorities made the following points, all of which run contrary to the media speculation that “roid rage” was a factor in the senseless murders and suicide:
The authorities stated that all drugs found in the house were believed to be legal prescriptions.
Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, and rightly did not do so.
Toxicology tests have not even been completed, so there is no current evidence that Benoit even had steroids or any other substance in his body. In that regard, on the last test done on Benoit by WWE’s independently administered drug testing program, done on April 10, 2007, Benoit tested negative.
The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife’s feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.
WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.
