Eric: Talking about Vince, earlier this year, Chairman Waxman released the Congressional report he did about performance enhancing drugs in pro wrestling. Two part question. What are your thoughts about the report and what do you think about Congress using their resources on the whole performance enhancement subject?
Jesse Ventura: Well, I think the bigger question that ought to be asked is why is there a double standard of justice in this country.

Now, I just got through blasting McMahon for being a status quo type guy and not the rebel that he portrays himself to be. Now, I’ll come back and also say that he was a victim in the 1990’s with steroid use in pro wrestling, Vince was indicted by the US Attorney. He had to get lawyers to defend himself to keep himself from going to jail. My double standard today is baseball. According to all reports, they had 103 positive tests for steroids. Well, I don’t think there has ever been 103 wrestlers. So that is more steroid use in baseball than was used in wrestling. Wrestling has admitted that they were sports entertainment, I don’t think baseball has done that yet. Point being is this, Vince McMahon got indicted and had to defend himself in court over steroids in wrestling. Why is there a double standard? Why hasn’t Bud Selig been indicted? Why isn’t he going to jail for the rampant steroid use under his watch in baseball, which is exactly what they went after McMahon for in the ‘90s?

Eric: Fair question.

Jesse Ventura: I think it’s a fair question. To me it shows a glaring double standard. In other words, they would throw Vince in jail for steroid use in wrestling that is sports entertainment but they won’t indict Bud Selig for rampant use of steroids under his watch in baseball. How long has he been commissioner now? Quite a while. All through the rise of steroids in baseball. And it all happened under his watch. Why isn’t he accountable like Vince was?

Eric: Probably because he had more money, more money backing him.

Jesse Ventura: No, he doesn’t have more money than Vince. Are you kidding me? This is simply because it’s baseball and because it’s wrestling. I don’t think money got anything to do with this one. A rare time where it isn’t money.

Eric: As everyone knows, there is a major problem with wrestlers dying young. What do you think is causing it and what do you think would help the problem?

Jesse Ventura: Well, I’m not a doctor so you’re asking me a question about a happenstance that obviously falls under health care in some manner. But I’ll give you my opinion, but I’ll categorize that I’m not a doctor. Steroids in wrestling is almost a necessity because of the working conditions. Let me put it this way so people will understand it very clearly in a simple way. You all know Brock Lesnar right.

Eric: Yep.

Jesse Ventura: Brock Lesnar is now the Ultimate Fighting Champion, right?

Eric: Yep.

Jesse Ventura: OK, Brock Lesnar told me that Ultimate Fighting is easier than wrestling.

Eric: Why did he say that?

Jesse Ventura: Because it is. He told me that wrestling is harder than Ultimate fighting. What he means by that is this. He’s not saying the actual match. What he told me is that Ultimate Fighting is 15-minutes of pure hell. But it only lasts 15 minutes. He said here’s what happens. I get four months off. I train exceptionally hard for two months. I go through 15 minutes of hell and then I get another four months off when it’s over. And then I train for two months and then I fight again. The point he is making is the working conditions.

Wrestling is every day. 365 days a year. If you’re not wrestling, you’re doing interviews. You’re doing something. Days off are few and far between in the world of pro wrestling, or at least it was back when I was there. I don’t think it’s changed because there is no union. There is nobody to bargain for working conditions. You have to be available at any time Vince wants you. You have to wrestle where he wants you to, when, how.

The bigger question that should be asked is this, how for all these years have wrestling promoters been getting away with calling wrestlers self-employed, and thus, not having to pay social security taxes on them as an employer/employee relationship? That’s what you people ought to be questioning. Why is it that I’m doing your job? The wrestlers are not self-employed. You know that. I know that. Vince tells you where you’ll wrestle, who you’ll wrestler, when you wrestle. You can’t wrestle for anyone else. You’re signed to exclusive contracts. How can that possibly fall as being self-employed?