or type here...
7/12/2007 7:30 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
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.

See More

Please check your inbox ... your comment will not appear until you have confirmed your identity via email.

When you enter your name and email address you'll be sent a link via email to confirm your comment. Please keep your comments relevant to this post. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make the link live for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 6) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
1.

kabits22:  1643 days ago

I have personaly been precribed soma about ten years ago and they are addictive, plus they make you withdraw in the same way as painkillers. They are loaded with caffine(To help keep u awake)and the chemical itself actually reacts with the enzimes in your liver and turns it into a barbituate. They really mess you up if you take to much and you will go out! They probably take it cause it will help with pain and keep you awake

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
2.

kabits22:  1643 days ago

I have personaly been precribed soma about ten years ago and they are addictive, plus they make you withdraw in the same way as painkillers. They are loaded with caffine(To help keep u awake)and the chemical itself actually reacts with the enzimes in your liver and turns it into a barbituate. They really mess you up if you take to much and you will go out! They probably take it cause it will help with pain and keep you awake

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
3.

yikes:  1677 days ago

first comment.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
4.

d:  1677 days ago

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 !!

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
1 Reply
5.

Pam:  1677 days ago

It is really sad that our children look up to them and see this. Something needs tobe done about this problem

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
6.

Ace:  1677 days ago

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.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
7.

uuuhhooohh!!!:  1677 days ago

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

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
8.

Rat:  1677 days ago

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!

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
9.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me:  1677 days ago

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.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
10.

InMyHumbleOpinion:  1677 days ago

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.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
11.

DzDawg:  1677 days ago

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.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
12.

char:  1677 days ago

THIS IS WHY SOMA IS DANGEROUS..

IT RELAXES YOUR MUSCLES..

YOUR HEART IS A MUSCLE.

OOPS.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
13.

justandra:  1677 days ago

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?

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
14.

rachel:  1677 days ago


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

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
15.

Jeff:  1677 days ago

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

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments