Congress requests WWE drug testing records

[Bix]

Powell implied it was an OD (though he just said drug-related) before Dave updated his post, for what it's worth.

[rovert]

Oops guys about the original post it has been he's dead or wait now he is not for the past hour or so.

[sek69]

I think Dave doesn't want to officially say he's dead until he's sure the family was notified (and we know how big his family is).

 

 

Also all the reports had him found by his wife with blood coming from his nose, so I would wager he took one toot too many rather than a painkiller OD.

[rovert]

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/12849630

 

WWE would like to express its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu’s family, friends and fans on his tragic passing. Mr. Fatu was under contract with WWE at various time periods and most recently performed under the name "Umaga." Mr. Fatu's contract was terminated on June 11, 2009.

Classy tribute as always

[S.L.L.]

Quoth the Meltzer....

 

Edward "Umaga"Fatu passed away around 6 p.m. Eastern time after suffering a second heart attack while in the hospital. He was 36.

 

We want to send our condolences to the entire family on their loss.

[jdw]

Yep, the WWE wanted to make sure they got in the word "terminated" and the date to put distance between themselves and the death.

 

John

[Bob Morris]

Sadly, Umaga just became another statistic and I really can't say more than that.

[rovert]

"decidedly picayune controversy"

 

http://wrestlingbabylon.wordpress.com/

[Dan]

Yep, the WWE wanted to make sure they got in the word "terminated" and the date to put distance between themselves and the death.

 

John

I was more bemused that they had to inform us that Fatu was under contract at one point. As if no one remembers that he main-evented Wrestlemania two years ago.

[sek69]

"decidedly picayune controversy"

 

http://wrestlingbabylon.wordpress.com/

 

At this point I have to hope Irv is just trying to troll Dave and really isn't trying to suggest that he had a hand in the Great Benoit Cover-up (the existence of which is another highly suspect thing but that's another point). At worst I think Dave was just not willing to admit he got worked by WWE in regards to Benoitgate and as far as the Umaga death it seemed just as clear that the hospital was just keeping him alive until the family arrived and Dave didn't want to confirm his death until he was sure the family had a chance to say their goodbyes. Most people who've lost a loved one have experienced that, and it's actually kind of crass for Irv to insinuate anything.

[El-P]

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/12849630

 

WWE would like to express its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu’s family, friends and fans on his tragic passing. Mr. Fatu was under contract with WWE at various time periods and most recently performed under the name "Umaga." Mr. Fatu's contract was terminated on June 11, 2009.

Classy tribute as always

 

aka "Wrestlers don't die under our watch anymore."

 

I'd never guessed Umaga of all people would be the next one... 36 is awful young...

[sek69]

Not to be smart, but when someone has a history of obesity and drug use, you really can't call it shocking. Not to mention family history of weight issues and heart problems.

[artDDP]

WWE listed his termination so as to distance themselves from the death as much as possible. The mainstream press is only going to visit WWE's Web site for information. It's an effort to prevent him from being listed as a current WWE performer.

[jdw]

I thought I said that.

 

John

[sek69]

I think everyone knows why WWE does that, it's just that there's a less douche-y way to do it and they aren't even the slightest bit interested in doing it that way.

[S.L.L.]

Not to be smart, but when someone has a history of obesity and drug use, you really can't call it shocking. Not to mention family history of weight issues and heart problems.

When you think about it, Umaga was fired under pretty much the same circumstances that Kurt Angle was fired under. When Angle was fired, a lot of folks on the net - myself included - took it as evidence that Kurt wasn't long for this world. Granted, Kurt's still alive, and Umaga really wasn't the (only way to really describe it) flaming drug addict that Angle is/was, but you'd think his firing should've raised some of the same red flags that Kurt's did.

[Marty]

Not to be smart, but when someone has a history of obesity and drug use, you really can't call it shocking. Not to mention family history of weight issues and heart problems.

