The Use of Drugs by Wrestlers

Fergus_Nash

Hey guys, a quick question.

How prevalent is/was drug taking in pro wrestling?

I was watching a video of Scott Hall giving his reasons for not being at Shawn Michaels' Hall of Fame induction and that got me interested.

Thanks

rovert

You really have to break it down into specific time periods and companies. Also what drugs are you talking about? Performance enhancing, painkillers or recreational.

There has always been a bad problem in one shape or form. It is very mentally and physically stressful business with a lot of peer pressure.

Fergus_Nash

Ok I'm thinking mainly Shawn Michaels', HHH, X-Pac, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. Did they make up a group called "Kliq"? Yeah recreational drugs really. Just wondering if any of them were totally off their faces during matches or whatever. So during the 90's really and the early part of the 00's.

starviewadams

I'd say all the guys you mentioned above were into recreational drugs in the mid to late 90's,with the exception of Triple H who never had a rep for being a party guy.

jaykhunter

It's probably quite libellous to say, but (allegedly!) wrestling has always had a terrible problem with performance-enhancing drugs (ie steroids) to attain an action-figure like physique and lessen time being injured; long road schedules and paranoia of losing your spot (leading to painkiller abuse) and a frat-house atmosphere (lots of partying/drinking/recreational drug use); all of which contribute to the disgustingly large number of premature deaths associated with wrestling.

Since Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit died in 05 and 07 respectively, WWE have clamped down on all three. Although dirtsheets/curious patterns of suspensions lead me to believe that testing is done but not equal throughout the roster (top talent get preferential treatment). But in general, wrestling is FAR, FAR cleaner than it would've been ten years ago or in the 80s. But it's definitely not clean; as seen by suspensions and multiple drink-driving arrests this year.

Shawn himself admits that he was a "good kind" of drug addict, in that he could still perform to a high standard despite being off his face. Dutch Mantell (on the Heroes of Wrestling PPV) quipped that he could tell if a wrestler was out partying the night before by their ring-work.

rovert

Fergus_Nash wrote: »

Ok I'm thinking mainly Shawn Michaels', HHH, X-Pac, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. Did they make up a group called "Kliq"? Yeah recreational drugs really. Just wondering if any of them were totally off their faces during matches or whatever. So during the 90's really and the early part of the 00's.

Shawn Michaels in 1996/7 threw his fair share of tantrums - in ring with Vader in Summerslam 96 being the one people remember. He also during his interviews slurred his words a fair bit at that time.

Scott Hall spent as much time in rehab, too drunk to show up to work or getting into out of the ring incidents as he did wrestling.

Riddle101

Some notable incidents of the Kliq

At 3:24 HBK goes for an elbow drop, but Vader is in the wrong position so he lands and stomps on Vader's head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVxHgucP7Y4

Kevin Nash and Scott Hall had been drinking the whole day, so they were pretty out of it during the segment. You can even hear Hall breaking kayfabe when he says "Hey Giant that's your que". I believe Hall was suspended for this and sent to rehab. Nash got away with it though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lwdgPAm-z8

P.S the pool was shallow:D

steelcityblues

What is noticeable to me is that the guys that have other demons (Scott Hall, Jake Roberts for example) - and while these demons have been difficult for them - are living to a greater age than some others, because they at least were not into the business of performance enhancing steroids.

jaykhunter

I'd put that down to genetic constitution and luck. How some wrestlers (as you mentioned) haven't OD'ed or had a heart attack from their lifelong choices is incredible.

rovert

jaykhunter wrote: »

I'd put that down to genetic constitution and luck. How some wrestlers (as you mentioned) haven't OD'ed or had a heart attack from their lifelong choices is incredible.

+1

There will always be Ozzys and Keiths.

Neither were big steroid guys either.