Wrestling Observer Newsletter

PO Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228 March 23, 1992

Years of lies and deception caught up with Vince McMahon in what had to be a week the likes of which he has to hope he'll never have to live through again.

A series of wrestling scandals, from Hulk Hogan's lies about steroids, to claims of homosexual harassment of the wrestlers all the way to the charge of WWF executives sexually abusing underage ringboys went from the front page of newspapers around the country and even as far as England, all the way to People Magazine, Larry King Live on CNN and the syndicated Phil Donahue show.

On Monday, the one charge that threatened the merchandising future of the multi-million (not billion) dollar Titan empire was settled in a most bizarre turn of events. Tom Cole, the 20-year-old former ringboy from Utica, N.Y., who claimed he was sexually harassed or abused at various times by all three WWF officials who are no longer with the organization, Pat Patterson, Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin, received $70,000 for two-years back-pay plus was given a multi-year contract to return to his former job as a ringboy. The settlement occurred just before a lawsuit was to be filed and before a taping of the Phil Donahue show where Cole was asked to be a guest. The fact a deal was made was no surprise because of the amount of bad publicity this case would have brought against Titan, but the nature of the deal was. The most bizarre aspect came after the Donahue show, when Cole and his older brother Lee, who had been befriended and had depositions done for their lawsuit by Barry Orton, Billy Graham and Bruno Sammartino, turned on them saying that of the panel on the Donahue show, only one guy cared about them and that was Vince McMahon.

Cole's charges, which were first reported in the New York Post, by Phil Mushnick, went attributed in a devastating front page story in the San Diego Union-Tribune by Jeff Savage last Wednesday. Entitled, "Sleaze no illusion in world of wrestling," the story detailed drug abuse, both anabolic steroids and recreational, sexual harassment and the most damaging claims of sexual abuse. Many newspapers around the country made reference to it as the week went on and it led to a national television feature Thursday night on Entertainment Tonight with Orton, Billy Jack Haynes and McMahon. It was also covered nationally Thursday night on ESPN Sports Center. The story had quotes from Cole and Chris Loss, two of the three ex-ringboys who came forward with claims of sexual abuse while minors working for Titan Sports. Cole said that while on tour with the WWF in 1985 at the age of 13, an employee would film Cole with a video camera while fondling his feet and masturbating. "He had a foot fetish," Cole said. "He would play with all the young boys' feet for hours at a time." Loss was 16 when he began working as a ringboy in Niagara Falls in 1989. He said the same employee cited by Cole "accidentally" stepped on his foot when he met him, and then when he said his foot hurt, the employee took off his shoe and began rubbing. "Boys are getting propositioned and played with all the time," Loss said. "You sort of put up with it because you can make a lot of money." Cole also claimed he was grabbed in the genitals numerous times by a second WWF official and the harassment continued unabated until he was fired in February of 1990 after rebuffing an advance from a third official. In that incident, Cole said he was driven to the official's house where he was asked to smoke marijuana, snort cocaine and have homosexual sex. When Cole rejected his advances, the official refused to take him home, so Cole slept in the WWF official's van in the driveway. He was fired the next day.

The same day, in an item entitled "Taste Test" in the Village Voice, it detailed the claim of Murray Hodgson about his two meetings with Patterson. Hodgson was hired in July of 1991 to announce for both the WWF and the World Bodybuilding Federation (in fact, he's the announcer on the first WBF championships videotape). In court papers, Hodgson said that on July 29, 1991, Patterson approached him at a wrestling television taping and asked, "So you're the new guy? .

So what do you taste like?" Hodgson replied, "You've got the wrong guy." Patterson: "Not if you want to keep your job, I don't. Think about it." On August 20, Hodgson was fired. On August 29, Hodgson met with McMahon and after the meeting, Patterson was waiting for Hodgson when he came out of McMahon's office and allegedly said, "Wouldn't listen to me, would you?"

The next day, Steve Planamenta sent out a press release saying: "The San Diego Union has published a story containing serious inaccuracies about alleged widespread wrongdoing in the World Wrestling Federation. We do not believe the charges in that newspaper to be true and we are so outraged that we have asked our attorneys to determine what legal action might be appropriate. However, as a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize that even false allegations must be investigated, and we will continue to do so. The WWF promotes good family entertainment. We are incensed that anyone would accuse us of behavior not in keeping with this philosophy. While we are not immune to human error, we rigorously enforce corporate polices regarding employee practices and behavior in keeping with the high standards demanded of a family entertainment company."

Let's see now, serious inaccuracies about things we don't believe are true but we're going to investigate accusations we've already determined are false.

On Thursday in the New York Post, a page seven story with a front page tease was headlined "Boy Sex Scandal Rocks Wrestling." The story repeated the claims from the San Diego story the previous day and included items from a letter to the Observer from Tom Hankins (see letters pages) which was written because Hankins was outraged when reading the 3/9 Observer where McMahon denied Orton's charges.

More national publicity came that same day when the inevitable front-page story in the Los Angles Times broke with the behind-the-scenes story on Hulk Hogan. Entitled, "Wrestling's Star Takes a Tumble," the story by John Cherwa and Houston Mitchell ran in newspapers throughout the country over the next several days. While not nearly as devastating to either the WWF or Hogan as stories that were yet to come, it still detailed Hogan's steroid use, with Superstar Billy Graham comparing him with former Washington D.C. mayor Marion Berry, David Shults claiming Hogan not only was a heavy user but also a black market dealer and that he shot Hogan up hundreds of times. The Times also noted that in 1980, Hogan was arrested in New Jersey for a firearms violation and served six months probation, after which the felony charge was dropped. Barry Orton noted that when he met Hogan in Las Vegas in the early 1980s, Hogan asked him if he could score some cocaine and Barry said that it was routine that he, Hogan and others would go up to a room after the cards whenever Hogan came to Las Vegas to snort lines. Billy Jack Haynes detailed a trip from Madison Square Garden to Hogan's Northeastern house in Stamford where Hogan was driving and going 80 miles per hour while swerving from lane-to-lane because he was both drinking and doing drugs (marijuana and Valium) while driving while Haynes was in the car with Hogan, Brian Blair and Brutus Beefcake. Hogan and Haynes nearly got into a fight in the car but later that night Hogan apologized. Nova Lanktree, one of the country's leading experts on sports merchandising said that these allegations will end Hogan's career as a spokesperson for any product. "If it is true that he has used steroids and other drugs and has denied taking steroids publicly, then no comp-any or advertiser will touch him."

The same day, The Oregonian in Portland, Ore. had a story headlined "Portland wrestler links Hogan to steroid use." The story, based on the accounts of Haynes, mentioned the two threatening phone calls to his father (this past Sunday he claimed to have received a third threat, this time on his phone; two others involved in reporting on this story also received anonymous threats this past week, one via telephone and another via a strange visiter to their mother's apartment telling the mother "Your son is living in a dangerous neighborhood"). Haynes talked of injecting Hogan with steroids in a Denver hotel room. "I don't want to sound like I'm drug-free," Haynes said. "I'm not an abuser. I started in 1986 taking pills, Dianabol. I was taking pills before I took shots of testosterone and used steroids for six months. I started getting really light-headed. My mood swings changed tremendously. I knew basically something was wrong. I wasn't me. I was already big, like 260. It made you strong and made you more of a man. You wanted to skill somebody. I'm just glad I got off them. but nobody took them for me. I took them.

"Vince wanted you to be drugged up. Every day you'll be traveling and by being drugged up you were wrapped around his finger. The drugs made you content."

The story even made the front page of the London Daily Mirror across the Atlantic Ocean with the headline, "Hulk quits in cocaine shame." The story was the only one that quoted a spokesperson for Hogan, his personal agent Peter Young, who said, "I don't think Hulk ever denied taking steroids, but it was under medical supervision."

The first San Diego story and the Thursday Post story led to McMahon booking himself on Larry King Live in an effort to stifle the momentum of the various stories. But before King came a third straight front page story in San Diego, entitled, "Will Hulk's next fortune be made in Japan?" The story noted Hogan's agreeing to a two-year, six event contract for $600,000 with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Graham noted in the story that Hogan sometimes used cocaine before his matches and that he had unintentionally injured opponents while high on coke (I do know of one wrestler who told me years ago that Hogan apologized to him after a match because he stepped on his back and injured him, with Hogan allegedly blaming the mistake on using cocaine before the match). Savage reached Hogan at home two weeks earlier and Hogan denied all allegations of drug use once again and then disconnected his telephone the next day. The story quoted both Gillette, which uses Hogan to endorse Right Guard and Solaris Marketing Group Inc., which distributes Hulk Hogan Vitamins for children, as saying they weren't canceling their projects. Orton was quoted in this story as saying, "Every time Hulk came into Las Vegas he would call me up looking for some blow (cocaine). A couple of years ago he bought an eight-ball (an eighth of an ounce) and did all of it in his hotel room after the show."

Friends of Hogan are telling the Observer that after Wrestlemania, Hogan plans on retiring from wrestling except for the few contracted Japan shots and is moving from the Tampa area to Hawaii to get away from it all.

All of this because he lied on the Arsenio Hall show.

No matter what anyone thinks of Vince McMahon personally, he has to be respected for a great deal of business and marketing acumen. Along the way of building Titan Sports into a company that grosses in excess of $125 million per year (those $1.7 billion figures quoted on every media news report and even in very respectable newspapers are ludicrous beyond belief), McMahon has made a lot of enemies. But even his enemies would probably admit that he isn't stupid. Yet, after watching the Larry King Live, I had to shake my head in disbelief. Yes, it's the sexual abuse and sexual harassment that have put the company under fire more than Hogan lying on Arsenio did. But without the lie, the climate wouldn't have been created to give those who want to speak out publicly against McMahon and Titan a forum. Without the media already examining the company because of the steroid issue, nobody would have paid a rats ass worth of attention to Murray Hodgson. If nothing else, a smart person would learn from their mistakes. Even though dishonesty is an inbred part of any wrestling promoter, one would think McMahon learned something from this debacle.

