5 WWE Superstars who you didn't know were suspended for Wellness Policy violations

Back in 2006, WWE brought in a 'Wellness Policy' to ensure that the Superstars are not using drugs and steroids. The following is what WWE state as the general policy of the wellness program:

The “non-medical use” and associated abuse of prescription medications and performance enhancing drugs, as well as the use, possession and/or distribution of illegal drugs, by WWE Talent are unacceptable and prohibited by this Policy, as is the use of masking agents or diuretics taken to conceal or obscure the use of prohibited drugs.

With this, Superstars, referee and even officials were to undergo tests to ensure that they are free from drugs. A violation of this would lead to a 30-day suspension, and 2nd violation would result in a 60-day suspension. If a breach happens for the 3rd time, the Superstar involved will be fired from WWE.

While a lot of stars make sure that they stay away from getting these strikes, a few of them have been caught after their tests. Here are 5 such stars you didn't know were suspended for Wellness Policy violations:

#5 Sin Cara (Luis Ignacio Urive)

Suspended for 30-days

Back in 2011, Sin Cara was set to make his Main Roster debut but was caught violating the wellness policy. WWE announced that he was suspended for 30-days and this made fans wonder what was going to happen about his debut and future in the company.

WWE used this suspension to lay out a long term creative plan instead. Luis Ignacio Urive was still suspended when WWE debuted Sin Cara on Monday Night Raw. The character was played for Arias, and when the 'original' Sin Cara returned, we got the storyline of Sin Cara "Azul" (Blue) vs Sin Cara "Negro" (Black).

Luis Urive was released in 2014 and is currently with CMLL as Carístico. Meanwhile, Arias, who was once Hunico, is back to being Sin Cara in WWE.

#4 Dolph Ziggler

Suspended on October 10, 2008

Dolph Ziggler did not have the best start with WWE, just like Sin Cara. Nic Nemeth had only made his Main Roster debut when he got suspended for Wellness Policy violation. He made his debut in September 2008 and was handed a suspension on October 10.

It was his first violation and thus was given a 30-day suspension. Dolph had to say about his suspension:

“That was a worst case scenario. Be careful what you get into and who you are associated with. It can easily be taken away. I had a month to think it over. I said I won’t make that mistake again.”

Dolph Ziggler is back after a short break from WWE and is now set to take on Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship in Jeddah next month. WWE are set to host their pay-per-view, Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia this time and with Kevin Owens reportedly refusing to work in the Middle East country, WWE Creative has gotten Ziggler as his replacement.

#3 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle was one of the first to be suspended by WWE for Wellness Policy violations. The Olympic Gold medalist did not take this well and left the company for TNA soon.

However, after 11 years away, Angle returned to WWE as the general manager of Monday Night RAW in 2017. He has since then commented on the Wellness Policy and said:

“WWE has a great wellness policy now. You have to pass physicals through WWE doctors, not your own. But back then, I was convincing my doctor to get me back as soon as possible. As long as you were cleared by a doctor in 2003, WWE was OK with it. Now, they have their own doctors you have to go through. I rushed back in there long before I should have. That was my own fault, talking my doctor into clearing me.”

The Hall of Famer has now retired from in-ring performances and is working backstage.

#2 Randy Orton

Randy Orton was suspended twice by WWE

Randy Orton has been suspended twice for violation of the WWE Wellness Policy. First in August 2006 for 30-days when he was caught red-handed backstage at a SmackDown taping.

The 2nd suspension was handed to him on May 30th, 2012. Randy reportedly tested positive in a drug test and was thus suspended for 60 days.

WWE were not willing to amend the rule for any superstar regardless of how much the fans were in love with them. However, with the possibility of firing Orton on the cards with another breach, WWE introduced a redemption clause in 2013.

If a Superstar remains clean for one and a half years and is out of any trouble, one of his/her strikes would be removed. The rule was infamously dubbed as the 'Randy Orton rule'.

Orton has remained clean since then and this has only one strike to his name right now.

#1 Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns' suspension was a shocker for the WWE Universe, but the majority of the fans has forgotten all that. The former WWE champion was suspended for 30-days in 2016 – just days after he lost the WWE title to Seth Rollins.

He tweeted an apology that read: “I apologize to my family, friends and fans for my mistake in violating WWE’s wellness policy. No excuses, I own it.”

Reigns was under the scanner once again in 2018 when Richard Rodriguez, the now-imprisoned former owner of the 'Wellness Fitness Nutrition' company names the WWE Superstar as one of the many celebrities who were into steroid using habits.

Reigns denied the claims and said: “I have never heard of Richard Rodriguez or Wellness Fitness Nutrition. I learned from the mistake I made nearly two years ago and paid the penalty for it. Since then, I've passed 11 tests as part of WWE's independent drug testing program.”