The MeeThinks Saturday Spectacular 07.07.07

Rock & roll.

Before We Get Started…

The media has made a veritable circus out of the Benoit family murders. Along the way, a lot of points have been made — but just as many have been lost and swept into the finger-pointing frenzy. Simply put, athletes from ALL walks of life use and abuse performance-enhancing drugs, and if “roid rage” alone is what caused Chris Benoit to do what he did, then there would be a LOT more dead athletes (and dead families) in the world than there are today. As such, steroids are indeed a dangerous issue — and likely indeed a contributing factor to Benoit’s fate — but please do not make the mistake of thinking that Chris Benoit’s story is like that of an “Evil Popeye,” so to speak, who immediately snapped from “normal, well-adjusted individual” to “family-killing-lunatic monster” the moment he injested his magic spinach… err, steroids.

Were drugs a factor? No question.

Does the wrestling industry need to take a serious look in the mirror? Absolutely (I wrote my undergraduate thesis precisely on this matter just two years ago. It’s a *long* read, but a worthwhile one).

Regardless —

Drugs alone are not the answer here. From Daniel’s supposed “disability” (and the injections he’d been receiving — prescribed or not), Dr. Astin’s willingness to overprescribe meditation, half-hidden charges of domestic violence, Eddie’s death, Chris’ mounting paranoia, the new life insurance policy, Johnny Grunge, the family’s strongbox, the booze, the text messages, the Bibles… this story is a profound and complex tragedy on all levels, and anyone who tries to pin this case on any one factor or another is not only oversimplifying matters, they are doing a grave disservice to the entire Benoit family.

Incidentally —

The family of Nancy Benoit has started a foundation in her name for abused women and battered children. The family is asking that in lieu of gifts or condolences, that donations instead be made to the foundation. For those of you interested (or perhaps for those of you who are selling your Chris Benoit merchandise and looking to donate the money to a worthwhile cause), donations can be sent to:

The Nancy and Daniel Benoit Foundation for Battered Women and Abused Children
c/o Decker, Hallman, Barber and Briggs
260 Peachtree St. Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30303

WWE News

USA Network Wants RAW to Run Three Hours
Cable’s Highest Rated Channel Wants WWE to Expand Flagship Broadcast

In a desperate attempt to stay #1 in the cable ratings game, USA Network (a subsidary of NBC Universal) is lobbying hard for WWE to expand their flagship broadcast, RAW, into a weekly three-hour television program. To round out the show, USA Network execs have suggested that WWE bring in “big names” like Steve Austin and The Undertaker as regulars for the show — even if neither man is actually a regular competitor.

Now then —

I find this particularly ironic since WWE has received the lion’s share of the blame-game in the wake of the Benoit family tragedy. Critics argue that “WWE pushes its performers too hard,” and that the company could care less about the wellbeing of their performers so long as the almighty dollar reigns supreme at the end of the day. Yet with the limo explosion angle and now with USA lobbying for RAW to be extended to three full hours (not to mention the fact that they want to rob Smackdown of the one remaining “big name star” that the brand actually has left), we begin to see just how much (or indeed, how little) the kind folks at NBC Universal actually care about anyone’s best interests but their own. And along the way, MeeThinks we’re learning a lot more about who’s REALLY behind so much of the pushing that goes on behind the scenes in the “seedy underbelly” of the professional wrestling industry.

Think about it…

NBC (which is owned by NBC Universal) has taken WWE to task for “exploiting their talent” and “pushing their performers beyond the breaking point” in an industry where “bigger means better” and only the strongest survive. WWE, in turn, has said in their defense that Chris Benoit (and all of their other performers) are grown adults fully capable of making their own decisions, and so even if the company’s demands are high, employees have every right to say “no” or to ask them to back off.

Sound familiar?

USA Network (which is owned by NBC Universal), has taken WWE to task for knows RAW draws huge ratings, so they’ve turned to “exploiting their talent” and “pushing their performers RAW’s broadcast beyond the breaking point” in an industry [television] where “bigger means better” and only the strongest survive. WWE USA Network,in turn, has said in their defense that Chris Benoit WWE (and all of their other performers shows) are [run by] grown adults fully capable of making their own decisions, and so even if the company network‘s demands are high, employees programs like RAW have every right to say “no” or to ask them to back off.

