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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Nov 14, 2013 1:17:31 GMT -5
My first thought when reading this was "Someone wanted this clause to exist back during the Swagger situation but it didn't." Probably not an accurate thought, but my first thought nonetheless. I could've sworn that it already did exist, except that the firing part was at WWE's discretion.
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Post by Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! on Nov 14, 2013 1:26:05 GMT -5
Talent can get a strike taken off now... - WWE quietly updated its Wellness Policy back on July 23rd. Several things were added, including the following: * Any WWE talent who is arrested, convicted or who admits to a violation of law in relation to the use, possession, purchase, sale or distribution of drugs will be in breach of contract and subject to immediate dismissal. that wasn't already against the rules?
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Urethra Franklin
King Koopa
When Toronto sports teams lose, Alison Brie is sad
Posts: 11,098
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Post by Urethra Franklin on Nov 14, 2013 1:49:14 GMT -5
So a DUI is now a wellness violation?
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Post by sdoyle7798 on Nov 14, 2013 2:03:22 GMT -5
So a DUI is now a wellness violation? It's not a strike. Just a fine.
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saintpat
El Dandy
Release the hounds!!!
Posts: 7,664
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Post by saintpat on Nov 14, 2013 8:29:37 GMT -5
Dude would have to be a bonified idiot to screw this up now. Imagine getting that last strike while you're trying to get it taken off. Not to say this could play a faction into him potentially messing up, but the man just got of a divorce and knows girls are lining for him, ready to party hard. So he's no longer with his, what, fifth wife?
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Idiot
AC Slater
Posts: 132
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Post by Idiot on Nov 14, 2013 11:49:05 GMT -5
Talent can get a strike taken off now... - WWE quietly updated its Wellness Policy back on July 23rd. Several things were added, including the following: * WWE talent can request a Therapeutic Use Exception for a prohibited drug if there is a legitimate medical purpose with a valid prescription from a licensed and treating physician. The use of the drug must be required for more than sixty straight days and the dosage must be "documented in accordance with standards and practices commonly accepted within the United States medical community." The TUE will be in effect for no more than a calendar year. Basically just changing the rules for prescription drugs that are on the banned list. Previously you'd send them your prescription and on the talent's end that's the end of it. Now WWE's monitoring use more closely. Good change* Any WWE talent who is arrested, convicted or who admits to a violation of law in relation to the use, possession, purchase, sale or distribution of drugs will be in breach of contract and subject to immediate dismissal. I don't think that's new. It certainly seems familiar.* A "positive test for alcohol" will result in a $2,500 fine per positive test, taken from the talent's downside guarantee. definitely not new. It's the same fine for pot. Also, they only test you for alcohol if you show up to an event drunk (reasonable suspicion testing). It goes along with the 'no drinking for 12 hours before a live event rule.* A talent who has two violations of the Wellness Policy may enter a "Redemption Program" if the Medical Director approves it. The program is an eighteen month treatment process overseen by the Medicalk Director or an addiction specialist recommended by the Medical Director. Mandatory follow-up testing is required and no further violations during the program are allowed. After this time, talent can request to have a violation removed. Basically, go to rehab and stay clean for 18 months and you're back to one strike. Good rule, in my opinion. It's WWE adding an incentive to fix the problems performers have rather than punishing them for their solutions.* The following provision was added in relation to substance abuse: "Pain medications, and other substances prohibited by this Policy, may be abused at times and can become addictive. A WWE Talent who believes he/she may have a problem with substance abuse is encouraged to self-report and request assistance. No penalties are imposed on WWE Talent for voluntarily acknowledging a problem to the Medical Director prior to a drug test being performed herein and WWE will assist in securing rehabilitation services in such situations. The rehabilitation process can be engaged by a WWE Talent notifying the Medical Director, the PA, WWE Ringside Physicians or the WWE Wellness Coordinator that he/she has a problem and needs assistance." Not new.My comments are in bold. The PWI contributor hasn't read the old policy in much detail because he picked up quite a few 'new items' that weren't new. I don't like the strike removal thing. That kind of seems to me like it has no real point besides giving them an out for if someone does hit three strikes, and three's pretty much enough as it