Would a huge star be punished for failing a drug test?

[NYSandman]

We've seen recently many guys being suspended for violating the wellness policy. Orton, Regal, Hardy, Kennedy.

Now, while Hardy was huge before his 60 day suspension, can we honnestly say Kennedy and Regal are huge stars? As compared to HHH or Taker or Batista or Cena? No, I don't think so.

I'm pondering what would happen if HHH, Taker, Cena or another huge star were found with a no-no substance in their blood/urine? I mean, come on. Do you think Vince would suspend Cena if he were caught with steroids? Or the Undertaker?

I seriously wonder what would happen, if Vince would make a fool out of me and punish a huge star, or if he would cover up the results.

Hopefully, no big star will be caught with anything. That's the last thing I want. But, you must admit it's an interesting developement to ponder.

[DeadmanInc.]

I think he would. After all, he did suspend RVD right in the middle of his huge push as ECW & WWE champion. Regal and Kennedy were in for huge pushes as well and Vince dropped the suspension on their heads. They would be future big stars, though not on the level of Taker/HHH/Cena yet. Plus, Vince is supposedly under a lot of heat ever since the Benoit tragedy. If he plays favorites he isn't exactly going to get rid of that heat.

I don't think the veterans like Undertaker and Triple H would do roids with the drug policy in effect. They are essentially the role models for the younger generation of superstars. Triple H's physique is no where near as impressive as it was back in 2001, and Undertaker is noticeably losing weight. As for Cena, he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would use illegal substances.

[TheOneBigWill]

While the likes or Randy Orton, or John Morrison, or even William Regal aren't "huge" stars. I think you need to look at what storylines they were involved in, when their issues happened.

John Morrison was holding the E.C.W. Heavyweight Championship, and bringing that brand its highest ratings ever. He was the "most watched" E.C.W. Champion, from what I understand, to this very day. And they had NO intention on giving C.M. Punk the Championship, as a rumor I read a long time ago said Punk didn't grab what they wanted back then.. so his last run was meant to be Summerslam. Then Morrison f'ed up, and Punk took the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kennedy was assumed to be revealed as Mr. McMahon's "son" and that would've been his biggest role ever, even compared to what hes doing today. Yet he screwed up and lost his spot. The W.W.E. definately more than likely doesn't like to switch up storylines, but they will if they must.. to prove a point. And Kennedy, along with Hardy and even Regal were all made examples out of.

Speaking of William Regal, his was his biggest storyline in the W.W.E. by far.. he was set to be the General Manager, the King of the Ring, and get a half assed Main Event push. No telling if he will upon returning or not, but one thing is for sure.. they took him out of that spot by Kennedy beating him.. and upon his return, he'll have to live that loss down.

If someone like Batista, Triple H. or the Undertaker were ever busted I strongly and fully believe they'd be written off for their 'x' amount of time they'd have to remain suspended for. And Randy Orton IS a big time name, so regardless hes served two of those suspensions (to my knowledge) and one more will tell us all.. because he, along with another Hardy f'-up and they'll both be fired without the option of a return.. EVER.

[Sparky]

i really think Vince would punish them, Vince wouldnt take his chances with what would happen if he was to look the other way. Just becouse they are popular doesnt mean they should get special rules that make them better then everyone else. As Will mentioned Randy orton and Jeff Hardy are classed as Big well named stars. and they have been caught twice. Shawn michaels got cought and punished (even if he didnt do it).
I think if a big well named star was cought using illegal substances they should get punished worse becouse they are rolemodels, for young kids everywhere. and if someone like them does drugs what are the kids going to think? that its ok to do it.?

[Saiquan]

Of course not. Let's think for a minute. If someone like Cena or Trips was caught using roids do you honestly think Vince would publicly suspend them, hell no.

1.They make to much money for their company and they need them on TV constantly

2.Do you know how many kids look up to John Cena and Triple H. That would be bad for their bussiness and image.

It was easy for them to suspend Kennedy and Orton because neither of them had that top main event spot. They were not in every title match. Plus when shawn michaels was caught with steroids he was IC champion, not the world champion see what i mean.

[TheOneBigWill]

Originally Posted by Saiquan

Of course not. Let's think for a minute. If someone like Cena or Trips was caught using roids do you honestly think Vince would publicly suspend them, hell no.

OH shell yeah! Wait, oops wrong company.

Originally Posted by Saiquan

1.They make to much money for their company and they need them on TV constantly

So Jeff Hardy's unbelievable pop you in the ears so hard they bleed cheers meant he didn't do jack for their company at the time he was suspended for 60 days? Uhm, no. Jeff Hardy was bound for World Championships upon being suspended. He was being built to look solid, why else would it of been him v. Triple H. as the remaining two inside the Chamber?