Ah, hypocrisy.

A three hour RAW, while an interesting prospect, represents everything that is simultaneously right and wrong about the professional wrestling industry in the United States today. Mainstream media outlets despise it, but they’re owned by parent companies who love ratings, and so they’re more than willing to do whatever it takes to convince ‘rasslin companies to keep churning out more and more programming in order to keep their networks on top. And of course, when wrestlers burnout, wear out, or “snap”, those same networks who push WWE in the first place will turn right back around and condemn the company for playing along. And if Vince (or anybody else) dares to turn back around and point a finger at NBC for putting crazy demands on him and his performers?

Well, we all know how that one would turn out.

Stay tuned for more on this story as it develops in the coming weeks.

The TRUTH About Wrestlers’ Road Schedule
Important Clarification of Widely-Cited Media Statistic

In the wake of the Benoit tragedy, a LOT of finger-pointing (and reader mail) has been directed at the strenous travel schedule in the pro wrestling business. As Bret Hart brilliantly noted in the outstanding documentary Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows, rehab schedules are far too often cut short (and drugs — prescription or non — are far too often substituted) for the sake of getting back on the road to earn a paycheck:

“I was out for about 7 weeks, and they promised that they’d look after me. But after a while I realized that the checks weren’t going to get any better than a couple hundred bucks a week, so I was back in the ring way sooner than I should have been”

In Barry Blaustein’s stellar wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat, notorious drug abuser Jake Roberts seems to echo The Hitman’s sentiments on “the road” being a contributing factor to drug abuse in the wrestling industry. Keep in mind, of course, that (given the sordid details of his personal life from day one) Jake Roberts isn’t exactly your “typical” wrestler by any means and thus his credibility inevitably suffers somewhat in discussions such as these. Regardless, his comments sound particularly relevant:

“I used to tell myself that I would never do drugs. Never ever! It’s for losers! [But when] we were wrestling 26, 27 days a month, twice on Saturday, twice on Sunday, catching eight, nine airplanes a week; it was basically a necessity [to use drugs] just to continue. You took pills to go to sleep. You took pills because of your pain. You took cocaine to wake up so you could perform, [and] when you go to sleep you take sleeping pills [again]. It’s a trap, you know?”

Bret and Jake’s attitudes (and those of many wrestlers like them) have been repeated countless times in recent weeks as mainstream media outlets aim to link strenuous road schedules with a spike in wrestler drug abuse. Seeking to prove such a claim, many outlets and readers alike have reported (erroneously) that WWE performers work between 250 and 300 dates per year. However, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer recently clarified this misconception with the following statistic:

There is a prevailing media report about 250 to 300 day schedules, and there have been years in the past where the top stars wrestled that many dates, but they are nowhere close to that today. I’d bet 150 shows per year would be the norm for most guys.

As a frame of reference:

National Football League teams play 17 games per year, plus playoffs.

National Hockey League teams play 82 games per year, plus playoffs.

National Basketball Association teams play 82 games per year, plus playoffs.

Major League Baseball teams play 162 games per year, plus playoffs.

What does this tell us?

1) Each of the sports above usually compact their respective seasons into a four-to-six month timeframe. In other words, yes pro baseball plays only 162 games — but they do so over the course of just about 30 weeks (averaging just about 6-7 games each week). WWE performers, on the other hand, stretch out their performances over the course of 52 weeks, averaging a “three on, four off” or “four on, three off” schedule of work vs. travel.

2) Yes, each of the examples listed above are TEAM sports, and thus players have the ability to rotate in-and-out of their respective games. But on average, each of the aforementioned games usually runs upwards of two to three hours apiece (depending on the sport), whereas your average professional wrestling match typically amounts to just around TEN MINUTES. So even if you’re subbed out of a hockey game, each player is usually on the ice for upwards of 60 minutes a night. Non-PPV wrestling matches? Most performers are in the ring for 10 minutes tops, on a good night.

3) Is the WWE’s road schedule greuling? No question, but — if the 150 dates a year stat holds true — then WWE performers actually perform LESS dates per year than Major League Baseball players, and they do so over a longer period of time (12 months vs. 6 months). Sure, even though Derek Jeter does have the luxury of playing three games a week in front of a friendly “hometown” crowd, the bottom line is that he’s still TRAVELING all over the country — be it to or from New York City — for six months out of the year.

