First Wellness Policy Suspensions Made Public By WWE

Beginning on November 1, 2007, WWE claimed that all violations of its Talent Wellness Policy would be made public. Here is a list of the first wrestlers to be publicly suspended by WWE.

Chris Masters (real name Christopher Robillard Mordetzky) – On November 3, 2007, Chris Masters was suspended for 60 days for his second violation of WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. Six days later, Masters was released from his contract with WWE.

D.H. Smith (real name Harry Francis Smith) – On November 3, 2007, D.H. Smith was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. Smith served the suspension and returned to action on December 2, 2007 at a non-televised live event in Savannah, Georgia.

Chet Douglas (real name Neil Bzibziak) – On January 15, 2008, developmental talent Chet Douglas was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. Douglas, who was performing in Florida Championship Wrestling, returned to the ring on February 19, 2008. He was released from his contract with WWE the following week.

Derrick Linkin (real name Derrick Neikirk) – On January 15, 2008, developmental talent Derrick Linkin was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. Linkin was released from his contract with WWE later that month. He was performing for Florida Championship Wrestling at the time of his departure.

Jeff Hardy (real name Jeffrey Nero Hardy) – One day after dropping the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Jericho on Raw, Jeff Hardy was suspended for 60 days — on March 11, 2008 — for his second violation of WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. He was scheduled to compete in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania XXIV but was pulled from the contest following the announcement. Hardy returned to action on the May 12, 2008 episode of Raw, where he beat Umaga.