Instead, throwing caution to the wind, he decided to trade wits with Bruno Sammartino and Barry Orton and play the denial game. Was McMahon so bent on personal satisfaction of a momentary illusory "victory" over two men he hates that he repeated the mistake that put him in the position in the first place? Apparently he was. Certainly whatever credibility of his previous claim that Hogan acted on his own in his decision to tell "the truth but not the complete truth" on Arsenio went right out the window when McMahon did the same thing.

His experience and composure on television in some ways saw him run rings around Sammartino and Orton. But his lack of honesty was so outrageous, that if it was a debate, Sammartino would have won by an early disqualification. Calls to the Observer generated about 65 percent thinking Sammartino got the better of McMahon. But of the remaining 35 percent thought McMahon completely wiped the studio with Sammartino. Friends who weren't wrestling fans (thus probably not as adept as seeing through McMahon), seemed to score it closer to 55-45 with Sammartino still having the edge. Considering King, who clearly went on the show uninformed about his subject, seemed to favor McMahon and as a host joined McMahon in accusing the accusers, those percentages were surprising since the public generally believes whomever the host sympathizes with.

The going on cold speaks volumes for King professionally since his office staff spent two hours on the phone with me that morning to give King background information. It appeared he didn't bother with that information and instead got stuck on the subject of why nobody had come forward until this point. As a television performance, Orton, who was on via telephone, came off poorly to the point King cut him off midway through the show. Problem with Orton, was he was so worried about having credibility and being completely honest that he explained things in such great detail. For a television show looking for quickie sound bites, that's not how things are done. But this wasn't a debate. The only possible thing McMahon appearing on King would do for Titan Sports would be if he could diffuse the issue. Even for those who thought McMahon ran rings around Sammartino and Orton, let alone the majority who didn't, they would admit when the show was over, the issue was stronger than ever.

Some specific McMahon lies, misleading statements and outright distortions:

*He wasn't given a chance to respond to the various newspaper stories - First off, every newspaper reporting on this contacted McMahon. And he talked to several reporters before their stories but avoided directly answering the significant questions and chose not to talk with others. Hogan, who several stories were written about, wouldn't talk to anyone.

*He never even heard rumors of sexual misconduct in his organization until he read about them in the last two weeks - There is no way he couldn't have heard rumors. One upstate New York radio host who promoted towns for the WWF in 1984-85 phoned me and said he'd heard the specific stories about two of the departed men and was warned by wrestlers about them seven years ago. Maybe McMahon didn't know specifics (more on this point later), although even that seems to be iffy. Probably he knew, but I can accept maybe not. Hodgson first made his charge in September of last year. Jeff Savage of the San Diego Union first contacted Steve Planamenta about the story back on Feb. 9 and called almost every day for a month to get responses that never came back. Savage also phoned Terry Garvin (and spoke a few times with his wife) at home, Mel Phillips (and spoke with Phillips' family but never Phillips) and Pat Patterson (who he did speak with) weeks ago detailing the various allegations and got furious responses and hang-ups with demands never to call back in each case

*Claimed there was never even one allegation of misconduct ever made about any of the parties involves in all their years in wrestling - McMahon admitted, as was reported by Mushnick in his brutal column Wednesday entitled, "WWF's Defense Just More Lies," that Phillips was fired four years ago "because Phillips' relationship with kids seemed peculiar and unnatural." Midget wrestler Lord Littlebrook claimed Sunday he had written a letter to McMahon making a claim against one of the employees who resigned and never heard back from McMahon. Tom Hankins noted on Donahue that after his incident with Patterson he did call to complain to McMahon but never got through.

*McMahon also claimed Phillips had never been an employee of Titan Sports although he had worked as "an occasional laborer" - Technically correct since Phillips, as are all wrestlers, technically not company employees but independent contractors contracted with the company. However, the occasional laborer has been a regular ring announcer for Superstars of Wrestling for some time. In fact, a New Jersey athletic commissioner called John Arezzi's radio show and said that in Phillips' announcers license, he listed the Titan office address as his home address

*Tried to switch the issue by saying that while sexual harassment is prevalent in our society, so is homophobia, to give the idea that there is no truth to these allegations and it is simply gay bashing - There is at least one wrestler who spoke out (who wasn't on the Donahue panel) that I believe simply was gay bashing. However, who, my friends, has done more to teach homophobia to children that Vince McMahon with his gay stereotypical characters, all of whom worker as heels, educating youngsters that gay bashing is a positive trait since all their heroic babyfaces do it when matched with an effeminate heel

*Claimed Murray Hodgson's complaint has been legally dropped and that he never worked for the WBF - In fact, while technically the lawsuit is not a sexual harassment lawsuit but a wrongful termination lawsuit, as anyone who saw Donahue knows, Hodgson has hardly dropped the allegation. Hodgson, in fact, is the voice of the WBF on its premiere videotape. Hodgson went on King's radio show later Friday night and claimed that almost every word as it regarded to him that was said earlier on television was a lie

*Said Hulk Hogan never denied using steroids on Arsenio Hall - A totally misleading statement because Hogan issued a complete denial with the exception of taking a therapeutic drug that had a form of a steroid in it

*Said nobody in the WWF is on steroids - While use is clearly down, saying nobody is ridiculous. McMahon didn't learn one thing from the problems created on the Arsenio Hall show because he did almost the exact Hulk Hogan lie. For a guy who wants people to believe that Hogan said what he did on his own and that he wanted Hogan to tell the complete truth, he sure didn't practice what he preached. That particular statement was the most disappointing thing to me about the entire show. For a guy who openly complained about the way Kip Frey's policy was received, maybe he should have read that morning's Atlanta Constitution and realized his own p.r. errors. That paper quoted Johnny B. Badd as saying, "We're really trying to get guys off the gas. We realize now we've made a mistake." Frey was quoted as saying, "We want to send the message that we have athletes who have made the choice not to use steroids. Most of our guys have used them previously." Read that last sentence. No subterfuge. No misdirection. No lies. Just the truth.

*Said he wasn't negotiating a settlement with Tom Cole and called the various charges "bunk" - On Monday, a settlement had already been reached, which according to Alan Fuchsburg, Cole's attorney in Mushnick's Wednesday column in the Post, McMahon will make a full and sincere admission that the sexual misconduct claims made by Cole are true. Of course, if this deal was really struck and McMahon agreed to the admission, both before the Donahue taping, then why didn't McMahon say so on Donahue and admit some of the charges were true? The two sides had begun talks the previous Tuesday although it wasn't until Sunday that McMahon told Cole he believed him, with the Donahue show just one day away. According to Fuchsburg, with tears swelling his eyes McMahon said he, too, was abused as a child, and offered him the job as restitution and saying the offending parties are all history. Fuchsburg was adamant about McMahon being a changed man, however Cole's previous attorney, Tom Pachura said, "Tom Cole has secured the position as the king's pawn. He's the court jester and he doesn't even know it. But if he's happy, that's what you want to do as a lawyer, make your client happy."

But what is the issue? There is no simple issue. Of course there is steroids, pro wrestling's ongoing and never-ending scandal. Use started 20 years ago, but pressure on promotions didn't really start until the Zahorian trial last June. But that's been pushed into the background by the sleaze stories. But the problems of Titan Sports today have largely been created by the dishonesty in regards to the steroid issue. As we wrote just a few weeks ago before this media blitz began, the officials of Titan Sports never fully understood just how much the steroid lies had destroyed the company's credibility. Hopefully, they know now and have learned from it and the company will do an about-face. But as McMahon showed Friday on Larry King, this is a company that has been so inebriated with its marketing success that it doesn't have the capacity to learn from its mistakes. If a few reporters did work to break a similar story on the NFL, whether true or not, the NFL has maintained enough credibility that reporters and the public would believe its spin of the truth. With McMahon, his quotes in the various newspapers were more for comic relief in between the staggering charges.

Sexual harassment. How prevalent is it? First off, I believe Barry Orton's story about the two incidents that happened back when he was 19 years old. Orton alleges one incident occurred with Garvin, who was then both wrestling and promoting in the West Texas territory, on a six-hour trip from Amarillo to Albuquerque, Garvin started propositioning him over-and-over again. Another time in a car on a road trip he claimed he was in the back seat between Patterson and Garvin and he alleges they were grabbing at him and he ran out of the car. According to his sworn deposition, "It wasn't a like a rape situation. It was more of a teasing type thing. But, you know, they were trying to overpower my will." Orton said when he got out of the car, his pants were all ripped in the crotch area. Orton was so outraged by McMahon denying his stories in regard to the claims about incidents involving Patterson and Garvin that he took a lie detector test based on his deposition in the prospective lawsuit with Tom Cole which detailed the incidents. He passed with flying colors. According to a report prepared by Anthony De Sio, President of Colt Protective Security, Inc. of Las Vegas, "After complete testing and careful analysis of the polygraph charts, this examiner is of the opinion that Mr. Orton was truthful and there were no deceptive reactions to the relevant questions asked." Lie detectors are not close to 100 percent accurate nor are they admissible in court. However, by agreeing to take the test, and making it public to myself and others in the media beforehand (and with one media member present while he took the test), he put himself in the position for his entire credibility to be destroyed as a result of a nervous reaction. The willingness to take the test meant more to me than the actual results.

But those incidents happened in the late 1970s when the two men involved didn't even work for Titan Sports. However, when Orton worked for Titan Sports, they were executives, the booker and his assistant. Did they hold those incidents against him and did that stifle his career? Did they promote others who did favors above him? Those are the two relevant questions. Even Orton only claims one name as a wrestler who did favors. The wrestler was far less talented than Orton and also was only given a minor push, but is still with the organization while Orton was let go. I spoke to one major wrestling personality who had nothing to do with the show but coincidentally was in the city later that night. He rebuked Orton's complaints, said the guy wouldn't have been a main eventer no matter what he did. Then I brought up a comparison with the other wrestler. The question is, do you think Orton not performing sexual favors as compared with someone who allegedly did with less talent, that when the time came, who was given better treatments as far as number of bookings and which of the two was kept and who was let go when crunch time came? The performer agreed in that specific instance Orton had a valid point. However, I myself have a problem with the term casting couch that has been used in the media. That paints a picture that the wrestlers in the WWF perform homosexual acts and sleep their way to the top. It just ain't so.

