Vince McMahon Says He Told Hulk Hogan To ‘Come Clean’ About Steroid Use On Arsenio Hall Show
In 1992, WWE was under a microscope as it was alleged that Dr. George Zahorian had been selling steroids to wrestlers.
“Dr. George Zahorian would come and he would have steroids, pain killers, sleeping pills, and different things that he would then prescribe to the talent,” Bruce Prichard recalled on “Mr. McMahon.”
Vince McMahon said, “It wasn’t illegal to buy steroids from a physician. I bought some from him. It was illegal to prescribe them just to sell them.”
Bruce said, “Steroids, early on, were legal. However, when they became illegal, that’s when they became an issue.”
At the center of the allegation was Hulk Hogan, who had been the top star in WWE for nearly a decade and many wrestlers said they personally “shot up” Hogan.
“I held a press conference and said, ‘I took steroids. Not anymore. We’re going to establish protocols and procedures to make certain none of our performers do either.’ The same day, Hulk Hogan went on the Arsenio Hall Show,” said Vince.
Hulk recalled, “I remember talking to Vince about going on Arsenio Hall. He thought it was a really bad idea.”
Vince laid out his suggestion to Hogan.
“My suggestion to him is to come clean. That’s not what happened. It was like, ‘Oh God, please. Just tell the truth. It’s so much easier,'” said Vince.
Hogan did not tell the truth.
“I self destructed my own self. That was one of the worst decisions I ever made, not listening to Vince,” said Hogan.
Vince stated, “When you do stuff like that and don’t tell the truth then it’s an open door for people to come get you. Unfortunately, we were caught in the crosshairs as well.”
Hogan would step away from WWE for a year before returning at WrestleMania 9.
Elsewhere during the documentary, Vince commented on steroid use in relation to Chris Benoit’s death. Fans can find his full comments by clicking here.
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Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit in January against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking. On May 30, Grant agreed to pause the lawsuit for six months while the federal investigation continued against McMahon, who resigned from TKO/WWE following the lawsuit being filed.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
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1-800-656-4673
