By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

-- The campaign for Rob Simmons, who is the chief opponent against former WWE CEO Linda McMahon in the Connecticut Senate race, announced a gimmick today counting how many days McMahon has ignored their 10 Big Questions on McMahon's role overseeing WWE.

Simmons's campaign website includes a calendar showing how many days McMahon has not responded to the 10 Questions and this message:

"Linda McMahon is running a campaign based entirely on her experience as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment. She is using millions in profits acquired through WWE to finance her campaign. She is producing expensive television, radio and mail advertising touting her role at WWE. But she’s refusing to answer the tough questions about her real record at WWE that she will face from Democrats if she is the Republican nominee."

-- WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman replied to the Hearst Newspaper's heavily-circulated news report on Sunday reviewing the lack of follow-up on Congressman Henry Waxman's request for more transparency and accountability with WWE's Wellness Policy.

Zimmerman's entire response is below (thanks to Irv Muchnick's blog), followed by my analysis of WWE's response.

In light of a recent article and editorial column which appeared in the Connecticut-based Hearst Newspapers, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) feels compelled to provide clear and accurate information on the company’s Talent Wellness Program and its position on steroids.

The WWE agrees with Congressman Henry Waxman and the ONDCP that “the abuse of steroids presents a pernicious public health threat”; however the WWE vehemently disagrees with Waxman’s assertion in January 2009 that the WWE’s “anti-steroid program lacks independence and transparency.” Since the WWE’s Talent Wellness Program began in February 2006, the company, through independent medical third parties, tests for and strictly prohibits the use of steroids and other illegal substances. The program also monitors for cardiovascular and head trauma issues, as well as conducts annual physicals and provides healthcare referrals. WWE’s Talent Wellness Program is overseen and independently administered by well-respected doctors in their field of expertise who work with other well-known organizations such as the NFL and NHL.

WWE welcomes any and all objective, qualified and independent scrutiny of its Talent Wellness Program, which is available in its entirety at the corporate website www.corporate.wwe.com. We invite the media to compare our program to any other steroid testing program currently in place. Until the Connecticut–based Hearst Newspapers do a thorough examination of the WWE’s Talent Wellness Program, we believe readers are paying for questionable journalism."

Caldwell's Analysis: Bottom line is the Wellness Policy lacks transparency. Their policy is words on a piece of paper unless they disclose the application of the policy, which I wrote about several weeks. WWE has no statistics on their website identifying the application of their Head Tramua/Concussion testing policy, for example. Meanwhile, wrestlers associated with WWE at one time have continued to die at an alarming rate. Zimmerman brought up the NFL and NHL, which have off-seasons and guaranteed time off to heal mentally and physically. That's one key difference between the sports. Where's the transparency from WWE on why they don't have mandatory off-seasons for all talent built into their Wellness Policy?

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