WWE does its best to take care of former talent no longer under contract by providing them opportunities for rehab if they are struggling with substance abuse. But could they do more to help wrestlers who are struggling with injuries accumulated in WWE?
Former WWE superstar Ryback believes so. Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Ryback stated he would like WWE to provide some kind of medical insurance for former wrestlers dealing with injuries suffered while in WWE.
"I respect from a business standpoint, my thing is, treat human beings better," he said. "You have a chance to, with the XFL, what he does is incredibly difficult in being that large. For me leaving and having all my health issues and medications being given to me there. I left on not very good terms at all. Having these injuries and having to pay for all of them, nobody is there for you. It's an important thing. When you leave, specifically talking about WWE, it's up to you to pay for all your medical problems that, while you're there, will show up later in life. I wish Vince would figure something out from a health insurance standpoint for former wrestling talent. There needs to be something for the talent."
Ryback continued, "Wrestling is a negative environment. It brings out the worst in everybody, which is why I've spoken about things like the pay structure. It doesn't have to be that way. It could be the greatest business in the world because there are so many great parts about it. But the promotion aspect from them -- if they would just appreciate everybody, from the Heath Slater's, all the way up. It's a team effort. In a scripted environment, to treat people differently because they are not 'winning' is absolutely ridiculous to me. It doesn't need to exist."
"The Big Guy" has stepped away from wrestling due to a back injury. He revealed that if he had stayed in WWE for another three months, he would have had to get a five disk fusion, which would have effectively ended his career. Ryback is currently undergoing stem cell therapy and hopes to get healthy for a 2020 return.
Elsewhere in the interview, Ryback revealed that he's been told he can have a meeting with WWE at any time. But there is a major hold up between the two parties. You can read his full comments by clicking here.
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