Perhaps the travel alone isn’t to blame, then…

Stacking Up the WWE Steroid Policy
How WWE’s Wellness Initiative Compares to Drug Testing Policies in Other Sports

Over the past week, there has been a LOT of speculation and finger-pointing levied at World Wrestling Entertainment and towards the professional wrestling industry in general. In particular, critics have challenged the validity of WWE’s “Wellness Initiative,” and many have argued that WWE needs to beef up their crackdown if they are ever to clean up their pseudo-sport. Newsday magazine recently was able to get a WWE official to comment on this situation. In the interview, WWE acknowledged that — should problems exist with their current drug testing policy — the company “will make any improvements necessary.” However, WWE maintained that their Wellness Initiative was “one of the most aggressive of its kind compared to testing programs initiated by competitive sports organizations, and is unique for an entertainment company.”

So what’s the deal?

WWE is probably quite right in pointing out that a drug testing policy is “unique for an entertainment company,” as circuses, traveling theatre groups, rock and roll bands, major Hollywood movie studios, etc. don’t usually tend to come forth with a published set of drug-test guidelines unless a particular performer goes off the deep end (how many trips to rehab has it been for Lindsay Lohan, for example? Britney Spears? Paris Hilton? Anna Nicole Smith? Etc.). Moreover, Hollywood stars and other professional entertainers pretty much flaunt their drug use at every turn. Kate Moss busted ON FILM for snorting cocaine? Back to the runway for her! Stallone caught with HGH in Australia? Pays a slap-on-the-wrist fine, says “it was a misunderstanding,” and it’s right back to the set of John Rambo for Sly. Danny DeVito shows up shnockered on “The View?” Six months later, the guy rolls out his own wine label to capitalize on the free publicity.

Double standard much?

Ok, so perhaps Hollywood is another animal entirely, and WWE really is more “sports” than “entertainment” after all. If so, before we jump to conclusions and assume that WWE is alone in their “paper thin” drug testing policy, let’s stop for a second and see just how stringent the company’s Wellness Initiative really is when stacked up against the controlled substance policies of the other major “real sports” that are likewise so popular in the United States and abroad:

WWE Wellness Initiative: The Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy (“Policy”) prohibits the non-medical use and associate abuse of prescription medications and performance-enhancing drugs, as well as the use, possession and/or distribution of illegal drugs by WWE Talent. Talent may be tested at random and/or with reasonable suspicion on the part of the employer. Performers found in violation of the policy are penalized thusly: for testing positive the first time, a Talent will be suspended for 30 days without pay. A second positive test results in a 60-day suspension without pay or, if Dr. Black so determines, in-patient care at a substance abuse facility, during which the Talent also will be suspended without pay. A third positive test results in termination.
In Short?: Doctor’s notes are a must, or three strikes and you’re out.

NBA Steroid Policy The National Basketball Association’s steroid policy began in 1999. Rookie players are tested four times per year, while other players may be tested at random or upon the request of league officials. Currently, a first offense gets a five-game ban, a second gets 10 games, and a third gets 25.
In Short?: The weakest policy of all pro sports, even the harshest infraction is penalized with suspension.

MLB Steroid Policy: Major League Baseball’s steroid policy has been in effect since 1991, with major revisions instituted in 2005. A first positive test resulted in a suspension of 10 games, a second positive test resulted in a suspension of 30 games, the third positive test resulted in a suspension of 60 games, the fourth positive test resulted in a suspension of one full year, and a fifth positive test resulted in a penalty at the commissioner’s discretion. Players were tested at least once per year, with the chance that several players could be tested many times per year.
In Short?: Five strikes, you’re out (if the commissioner says so).

NFL Steroid Policy: The current steroid policy of the NFL conducts random drug testing of all NFL players. Since the policy’s introduction in 1989, those who test positive for banned substances are suspended without pay accordingly: four games for the first offense (a fourth of the regular season), eight games for a second offense (half of the regular season), and 12 months for a third offense. Furthermore, players who test positive for steroids are not eligible to play in the NFL Pro Bowl, and players who fail three drug tests are ineligible for trade to other teams until their suspension is served in full.
In Short?: Widely regarded as the toughest of the bunch, one year suspension for three strikes.

