Complete Transcript of Stephanie McMahon’s Interview with Govt Officials about Steroids (Part Six)

Below is the sixth and final part of a transcript of an interview government officials conducted with Stephanie McMahon Levesque on Friday, December 14, 2007 largely regarding steroid use in World Wrestling Entertainment. McMahon also goes into great detail on the behind the scenes aspects of WWE.

Q So chair shots do need to be approved by ??
A Absolutely.
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Q ?? Vince McMahon before they occur?
A Yes.
Q And what happens if they are not approved?
A Then they work around it, and they don’t use chairs.
Q I mean, are you aware of incidents where chair shots to
the head have occurred that were not preapproved by Vince McMahon?
A Yes, and Vince was very upset about it.
Q And what was the ??
A And it was very rare. But it was someone, you know,
taking the script, if you will, into their own hands and using a
chair. It is very rare that it has happened. But I can think of
one time where Vince was so upset, because we want to use chair
shots judiciously as well. You know, if our show just becomes a
bunch of chairs, then you lose the art of wrestling. And that is
not what we want to do.
Q And do you give wrestlers guidelines for ?? I guess you
said that for chair shots to the head, that they must be
preapproved by Vince McMahon?
A Any props have to be preapproved.
Q And is that a safety concern or a not wanting to use
excessive amount of props concern?
A It is more about excessive props. If there is a
particularly dangerous maneuver where you want to do something
through the announce table, that is a safety concern. But either
way, they have to be approved.
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Q And so what ways does WWE try to limit potentially
hazardous moves that may cause concussions or other injuries?
A Can you ask that again?
Q Does WWE have regulations or guidelines or standard
operating protocol that limits the use of potentially hazardous
moves that may cause serious damage, such as a concussion? What
kind of protocols does WWE have in place that it gives its
wrestlers?
A Well, again, in terms of concussions specifically, we
don’t believe that there is any particular move, unless it is an
accident, that will cause a concussion. So an accident we can’t
foresee. But certainly a more dangerous maneuver, like one I was
describing through the announce table, or you know, we have had
someone fall off the Hell in the Cell, which is a giant 30?foot
cage. And it is all, you know, done with a stunt man. WWE has a
stunt man under contract. And everything is done as safely as we
possibly can, but there is still risk assumed. These guys are
essentially highly skilled stunt men in some of the stunts that
they do. So any time there is a high?risk maneuver, it absolutely
has a protocol that it has to be, first of all, approved by Vince.
Vince himself has performed more of the stunts, because he
believes that anything he asks people to do, that he should do.
So Vince typically does the test run. And then there is always a
test run before the performer is asked to do it. And in the case
of a highly specialized stunt like that, which would be more of
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the dangerous stunts that you are talking about, and then the
talent themselves perform the stunt to make sure they are
comfortable with it before we do it live on the show.
BY MS. SACHSMAN:
Q What is the process for getting approval, the
preapproval by Vince?
A The producer or the talent go to Vince and ask him. In
the case of a big planned stunt?
Q Uh?huh.
A The same process happens, just earlier.
Q At what point does that happen in a not sort of large,
preplanned stunt? So a chair shot or ??
A It is the same. The agent or the producer ?? the agent
and producer is the same. That was something I covered before. I
use them synonymously. But they speak with Vince the same way.
Q And I guess what timing is that? And I am just not
particularly familiar with the ??
A It depends. If it is a big planned stunt, typically we
have a week to 2 weeks, maybe even longer, sometimes to really
plan it. And those bigger stunts are worked on at pay?per?views,
which are our bigger events. If there is a chair shot to the
head, typically that is ?? or to the back or to the leg, typically
that is determined day of, and we discuss it with talent, and the
talent get involved in how they want to get the heat or how they
want to do whatever they want do. And then it is discussed with
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Vince that day.
Q Does talent ever make ?? you had referred to certain
decisions, like how they were going to do the heat, as decisions
that the talent ultimately gets to make. Does talent make
decisions like that ever during the show or just immediately
before the show?
A On their own?
Q Yes.
A Is that what you are asking?