There were several other instances brought out, including a claim that the WWF stopped booking midget wrestlers because Karate Kid (Chris Duby) didn't accept a sexual advance by one of the departed officials. Maybe true, but when Karate Kid and midget booker Lord Littlebook (Roger Brooks) went through the story, I wasn't convinced. It seemed to me that they were reading something into something that wasn't there. Then again, Duby was very nervous on the air which makes one less believable, but perhaps I was reading dishonesty into something that was just nerves.

Sexual abuse of minors? A totally different and terribly emotionally charged issue. Part of the emotion of this issue is that the alleged incidents involved male-to-male. The fact is, sexual abuse by male wrestlers on females is hardly uncommon although no less legal and seemingly a lot less emotionally charged. If a select few employees of the company were involved in this, and the resignations and the recent agreement with Tom Cole seem to indicate an admission of this, how much should the owner of the company and the company itself be held responsible? I have a lot of mixed feelings here. First off, I know Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson and have talked with both frequently. I haven't talked with Terry Garvin in years, but used to talk with him at least once a week years back. I don't know Mel Phillips at all. It's one thing to think they put together a PPV show that wasn't very good. It's even one thing to sometimes, or even often, disagree with their business ethics. It's a totally different thing to try and ruin someone's life or their business. If the stories weren't completely convincing, the damage toll created with a false accusation was too much. But there were just too many stories and too many corroborations, particularly in such a closed business. Here is my feeling. If these were isolated incidents, or maybe not even isolated, unbeknownst to McMahon, and they are true, and the offending parties are truly history, then it's over and done with. If McMahon knew about them all along and did nothing, and it can be proven, his should have a lot of explaining to do. If he had something to do with overtly covering up previous incidents and it comes out, they're finished. Knowing the way the wrestling business operates, nothing is out of the question. But getting enough evidence to print the truth isn't always easy. I can't buy for a second that McMahon had never even heard rumors since they were fairly prevalent in the business. But in his defense, it would be a horrible company and a horrible society if someone could be fired just because someone started a bad rumor about them. If he heard a rumor but had no significant evidence and did nothing, the president of the company is not to blame. Yes, Vince McMahon is dishonest and if lying was a crime, he'd be serving seven life terms. But lying isn't a crime.

If McMahon's reputation was one of honesty, he could pull it off here and people would believe him. If he had said he had heard rumors but you can't fire someone on rumors, even with his reputation, that would be a believable story. But never heard even one rumor?

Same thing with the steroid problem. While I don't discount outright arrogance, one would think McMahon right now wouldn't want wrestlers who look juiced to the gills around. They are a magnet for negative publicity. But, let's use Chris Walker as an example. Let's say McMahon was truly serious about cracking down on steroids and fired him because he sure does look like he's on steroids. Even if he is on steroids, but learned to beat the test, if a wrongful termination suit went to court, and lord only knows how many of them are out there right now, Walker would win without the proof of a positive test. One Titan employee admitted to me just how afraid McMahon is right now of firing anyone, because a fired employee who was po'd and knows a few skeletons could be devastating in the media, let alone in a courtroom. Titan has to be court-room shy right now anyway since this past week a Wisconsin jury awarded a $100,000 judgement to a former small-time wrestler/promoter Albert Patterson since he owned the trademark to the name "Superstars of Wrestling" in the state of Wisconsin. Patterson promoted small-time wrestling and trademarked the name back in 1979.

Friday night was also supposed to be the 20/20 segment on steroids in sports, with some focus being put on Hulk Hogan and pro wrestling. The segment didn't air amidst all the mass media pressure. The segment hasn't been canned, nor does it have a scheduled air date although it is assumed it'll run in about 30 days.

This brings us to the Phil Donahue show on Monday. I was asked on Thursday that if they were going to do a show, would I be interested in being a guest. I said I wasn't the guy for a show on sexual abuse because I hadn't worked hard enough on the story but said if they wanted to do something on pro wrestling in general or steroids in pro wrestling I'd be interested. On Friday, they told me the segment was a definite for Monday and they wanted me on so I agreed. The only names I knew of that were going to be guests were John Arezzi, Bruno Sammartino, Orton and Hankins. Later that day I learned that Billy Graham and David Shults had been invited and that Titan rejected an invitation to send either McMahon or a spokesperson. Monday morning I received a phone call telling me that McMahon's office was furious about the show because they claimed every guest but one wasn't credible (me supposedly being the one) and they were at a complete loss in regard to Hankins because they knew nothing about him (ie, no dirt for comebacks to throw him off). Later that morning I was told McMahon had agreed to appear provided the show agreed to a few stipulations: 1) 12 spots in the studio audience for "plants" (in order to try and sway the crowd live and at home with audience reactions favorable to McMahon); 2) McMahon would get to open the two with a two minute uninterrupted speech; 3) He wouldn't go on alone and would bring two guests, a doctor (for credibility if steroids came up) and a lawyer (for credibility on legal issues); 4) That David Shults be bounced from the show. They wouldn't agree to any of the stipulations, although later compromised and agreed only to the fourth one. But at that point, it was obvious McMahon would be there because he wouldn't have made demands unless he had already decided to appear. I didn't know for sure that McMahon was going to appear until an hour before showtime, nor about Murray Hodgson.

Behind the scenes were fascinating. Hodgson knew nobody but was anxious for the show to get underway. Orton seemed kind of nervous because he wanted to improve on his performance on Friday. Sammartino was frustrated with McMahon's lies on Friday and was begging everyone to make sure McMahon wasn't allowed to sit next to him because he was afraid of his temper. Graham seemed to feel the same way. I was pacing, literally scared out of my mind since I'm not a television personality and almost everyone else was.

About ten minutes before show time, Donahue came into the Green Room (waiting room for guests) and all the guests present were in one room. The tension was incredible in the room when McMahon walked in. I don't know if I've ever been in a room where an aura of mutual hatred so filled the air. I believe I was the only one who even acknowledged McMahon and I don't think he made eye contact with anyone else in the room, nor visa versa.

Show time came. McMahon threw the first pitch--the old change-up. Instead of indignance at the charges, it was a new strategy, remorse, understanding, trying just to learn. Clearly, going on the offensive against those who were making allegations about his company on Larry King, while it may have been personally satisfying to those who led him to believe he trounced Bruno, was from a corporate standpoint a bad decision. It only heated the issue. To diffuse the issue there was only one way to go. McMahon was going to have to do a job on television. Sit back and take the lumps and possibly wind up as a babyface at the end because the intensity of some of the guests would be such that it could turn into overkill. From a television and excitement standpoint, the high point of the show was in the opening segment, McMahon going one-on-one with Hodgson. My feeling in retrospect is that there were two people McMahon personally wasn't going to lay down for--Hodgson and Graham. I don't know if Hodgson was honest or not, but he either blitzed McMahon with a well prepared truthful offensive, or simply out-McMahoned McMahon. Hodgson claimed he was fired because he wouldn't sleep with the Vice President. McMahon claimed he was fired because he was a terrible announcer, he couldn't make the transition from radio-to-television. Hodgson made that statement look ridiculous within 30 seconds as he dismantled McMahon with the poise of a 20-year television veteran that even McMahon couldn't match. When McMahon claimed Hodgson's lawyers wanted $160,000 this morning or he'd go on the air, it was clearly last-ditch desperation. When Hodgson denied it and said that ever since he made his charge, McMahon has been trying to buy him out, it resulted is a near standing ovation. Orton and Hankins made their charges, both sounding believable with McMahon really not even trying an offensive against either one.

At that point, the rest of the guests, myself included came on. The show never reached that emotional peak again, although Graham and McMahon got pretty heated at one point. It clearly looked like it was everyone against one person, which would have created some sympathy for McMahon, although the live audience didn't buy his attempts at sincerity. He was clearly the heel and his lack of honesty was pretty well exposed for the entire nation to see. He may not have been the only heel on the show, though. Still, as a television personality, he weathered the storm very well all things considered. Even when Graham got out of control to the point McMahon started getting some sympathy, the crowd still popped for Graham's ranting. The show was over too soon. It accomplished very little. Donahue was a super host. His producers had done their homework and unlike King, he was active and thought provoking and wasn't afraid to put anyone on the spot. If there was a negative, I sensed from the audience that the feeling was that no matter how shocking the story, how heinous the situation, that as long as it involved wrestling, to some people, it just didn't matter because as one girl in the audience said, "it's so sleazy and so gross anyway."

Maybe so. If there is one thing hopefully learned by what took place this week, it is that dishonesty catches up to people in the long run. The results when exposed, from a p.r. standpoint, make the short-term gains from the con seem like nothing. McMahon had gone through personal hell. He seemed to have aged six-to-eight years since the last time I had seen him live, which was only a few months back. Hey, everyone involved in the story had gone through a personal hell. Chris Loss, one of the kids who corroborated Cole's story, by the end of last week had underwent so much media pressure that he didn't want to talk to anyone else and just wanted to get on with his life. McMahon's newspaper quotes about how this hasn't even affected anything nor would it may cover things on the surface, but the reality was a whole lot different. He'd spent nine years creating an empire and had pretty much autonomous control of his industry. He did what he wanted, when he wanted and to who he wanted. Ethics, honesty, even laws, they were for someone else to follow. He didn't always win, but even the losses were usually only minor inconveniences. But this time, right in the midst of some of the strongest business he's done in a long time, the whole thing was in jeopardy. Not a bad PPV buy rate. Not an angle that didn't play well and some weak houses. Not a short-term cash flow problem. The whole thing.