Originally Posted by Saiquan

2.Do you know how many kids look up to John Cena and Triple H. That would be bad for their bussiness and image.

How much worse do you feel it'd be if they hid it, and the media world found out anyways, like they constantly do and would? Yeah, because LYING to the world about your top Superstar being an "exception to the rule" will definately benefit you in the future.

And you're an idiot, plain and simple, if you feel its right to hid this sorta stuff because they're role models to Children. The fact is, that "role model" type nature would be gone in a second, regardless if they got caught from lying, or caught from using. Either way, why the hell are wrestlers classified as role models to begin with?!

Originally Posted by Saiquan

It was easy for them to suspend Kennedy and Orton because neither of them had that top main event spot. They were not in every title match. Plus when shawn michaels was caught with steroids he was IC champion, not the world champion see what i mean.

Uhm, Orton had been a former World Heavyweight Champion! How much more "Main Event spot" worthy do you need him to be? Kennedy has defeated 6+ former World Champions, and was on a great streak and leading into one of their biggest storylines ever.

Regarding the H.B.K. issue.. Intercontinental Champion or not, that title meant a hell of a lot more back then than it does today. And correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he getting Main Event shots at Bret Hart? Midcarder or not, he was a big name even then.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Saiquan

Plus when shawn michaels was caught with steroids he was IC champion, not the world champion see what i mean.

HBK was in the main event every week at the time while the World champion was stuck in a tag team matches how does that not make him a big name.?
two more big names that have been suspended in the past
RVD was big and the WWE champion and the E.C.W champion just before he got suspended.
Booker T king of the ring WHC and one of the only WCW stars to make it big in the WWE
so no When or IF another big star gets caught using drugs The WWE will punish them as they have already done before

[Y 2 Jake]

The thread title answers it all. The answer is no. Can anybody honestly say they don't think Batista is on steroids. I doubt that. If they say that then they're a little naive. Same with HHH. If you don't think he's taking something watch Summer Slam 2007 and One Night Stand 2008. Notice how different his physique is? It's not genetics. Both men are 40, or nearly so. They also have families and full time wrestling schedules. Add to that a travel schedule that takes up a hell of a lot of time. They can't train on a plane. How exactly do they find the time to maintain their bodies?

So would a big star be punished for failing a drug test? Obviously not.

[tehblogger]

Obviously people like Batista and Triple H are doped up to the eyeballs with roids - and probably plenty of others, Edge has definitely been linked to drugs in the past - but in bigger terms I fail to understand the need for a Wellness Policy in the first place. It is not WWE's business what their performers do in their private lives: if they want to take meth, fine, provided that doesn't impact their ability to perform in-ring. Same thing with steroids. The whole point of banning drugs in sport is that drugs give some competitors an unfair advantage over others, and that if everyone took drugs the Olympics would simply be a "who's got the best chemist" competition.

But in wrestling, this doesn't really apply. The idea of an "unfair advantage" over other competitors isn't relevant, because they're all performers, not competitors. Wrestling culture has been intertwined with steroids for so long that it's hardly going to change now, anyway (just look at Batista!). An unconvincing Wellness Policy seems pointless. Why?

(also, apparently the WWE permitted steroid level is double that permitted at the Olympics)

[Davi323]

Yes, huge stars would be punished, because they have been punished.

How is Randy Orton NOT considered a huge star? He has held the WWE Title twice, Heavyweight title once, the Tag Team titles, and the IC title.

Before he jumped to TNA, Kurt Angle was suspended because of the wellness policy as well. Kurt Angle was a huge star in the WWE. 4 times WWE champ, 2 time Heavyweight (counting when it was still technically the WCW World Heavyweight belt), Angle held the Tag Team title, the IC, WCW US Heavyweight, European, Hardcore titles..If Angle doesn't count as a "huge" star, who would?

When RVD got suspended, he was both the WWE and ECW Champion...

Also, there is Booker T. Even if we completely discount the 21 titles Booker T won as an employee of WCW, and only counted what he did in the WWE, we still have 12 titles held by King Bookah. Major star.

The WWE has made a concerted effort to show it is equal in its distribution of suspensions from wellness policy violations. IF John Cena or Triple H were to violate the policy, they would be punished just like everyone else. The WWE has already shown it can survive without Cena, and Triple H has been missing from the quad injuries before. Even assuming they would be stupid enough to violate the policy, the WWE can survive without them. Based on previous suspensions, it appears like Vince takes the policy seriously, with nobody being above it.