![]() ![]() It led to a case of history repeating itself as Benoit’s doctor, Phil Astin, would be sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2009 for illegally distributing prescription drugs. Investigations later revealed that Benoit had 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his body at the time of his death. A search of his home found prescription steroids. The issue reached a new level of seriousness in June 2007, when WWE wrestler Chris Benoit was found hanged at his home after killing his wife and 7-year-old son. The issue of steroids and the World Wrestling Entertainment (now re-named) came to the forefront again in November 2005 with the death of top wrestler, Eddie Guerrero at the age of 38. Guerrero had died of heart failure. Zahorian and the negative publicity that followed, the WWF began independently testing wrestlers for anabolic steroid use for the first time, however, the testing ceased in 1996. ![]() McMahon was acquitted of the charges but admitted that he had used steroids himself in the 1980s.įollowing the 1991 trial of Dr. Zahorian’s conviction would subsequently lead to the US federal government taking a similar case against Vince McMahon for the illegal distribution of steroids, which went to trial in 1994. The records showed that he had been sending packages to WWF’s head office, to Vince McMahon and to ‘Terry Bollea’ – Hulk Hogan’s real name. Dr. That year, a Pennsylvanian doctor, George Zahorian was convicted of dispensing steroids to his clients.Īs part of the trial, the FBI subpoenaed Zahorian’s Federal Express records. However, allegations that the muscular bodies of this new breed of wrestlers were fuelled by steroid use began to surface as early as 1991. Led by Hulk Hogan and the popularity of Hulkamania, WWF established itself as a major global entertainment business. ![]() No longer did wrestlers look like truck drivers, they were now huge muscular athletes. McMahon was a bodybuilding enthusiast and WWF began to establish a reputation as having the biggest wrestlers in the business. He broke old traditions in the industry by promoting his events in the territories of rival organizations and set about acquiring the top wrestlers from across the country to promote WWF nationwide. Thirty five years old and armed with a degree in business from East Carolina University, McMahon became Chairman of his father’s World Wrestling Federation in 1980 and set about building his vision for the company. Carving up the market like this resulted in relatively small scale wrestling fiefdoms with none having any major economic muscle. As the 1970s became the 1980s, there were almost 30 wrestling promotions in the United States, each with their own territory, wrestlers and belts. The list reads like a Wrestlemania supercard – Davey Boy Smith aka ‘The British Bulldog’ (died 2002, aged 39, heart attack), Randy Poffo aka ‘Macho Man Randy Savage’ (died 2011, aged 58, heart attack), Raymond Traylor aka ‘The Big Boss Man’ (died 2004, aged 42, heart attack), Curt Henning aka ‘Mr Perfect’ (died 2003 aged 44, acute cocaine intoxication), Raymond Rood aka ‘Ravishing Rick Rude (died 1999, aged 40, heart failure), Michael Hegstrand aka ‘Road Warrior Hawk’ (died 2003, aged 56, heart attack).To understand the era in which these wrestlers performed, let’s go back to the beginning. ![]()
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