Professional wrestling is an extremely competitive sport. World Wrestling Entertainment, popularly known as WWE, is one of the most interesting and well-known professional wrestling competitions. It is well known all over the world and has captivated audiences. The format features well-known wrestlers and athletes who perform incredible stunts and other athletic activities that manage to captivate the audience and grab their attention.
Over the years, the format has gained a lot of recognition and support from the audience. As WWE gains more and more recognition, there is a lot more competition among top-level athletes to get into it. The pressure of standing out among the other wrestlers means that each wrestler must be in top shape throughout the year and present a body that stands out from others.
This pressure on the wrestlers demands incredible dedication and hard work, which might still not be enough to cut. Hence, wrestlers are often inclined towards steroids and other substance use.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE): An Overview
WWE is an entertainment platform associated with wrestling. The matches are scripted. However, the venue shows it in an exciting format with dramatic storylines, which keeps its viewers engrossed. Even though the matches are pre-decided with outcomes already known, it is still not child’s play to be a WWE wrestler.
It demands extreme peak-physical condition and athleticism. The showmanship and theatrics required are pretty extreme. Performing such dangerous stunts time and again takes a toll on the body, and wrestlers are often associated with injury risks, which might ruin a whole career.
This has compelled wrestlers to go for performance-enhancing drugs or steroids that increase the recovery speed of the body and encourage muscle and tissue development at a rapid rate. A chiseled or shredded body with well-defined muscles along with extraordinary strength, fit enough for superhumans, provides the athletes with greater money-making opportunities along with an increased fanbase.
A View At Some Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Use Steroids:
Here is a list of some popular athletes in WWE who use steroids.
- Brock Lesner: The famous wrestler is famous for his appearances in WWE and also as a MMA fighter in UFC. His large physique attracts a large fanbase, but very few know he uses steroids. He tested positive for steroids back in 2016 and has publically admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.
- Kurt Angle: He was a popular wrestler, who was also an Olympic gold medallist in wrestling. Kurt was a part of the Signature Pharmacy steroids scandal in which several other wrestlers were involved too. He later publicly admitted that there was a time when he did use steroids.
- Paul Michael Levesque: Popularly known as Triple H, Paul admitted to using steroids in 2002 to treat a quad injury. He has since refused all claims that he used drugs to enhance his muscles and build his body.
- Randy Orton: Randy Orton is another big name in the WWE. He was suspended by the WWE after testing positive for taking methandrostenolone, which is a popular oral steroid.
- The Rock: Dwayne Johnson, popularly known as “The Rock,” has a large fan following for his huge body size and muscular physique. However, he has admitted that he tried steroids back in college. He later blamed his lack of knowledge for what he did and accepted he made a huge mistake.
The list goes on, and several other popular wrestlers have tested positive for steroids.
A Reflection On Steroid Use:
On the surface, steroids may look appealing since they help get one a near-perfect body. However, the dangers cannot be ignored. Steroids are often associated with liver damage and cardiovascular problems. It also causes hormonal problems and can be a leading cause of mental health disruption.
They can also lead to other organ failures. Substance abuse has also caused several deaths in the fitness industry. WWE must keep a check on steroid use in the industry because a lot of youth idolize their favorite wrestlers. The right message must be sent to the youth to promote a realistic body image and promote a healthy natural lifestyle.
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