Here are some additional notes regarding yesterday’s meeting held with WWE talent at the Smackdown & ECW tapings in Cincinnati, OH with Stephanie McMahon and John Laurinaitis courtesy of a report by PWInsider:
* Stephanie McMahon told all performers that 13 suspensions were handed out in regards to any wrestlers receiving substances from online pharmacies, while two had to do with drug screening failures. WWE has only publicly confirmed 11 suspensions, so either Stephanie told the wrestlers a wrong figure or there are more coming.
* Stephanie also reportedly added that Vince McMahon was quote “looking forward to the Congressional hearings” on the sport and to testify before Congress if called to do so. One source said Stephanie even joked about the manner saying Vince was thinking of going in wearing a clown wig and shoes to make a statement about the hearings.
* Batista was overheard asking Stephanie in front of all the wrestlers what could be done legally about his name being involved in recent media reports (mainly Sports Illustrated). He said in front of the entire WWE crew that he had never received anything from the online pharmacy companies. Stephanie told him that was an issue he would have to discuss with personal attorneys. Batista made it clear that he was very upset at Sports Illustrated and other media outlets for reporting his name this week, claiming he had no connection.
* When the meeting concluded, Triple H reportedly addressed all wrestlers with a speech saying that he knows many people probably feel they are in a horrible business and are questioning why they would still want to be involved. He “reminded” the wrestlers that they have a dream job where they get to make children happy and get to live out their dreams of being involved in a business they all grew up loving. Triple H reportedly said he was proud to be a pro wrestler and that the entire business, not just WWE, was under fire and that it was up to the boys to “stick together and work through it.”