When you think about it, Umaga was fired under pretty much the same circumstances that Kurt Angle was fired under. When Angle was fired, a lot of folks on the net - myself included - took it as evidence that Kurt wasn't long for this world. Granted, Kurt's still alive, and Umaga really wasn't the (only way to really describe it) flaming drug addict that Angle is/was, but you'd think his firing should've raised some of the same red flags that Kurt's did.

 

That's just it. We keep waiting to hear the worst about Kurt or a guy like Rey Mysterio so much that a guy like Umaga flies under the radar, even though those who have followed his case could see the warning signs right there.

 

I agree with Sek's last post. I understand WWE making clear that he didn't die under their watch, but using "terminated" instead of something like "Umaga was a superstar from x date to y date in the WWE" really comes across as douchey, very rushed (though they had to mention something fairly quickly) and thoughtless.

[Marty]

Powell implied it was an OD (though he just said drug-related) before Dave updated his post, for what it's worth.

My better half is a pharmacist herself, and when I first told her about Umaga not breathing and blood going through his nose, that was her first guess as well. "Likely prescription too" was also what she said.

[Bix]

Not to be smart, but when someone has a history of obesity and drug use, you really can't call it shocking. Not to mention family history of weight issues and heart problems.

When you think about it, Umaga was fired under pretty much the same circumstances that Kurt Angle was fired under.

Except for the six figure payment to Angle.

[smkelly]

I posted this at DVDVR as well.

 

Although I am saddened by the demise of one of the best booked big men the WWF has ever produced (until being squashed into oblivion by Lashley) I feel no resentment towards the WWF or wrestling in general. The men and women who lace up their boots and voluntarily enter the squared circle under their own power know the associated risks and dangers of professional wrestling. If they don't, they should not be in the ring in the first place - but that is besides the point, a disclaimer if you will.

 

"As it (pro wrestling) has evolved, so has the need to do more risky looking stunts, and that's why guys get a lot of bumps and bruises, and you can sort of make the correlation that that leads to more painkillers," Eck said in the CNN story. - http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_New...cle_37197.shtml

That is not wrestling's fault, nor the WWF's. Japan has seen a similar increase in head drops and death defying spots because of the audience becoming desensitized of the normal collar and elbow tie ups and working an arm for forty-five minutes. The same can be said about American wrestling, when two technical wrestlers are working holds and selling like they did in the 80s the WWF crowd yells "boring". ROH crowds enjoy more technical wrestling but they wouldn't enjoy an entire card of technical wrestling - they want the strong style the Japanese uses i.e head drop suplexes and dangerously hard strikes. Since the end of the kayfabe era wrestlers have had to adopt more realism into their matches - which relates to more dangerous moves and strikes. To make something that is known to be fake look real, people will eventually get hurt.

 

The WWF has received a ton of harsh words and criticism over the years about wanting a particular looking wrestler in their rings. Well, no shit. It is like Penthouse having mammoth women grace their pages and covers - no one would buy the magazine except the men who love fat chicks, and that niche isn't large enough to sustain the profit margins Penthouse enjoys and expects. The same can be same about the WWF, when Big Dick Dudley or the Bastion Booger come out most people feel sick to their stomachs, they should because fat people are disgusting. As John Doe said on Seven: "An obese man... a disgusting man who could barely stand up; a man who if you saw him on the street, you'd point him out to your friends so that they could join you in mocking him; a man, who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal."

 

So the WWF does the sime kind of business strategy the modeling companies and porn companies do - they utilize men and women with physically attractive bodies that will promote sexual desires thus increase attendance and viewership. It is unfortunate that people have to use unnatural methods to procure a body of perfection, but that again leads to the point that the men and women know the risks - unless they have been living under a rock for the last twenty years. Having a strong looking body makes it more realistic as well. How believable is it when a huge fat man wrestles for twenty minutes? Everyone knows a fat person, imagine them orchestrating a twenty minute athletic solo event. Completely unbelievable, and let alone a disgusting visual.