In Wednesday morning's Post, Mushnick wrote the single most damaging article ever in a mainstream publication. A giant back-page headline with a photo of McMahon wrote: "Sex, Lies and the WWF," with the sub-title, "McMahon bought way out of sex suit." The story on the inside was headlined, "WWF's defense, just more lies." Let's quote Mushnick: "Never will you encounter a human being more cold-blooded, more devoid of humor and propriety than Vince McMahon, America's foremost TV babysitter. In your wildest, most twisted dreams, you won't meet up with the likes of McMahon, a miscreant so practiced in the art of deception, the half-truth and the bald-faced lie as to make the Artful Dodger appear clumsy. A George Steinbrenner or a Don King pale by comparison. So help us. Indeed, Hannibal Lecter (the cannibal in the movie Silence of the Lambs) is the only fictional character who comes close." Don't kid yourself, nobody, and I mean nobody wants to have a morning paper brought to him and read things like this about himself. McMahon's personal reputation had dropped so low that the joke around New York radio the next day was that the estate of Hannibal Lecter was going to sue the Post for defamation of character because they compared him with McMahon. It's even worse knowing that millions of people on the subways are reading and believing every word of it. Mushnick called McMahon's performance on Larry King, "30 minutes worth of indignation and unblinking lies."

The wrestling business has to come to grips with the fact that it's 1992. The negatives of Titan Sports are simply too much in the public eye right now. For his own self interest and to avoid future explosive situations with wrestlers, McMahon himself should advocate his wrestlers joining an already-existing independent union like SAG. Yes, this will usurp his own autonomous power in a major way. But there will be a standard procedure for grievances. The wrestlers who have the grievances won't be afraid to pursue a remedy for fear that they'll be terminated for rocking the boat. McMahon has to encourage everyone who has a legitimate problem to go to a legitimate outside source without fearing for their position. Yes, knowing wrestlers, there will be those who will try to use this as another con and some who will be sincere, but the avenue needs to be there. But part of the problem is the entire mind-set of the business. There is such a fear of the truth within wrestling that many wrestlers have looked the other way for years at genuine criminal activity because of the fear that it might hurt the business. It's like the far too many wrestling people I've encountered when the subject of the abuse comes out who respond something like, "but we've got a $130,000 advance at the Garden for next Monday" as if somehow the fact that business is good justifies that nothing bad has really happened. When Bruiser Brody died in 1988 in Puerto Rico, the immediate reaction of the wrestlers in the dressing room who witnessed the incident was to not go to the authorities because if they testified against their booker than they'd lose their job. One or two wrestlers had to talk a few of the Americans to go. A murder was committed, but they were more concerned about protecting the business and the jobs. At the trial, the wrestlers who did testify all lived in Puerto Rico with there was only one major promotion running and the man on trial owned 25 percent of the company they worked for. You figure it out.

All owners hate unions because they become an outside power force to deal with. But an atmosphere like we have in the present is even worse. Perhaps the worst thing about the business as viewed from an outsider, the thing that makes it the rottenest to the core, is the no-snitch mentality. I understand the present system but the general public never will and inevitably they will find out. But think about it, the present system is horrible if it allows these kind of abuses to go on without anyone saying anything. Over the long-haul, the entire business will become so disreputable with continuing stories such as we've just had that no major corporation would want its name associated with it. What happened this week should be viewed as the greatest thing, although a painful thing, for the WWF and the entire wrestling business. That is, if they learn from their mistakes. After the show was over, McMahon indicated to me that what happened was the best thing for all concerned. But was that just another work? If he had told the truth on Larry King from start-to-finish, I'd have believed him. If nothing else, one has to think McMahon would never tolerate sexual abuse of minors in his organization ever again. The stakes are too high now and a repeat of this week would be deadly. Even a skeptic should at least accept the last point and if that's the case, then something positive was accomplished. But my read on the big picture is that this is a company with a mindset so deep in the either you are with us or you are our enemy philosophy that they didn't learn a thing. That attitude, if it doesn't change, will be the achilles heel that will inevitably destroy the company, even if it really was as big as the media tried this past week to portray it as.

If the attitude has changed, I suggest Titan send apologies to the various reporters, Jeff Savage and Phil Mushnick in particular, who alerted the country and if we are to believe Titan Sports, the company itself to these problems despite the company so vehemently denying them to the point of threatening legal action. I suggest Titan adopt a new p.r. attitude that they are an honest company and can afford to tell the truth no matter how damaging. At least then they'll have credibility in the crunch, something they badly lack. I suggest McMahon explain to the boys that whatever the mores of the business were in 1991, that the entire business is different now. It's time to be honest with the media and with the public. Yes, pro wrestling is entertainment, a show, and those admissions don't damage the business in 1992 one iota. There are problems, steroids, drug abuse, no business is perfect. Pushes will no longer be based on muscularity. The schedule will be eased up so as to not encourage uppers and downers. The big stars won't be allowed to get "clean jobbers" do their urine tests for them anymore if they've just done a coke run. And admit that with 50 or 60 wrestlers, not all are going to be model citizens and instead of the company trying to hide the problems, admit when there is a problem. Admit that much of what the detractors have said is actually the truth, and deny what isn't. And guess what, then people will believe it. The saddest thing about this week from my perspective was that Titan put itself in a position to become sitting ducks for almost any charge imaginable, because no matter who said anything, no matter what their background, the person would still have more credibility than Titan Sports. We live in a society that will allow tremendous leeway in making mistakes to people who are being honest. Make admitting any problems and asking for time to correct them and making a sincere effort to do so a new company policy. I also believe nothing will change and nobody will learn anything from past mistakes. If I'm correct, don't kid yourself by the houses over this past weekend, Titan Sports is in a lot of trouble.

Jim Crockett was fired earlier this week from World Championship Wrestling. Because we've been on the road, details of the firing aren't known at press time. Crockett, former owner of Jim Crockett Promotions that sold out to Turner Broadcasting in late 1988 and became WCW, apparently had philosophical differences with booker Dusty Rhodes and was bounced.

This is the second issue of the current four-issue set. If you've got a (1) on your address label it means that your Observer subscription will expire in two more weeks. Renewal rates remain $6 for four issues, $12 for eight, $24 for 16, $36 for 24, $48 for 32 up to $60 for 40 issues within the United States, Canada and Mexico. Rates for overseas airmail subscriptions are $9 for each set of four issues up through $90 for 40 issues. All subscription renewals, letters to the editor, match reports and all other correspondence to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

Fax messages to the Observer can be sent after Noon Eastern time (9 a.m. Pacific) on a daily basis to 408-378-6562.

EMLL


Ultimate Dragon (Yoshihiro Asai) will move from middleweight to light heavyweight and begin challenging Lizmark for the NWA title and Jerry Estrada for the CMLL title. Dragon-Lizmark would be a face vs. face encounter and the feud should start in May.

Bestia Salvaje had a hair vs. hair match with Kato Kung Lee this past Friday which headlines this coming Sunday's Galavision card from Arena Mexico. . . SWS wrestlers Masao Orihara (he of the famous moonsault off the top rope to the floor move) and Toshiyuki Nakahara debuted here under the names Iga and Koga, a tag team, on 3/7.

3/6 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City saw Ciclon Ramirez & America (formerly Pantera II) beat Gran Sheik (Arias Romero) & Felino (Baby Casas) in two straight falls, second fall via count out *1/2, Octagon & Ultimate Dragon & Kato Kung Lee beat Salvaje & Javier Cruz & Blue Panther in two straight falls in 16:39 when Lee pinned Panther. ***3/4, Salomon Grundy & Aaron Grundy (Mike Shaw) & Lizmark beat Nitron & Pirata Morgan & El Satanico in 18:12 when Satanico was counted out of the ring after Lizmark hit him with a dive through the ropes ** and the main event saw Cien Caras & Sangre Chicana & Mascara Ano 2000 beat Conan & Perro Aguayo & Rayo de Jalisco Jr in two straight falls in 19:53. An incredible brawl ****1/4.

The big show on 3/15 in Monterrey saw Cien Caras keep the CMLL heavyweight title beating Canadian Vampire Casanova via count out when Chicana threw Caras into the ring behind the refs back and he saw Caras in the ring and awarded him the bout when Vampire didn't beat the count.

CMLL will hold a tournament to determine the first world women's champion starting 3/27 at Arena Mexico with Yumiko Hotta and Akira Hokuto from Japan coming in for the tournament.

Fuerza Guerrera's son debuted on 3/15 in Tecozaulta using the ring name Fuerza Gimm.

UWA


The trio called The Canadian Express (Buffalo Allen aka Badnews Allen, DNS Furnas aka Doug Furnas and Phil Lason aka Dan Kroffat) headlined all the major cards this past week. Kroffat & Furnas were apparently a huge hit particularly in the Mexico City area even though they worked in a heel role because of their Japanese style moves. On 3/12 in Mexico City at Arena Pista Revolucion, Lason & Furnas headlined against Mil Mascaras & Canek; on 3/13 in Netzahualcohyotl saw the Canadian Express vs. Mascaras & Canek & Villano III and on 3/14 in Cuernavaca the Express headlined against Los Villanos.

Mascaras has been a huge drawing card in Mexico City while most of the top UWA names are touring Japan and will remain as a regular until the end of the month.

The wrestlers strike which was headline news here a few months back was officially settled this past week. On Thursday, 3/12, representatives of the EMLL and UWA and the wrestlers union syndicate along with arena promoters got together and signed agreements that television cameras would be allowed in certain arenas (Arena Coliseo and Arena Mexico for EMLL and El Toreo, Netzahaulcoyotl and Querertaro for UWA) in return for financial guarantees to the wrestlers and the union. In return, the union promised not to strike. On the UWA television show that aired on 2/22 there was apparently a ****1/4 match with Canadian Tiger & Dr. Wagner Jr. & Negro Casas vs. Silver King & El Texano & Gran Hamada.

3/15 at El Toreo in Naucalpan saw The Canadian Express win 2/3 falls from Villano IV & V & Enrique Vera. Dos Caras & Villano III were originally scheduled to team with Vera in the main event but their plane arriving back from Japan was delayed so they missed the show. Allen pinned Vera with a low blow in the third fall. Also Fantasma & Solar I & El Coloso beat Rambo & Kahos I & Fishman via DQ, Villano I & El Magnetico & El Sicodelico beat Shu El Guerrero & Lobo Rubio & El Hijo del Diablo and American Eagle #1 (Danny Davis) & Baby Face & El Engendro beat Celestial & Halcon 78 & Gran Apache.