is. Especially seeing as they already have a system in place for how a person who gets three strikes could come back; it just seems like there's no point to it outside of their own convenience. Though on the other hand, it is weird that they added a rule that if it were in place six months ago would have caused them to have to scramble to find a new Mania World title match. Actually, it's a good rule. It's not giving people an out, it's giving people who either want to sort out their problems a reward for doing so. It also means that someone who has sorted out their problems can have some insurance in case something goes wrong. To explain what I mean by that, let's say WWE sign Jeff Hardy. He's got two strikes but is (to the best of our knowledge, clean now). He can go through the redemption programme and get a strike taken off. If, two years down the line he fails a drug test for pseudoephedrine he bought over the counter he doesn't get fired. The first one is a bit confusing to me. I get the exception for legitimate medical reasons part (although we know there are physicians who will write prescriptions to justify athletes getting illegal drugs), but I don't get the reasoning behind the policy only being in place for one year. It makes me sound like someone got caught and they needed a way to ensure that it wasn't a violation. The TUE needs to be in place before the positive test. Having a script has always been allowed. How do you think Kurt 'box of vicodin a day' Angle never failed a drug test for taking Vicodin? The TUE also means that WWE can better keep track of how long a wrestler is on a banned drug, when it was reported and hold them to a time limit they can take it for.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2013 12:20:27 GMT -5
I totally believe Orton is off the gas now. That dude has slimmed down like crazy.
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Post by pepsitwist on Nov 14, 2013 13:03:32 GMT -5
* A talent who has two violations of the Wellness Policy may enter a "Redemption Program" if the Medical Director approves it. The program is an eighteen month treatment process overseen by the Medicalk Director or an addiction specialist recommended by the Medical Director. Mandatory follow-up testing is required and no further violations during the program are allowed. After this time, talent can request to have a violation removed. You know they came up with this part just for Orton. They are terrified of Orton failing again. Makes the whole strike system pointless.
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playa
AC Slater
Posts: 147
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Post by playa on Nov 14, 2013 13:24:49 GMT -5
I think the "Orton Rule" is a good one. I would have just based it around time passing - like points on a license. It would be three strikes over a five year period, so if you are carrying two - you kill any big time push as punishment for five years, but if you keep yourself clean, your strikes are wiped away and the company can then push you knowing they won't have to fire you in the middle of a ME push if you were burdened with two strikes already.
Pro-wrestling isn't a sport. the Wellness Plan is just a workplace safety issue and can and should be handled in-house.
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Post by The Masked Heel WAS WRONG on Nov 14, 2013 14:32:21 GMT -5
LOL I love people making stupid claims "OMG guys they are doing this for Orton!" instead of being logical and say "hey they are giving talent an opportunity to redeem themselves by spending a year and a half in a counseling program".
Besides, doesn't the policy state if you get 3 strikes and fired, you would be brought back later on with a clean slate? That sounds a whole lot better for people. Get fired, go to "rehab", then come back with a fresh start.
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Post by A Platypus Rave is Correct on Nov 14, 2013 14:33:40 GMT -5
LOL I love people making stupid claims "OMG guys they are doing this for Orton!" instead of being logical and say "hey they are giving talent an opportunity to redeem themselves by spending a year and a half in a counseling program". Besides, doesn't the policy state if you get 3 strikes and fired, you would be brought back later on with a clean slate? That sounds a whole lot better for people. Get fired, go to "rehab", then come back with a fresh start. No you come back with 2 strikes after a year.
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Crappler El 0 M
Dalek
Never Forgets an Octagon
I'm a good R-Truth.
Posts: 58,479
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Nov 14, 2013 15:07:17 GMT -5
I've been predicting the change to allow WWE to remove a wellness violating for a couple of years now. Now that they've done it, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Overall, these changes weaken the wellness policy, but it's better for the performers who tend to fail wellness tests. The threat of the third strike is weakened. It takes a year and a half for the second strike to go away, assuming they stay clean. I don't believe anyone has ever had a third strike. Now, it looks like no one ever will. If I recall, Orton was exempted after the Signature Pharmacy scandal. Everyone else who was caught on the list got a suspension/violation if I recall.
