Talent Wellness Program

[DcDudley]

http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=317912095

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon sends an annual letter to all of its former talent, stating that all those who have had a contract with the WWE in the past are eligible for free rehab treatment to fight addiction. They can call a confidential hotline and be admitted to a certified treatment center, where all expenses are paid by the WWE the first time that a wrestler utilizes the program

To date, about 4 percent of the former wrestlers have accepted assistance, according to the WWE Web site. Zimmerman calls the utilization "a good sign."

Zimmerman argues that only five wrestlers have ever died while under contract with the WWE. One of those was a suicide (the highly publicized murder-suicide by Chris Benoit in 2007) and another was a mechanical failure during a show (Owen Hart falling 80 feet to his death in 1999). The others died of heart disease, says Zimmerman
Zimmerman says wrestlers continue to die early because of their personal choices when they're not under WWE's auspices.

"We don't know what they took as kids. We don't know what they've done after they've left," he says. "So the only thing we can do is obviously do what we're trying to do, which is make them abide by the Talent Wellness Program when they are contracted by us and then offer any kind of rehab assistance after they've left."

Hmm not sure if all they can do is what they are trying to do, but nice of Vince to send a letter.heh