GLOBAL


Rumors abound that this group is in some trouble since Craig Johnson was dumped as television announcer in a cost-cutting measure and there are a lot of reports elsewhere that I won't get into that indicate more of the same.

Terry Garvin changed his ring name this week to Terry Simms, which is his real name. He said he had returned from a trip to Louisville, his home town, and when he spoke at his daughter's school the kids were confused how his daughter Amanda Simms could be the daughter of Terry Garvin. Considering the plight of the other Terry Garvin, that story sounds like a work and that he just didn't feel like having the ring name Terry Garvin right now.

3/13 show at the Dallas Sportatorium drew 450 fans as for 4/6 ESPN air date--Sam Houston beat Black Bart via DQ when Bart pulled the ref into Houston's way, California Connection (John Tatum & Rod Price) beat Scott Putski & Gary Young via DQ in a two-of-three fall match when Putski pinned Tatum with a Polish hammer but manager Mr. Akbar threw a foreign object into the ring and as it was on the mat, showed the ref who saw it and he reversed the decision and Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) pinned Simms when Bruce Prichard hit him with a shoe. For 4/8 ESPN air date--Dark Patriot pinned Rick Garren, The Viper (Mike Davis) pinned Chaz and Simms won a 15 man Battle Royal. Finish saw Prichard on the ring apron holding Simms. Ref James Beard was trying to pull Prichard down. When Dark Patriot went after Simms, Beard pulled Prichard's sweats down. Prichard got unnerved and let go of Simms, who ducked and Dark Patriot went over the top rope. After the match Dark Patriot, Big Bad John and Prichard triple-teamed ref Beard until Simms made the save. Joe Pedicino then announced he wasn't going to fine Prichard and his group for the actions but instead was suspending them. Beard and Simms begged Pedicino not to suspend them because they wanted revenge (I can just picture this angle in the WMC studio). It leads to next week's six-man tag match with Beard & Simms & Eddie Gilbert vs. Dark Patriot & The Viper & Prichard. For 4/13 ESPN saw Bart double count out Bill Irwin in a Brass Knux title match, Viper & Steven Dane DDQ Putski & Young, Tatum & Price beat Jeff Grettler & Rick Garren and Eddie Gilbert beat Big Bad John in a hair vs. hair match so John got his head shaved.

Lots of talk of Terry Funk coming in for a few shots along with the tag team of The Blazers from Georgia (Sugar Ray Lloyd & R.D. Swain) and The Ebony Experience (two black wrestlers trained by Ivan Putski out of Houston).

3/20 at the Sportatorium has Giant Warrior (Butch Masters) vs. Big Bad John in a bodyslam challenge, Barry Horowitz vs. Danny Davis for the lightheavyweight title, Dark Patriot & Viper & Prichard vs. Eddie Gilbert & Simms & Beard, Tatum & Price vs. Young & Putski with the GWF tag team titles up against the hair and Big Bertha Young (Gary Young in drag) & Irwin vs. Bart & Akbar.

Ref Sam Esposito (Sam Lowe) is pretty well now established as a heel ref.

JAPAN


Television ratings last weekend saw New Japan headlined by Riki Choshu & Kengo Kimura vs. Antonio Inoki & Osamu Kido draw an 8.7 and a 7.0 while All Japan headlined by Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue winning the tag team titles from Steve Williams & Terry Gordy drew a 5.7 and a 5.2.

New Japan held a television taping before a sellout 8,900 fans in Kyoto on 3/9 as Jushin Liger retained his IWGP junior heavyweight title pinning Mad Bull Buster Rex, Bam Bam Bigelow & Big Van Vader retained the IWGP tag team titles beating Masa Chono & Shinya Hashimoto in 25:08 when Bigelow pinned Chono, Super Strong Machine & Tatsutoshi Goto & Hiro Saito beat Riki Choshu & Takayuki Iizuka & El Samurai (Osamu Matsuda) when Machine pinned Iizuka with a diving head-butt and Shiro Koshinaka & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat karate guys Akitoshi Saito & Masashi Aoyagi. At 6:39 the ref stopped the match ruling Saito too bloody to continue, but Aoyagi grabbed student Keigo Kuruhara and they re-started the match with Kobayashi making Kuruhara submit in 1:12.

Universal has a 4/19 show at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall booked with no foreign talent.

All Japan's Champion Carnival tour will consist of two round-robin tournaments. Tournament A has Jumbo Tsuruta, Mitsuharu Misawa, Masa Fuchi, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Terry Gordy, Johnny Ace, Doug Furnas, Joel Deaton, Giant Kimala II and Master Blaster (Al Greene). Tournament B has Akira Taue, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, Yoshinari Ogawa, Stan Hansen, Steve Williams, Dan Kroffat, Billy Black, Dan Spivey and David Isley. Everyone in each tournament wrestles each other and the two guys with the best win-loss record meet for the tournament championship.

FMW announced shows on 5/15 in Tijuana and 5/16 in Los Angeles.

FMW on 3/25 at Korakuen Hall has a WWA World Martial Arts title match with Tarzan Goto vs. Leon Spinks.

UWFI on 3/17 in Nagoya headlined by Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Gary Allbright and Nobuhiko Takada vs. Steve Day (231-pound U.S. Olympic team amateur wrestler). Koji Kitao signed with UWFI and retired wrestling legend Billy Robinson will appear in an exhibition match in May.

USWA


Only news is results from 3/17 in Louisville before 1,300 fans in Louisville (largest crowd in a LONG time mainly to see the return of Jimmy Valiant) as Tony Falk pinned Cat Man, Brian Christopher beat Pat Tanaka via DQ, Dr. Death won the Southern title from Tom Prichard when Dr. Death got the bed pan off the pole to win, Miss Texas beat Nurse Kratchett via DQ when Dr. Death interfered, Tanaka beat Eric Embry via DQ when Tony Falk interfered and Tony Anthony made the save, Jerry Lawler & Jimmy Valiant & Prichard beat Moondogs & Richard Lee via DQ when Black Dog interfered.

Jeff Jarrett still out with a back injury.

ASSORTED NOTES


Paul Roma's boxing debut was less than successful, a fourth round KO loss to Jerry Arentzen when manager Kevin Rooney threw in the towel on 3/6.

Cauliflower Alley Banquet takes place on Saturday.

Gene Kiniski, the former world champion from the 1960s, really did come out of retirement for a WFWA television taping match in Winnipeg a few weeks back. By our records, Kiniski would be 66 years old.

3/13 in Eugene, OR drew 90 as Ron Harris drew C.W. Bergstrom 1/2*, Mike Winner beat Don Harris via DQ *1/2 (Winner has a bad knee legit), Steve Doll pinned Buddy Rose to keep the Northwest title ** and Bart Sawyer & Brickhouse Brown beat Al Madril & Mike Miller via DQ * and Winner won a Battle Royal 1/2*.

More indie news next week.

Former Los Angeles wrestling promoter Mike LeBelle is recuperating from a recent stroke.

The real Karate Kid (Ralph Maccio, who starred in a hit movie of the same name) is said to be furious when he found out this week watching Donahue that there was a midget wrestler using the name, particularly since the publicity isn't exactly favorable.

WCW


3/12 in Camp Lejuene, NC drew 1,800 as Mr. Hughes pinned P.N. News, Vinnie Vegas pinned Big Josh, Abdullah the Butcher DDQ Cactus Jack, Rick & Scott Steiner beat Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin (pretty good match), Johnny B. Badd pinned Terrence Taylor, Sting & Ron Simmons beat Rick Rude & Larry Zbyszko.

El Gigante still hasn't returned from Argentina after his mother's funeral.

Latest reports have the SuperBrawl PPV hitting at about an 0.6 buy rate which is far and away the lowest for any WCW major PPV event.

3/13 in Fort Bragg drew a sellout 3,350 as Taylor pinned News, Vegas pinned Josh when Hughes interfered, Abdullah DCOR Cactus Jack, Steiners beat Eaton & Austin when Scott pinned Eaton with an incredible Frankensteiner, Badd pinned Morton and Sting & Simmons beat Rude & Zbyszko.

3/15 in Winston-Salem, NC drew 1,500 as Taylor pinnedMarcus Bagwell **1/2, Van Hammer pinned Diamond Dallas Page DUD, Badd pinned Cactus Jack ***1/2, Simmons & Josh beat Hughes & Vegas **1/2, Steiners & Steamboat & Rhodes beat Anderson & Eaton & Zbyszko & Austin & Dangerously in a 8 1/2 man tag team match when Steamboat pinned Zbyszko **** and Sting cradled Rude **1/2.

For WCW taping that airs this coming weekend from Center Stage, highlights
include Taylor & Valentine over News & Junkfood Dog via the Dusty finish, Dallas Page tries to do an interview but Doug Dillinger runs him off since he's banned from doing interviews and Steiners beat Zbyszko & Eaton when Rick pinned Zbyszko. Madusa challenged Missy Hyatt over who is the first lady of WCW. For 3/28, Patriots returned and looked worse than ever, Zenk pinned Taylor with Valentine and Bagwell both interfering afterwards, Badd pinned Steve Armstrong, Anderson & Eaton & Austin beat JFD & Brad Armstrong & News and Rude pinned Bagwell with Steamboat doing a post-match run-in.

Jake Roberts was backstage during the taping.

Scott Anthony said to be coming in using the ring name Scotty Flamingo.

Kevin Sullivan's return seems to have been nixed.

WWF


Reba McIntyre was announced as a celebrity guest for Wrestlemania.

It's rumored that on television the week before Wrestlemania, Hogan will announce it's his last match and they'll do a tribute to him on television.

Kevin Kelly is coming in under the name The Convict for a feud with Big Bossman.

3/14 in Anaheim before 9,600 fans saw Chris Walker pin Skinner 1/2*, Repo Man pinned Jim Brunzell *3/4, Nasty Boys beat Bushwhackers *, Randy Savage won an 18 man Battle Royal, Crush double count out Warlord -**, British Bulldog pinned Rick Martel *3/4 and Bret Hart beat Mountie 3/4*.