Q Yes.
A On their own without approval?
Q Yes.
A They are not supposed to, and no. But there has been
the rare occasion that they have. And that is what I was
referring to before when Vince was so upset. I mean, I can think
of maybe one instance, and not even specifically. So it is very
rare that that happens. Talent is very well aware that they
either have approval to do something or they don’t.
Q What if you are changing up the script in the middle of
a show? I am not sure, do you ever change up the script in the
middle of a show?
Mr. McDevitt. The script or the script for the ongoing
match?
Ms. Sachsman. I guess I should be more specific.
BY MS. SACHSMAN:
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Q Do you ever change up what is going on in that match
during a show?
A Not from a writing perspective. From a perspective of
the two talent who are in the ring, they are trying to tell a
story. And the fans aren’t reacting, so they need to do something
different; yes, it might change. But that does not necessitate a
chair shot, that kind of change. That involves changing the
structure of your match. Okay, you know what, this isn’t working.
I am the baby face. I am going to shine on you for a little bit.
Let us see if we can get the people behind us.
Q And is that a decision at that point that is done by
talent? Does talent ever get to make decisions on what they are
doing like that during ??
A The skilled ones ??
Q ?? the process?
A ?? yes. In terms of, you know, it is not working, they
do what we call an audible, and they do it on the fly. But a
chair shot would never be a part of that.
Q Okay. So if at some point then somebody said, oh, a
chair shot would be really great right here in this scenario that
we are having, what would be the process then?
A That has to be predetermined.
Q Okay.
A Any stunt or any prop use has to be predetermined. You
can’t on the fly use a prop.
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Q So before the television show?
A It can also get you disqualified. Because it changes
the finish of the match. It is a little complicated in terms of
the creative ?? the referee is there to give the illusion that he
is a referee. And should someone bring in a prop in a match that
is a ?? not a no disqualification match ?? we do have a match that
is a no disqualification match where everything is legal. And in
either case, chair shots would have to be preapproved.
BY MS. DESPRES:
Q Is there ever an instance where talent says ?? where a
specific move is suggested to a wrestler and the wrestler says
they aren’t ?? don’t want do it because it is too dangerous, for
example, where they refuse to do a move ?? not refuse, where they
do not take the suggestion about doing a move?
A Yes. That has happened. If a talent is not comfortable
doing something, we are not going to put them in danger.
BY MR. BUFFONE:
Q Contractually, could you? Not put them in danger, but
could you ?? not saying that you could contractually put them in
danger, could you contractually force a talent to do a move?
A No.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q I want to ask about an incident that happened on October
22nd, 2007. This was a match involving wrestler Candice Michelle.
A Michelle.
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Q Michelle?
A Yeah.
Mr. McDevitt. What was the date? October ??
Mr. Cohen. October 22nd, 2007.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q In performing a stunt, she fell from the top rope and
was knocked unconscious. Are you familiar with this incident?
A Yes.
Q The referee in that match appeared to have directed the
other wrestler, as she was laying unconscious, appeared to have
directed the other wrestler to pull her by her neck and her
underarm to the middle of the match ?? to the middle of the ring
for a pin to end the match. Do you remember this incident?
A Yes, and that referee made what could have been a huge
mistake. And the referee was severely reprimanded after. And it
was reinforced again with the referee there, and then with all the
referees the following day, that you have the ability to end the
match. It is constantly reinforced. And should something like
that ever happen, it is your responsibility and duty to end the
match.
Q Okay. So you provided additional guidance. Did you
provide any additional written guidance to your referees?
A It is all already in writing. And it was then verbally
reinforced, yes.
Q So this was a decision made by the referee on his own to
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have her pulled to the middle of the ring?
A Yes, and he screwed up royally.
Q Okay. Do referees receive any specific training in how
to deal with traumatic neck or head injuries?
A The training that they are given is to stop the match
and call the EMTs to the ring. They are not qualified. They are
not doctors. They need to call the doctors, the specialized
people into the ring.
BY MR. BUFFONE:
Q Were the other people who came out to the ring after the
match was ended, were those the EMTs?