 

Because of his size, Umaga had to use unnatural remedies to negate his massive body i.e steroids and massive amounts of pain-killers, I doubt baby aspirins would cut it for a man who was well over 300 pounds. He had to perform at a high level, like in the 2007 LMS match against Cena - he was incredibly athletic, unnaturally athletic to be precise. He took the risks and has paid the consequences.

 

Honestly if there is anybody to specifically blame it would be the fans. We want more, we want the biggest, we want the best. We don't want forty-five minute snooze fests between out of shape grocery shelf stockers, we want the smash mouthed brawl and head drops from two diesel like fullbacks. It is our fault that men are jumping off ladders, crashing through tables - we wanted the insane violence and the performers give it. And like liberals, once we have gotten our way and realize how fucked up it is, we cry and bitch. In boxing, the boxers have to put on a show and throw huge damaging haymakers and take absurd amounts of punishment to please the crowd instead of strategically placing their blows and avoiding punishment. Blame yourself.

 

But as I said, I am saddened by the death of Umaga.

[Guest Spunk]

Man I don't even know. SMkelly's post is so crazy and oblivious to reality.

 

You basically say "he is fat, disgusting, made me sick and he deserved to die.. but I am saddened by this loss, I really am."

 

I am at a loss.

[rovert]

Man I don't even know. SMkelly's post is so crazy and oblivious to reality.

 

You basically say "he is fat, disgusting, made me sick and he deserved to die.. but I am saddened by this loss, I really am."

 

I am at a loss.

Either that or it is the opening chapter of Ring of Hell II

[Bix]

Although I am saddened by the demise of one of the best booked big men the WWF has ever produced (until being squashed into oblivion by Lashley) I feel no resentment towards the WWF or wrestling in general. The men and women who lace up their boots and voluntarily enter the squared circle under their own power know the associated risks and dangers of professional wrestling. If they don't, they should not be in the ring in the first place - but that is besides the point, a disclaimer if you will.

Except for how the seriousness of concussions became more well known in the last 3 years and there weren't many examples of exactly what a harder style could do to someone until the same time frame. And then, this year, the poster boy for head drops was internally decapitated.

 

 

"As it (pro wrestling) has evolved, so has the need to do more risky looking stunts, and that's why guys get a lot of bumps and bruises, and you can sort of make the correlation that that leads to more painkillers," Eck said in the CNN story. - http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_New...cle_37197.shtml

That is not wrestling's fault, nor the WWF's. Japan has seen a similar increase in head drops and death defying spots because of the audience becoming desensitized of the normal collar and elbow tie ups and working an arm for forty-five minutes.

What? No.

 

Who are these guys who did nothing but lockups and working an arm for 45 minutes?

 

Head drops got introduced because they looked cool, and for a while, people accepted them, at least in part because people who theoretically knew more like Dave Meltzer and others would say that they weren't as legit as they looked.

 

The same can be said about American wrestling, when two technical wrestlers are working holds and selling like they did in the 80s the WWF crowd yells "boring".

'80s wrestling was all about working holds? Really? Are you sure you're not talking about the '20s?

 

ROH crowds enjoy more technical wrestling but they wouldn't enjoy an entire card of technical wrestling - they want the strong style the Japanese uses i.e head drop suplexes and dangerously hard strikes.

 

Since the end of the kayfabe era wrestlers have had to adopt more realism into their matches - which relates to more dangerous moves and strikes.

The Rock says hi.

 

To make something that is known to be fake look real, people will eventually get hurt.

Or they can learn how to work and throw convincing strikes without stiffing the fuck out of people. It worked well for decades.

 

The WWF has received a ton of harsh words and criticism over the years about wanting a particular looking wrestler in their rings. Well, no shit. It is like Penthouse having mammoth women grace their pages and covers - no one would buy the magazine except the men who love fat chicks, and that niche isn't large enough to sustain the profit margins Penthouse enjoys and expects. The same can be same about the WWF, when Big Dick Dudley or the Bastion Booger come out most people feel sick to their stomachs, they should because fat people are disgusting. As John Doe said on Seven: "An obese man... a disgusting man who could barely stand up; a man who if you saw him on the street, you'd point him out to your friends so that they could join you in mocking him; a man, who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal."