3/15 in San Diego drew 5,800 as Warlord pinned Walker **1/4, Repo Man pinned Virgil DUD, Bulldog pinned Martel **, Bret Hart & Bushwhackers beat Nasty Boys & Mountie 1/2*, IRS pinned Brunzell -*, Crush pinned Skinner -3/4* and Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair & Sid Justice when Hogan pinned Flair **1/4.

The same basic crew drew a whopping $169,000 house (13,000 paid) in Oakland for a 3/15 matinee show which is the largest house in the Bay Area in a few years, even topping the first Hogan-Flair match late October.

I believe every show but one at the post-Wrestlemania European tour is already sold out.

Piper will remain with WWF as a television personality doing Piper's Pits after WM but won't work house shows anymore.

Elizabeth was in the studio audience at the Donahue show.

There was talk of Randy Savage leaving after Wrestlemania as well, but everything appears to be settled in regards to him staying.

McMahon finally admitted between commercial breaks that the steroid test can be beaten.

WWF is holding a steroid seminar in New York in a few weeks.

THE READERS PAGES

Brian Berkon of 710 Summerly Dr., Nashville, TN 37209 is selling USWA photos.

Jim Merchetta Jr. of 107 Cheryl Ave., Mingo Junction, OH 43938 is looking for a tape of SuperBrawl II and the 2/18 issue of The Globe.

Mike Wood has two 11th row ringside tickets for WrestleMania and is willing to take the best offer. He can be reached at 916-922-7643.

Tony Valotta of 115 Arden Dr., Glenshaw, PA 15116 is looking for a tape of the Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair matches from Madison Square Garden.

Scott Williams of HMM-166 (C) S-4, UIC 41028, FPO AP 96611-1028 would like tapes of Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, Terry Funk, Stan Hansen and Abdullah the Butcher. He's now stationed once again in the Persian Gulf.

Carlie Gill of 1851 Falcon Circle, Anchorage, AK 99504 is looking for a regular supplier of Smoky Mountain Wrestling and videos of Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy from the 70s in Tennessee and the copy of the Wrestling Observer which covered Terry Gordy's illness in Japan.

Roger Calvert of 164 Browns Ford Rd., Scottsville, KY 42164 is looking for a tape of the British Bulldogs vs. Rock & Roll Express match.

Russ Cress of 787 Andover Rd., Union, NJ 07083 has tapes of Jesse Ventura on the Ed Coleman and Dave Samms sports talk show and will trade them.

Deborah Stoehr of 5320 N. Central Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220 is looking for tapes of The Ultimate Warrior on Regis & Kathy Lee, Arsenio Hall and the Phil Collins special and the WWF video on Warrior and the Bret Hart WWF Spotlight special issue as well as LJN dolls of The Hart Foundation and back issues of the Wrestling Observer Yearbooks.


SEX SCANDAL

Vince McMahon's denying of sexual charges against Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin is a laugh. Anyone seriously involved in the wrestling business knows only too well of both Patterson and Garvin's well-earned reputations. McMahon's calling Barry Orton's charges ridiculous and unfounded is just too much for me to take and remain silent. Orton did nothing more than tell the truth. Perhaps if I was still involved in wrestling, I wouldn't be writing you this letter. I'd like to think otherwise. But since I'm retired, I'm not even thinking twice about writing you.
I first started in the business in 1973 working for Nick Gulas out of Nashville. I was warned by Jack Donovan, Sam Bass and others about Terry Garvin from day one. At first I thought that they were ribbing me. But it only took Terry a few days to approach me in the same manner he did Orton, with my answer to him being the same as Barry's.

In early 1985, one night in Los Angeles after the WWF had run a show at the Sports Arena, I happened to be at the University Hilton Hotel, sitting at a bar drinking with Pat Patterson, Andre the Giant, Jerry Graham and Mike LeBelle. I was seated between Andre and Pat. After about an hour, I asked Patterson about giving me a shot at doing TV jobs for them. He told me in no uncertain terms that there was only one way that I was ever going to work for them, and that was by having sexual relations with him that very night. Pat was pretty drunk at this point and he was spouting off rather loudly about his fondness for oral sex with other males and asking me if that made him a bad guy. I told him that I felt he was free to do as he pleased, but that I definitely wasn't interested in being a participant. He responded by reiterating that I would never work for the WWF in that case. He kept his word. He even went so far as to throw me out of the dressing room at subsequent shows although I had always been allowed free access up until that point, even though I hadn't been working for them.

Based upon my experience, I cannot help but feel that this was typical behavior for Patterson. Yes, he was an outstanding worker in the ring, but his business and personal ethics suck. He more than deserved to take this fall. I'm just surprised that it didn't happen sooner. If everyone who has experienced this same situation were to come forward and speak out, I think everyone would be shocked at just how many instances like this there were.

Tom Hankins
Sepulveda, California


DM: This was the letter Tom, who I should point out I had never met nor spoken with previously, wrote me on 3/8 that led to his appearance on the Donahue show Monday. Hankins did try and report this incident to Vince McMahon but nobody at Titan ever returned his calls.


STEROIDS

Just a few thoughts on the steroid subject from a personal stance. This past week, for the first time ever, I watched somebody get a shot full of what supposedly was testosterone in the ass. This guy is a young wrestler in our area and this was his first dose of the stuff. I had actually thought he'd been on the juice for a while because he has an impressive physique. I probably would have thought he was lying about this being his first shot if he wasn't behaving so nervously and asking, "Is this stuff really okay for me?" type questions to the guy giving him the juice. The reason I refer to the stuff as supposedly being testosterone is because the guy administering the shot was not another wrestler, definitely not a doctor, but a friend of a friend of a friend who was selling what he claimed to be testosterone.

I personally hate what's happened with the steroid craze. However, what bothered me the most about this incident was just how little the wrestler knew about what he was doing. I'm not a biochemist and am definitely no expert on steroids, but I was still shocked at just how little this guy knew about the very stuff he had just had injected into his body. He knew nothing about the issues discussed in the Observer. He knew nothing about the Zahorian case. He didn't even know whether the drugs he was using were legal or not. He had definitely heard warnings about the dangers of steroids before. Who hasn't? Perhaps the warnings weren't strong enough. And perhaps the warnings were too strong.
This reminded me of my dope smoking days, especially in regard to why I started getting high when I was a teenager. At that time, the "Just say No" messages consisted of extremely slanted and melodramatic portrayals of crazed teenagers losing their sanity after catching a whiff of the evil weed. People like myself felt insulted that adults expected us to believe this propaganda, so what did we do to show them that we didn't buy it? We went to the other extreme and thoughtlessly indulged in all sorts of recreational drugs.

I think the anti-steroid campaigning (I doubt all the magazine shows on television have a selfless concern about the subjects they present) could be in danger of receiving the same response that recreational drugs got in my day. If all we see are the most extreme claims by Superstar Billy Graham and Steve Michalik (Michalik, in fact, practically personifies all the bullshit anti-drug movies I saw in my junior high heath class), I think people will start questioning the credibility of the reports. Remember, along with anti-steroid forces in the press, there are pro-steroid messages floating around locker rooms in even greater number.

There is no doubt these pro-steroid messengers are coated with the same peer pressure that is used when people get high for pleasure. The difference between the two seems to be that the pressure to take recreational drugs when I was younger was to be "in" and to get a buzz. The pressure to take steroids is also to be "in" but also in this business, to help get you a job.

I believe that the anti-steroid messages we see in the letters pages to various wrestling newsletters are written from the heart. Like I said, I'm very anti-steroid and am glad that it's a felony to use the stuff. However, if former users are painted too much like heroes and if the detrimental results turn into self-serving propaganda or if the concern is geared only toward the politics of the issue, then who is really being helped in the long run? The kids and young adults being pressured into shooting up? No way.

I'm totally bothered that this young wrestler who started on steroids is so damn naive about what he's doing. I didn't, however, clobber him with a panic stricken "Just say no" slogan. I told him rationally what I do and don't know about steroids and told him he should be careful. I did tell him I hated the stuff. Maybe he'll continue using. Maybe he'll stop. But telling the truth and giving a balanced message is better than shoving blatant scare tactics at people. People usually overcome to fear of scare tactics so the truth is the best thing in the long run.

I think the straight-forward stance you've taken in your steroid discussions. I think by now overblowing it to the right or to the left has made the Wrestling Observer a very educational source not only on steroids in pro wrestling but on steroids in general.

Name withheld by request

What WCW is doing is wrong. When they show clips of former WCW wrestlers in the WWF doing jobs, that is one thing. But to jump on the train that is about to run over Hulk Hogan when they are guilty of the same thing is wrong. It's b.s. Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, Tom Zenk, and by your own calculations, 50 percent of WCW wrestlers are on the juice. For WCW to parade these guys in front of my kids as examples when they are drug users is a scam. What they are doing now, in my opinion, is 100 times worse than anything Hogan did. The PSA's are just as dishonest and irresponsible as Hogan's appearance on Arsenio Hall. If you, in your position of importance in this business, don't address the scam being pulled by WCW then you too are part of the problem. Hogan is going to take the rap for all of wrestling and for the 80 to 90 percent of the guys who have been using the juice regularly for years. Whether steroids are morally wrong or not is not an issue here. What is wrong is WCW taking advantage of the misfortune of one individual.

Name withheld by request


DM: Both the aforementioned letters are from part-time pro wrestlers. I'm not thrilled by WCW having Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat and Brian Pillman do the PSA's that have been airing in the manner they have run either. I'm not sure if it's quite as bad as Hogan in one sense because none of the three, to the best of my knowledge, has ever publicly denied using steroids. But telling someone to say "No" without honestly talking about your own past if you've used the same very drug is hypocritical. I know Pillman has publicly admitted use of steroids and has suffered health problems from them. I don't know what Anderson or Steamboat have said, if anything, on the subject. By doing the PSA's, whatever use of steroids they may have done in private does become open to the public and if they claim to have never used and have used, they are no better than Hogan. I agree with you that anyone who does a "Just say no" to drugs clip really should at least come clean with their own background rather than be like the photos of so many urging kids to "Just say No" if they aren't willing to practice what they preach.

Just finished reading the Los Angeles Times article on 3/12. Hurray! Finally a major media outlet focused an important story on the steroid problem in pro wrestling, and on column one on the front page in one of the largest circulated newspapers in the country. Hats off to everyone involved in the story. Let's get this sport which we all love so much cleaned up from drugs once and for all.

