MVP On Paying Thousands In WWE Weed Fines, Offered To Prepay $12K To Keep Smoking

Former WWE United States Champion MVP recently appeared on the Marking Out podcast and shared a candid story about his history with WWEโ€™s former marijuana policyโ€”including how he once offered to pay fines in advance so he could continue using cannabis.

โ€œWhen the wellness policy started at WWE, initially, they only tested for steroids and hard drugs; they didnโ€™t test for cannabis,โ€ MVP recalled. โ€œThen, as I recall, all the pillheads started complaining, โ€˜These other guys get to smoke weed.โ€™ They added cannabis, but it wasnโ€™t a suspension; it was just a $1,000 fine.โ€

MVP said the fine system didnโ€™t deter him at first, especially during a time when he was earning high pay during his early push in WWE. โ€œAt that point, I was on the rocket ship, I was making ridiculous money, especially for me at that time. I said, โ€˜If they test us once a month and the fine is $1,000, thatโ€™s $12,000 a year.โ€™ I went to John Laurinaitis and said, โ€˜Can I just give you a $12,000 check for the year? Iโ€™m gonna smoke.โ€™โ€

He revealed that the fines eventually increased to $2,500 per violation, and he wasnโ€™t the only one frequently on the list. โ€œIt was me and three other guys, I wonโ€™t bring their names up, but we would check to see who is in first place.โ€

After accumulating what he described as enough fines โ€œto buy a new car,โ€ MVP finally cut back. โ€œI finally stopped smoking for a while.โ€

The interview sheds light on WWEโ€™s previously strict, but financially punitive, stance on cannabis. However, earlier this year, it was reported that WWE removed marijuana from its banned substances list, marking a major shift in company policy regarding cannabis use by talent.

Stay tuned to PWMania.com for more on MVP, WWEโ€™s evolving wellness policy, and updates from across the wrestling world.