You're using a quote from a fictional serial killer to make your point about how social behavior works. You do realize that, right?

 

Also, Big Dick Dudley is a really weird example, he wasn't really fat at all and was pretty jacked on steroids. Bastion Booger was made to look ridiculous because it was his gimmick. I can't think of anyone in the history of major pro wrestling other than maybe Takeshi Morishima who would fit the criteria you're arguing, especially with all of more jacked up fat guy types like Vader, Mark Henry, early Fred Ottman, Umaga, etc. There's obviously the McGuire twins, but they're the only dudes who are at the "fat dudes on scooters who jackoffs laugh at."

 

So the WWF does the sime kind of business strategy the modeling companies and porn companies do - they utilize men and women with physically attractive bodies that will promote sexual desires thus increase attendance and viewership. It is unfortunate that people have to use unnatural methods to procure a body of perfection, but that again leads to the point that the men and women know the risks - unless they have been living under a rock for the last twenty years. Having a strong looking body makes it more realistic as well. How believable is it when a huge fat man wrestles for twenty minutes? Everyone knows a fat person, imagine them orchestrating a twenty minute athletic solo event. Completely unbelievable, and let alone a disgusting visual.

Major league pro wrestling isn't sold as stroke material though.

 

As far as being unbelievable, I guess you're not an MMA fan. Roy Nelson looks sloppier than most of the famous wrestling fat guys and is a upper level heavyweight who doesn't tire easily. Also, pro wrestling still requires a lot of athleticism. Chris Hero was still able to do long matches at his heaviest and as he lost weight, was able to easily work a 90 minute match 3 months later.

 

Because of his size, Umaga had to use unnatural remedies to negate his massive body i.e steroids and massive amounts of pain-killers, I doubt baby aspirins would cut it for a man who was well over 300 pounds.

1. Wrestlers use narcotic painkillers to get high or because their pain is too severe for anti-inflammatories and Tylenol. Yes, the beatings his body took were worse because of his size, but if he wasn't a wrestler, he wouldn't need narcotics for an ingrown toenail. He might need more narcotics if necessary after a surgery because of his size, but he wouldn't need to jump to narcotics just because he's so big.

2. What does the baby aspirin comment even mean? That people who take anything weaker than narcotics are pussies? I mean an adult wouldn't take pediatric aspirin so I dunno.

 

He had to perform at a high level, like in the 2007 LMS match against Cena - he was incredibly athletic, unnaturally athletic to be precise. He took the risks and has paid the consequences.

He didn't have to. Plenty of guys have had shitty major matches and still drawn.

 

Honestly if there is anybody to specifically blame it would be the fans. We want more, we want the biggest, we want the best. We don't want forty-five minute snooze fests between out of shape grocery shelf stockers, we want the smash mouthed brawl and head drops from two diesel like fullbacks. It is our fault that men are jumping off ladders, crashing through tables - we wanted the insane violence and the performers give it. And like liberals, once we have gotten our way and realize how fucked up it is, we cry and bitch. In boxing, the boxers have to put on a show and throw huge damaging haymakers and take absurd amounts of punishment to please the crowd instead of strategically placing their blows and avoiding punishment. Blame yourself.

 

But as I said, I am saddened by the death of Umaga.

I don't even know what to say here. Especially since you edited in the boxing thing for no apparent reason with no explanation of what it means.

[kjh]

I thought the performers and promoters were meant to manipulate the fans not the other way around! For that reason you can't absolve any party of blame from the culture of death that pervades professional wrestling.

[Wahoos Leg]

The use of the "Seven" quote as justifcation was priceless. It really was. Reminds me of people I knew in high school who would quote dialogue from TV and movie characters in term papers.