WWE in Soma Coma?

WWE in SOMA ComaTMZ has uncovered the next possible drug scandal that could lay the smackdown on the wrestling world, known as "Soma Coma" -- the abuse of the powerful muscle relaxer.

In an exclusive interview, former WWE Diva Terri Runnels tells TMZ, "The boys eat Somas like candy." While the Chris Benoit tragedy has everyone (including the Feds) buzzing about steroids, Runnels says wrestlers have been getting high on Soma for years. "I've personally seen a WWE Superstar nearly die right in front of me after taking 13 Somas ... while still behind the wheel of his car!"




Runnels was previously married to bizarro WWE wrestler Golddust, and says that "if the wrestlers' addictions and mental health issues continue to be ignored, I'm afraid that I'll have more friends turning up dead -- all because no one cares."

UPDATE: In an exclusive statement to TMZ, the WWE vigorously defended their drug testing policies, claiming the organization does everything in its power to ensure that their wrestlers are clean:
WWE finds the abuse of drugs and steroids to be unacceptable, and such behavior is actively discouraged. For 20 years the WWE has been doing something to address the issue of steroid and drug use. We instituted our first drug testing program in 1987. In February 2006, we instituted our latest and most comprehensive drug testing program ever as part of our new Talent Wellness Program as a deterrent to steroid and drug abuse . We cannot account for the poor personal decisions a small minority may make outside the workplace to undermine these efforts.

Filed under: Wacky & Weird

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1. first comment.

Posted at 6:54PM on Jul 12th 2007 by 10ft tall

2. a whole world we know nothing about and will never know...
they want us to think it is all on the up and up meanwhile there is constant drug abuse ,sexual abuse ( mopst of those guys are gay)...and mental abuse going on in every corner...
McMahon is good at playing stupid...but he is totally aware !!

Posted at 6:55PM on Jul 12th 2007 by d

3. THIS is the SAME MEDS that STERN and DR. DEATH fed ANNA NICOLE by the BUSHELL!!!!! CHARGE DR. DEATH

Posted at 6:59PM on Jul 12th 2007 by uuuhhhoooohhhh!

4. Lensing begins this week on "The Santaland Diaries," with David Winkler to direct. Paul Colichman, Jeffrey Schenck and Stephen P. Jarchow exec produce for Regency.

Posted at 7:03PM on Jul 12th 2007 by Peter Davis

5. I'm tired of all these ex-wwe wrestlers that got fired trying to blame the wwe. These wrestlers take drugs on their own free will. They are independent contractors. Anna Nicole Smith died because of Somas, should we blame Vince McMahon also? Berry Bonds will not get into the Hall of Fame because of the wwe!

Posted at 7:15PM on Jul 12th 2007 by Rat

6. Are you people for real? Do you even know who Terri Runnels is? There's a reason why why she's spewing this BS..because she's A HAS BEEN!

WWE gets zero press when it does positive work..including these men and women RISKING THEIR LIVES in IRAQ all to put a smile on the face of a US Soldier!

Get a freaking clue. The media knows nothing about this industry.

Posted at 7:18PM on Jul 12th 2007 by You Gotta Be Kidding Me

7. Runnels...says that "if the wrestlers' addictions and mental health issues continue to be ignored, I'm afraid that I'll have more friends turning up dead -- all because no one cares."

The users are the only ones responsible for themselves. They alone can decide to choose life over a quick buck. Don't try to blame anyone else for their behavior.

I'm sure there's tolerance of performance-enhancing drugs in 'professional' wrestling. They not only pump up muscles and performance, they pump up profits. Shame on any organization that doesn't test daily, and/or that allows users to remain employed without an EAP intervention (EAP is short for Employee Assistance Program).

Nonetheless, whether or not the industry turns its head in this matter, the responsibility STILL remains with the individual user.

Personally, I think this glitzy 'professional' wrestling is stupid. It's fake and rigged. Yes, they do work hard, but a real fight between men of their size would result in far worse injuries. Look at what happens to boxers, who use extensively padded gloves.

Whatever, I just wish wrestling would go away...like I will now.

Posted at 7:23PM on Jul 12th 2007 by InMyHumbleOpinion

8. nice world they live in. when there are millions of dollars at stake in wrestling and other sports the only way those guys can cut it is to pump as many different drugs into themselves as they can just to compete at that level. so why should anyone cry when something like this happens? do the crime pay the price.... hope it was worth it you greedy idiots.

Posted at 7:24PM on Jul 12th 2007 by DzDawg

9.
Soma - that was the puzzle cube before rubik's cube....

Posted at 7:37PM on Jul 12th 2007 by jar jar

10. I do understand the uproar over steroid usage and etc but at the end of the day these are all GROWN MEN who take drugs, legal or not, on their own. The WWE is not entirely at fault. If they know a wrestler is on drugs and lets him continue to work, that is one thing but if he test negative one day and starts back on drugs the next, u can't blame the WWE. Are you gonna drug test someone everyday? I know may of you may smoke weed buts illegal but would u want to get tested everyday? If they go after the WWe, they need to got after all sports entertainment, including the NFL.....but we all know that wont happen. Benoit killed his own family and himself, that is on him. As far as Terri is concerned, she seen whoever taking all those pills, why didn't she do anything about it? Too concerned about how naked you want to be when u are in then ring?

Posted at 7:43PM on Jul 12th 2007 by justandra

11. Hello! Just look at them. You think you can look like that (gross) without drugs and gowth hormones? It's not real anyway and neither are they.

Posted at 8:06PM on Jul 12th 2007 by Angel

12. SOMA is one of the MANY DRUGS that

AL GORE the TURD.....errrrr I mean the THIRD

Got popped with!!!

Posted at 8:10PM on Jul 12th 2007 by omg!!

13. I wouldn't believe anything that comes out of a former WWE talents mouth. They're all bitter and depressed that they're careers are over and will do anything to have another 5 minutes in the spotlight. Terri hasn't worked with WWE in at least 3 years so how does she know what's going on backstage now a-days? Unless someone that is currently working for WWE verifies this rumor, I wouldn't buy into it one bit.

Posted at 8:10PM on Jul 12th 2007 by Mr. Black

14. Anna Nicole Smith DID NOT DIE FROM A SOMA OD!!
She died from a mixture of drugs.......Soma Not the one!!

Posted at 8:16PM on Jul 12th 2007 by WTF?

15. the wwe uses the same drug policy as the NFL and NBA and they have fired plenty of wrestlers this yr alone for not passing drug tests on single and multiple tests

and its funny how the only ex wrestlers who left the wwe on bad terms are the ones now trashing the wwe for drug abuse and such..the ones who decided to pack it up on there own are the ones telling the true story on how the wwe does all they can to keep them clean and if they have a prob help them get over it

what other company do you know that will pay you to go to rehab and then fully pay for your 30 day stay? not many if any

Posted at 8:18PM on Jul 12th 2007 by Jeff

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