John Hoven
San Dimas, California


PHIL DONAHUE SHOW

It's a crime that the steroid and drug abuse and these other sordid activities happened in the WWF. I really like to believe people, but it was obvious by his facial expressions that Vince McMahon was being dishonest on the show and he never really tried to clear the air. Many lives have suffered because of both his ignorance (if that's the case) or his apathy. Maybe he feels that making money is the only important thing in life. I hope he handles these problems promptly and honestly as soon as possible because he is not just ruining his livelihood and that of many of his employees.

Steve Franklin
Millburn, New Jersey

As for the Donahue show, I think Vince McMahon presented himself very well. If anything, Barry Orton, Superstar Graham and Bruno Sammartino hurt themselves slightly because they never reported any sexual abuse to the authorities claiming they would have been blackballed and run out of the business. While this may be true, any sexual abuse of minors has to be reported no matter what the consequences. As for McMahon not knowing about any of this, that's ridiculous. But if he would admit he knew about it and did nothing, his company would be out of business by the end of the week. As long as he runs a clean company from this point forward, the WWF will survive and the entire industry will be the better for it because of all the publicity.

Mark Cassel
Milford, Connecticut


DM: From a legal standpoint, sexual abuse can also involve heterosexual sexual encounters with women under 18-years-old. If every case of that involving wrestlers was reported, half the wrestlers would be blackballed for speaking out and the other half would be in jail.


LARRY KING

After watching Vince McMahon on Larry King it became perfectly obvious why he's simply unable to clean up his act. The first time I met Vince was in 1959 at my father's law offices. He tried to convince me that pro wrestling was a shoot even though I told him that already knew who was giving the time cues at the Sunnyside Gardens television tapings on Tuesday nights in New York. He was only about 12 years old at the time. The same age as I was. As long as he thinks there is one fan left that is either dumb enough or young enough left to pull a work, he will remain the same. He's clearly pathological.

Bob Barnett
Attorney at Law
Santa Monica, California

After seeing Vince McMahon on Larry King Friday night, here are my impressions. McMahon came off as belligerent, dishonest and well-scripted. I could tell from his face that the situation was taking a major toll on him. Bruno Sammartino came off as angry and having a personal axe to grind. He made a good case, but was overwhelmed by his hatred for McMahon. Vince knew this and played off it well. Barry Orton came off as completely honest but kind of got lost because Larry King was trying to walk all over him. I think Sammartino wasn't the best choice to counter McMahon since his main issue is steroids as opposed to sex scandals and because he dislikes McMahon so much that it drives him away from his intentions. Obviously Vince knew that and probably welcomed the interview because of it.

Matt Creamer
Oshkosh, Wisconsin

I just caught Vince McMahon's attempt at damage control on Larry King Live in regards to the Patterson and Garvin story. McMahon's performance was shameless and embarrassing. King was completely out of touch with the subject. One suspects McMahon either doesn't realize the gravity of the situation he's now in or has grossly underestimated it.

John Williams
Pasadena, California

Vince McMahon's appearance on Larry King reminded me of a rat trapped in a corner. He was confrontational, evasive and obviously desperate the entire show. He never allowed either Sammartino or Orton to complete a sentence. First he denied that anyone used steroids in the WWF, then he denied knowledge of steroid use, then he reminded Bruno that his son David had used them. If Larry King knew anything about the situation, he's realize how important Pat Patterson was to the organization and he wouldn't have taken Vince's side.

Vic Stanley
Lafayette, Indiana


PEOPLE MAGAZINE

Regarding the Hulk Hogan article in the 3/16 issue of People Magazine, I never realized just how little the mainstream populace really understands about the steroid issue. Case in point. My mother read the article and no doubt expected me to be surprised that Hogan had used steroids. I've watched a few PPV events with my mother. She knows all the characters and I'd say her knowledge of wrestling is equivalent to any fan that attends three or four house shows a year. Nonetheless, I never realized that I've never mentioned steroids use among wrestlers to her nor did I ever mention the steroid issue as it relates to Hulk Hogan to her. I assumed that anyone watching wrestling would know that so many of the physiques, like Hogan's are chemically enhanced. But she never even considered it until reading the magazine because nobody had ever brought it up to her. Hopefully with more of this mainstream media publicity and nation-wide coverage, the whole issue will explode and the business will become juice-free.

Paul Dizadji
Oak Lawn, Illinois


ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT

Caught the Entertainment Tonight piece on 3/12 on the WWF sex scandal. They interviewed Vince McMahon who called what has been going on as "locker room horseplay." Welcome back to Earth, Vince. I believe things will become a lot worse before they get better. After a decade of being media darlings thanks to Hulk Hogan, the press has suddenly realized that they've been had and the WWF is going to have hell to pay. As a local TV and radio broadcaster, I know about media types. They are very cynical. When someone is caught in a lie, and lying is second nature to Vince, nobody can bury you faster than the mainstream media.
The WWF made a major error in having Hogan lie on the Arsenio Hall show. The sex scandal makes two major scandals in a one year time period. I with the WWF all the best of luck because they are going to need it.

Bob Ivy
Starkville, Mississippi


GRAHAM

I happened to see a copy of your 1/10 Newsletter and read the very interesting interview you did with Wayne Coleman. Whatever may be the accuracy of the rest of his recollections, as near as I can tell he was not, as he claims, the 1961 Teenage Mr. America unless he was going by the name Steve Boyer or John Piscareta at the time. Nor was Frank Zane a holder of that title. The Teenage Mr. America title was then, and has always been, an official title of the AAU and its legal property.

When I served as the author/editor for the new edition of the national AAU physique rulebook in 1987, I had available to me the list of previous winners of the various AAU titles from the earlier 1977 rulebook and part of my work was to update it to the most recent year. Since there were no gaps in the record for the historical period in question, I don't know how to explain Graham's claim. I suspect his competitive bodybuilding exploits have been somehow enhanced in his memory, a tendency that has been noted among a number of other former competitive bodybuilders. In fact, retroactive exaggeration about titles won is very common in the bodybuilding field.

Jon Reiger
Editor, AAU Official Physique Manual
Southgate, Kentucky


DM: According to the February 1962 edition of Strength and Health Magazine, Wayne Coleman won the sectional Teenage Mr. America contest held in San Francisco in 1961. While the AAU owned exclusive legal rights to the name, other promoters had apparently done contests using the name, similar to the various world heavyweight champions in pro wrestling (the AAU physique committee rival NPC, which is affiliated with the Weider's IFBB, promoted its own Mr. America contest for years but for legal reasons had to change the name to the American Bodybuilding Championships) so for legal purposes, Graham may have never won the official Teenage Mr. America although he did win a contest with that name. Graham said he remembered the contest as being the AAU version. The AAU records list an Eastern and Midwestern sectional winner for 1961 but not a Western sectional which a contest in San Francisco surely would be.


WWF

I should have known Vince McMahon would get the last word. When they replayed the ending of the Rumble on the FOX show, a new soundtrack had been dubbed in which had the fans in Albany booing Sid and chanting "Hogan! Hogan!." This may seem minor but I'm really sick of them redoing reality. It's isn't enough for McMahon to pretend past WWF champions like Bob Backlund, Bruno Sammartino and Billy Graham no longer exist or to pretend that long-time stars entering the WWF are rookies, now he's retroactively deciding who was cheered and booed at a PPV card just three weeks ago.

Tim Whitehead
Johnson City, Tennessee

Thanks for finally explaining in the Observer what Basil DeVito's job is. The WWF Vice President in charge of misleading press releases and covering up embarrassing situations has an easy out in explaining the sudden resignations of Terry Garvin and Pat Patterson. Basil can simply say the incidents were part of the WWF program of providing wholesome family entertainment and of course, providing a positive example for the youth of America.

Jim Thompson
Detroit News

I found it ironic about reading your piece on cocaine and Hulk Hogan and bringing up Tully Blanchard's situation and then hearing about Marty Janetty being fired by the WWF for cocaine. So now Janetty will find himself wrestling in high school gyms in Peoria so Vince McMahon can front as a serious person when it comes to drugs. I believe Vince is using Janetty as bait to clear his name for a little while. But when the story comes back, who will be the next victim?
You've already said in the Observer that you were a competitive bodybuilder years ago and you emulated Billy Graham. Did you ever take steroids? You seen to know a lot more about the stuff than other journalists covering the subject and it's important to let your readers know. With steroids in sports making big waves, GQ did an interesting story in this month's issue and brought up Lyle Alzado and Arnold Schwarzeneggar but didn't bring up wrestling.

Vinnie Carolan
Stoughton, Massachusetts


DM: Janetty was suspended due to an arrest, not the result of a test. I'm pretty sure it would have happened the same way had their been no steroid stories swirling over their head (although one can point out how Bobby Heenan wasn't suspended or punished over a drug arrest as evidence that it wouldn't, but it was also marijuana rather than cocaine although Jim Duggan was suspended for marijuana and driving to a town with the guy he was feuding with). The irony of him negotiating with WCW and similarities with Tully Blanchard and how that all turned out does have a tendency to make one suspicious. To say I emulated Billy Graham would be taking things much farther than they really were although I did have photos of him decorating my garage when I started weight training. I never used steroids because I wasn't single-minded enough toward any goals in life that steroids would help me achieve. But I can't fault those who made a different choice if they were determined to be the best in their sport and the powers that be in the sport either looked the other way (which basically means encouraged it in any sport in which they give you a competitive advantage) or outright encouraged it. It is the system and the society that is to blame. The system looks the other way or hides from the reality of the problem, encourages cover-ups, hypocrisy and dishonesty going so far as to lying in medical textbooks and educating our nations physicians to lies about steroids. This caused a chasm to develop with the medical profession and societal pressure from the media and others who don't understand the first thing about the subject on one side and the athletes who are competing at a high level and a society and media that worships the winners and forgets about second place on the other.


