Tyson Tomko Update: Alleged Robber out on Bond and Going to WWE-Sponsored Rehab

Florida newspaper The St. Augustine Record has published an article updating us on the arrest of former WWE, TNA and NJPW star Travis "Tyson" Tomko. About a week and a half ago, Tomko, 38, was arrested at a Chili's Restaurant in St. Augustine, Florida, where he was found with bloody injection sites on his arms.

Allegedly, Tomko stole 215 oxycodone 15 milligram pills from a nearby CVS pharmacy after threatening the pharmacist and demanding all of the oxycodone on the premises. He then melted and injected 178 of them in the aforementioned Chili's restroom after getting a spoon from a waitress. The remaining pills were, for whatever reason, left in the restroom garbage can of another nearby chain restaurant, Carraba's.

Tomko posted a $7,500 bond yesterday and will be entering an inpatient drug rehab facility with the assistance of WWE. Since 2007, WWE has offered drug rehab at no cost to anyone who has had a "prior booking contract or prior referee agreement" with them. The letter that WWE sends out annually to all former talent that they are able to locate is available on their corporate website (PDF).

Tomko's attorney James McCune released a written statement to Record reporter Sheldon Gardner that reads:

"He’s very grateful for all the support he’s received from his friends, family and fans around the world. Mr. Tomko realizes he is struggling with an addiction, and with the support of his family and the WWE, he is voluntarily checking himself into an undisclosed treatment facility to receive the help he needs for a successful recovery.

Mr. Tomko wishes to put this incident behind him and move forward and lead a healthy and productive life. He and his family ask for privacy during these difficult times."

Gardner gave an interesting statistic in the article when explaining WWE's free rehab program: Six percent of "former WWE talent" has gone to rehab through the program since its inception four years ago.

I'm not sure if that's surprisingly high or surprisingly low. The number of people eligible is pretty high if you figure that most of the wrestlers and referees started signing contracts when the company expanded nationally in 1984. It's known that Lanny "Cousin Junior" Kean participated in the program before his death and that his sole WWE run was a short one, covering the last four to five months of 1985.