WWE News: Linda McMahon to appear on ABC Nightline tonight, attributes the high rate of premature pro wrestler deaths to "personal habits"

Linda McMahon was interviewed by ABC News and was asked about the high rate of premature pro wrestler deaths. "It's unfortunate, you know, that you can't change people's -- habits, their personal habits," McMahon said. "I mean, OK, you know, Heath Ledger. That's an ... that's an awful story. It's an addiction. And so... if any of those professional wrestlers who died young had addictions that were outside of the ... which were their practices when they were outside of WWE, we don't have any control over that."

"While they're in WWE, we absolutely have a health and wellness policy," McMahon continued. "I'll probably always say 'we,' even though I've resigned as the CEO. It's kind of hard to break a 30-year habit. The WWE has absolutely a very strong health and wellness policy in place, to protect these men and women who perform in this action-adventure soap opera every week." To read the full story, visit ABCNews.com.

Powell's POV: Linda also defended WWE storylines by saying that people should think of it as a "soap opera." The appearance on Nightline should be good exposure for Linda on the eve of the primary. Her answer regarding the premature death rate in pro wrestling was predictable in the sense that she points to the Wellness Policy, which is definitely an improvement.

However, it doesn't make up for all the deaths that occurred prior to the Wellness Policy or the toll of the insane schedule that the independent contractors have been expected to maintain. The full interview will air tonight on ABC at 10:30 CT in most markets.