A The EMTs and the doctor.
Q And they proceeded to sit her up?
A I know.
Q And try and give her water?
A And I can’t speak to why they did that. It alarmed me.
But I am not a doctor. So, clearly, they made that decision for
whatever medical reasons they did. She responded or ??
Q Those were local doctors?
A No, at that time, that was our physician that we had
traveling with us on the road. And we have since terminated him
in order to get somebody who has more sports medicine experience,
to get somebody better.
Q So what has been WWE’s reaction to this incident?
A A number of policies were actually implemented because
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of this. It was reinforced then with the doctor and with the
referees that absolutely you have to end the match should anything
like this happen ever. In addition, the EMTs always had a dry run
of how they would come to the ring and exit the ring should there
be, you know, any type of accident. Only, in the past, they
didn’t do it with a stretcher. Well, now we mandate that they
have to do the full rehearsal as if it is a dress rehearsal with
the stretcher. In addition to that, they have to have a
predetermined area where they are going to hold the patient, the
talent before the ambulance gets there.
So, you know, in the case of Candice, we were just running
back stage, and eventually they found a little nook where they put
her. I mean, and it was ridiculous. And we were infuriated by
it. And luckily, it just turned out to be a separated shoulder,
but it could have been so much worse. And, you know,
unfortunately, sometimes it takes incidents like this for us to
improve our policies. And that is what happened in this case.
Q And wasn’t she diagnosed with a concussion?
A I don’t recall. I don’t believe so, but she might have
been. But I don’t believe so. She was unconscious. So if that
warrants a concussion, then ?? but I don’t recall.
Q And was that ?? did you ask about information about a
concussion before or after that incident?
A It was before, my question about concussions.
Q This incident was before your question about
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concussions?
A No, this incident was after.
Mr. Buffone. After. Okay.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q Do you provide health insurance to your wrestlers, your
talent?
A No, we do not.
Q Can I ask why not?
A Yes, because we have actually looked into it, and
because the wrestlers live all over the United States, it is very
difficult to find any group that would actually support this, you
know, people who live all over the place. There are no discounted
rates. There are no benefits to doing it. Also, more than
60 percent of our talent already have health insurance. So it
would be difficult to say, Well, you have to be a part of WWE’s
insurance because, you know, we are mandating it as such when you
might have better insurance with your family.
Q So you believe it would be a hardship for your
wrestlers?
A We believe it would be more difficult for them, yes.
But what we are doing now, as a part of what I discussed before,
is we are going to be educating the talent more in terms of, you
know, you should be thinking about health insurance. You should
be thinking about financial planning, et cetera. But it is very
difficult for us as a company to ?? because these guys live all
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over the place ?? to have one group.
Q To clarify, you have been unable to find a provider that
would provide health insurance for your talent because they are so
widespread, or you just haven’t been able to find one you believe
is cost?effective?
A No, we decided that it wasn’t the best policy for our
talent because, A, because over 60 percent have health insurance;
and B, it did not seem like a logical course of action. We did
have discussions with several different healthcare providers. And
once they laid out all of their concerns, you know, we brought it
back and discussed it as a group and said, Well, it doesn’t seem
to make sense. However, we should make sure that we educate
talent and make sure that they are aware that healthcare is
necessary, and possibly make a few suggestions and, you know, but
without having one uniform provider.
Mr. McDevitt. You also haven’t asked the question about
contractual relationships with talent. Contractually, it is their
responsibility to have their own insurance.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q To the extent that there is an injury that ?? an acute
injury in the ring, wrestler breaks his leg in the ring, to what
extent does WWE provide coverage for treatment of that injury?
A We pay for it in total.
Q And to the extent that this is a chronic injury that has
occurred, a wrestler develops arthritis, or because of repeated
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contact or that kind of an injury, does WWE cover the cost of any
treatment for those kinds of chronic injuries that have occurred
in the ring?
A There hasn’t been any chronic treatment like that. But
unless you say like ?? actually, yes. So if someone has a bad
knee, for example, and they get ice before and after their match
and stim and ultrasound, in that regard, yes.