NHL Steroid PolicyThe National Hockey League’s steroid policy was enacted in September, 2005. Under it, NHL players are subject to up to two, no-notice, random tests during the NHL season for the performance enhancing drugs designated on the Word Anti-Doping Agency out-of-competition list. Positive tests will result in the follow punishment: 20 game suspension for the first offence, 60 game suspension for the second offence, permanent suspension for the third offence.
In Short?: Closest to WWE’s policy, with three strikes (20 games, 60 games) then gone.

So what does this all tell us?

Even though WWE is currently the whipping boy in mainstream media’s latest crusade against controlled substances in athletic events, it bears noting that in spite of its staged nature, WWE’s drug policy is — on paper, at least — one of, if not THE (long sounding “eee”) toughest anti-drug policies out there today.

NBA? Strike one puts you out for five games (roughly two weeks); WWE’s penalty for the same is DOUBLE that amount of time. MLB? Five strikes and you’re “subject” to termination; in WWE you’re automatically gone two infractions prior. NFL? Three strikes gets you a year suspension; in WWE it gets you fired.

So does WWE’s Wellness Initiative stack up? On paper, the answer is most certainly a resounding YES. The question, of course, is just how stringently and selectively the policy is enforced… but in the wake of the Benoit family tragedy, MeeThinks that if Chris Benoit *does* have anything left of a “legacy” on the business of professional wrestling, it will unquestionably be that WWE will be forced to readdress (and, if need be, tighten) their policies and attitudes towards drugs and drug abuse. It is not an “enviable” legacy from a “heroic reformer” or indeed even an “accomplishment” that should be “credited” to Chris Benoit by any means. It is, however, a necessary step in order to safeguard against similar tragedies in the future.

Since we’re talking about how “paper thin” WWE’s Wellness Initiative might well be, however…

Benoit’s Physician to Face Charges for Improper Prescription
Dr. Phil Astin Turns Himself In to Atlana Authorities

Even though steroids (perscription or not) and/or other drug use is simply one of the MANY contributing factors to the Benoit family tragedy, it remains the one big issue that continues to garner the bulk of the media coverage, and thus it probably warrants at least some mention in a “wrestling news” column such as this. As such, now seems as good a time as any to look a bit closer at WWE’s Wellness Initiative. And regardless of whether WWE’s drug policy is tough enough or not, it is good to see Astin being called to account for his actions in this case (for reasons we’ll go into in just a sec).

Now then…

Thanks to WWE’s Wellness Initiative, it’s pretty clear to see that the company has their bases covered in this investigation. Why’s that?

1) WWE recently granted Benoit FIVE MONTHS of paid time off to get healthy and well-rested.
2) When Benoit asked to spend more time with his family, WWE reduced his travel schedule from 250 dates per year to 118.
3) WWE (allegedly) recently tested Benoit for drugs (April 20).
4) WWE (allegedly) forced Benoit to provide proof of a doctor’s prescription for any drugs that might be in his system.
5) WWE (allegedly) received proof of said prescription from Benoit, and thus had every reason to assume that his drug test was legit.

Bottom line:

Love them or hate them — if each of those “allegedly”s turn out to indeed be true — then WWE was certainly doing a great deal to make sure their employee was in good shape. Sure, they could have done MORE to keep tabs on the guy (but of course, one could ALWAYS have done more in hindsight)… but the fact of the matter is that Chris Benoit had a prescription for all of the medications (steroid and non) for which he tested positive. In short, he had a “doctor’s note” saying that the meds he was on were legit. And if WWE forced Benoit to provide further documentation as to the reason for such prescriptions, we all know damned well that he (just like any other talent) would go RIGHT back to the same doctor who gave them the prescription in the first place in order to provide such documentation.

In other words —

Yes, WWE can make their tests more strict… but forcing performers to provide documented evidence as to why they’re on whatever prescriptions they’re on is pretty much like “asking for a doctor’s note to explain a doctor’s note.” And if employees are faking doctor’s notes OR if doctors are falsely prescribing meds, then THEY are the ones at fault for such actions… NOT Vince McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment, or the business of professional wrestling in general.