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Post by A Platypus Rave is Correct on Nov 14, 2013 15:43:53 GMT -5
I've been predicting the change to allow WWE to remove a wellness violating for a couple of years now. Now that they've done it, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Overall, these changes weaken the wellness policy, but it's better for the performers who tend to fail wellness tests. The threat of the third strike is weakened. It takes a year and a half for the second strike to go away, assuming they stay clean. I don't believe anyone has ever had a third strike. Now, it looks like no one ever will. If I recall, Orton was exempted after the Signature Pharmacy scandal. Everyone else who was caught on the list got a suspension/violation if I recall. The story is that He already served a strike for the Signature Pharmacy stuff before it came out. They didn't give him a second one for the same violation. Which if is the truth I am fine with.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2013 15:46:59 GMT -5
Redemption Program, eh?
So THAT'S why NXT Redemption was so weird. They were all a bunch of druggies trying to get clean! The wrestlers, the commentators, the writers, all of 'em!
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Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Nov 14, 2013 15:55:58 GMT -5
LOL I love people making stupid claims "OMG guys they are doing this for Orton!" instead of being logical and say "hey they are giving talent an opportunity to redeem themselves by spending a year and a half in a counseling program". Besides, doesn't the policy state if you get 3 strikes and fired, you would be brought back later on with a clean slate? That sounds a whole lot better for people. Get fired, go to "rehab", then come back with a fresh start. 1. No, nobody got a fresh start, they came back with 2 Strikes. 2. If this had been around when they brought back Chris Masters, he might have actually got a push at one point, because he stayed clean, and would have been dropped down to 1 Strike.
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Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
Posts: 46,852
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Nov 14, 2013 15:59:19 GMT -5
Misterio and I think Ryback both have two as well. I think Truth only has one. Jeff Hardy if he were to return would have two as well. I think Ryback only has one. Also, while I doubt they even bother testing him at this point, William Regal has two, and if they brought them back Carlito and Chris Masters each have two. Eugene/Nick Dinsmore would have two as well, under those circumstances.
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Post by Grand Papillon "The Banker" on Nov 14, 2013 20:54:18 GMT -5
* Any WWE talent who is arrested, convicted or who admits to a violation of law in relation to the use, possession, purchase, sale or distribution of drugs will be in breach of contract and subject to immediate dismissal. So a DUI is now a wellness violation? It's not a strike. Just a fine. Nah, by that rule there, they could fire someone for a DUI. Doubt they would unless they wanted to trim a low-carder off the roster, but this gives them the room to do it
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Post by rnrk supports BLM on Nov 14, 2013 20:58:53 GMT -5
Redemption Program, eh? So THAT'S why NXT Redemption was so weird. They were all a bunch of druggies trying to get clean! The wrestlers, the commentators, the writers, all of 'em! Considering the content of the show, I think they all failed the program and kept relapsing.
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Post by rnrk supports BLM on Nov 14, 2013 21:01:34 GMT -5
LOL I love people making stupid claims "OMG guys they are doing this for Orton!" instead of being logical and say "hey they are giving talent an opportunity to redeem themselves by spending a year and a half in a counseling program". Logically speaking, I doubt it's a convenient coincidence that this clause was introduced into the policy at the same time that a performer with two strikes against him has been headlining the last three PPVs.
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Crappler El 0 M
Dalek
Never Forgets an Octagon
I'm a good R-Truth.
Posts: 58,479
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Post by Crappler El 0 M on Nov 14, 2013 21:04:43 GMT -5
LOL I love people making stupid claims "OMG guys they are doing this for Orton!" instead of being logical and say "hey they are giving talent an opportunity to redeem themselves by spending a year and a half in a counseling program". Logically speaking, I doubt it's a convenient coincidence that this clause was introduced into the policy at the same time that a performer with two strikes against him has been headlining the last three PPVs. Reportedly, the changes to the policy were made in June. Orton won the Money in the Bank in July, after many months of not being focused on. Then in August he wins the WWE Championship and is in the main event of PPV after PPV. If his second strike was taken away in June, then it is quite interesting that Orton was suddenly given more main event focus than he had received in years.
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