Q Okay.
A But I can’t think of any major injury that someone has
had that was chronic and required outside rehabilitation that we
were unable to provide.
BY MS. DESPRES:
Q Is it part of the contractual relationship that WWE
would pay for the care that the talent needed as a part of
their ?? because of something that happened on the job?
A Because of something that happened on the job, yes.
Q So that is part of the contract?
A To my best recollection, yes.
Ms. Despres. Okay. Thanks.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q In cases where wrestlers ask for time off due to an
injury, how are you and how is the creative team informed of that
request?
A We are informed that they need ?? you know, they have
been diagnosed with a torn ACL, and they are going to have
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surgery, and they require 4 to 6 weeks off.
Q Okay. Have you ever ?? have you or to your knowledge
has anyone at WWE ever suggested to a wrestler that they should
not take time off?
A Can you be more specific?
Q Are you aware of any cases where a wrestler has asked
for time off and has ??
A As it relates to an injury?
Q As it relates to an injury ?? or an injury, an illness,
exhaustion?
Mr. Buffone. Medical concern.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q That is a good way to put it.
A So time off for any reason?
Q Time off for a medical concern, and that wrestler has
been encouraged or it has been suggested to the wrestler that they
should not take this time off?
A No.
Q And in the opposite case, are you familiar with any
cases where WWE officials, you or other WWE officials, have told
the wrestler and suggested that a wrestler might need medical time
off for a medical ??
A Not for medical but for personal, yes.
Q Okay.
A In the case of one of our performers who was just
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working so much and requested to work that much, we said, you know
what, Mr. X, you need to take some time off. We are going to
unbook you from these live events. But it was not due to a
medical reason.
Q Okay. One more piece on this one, and then I will ask
if you have any. One of the suggestions Dr. Black, in our
interview with Dr. Black, he told the committee that one of the
suggestions he has made to WWE is that a medical trailer travel
with WWE so there is always appropriate medical equipment and a
WWE affiliated doctor at events. Are you aware of this
recommendation?
A No.
Q Can you tell us if you are aware of any activity to
purchase or equip a medical trailer at WWE events?
A No. I know that we have a great deal of medical
equipment there. Like I said before, ultrasound, stim, et cetera.
But in terms of a truck, no.
Mr. Cohen. Okay. You have anything else?
Ms. Safavian. We do not. Thank you very much.
Ms. Despres. I ?? actually, just one last.
BY MS. DESPRES:
Q On that October 22nd, 2007, incident, was that broadcast
live on TV?
A Yes, that was a live show. She landed wrong and was
knocked unconscious ?? and the referee made a terrible decision ??
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and was pulled into the ring, and she was pinned.
Ms. Despres. Right. Okay. Thanks.
Mr. Cohen. I am sorry, a couple more.
BY MR. COHEN:
Q This is the issue of fan mail. I just have three very
quick questions here. Does creative or talent relations have any
role in processing fan mail?
A No, we have a Fan Services Department. Some mail might
be sent to talent relations which is then forwarded to fan
services.
Q Okay. Are you aware, ever aware of any of the content
of fan mail?
A No, only the letters that I have received that I signed
autographs for or what have you.
Q And in any of the letters that you have received or
seen, have you had any cases where fans have asked about or asked
about advice for using steroids or ??
A No.
Q ?? illegal drugs?
A Not at all.
Mr. McDevitt. Fan mail asking who for advice on steroids?
Mr. Cohen. Asking WWE talent for advice or information.
Ms. McMahon. I have personally never heard anything like
that ever. I have received a death threat once, but that was it.
That was really mean. They didn’t like me.
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Mr. McDevitt. Brian, I am interested in that last part. Are
you saying there is some fan mail that has been published by
WWE ??
Mr. Cohen. No, no, no, I am just asking about ??
Mr. McDevitt. We don’t control what people send to us.
Mr. Cohen. I am aware of that, Jerry. I am aware of that.
Mr. McDevitt. All right.
Mr. Cohen. All right. We are done.
[Whereupon, at 12:15 p.m., the interview was concluded.]