In the end —

Seeing Astin forced to account for his part in (over)perscribing medications to a man who killed his family is a VERY good sign, as it forces ALL parties involved with the case to own up for their actions leading up to it’s tragic conclusion. Like I said, even if their steps were “perfunctory,” the bottom line is that WWE took a number of steps to monitor the health of their employee. Now the question remains if the same can be said for Dr. Phil Astin. In turn, if Astin is found guilty: rather than wasting tax payer dollars on yet ANOTHER congress-investigated steroid scandal (that’s not likely to result in ANY changes whatsoever, as any good athlete will tell you that drug users are always one step ahead of drug tests) — maybe the shockwaves that eminate from this crisis will cause fellow physicians to take a second look before being so quick to write a blank check for athletes looking to use/abuse controlled substances in the future. And this is a GREAT thing, because WWE has (and will continue to) come under INCREDIBLE scrutiny for the drug abuse in their industry… perhaps now the medical community will be forced to do the same.

Rey Mysterio and Mark Jindrak Linked to Dr. Astin
TMZ Names, Retracts Former World Champ (“O.G.”) and Former WCW Standout (“M.J.”) in Astin Indictment

Rather than point the fingers here and join in the baseless speculation (seeing as how TMZ retracted the story shortly after it first broke), MeeThinks we should wait for authorities to come forth with any further accusations before we start implicating EVERYONE in a steroid witch hunt just because it’s the easiest thing to do.

A few notes, however:

1) Astin was based out of Atlanta, as was WCW. Naturally, WWE will take the blame for any and all performers (past and present) that ultimately end up being named in ANY steroid/wrestling investigation… but again, if Astin was prescribing steroids to “Atlanta-based” talent any time before 2001, odds are better than not that those infractions fall under Ted Turner’s watch, NOT Vince McMahon’s.

2) The Rey Mysterio that debuted in WWE in mid-2002 looked a LOT different than the Rey Mysterio that had last performed in WCW in early 2001 (and no, we’re not just talking about the mask or the new tattoo on his back). Take a look…

VS

So if Mysterio started juicing, there’s a pretty good chance that he began doing so BEFORE signing with World Wrestling Entertainment (he spent much of 2001-2002 with IWA MS). More recently, if Astin (or anyone else, for that matter) is accused of prescribing meds Mysterio’s way in the past six months or thereabouts, it’s worth noting that Rey did just have a major knee surgery (October 2006), so at least *some* of what was prescribed his way could be attributed to the surgery.

3) Jindrak doesn’t work for WWE, and he hasn’t for just about two years now. Furthermore, the Jindrak that last competed for WCW (in 2001) looked a LOT different by the time he too made his debut for WWE just about a year later. Again, the pictures tell a thousand words…

VS

But again, he joined WWE in 2002 and was fired from WWE in 2005 — so if any meds were prescribed his way BEFORE 2002 or AFTER 2005, that’s all on Jindrack and Astin, and *not* on World Wrestling Entertainment.

Scrapped Payoff to McMahon’s Death Angle Revealed
WWE Chairman Planned to Fake His Own Demise

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, word has leaked out that the eventual payoff to the limo bombing angle would have resulted in the nefarious “Mr. McMahon” character showing back up on WWE television and revealing that he’d faked his own death all along. Additional word has made the rounds that McMahon would ultimately name an evil accomplice or two in the big hoax in order to give fellow heels something of an uber-rub as the right-hand-man to the boss’s big sham (in a case of bad timing, once again… Mr. Kennedy was rumored to be the favorite for the push on this one). Of course, in light of the Benoit family tragedy — the angle has been scrapped and it’s back to the drawing board for WWE’s creative team.

For what it’s worth, though —

To all of the people who whined, complained or criticized the angle for its ludicrous nature and (seemingly) implausible payoff (“somebody’s revealed as the culprit and he DOESN’T go to prison!?!”), here’s hoping that this latest bit of news helps provide some closure that yes, believe it or not, WWE *did* know what they were doing on this angle all along. Unlike the Rikishi debacle where the payoff came out of nowhere, all signs (as of the angle’s cancellation last week, at least) suggest that McMahon and company were more than willing to deliver a “big reveal” on this one that would have satisfied BOTH the mark-friendly “whodunnit?” crowd as well as the smark-heavy “this makes no sense!” crowd.

