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WWE Talent Purposely Tries To Fail Wellness Policy
An unnamed WWE star reportedly attempted to circumvent WWE’s Wellness Policy in order to be released from the company.
Dave Meltzer revealed the story on the Wrestling Observer Forum, replying to to a hypothetical question from someone inquiring if this is possible.
While not revealing the name, Meltzer explained more than one person in WWE has advised this to him, with even one person trying to do it.
Meltzer replied,”I have a number of funny stories regarding this. More than one person in the company has brought this up to me and I’ve told them don’t do it. One guy tried. Didn’t work.”
WWE has a three-strike system. The first strike is a 30-day suspension without pay. The second strike is a 60-day suspension without pay. The third strike is termination contract.
WWE does have a “redemption policy”, which allows talent with two strikes to work with the company in order to get back into good standing.
The following is an excerpt from WWE’s Wellness Policy, which was last updated in 2013.
D. REDEMPTION PROGRAM
A WWE talent who has “two” violations under the Policy may, subject to Medical Director approval, enter the Redemption Program. The Redemption Program is an eighteen (18) month process that requires the following:
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- An initial assessment conducted by the Medical Director (or, as the case may be, an addiction specialist recommended by the Medical Director) who will analyze the addiction related issues and health related concerns then being experienced by the WWE Talent, develop proposed treatments, therapies and/or support programs that may assist the WWE Talent in managing these issues/concerns and determine initial entry date for the WWE Talent into the Redemption Program;
- Compliance with the assessment recommendations made by the Medical Director (or, as the case may be, an addiction specialist recommended by the Medical Director) for the duration of the eighteen (18) month program;
- Mandatory unannounced follow-up testing as set forth in Section 8(C) (1) of the Policy; and
- No violations under the Policy for eighteen (18) consecutive months after initial entry into the Redemption Program.
Upon successful completion of the Redemption Program, the WWE Talent shall request the PA, with the approval of the Medical Director, to delete one (1) of the two (2) violations of record for such WWE Talent. In the event the PA determines in favor of the request, the violation record for such WWE Talent will then be amended to reflect the reduction of a violation leaving the WWE Talent with only one (1) violation under the Policy.
The news comes shortly after Robert Roode and Primo Colon were suspended 30 days without pay for failing WWE’s Wellness Policy.