For the marks:
Mr. McMahon spends the summer off of television, and his lackeys/investigators/etc. go about accusing, detaining, arresting and interrogating all of the roster’s “good guys” in a desperate attempt to get to the bottom of the summer’s big mystery. For the payoff, the “evil” chairman would reveal just how maniacal he really is (ala “IT WAS ME AUSTIN! IT WAS ME ALL ALONG!”), and along the way he’d trot out a few supporting baddie characters who helped him to pull off the biggest ruse of the decade. McMahon’s back as an uber-baddie, he’s surrounded himself with a new crop of heelish lackeys (Kennedy, etc.), and now “the good guys” have all the more reason to want to get some in-ring revenge on “the bad guys” and their evil leader, Mr. McMahon.

For the “smarts”:
A reveal where ANYBODY was proven responsible for a limo bombing was likely to piss a TON of “smart” fans off, as it would come off as both illogical and flat-out ILLEGAL to offer any sort of “I’m gonna’ get you!” in-ring payback for somebody who literally attempted an “I’m gonna’ KILL you!” grade-A-felony. Moreover, since Vince was an uber-heel in his own right, just about ANY payoff to the angle just didn’t seem to make sense:

Bad guys do bad things to good guys and good things for fellow bad guys;
Good guys do bad things to bad guys and good things for fellow good guys.

So if a bona-fide GOOD guy did an uncategorically BAD thing to a BAD guy, that would make him a…? Or if a certifiably BAD guy did an unquestionably BAD thing to another BAD guy, that would mean he was a…? In short, it just didn’t make sense, and just about ANY payoff would have left the culprit treading water in a place where fans didn’t know whether to boo or cheer the guy.

But if what all were’ hearing is true…

Then Vince himself was to make the big reveal that he faked the stunt all along (thus explaining away the “charges need to be pressed” payoff). On top of that, he was going to thank some fellow rule-breakers for helping him get away with the hoax (Mr. Kennedy), and thus a new star or two would get the all-important “rub” for being allied with somebody who was dastardly enough to fake his own death, and fans would be treated to a logical payoff that neither violated federal law (“why isn’t the culprit arrested?”) OR common sense (“why beat him up when you can throw him in jail?”).

So all in all, file this one away in the category of “coulda, woulda, shoulda”… and if they were really planning on going through with the this angle, we certainly could have had a lot worse than the payoff we’ve seen here.

Big Show Training for Career in Boxing
Former WWE Champ Slims Down to 449

Well this is… interesting.

Good to hear that Show is cutting weight, as WWE alums like Yokozuna found out all too well what happens to behemoths after their WWE heyday has passed them by. I will say, of course, that I dunno’ if moving from one physically demanding profession to another is either the SMARTEST or indeed the SAFEST of all career moves (especially when rumor had it that Show was retiring simply because he’d saved his pennies and wanted to let his body recouperate). But again, as we’ve heard countless times in the past two weeks, sometimes “the business” of competition is really all that these wrestling-types know, and so they can’t quite walk away from a life of competition even after they’ve bid farewell to a WWE ring. Likewise, as has been said countless times in recent weeks, professional wrestlers are grown men and women that are fully capable of making their own decisions, and so if they take it upon themselves to get back into a physically demanding way of life — more power to ’em, so long as they keep in mind that both the rewards AND the risks associated with their decision are theirs and theirs alone.

Nobody’s forcing Show to take up boxing.

Nobody’s forcing Show to get back in the ring.

And nobody’s forcing Show to cut weight.

Regardless, if one, two, or three of these things are what the guy believes that he needs, wants, or believes is the best career move for him at this point in his life (he’s just about 40 years old, ya’ know) — then all the best, I say. He certainly can’t fare any worse than the MMA career of Giant Silva or the NFL career of Brock Lesnar.

TNA News

Samoa Joe Declines TNA Contract Extension
Samoan Submission Machine Offered 3-Year Option, Has Yet to Sign

Take this one as nothing more than a RUMOR at this point (as it hasn’t appeared in any of the major print “dirt sheets” out there just yet)…

But –

If this is true, then it is potentially HUGE news for all parties involved.

For Samoa Joe:

While Joe is certainly a superstar in the independent circuit, the bottom line is that he’s nowhere near the level of international celebrity as a guy like Sting or Angle (despite the fact that Joe’s done more wrestling overseas than BOTH men combined, I’d argue)… and so the chances of a guy at Samoa Joe’s level receiving the same kinda coin that Spike TV/TNA threw at folks like Stinger and our Olympic hero is, well, pretty remote. But if I know Joe like I think I know Joe (which is to say, if what all everybody else says about the guy is true) — then he’s never been one to make decisions purely based on monetary concerns alone (he *did* opt for TNA amidst talk of a WWE developmental deal a few years back, ya’ know)… and so if Joe is indeed dragging his feet on re-signing with TNA, then chances are that there’s a LOT more than money that’s factoring into the guy’s decision-making process at this time.

Regardless —

Even if he *does* end up re-signing with TNA (as Christian Cage did just a few weeks back), the fact that Joe is (rumored to be) hesitant in signing the deal outright should tell us a lot about how the guy feels about TNA (and his future with the company) at this juncture. What this tells us — whether it’s because of money, exposure, push, politics, possibility to explore other alternatives, etc. — is that The Samoan Submission Machine is at something of a crossroads in his career where he has the luxury to consider ALL of the options available before blindly committing himself to three additional years with his current employer. If he *does* re-sign with TNA, the fact that he’s (rumored to be) stalling before doing so is a pretty good indicator that he should be able to get a bit more out of them before committing to a three-year extension… be that more money, more exposure, a sweeter marketing deal, a world title run, or what have you.

As for TNA?

If the rumors of a Joe contract snag are, in fact, true (and again, I’m treating this one as nothing more than a RUMOR at this point) — then TNA, like Joe, is also at something of a crossroads with their company as they too have the ability to determine not only WHICH avenue they will be taking in the coming months/years/etc., but also WHO exactly will be playing the key roles on their roster for those months/years/etc. to come. As we’ve all been hearing for quite some time now, TNA has been busy courting all sorts of television outlets in the hopes to expand their current timeslot to an additional hour of television (or a different night or network of television altogether!), and if they really are serious about moving forward with this prospect — then they’d better sure up the guys they plan to be the fixtures of their main event (at least for the immediate future), because NOTHING is worse for a company’s momentum than launching a new show/timeslot/brand/initiative/etc. only to lose your promotion’s cornerstone performer shortly thereafter.

(Just ask the “new” ECW and Kurt Angle…)

Bottom line for TNA: they just lost a former champ (though not a particularly great one) in Ron Killings. Sting’s made it clear that he wants out in no more than a year’s time. Injuries and addictions have left Angle and Steiner both much older (and more liable) than they once were, and The Dudleys Team 3D has been making sure not to burn any bridges with WWE (as we saw in the wake of the Benoit tragedy, where they could have totally buried their former employers)… so they too might not prove to be long-term investments for the company after all.

Looking solely at the current crop of main-eventers, that leaves them with Christian (who just re-signed), Tomko (who’s likely to stick around as long as Christian does — but who’s still a while off “credible headliner” status), Abyss (who’s apparently paranoid he’ll get the axe any day now), Jarrett, and Samoa Joe. Jarrett, of course, is rumored to be not all that far off from a(NOTHER) run with the world title, which has most certainly gotta’ put a damper on any rising star’s aspirations to shatter the proverbial glass ceiling any time soon. And yes, Jarrett has matured with age and perhaps a world title reign won’t be all that bad a move for the guy in the near future (fans, it seems, have softened on the guy since he took the sabbatical and even moreso since he lost his wife) — but the fact of the matter is that if Double J is *in* the title hunt, then somebody else is likely to be bumped *out* of it.

So —

TNA’s at a crossroads. In their hopes to expand their promotion to new outlets and PPV locales, they can either choose to build their company around *established* stars (like Jarrett, Angle, Sting, Steiner, etc.) or they can put their efforts into building NEW ones (like Christian, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, Chris Harris, etc.). Yes, there’s definitely a balance that can be struck somewhere in the middle of the two camps (where the older stars are used to help build the newer ones) — but if TNA isn’t careful, they run the risk of putting too much faith in a main event that’s either not yet ready to handle the load (the new guys) or in a main event that’s dominated by guys who aren’t likely to be able to handle the load for all that much longer (the older guys).

Either way — it’s crunch time for TNA, and the decision they make regarding Samoa Joe (and how hard they campaign for him to re-sign with the company) should be VERY indicative of exactly which basket the company hopes to put its proverbial “eggs” in for the bulk of the forseeable future.

Now as for WWE?

They’ve got to be chomping at the bit at the prospect of signing a guy like Samoa Joe. First, he’s one of TNA’s most popular performers — and so acquiring him would throw a monkeywrench into the plans of their biggest rival. Second, he’s already (rumored to be) considering his options regardless — and so even if WWE signs him only to bury him in a developmental territory, he’s likely to come cheaper than if he were otherwise sold on staying with TNA and needed big money to change his mind. And third (and perhaps most importantly), Joe is a naturally “big” guy who — if these steroid allegations hit the fan for WWE — would be a PERFECT fit for a main-event picture looking to ease up on the ‘roided up monsters in favor of performers who aren’t as easily singled out as “obviously on some sort of steroid.”

Kinda’ like what happened for Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels the LAST time Vinny Mac had to dodge the bullet on a steroid scandal. Think about it, folks — let’s take a second and look at the current crop of WWE main-eventers:

Dave Batista: Crazy muscular and raises all sorts of eyebrows as to drug allegations.

Bobby Lashley: Ditto. Not to mention that all-too-suspicious “liver enzyme” Wellness scare last year.

John Cena: Though not as big as he once was in his bodybuilder days, “Da’ Champ” is in great shape AND he works a crazy schedule — a perfet target for witch-hunters should WWE come under fire for guys who look suspiciously muscular.

But as for those guys who are just one lucky break away from full-on superstardom…

CM Punk? “Drug free and proud,” and a crazy-over performer in his own right who’d be more than happy to tell a guy like Bill O’Reilly a thing or two about drug use.

Mr. Kennedy? Sure he might have had a few steroid experiences in the past… but he’s slimmed down and remained pretty darned popular in spite of his less-than-bulging physique.

And Samoa Joe? I’m sorry haters, but ANYBODY who looks at Joe and immediately thinks “that dude’s totally on steroids” simply HAS to be on some sort of drug of their own.

Time will tell how the Samoa Joe situation will shake out… but it is a VERY interesting prospect and a story that, if confirmed, I’m sure will be discussed in greater detail in the weeks to come.

YouThinks Reader Mail

Due to the overwhelming amount of feedback I received in the wake of last week’s column on the Benoit family tragedy, I thought — given the particularly sensitive nature of the topic — it might be best to post it all in a place separate from the column. That way, folks who are trying to “move on” without being inundated with new details of the tragedy might be able to peruse the rest of this column as usual, and for those who’d like to look a bit more closely at fellow wrestling fans “Thinks” on the matter, they can do so in a place reserved exclusively for such discussion where the letters can appear in their entirety.

Comments, as expected, ranged from effusive with praise to tremendously critical — so I’d like to offer a word of thanks to everyone who took the time to write in and share their thoughts on this most devastating story, and my sincere gratitude for those of y’all who’ve been so kind as to share your appreciation of the coverage I’ve tried to provide. As for those who disagreed with Mee? You too are entitled to your opinion, so thanks for the contributions. I hope — in the brief comments I’ve provided where appropriate — that I’ve been able to address at least some of your concerns on this matter.

Click here to view feedback from last week’s column.

And With That, I’m Outta’ Here

Well that’ll do it for Mee this week, folks. Thanks again to all who submitted TheirThinks and who’ve taken the time to send some kind feedback my way in the wake of last week’s events. Here’s hoping that we, as wrestling fans, never have to endure a tragedy like that again — and that *whatever* comes of the fallout from the horrific events of last week will ultimately be for the greater good not only for us fans of this industry, but also for its promoters and performers as well. ‘Till next time, have a great weekend, enjoy the sun, and always stay positive!

– Meehan

The National Domestic Violence Hotline : 1-800-799-SAFE.