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Feb. 24, 1992 Observer Newsletter: Attempted drug raid in WWE locker room, Doll wins title, more

Wrestling Observer Newsletter PO Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228 February 24, 1992 A few weeks ago I started hearing speculation about the possible demise of Hulk Hogan and even the potential demise of Titan Sports. While in a worst-case scenario of what could happen, one couldn't completely rule that out as a possibility. But it was maybe a 200-to-one longshot, at best. Most of this talk was incredibly premature and so unlikely at the time that it didn't seem to be worth serious discussion.
It's still premature. It's still unlikely. But it's also worth serious discussion. Make no mistake about it. Friday night, if it were not for some incredible luck, the Titan empire may have been in a race to avoid crumbling before Wrestlemania. Even with the incredible luck, it may be too late for Titan to inevitably avoid the some form of shambles.
Some people are trying to pass off Friday's night attempted raid of the World Wrestling Federation dressing room at the Arena in St. Louis as a non-issue. After all, nobody was arrested. But coming on the heels of one of the most incredible out of the ring news weekends in recent memory, and leading into a six week period that will, not might, but will, wind up with a series of devastating national media stories on Titan Sports, this is not only serious for what could have happened, but because of what did happen.
The attempted raid has been the subject of many different complete and contradictory stories ranging from Drug Enforcement Agency involvement as part of an ongoing investigation of the World Wrestling Federation to something being ordered by the St. Louis police having nothing to do with wrestling. About a half-dozen uniformed and two plainclothes St. Louis police officers along with one St. Louis police dog an a Federal drug agent were sent to the Arena and searched all WWF personnel for illegal drugs as they arrived. According to one performer, the wrestlers had all been alerted around 6 p.m. that evening, or about an hour before coming to the building, about the impending bust attempt. This resulted in no drugs being found on any of the wrestlers. On Tuesday, the DEA publicly denied its involvement while a St. Louis Police Department source on Tuesday said he couldn't confirm or deny anything but that "It was either an ongoing DEA investigation or one hell of a strong tip." The WWF, through Steve Planamenta, claimed the police were simply investigating a security guard who worked at The Arena. However, Kathleen Hines of the St. Louis Arena management was furious at the WWF's claim saying that a federal drug agent was there as part of an ongoing investigation and supervising local police and they were there to search the WWF wrestlers. The St. Louis police officially at first even denied that there even was a search until informed of several eyewitness reports and direct conversations with people being searched and extensive details as to what happened. Then they claimed it had nothing to do with drugs until informed that a police dog was sniffing all the wrestlers bags. The performer who contacted us the night of the raid told us that without the leaking beforehand of the bust attempt, it would be his best estimate given who was on the show that eight to ten of the wrestlers would have been carrying something, mainly marijuana and steroids and possibly downers. "I can't tell you that number for sure," he said. "It could have been one or two and it could have been more than a dozen." If drugs, particularly steroids, had been found on more than one, let alone drugs found on anywhere near a half-dozen wrestlers, with all the major newspaper stories that are already in the works, which include expected front page coverage of steroids in wrestling stories in both the Los Angeles Times (which will be syndicated nationally) and San Diego Union and the impending 20/20 story, the ripple affect through the media probably would have been devastating. How strong the effect would have been on the sponsors and licensees that support the WWF and television stations that air the programs is almost impossible to fathom. Past history shows that it's unusual for stations to pull programming because of public scandals, but when they do such as with Pee Wee Hermann and Morton Downey, when the fall starts, everything falls in rapidly like dominos. While no scandal of this nature would have had a major direct effect on selling wrestling tickets to arena shows to the general public, if something were to happen to cause a problem with sponsors and television stations there would be significant lost revenue from those avenues. A potential sprint race by sponsors in the wrong direction and domino effect of television stations which would cause a lessening of exposure would indirectly lead to a major effect on live attendance and all other revenue sources. At the same time, a promoter like Don King, who in comparison makes Vince McMahon seem like a saint, has survived and prospered even though most Americans have an idea of what kind of a person he really is. People will pay money to see an entertainment/sport even if the owner has a shady rep forever because they are paying to see the performers. But boxing isn't marketed as a kids show and aired in syndication primarily on Saturday mornings, so parts of that analogy doesn't hold up. Even without any arrests, the WWF is hardly out of the water what it comes to facing at least a potential crisis.
Newsweek editor Frank Deford did a commentary this past week on the subject of Hulk Hogan and steroids for ESPN radio which went as follows: "It's hard to believe, but as recently as the last Olympics, the big issue was steroids. Today, though, with more effective laboratory detection methods, the cops have caught up with the robbers, except...except perhaps in professional wrestling. Don't snicker now. Just because wrestling is an arranged sport doesn't mean it isn't important, it isn't athletic and it doesn't mean that it fails to have an affect on a lot of young boys and children. The continued accusations by wrestlers and a convicted steroid pusher, Dr. George Zahorian, that Hulk Hogan has been a promiscuous user of steroids and cocaine as well, must be answered satisfactorily by The Hulkster. Like wrestling or not, Hogan is a major cultural character of our times. He does mainstream commercials, he sells huge amounts of children's toys, and -- get this-- vitamins, and he appears regularly on respectable television shows. If those great Hulkster muscles are still steroid induced, then this is a serious scandal. The sponsors, toy stores and television stations must demand Hulk be tested by an independent agency."
During this same period, the WWF had suspended several wrestlers including Hawk of the Legion of Doom, Kerry Von Erich and Jimmy Snuka. Officially the company confirmed the suspension of Snuka, an indefinite suspension (read that fired) for unprofessional conduct. They claim Von Erich was pulled from all his bookings after a call came from Fritz Von Erich that Kerry needed to go to drug rehabilitation at the Betty Ford Center (although it was during the period after Von Erich had been pulled from the road that he was arrested). There have been rumors swirling everywhere regarding LOD's future with Titan Sports, but nothing has been confirmed. WWF simply claims LOD is in limbo. The LOD has been replaced by The Bushwhackers for all upcoming scheduled house shows. While this has not been officially confirmed, most wrestling sources feel that they are done with the WWF and the happenings at the television taping seems to pretty well confirm that. Where they will wind up is another question, but judging from the response in various circles, the demand for them either in WCW or Japan may not be what you would think it would be. Snuka also won't be returning. Hercules is also history while Greg Valentine, who had already jumped to WCW, has been released from his contract.
Von Erich was taken off the road more than one week ago as he's missed all his bookings for the past two weeks. While on suspension, the 32-year-old Von Erich was arrested at around midnight on 2/9 at an Eckerd's Drug Store in Richardson, TX (a Dallas suburb) on two felony counts of obtaining drugs through fraud (passing forged drug prescriptions). Each charge is a felony III, which carries a two-to-ten year prison sentence and maximum $5,000 fine per offense. In reality one shouldn't expect Von Erich to serve any time for the offense if he agrees to enter a drug rehabilitation clinic, which he apparently has entered. Von Erich will be facing more problems because according to KDFW-TV in Dallas, Richardson police found out several days later that he also gave them a falsified address and phone number on his arrest report. Kevin Von Erich told KDFW that Kerry had entered a drug rehabilitation center on Monday because of problems resulting from the breaking up of his marriage. There is no word on his future with the company, but it looks bleak from here.
If that wasn't enough problems for one week for the WWF, this past Saturday night on the Las Vegas-based Wrestling Insiders radio show, guest Barry Orton spoke openly about alleged homosexual harassment within the WWF front office including naming three names and a specific example of one attempting to hit on him. While talk like this has been the subject of gossip around the wrestling business for years, Orton is only the second wrestler I know of to go public that he was hit on by gay execs (former Atlanta wrestler Jim Wilson claimed it happened to him in the 1970s) with it being tied to career enhancement. Orton did say that many major stars like Hulk Hogan never had to go through this to reach their main event status, but did insinuate that others did and he felt he would have had to and it hurt him professionally because he didn't. Orton, who worked strictly as a jobber for the WWF using the ring name Barry O, blasted the policy saying that he has nothing against anyone's sexual preference or what they do in their private lives, but that when it affects people's livelihoods than it's another issue. While nobody from Titan was available before press time to comment officially about this, one suspects the response will be to categorize Orton as a bitter wrestler who never made it big (which is true, although he had very good in-ring talent and exceptional interview ability, more than enough to get a serious push) and bring up that he spent two years in prison in Arizona for vehicular homicide (he was driving drunk and got in a car accident and the girl travelling with him died a few years back). Orton, who is talking about writing a book of his own called "Doing the job," also talked about his own use of steroids and said that Titan wasn't interested in using him until he got on steroids and then he got his job. We will have a transcript of allegations regarding homosexual harassment and steroids hopefully by next week. Thus far, however, Titan, which adopted a similar policy to what I expect they'll have with Orton in regard to both Graham and David Shults (avoid talking about the issue at hand and instead attack the credibility of the messenger) has been almost completely unsuccessful thus far in dealing with the media and convincing them of their credibility. It really says something for just how low Titan's credibility has fallen when they now have less believability because of their responses to the steroid issue than even wrestlers with what they claim have shady backgrounds. What's worse, I don't think those at Titan even fully realize yet just how much of a pounding their credibility has taken over the past eight months.
WCW hasn't been without its negative media publicity this past week either. This past Wednesday, Atlanta television channel WSB-TV (Ch. 2) did a six minute documentary alleging racial discrimination in World Championship Wrestling. WBS put its top investigative reporter on the piece and talked about a complaint filed with the EEOC from a former WCW wrestler charging racial discrimination. The piece claimed that the average black wrestler under contract to WCW earned $104,000 per year while the average white wrestler earned $205,000. I can almost certainly dispute those numbers because the only black wrestlers I know of currently under contract are Ron Simmons and his contract is right about the $200,000 range and Mr. Hughes, who I'd guess is between $78,000 and $104,000. They showed tape of Johnny B. Badd and pointed out that he and P.N. News are white men who are pretending to be black men. Mr. Hughes was interviewed and said he didn't feel he was discriminated against and said he was happy. Because of EEOC and NAACP pressure being put on by a few ex-black wrestlers that have worked for WCW, although nobody will admit it, that pressure is probably why WCW is bringing back Junkyard Dog and putting Teddy Long (who has been under contract all along but hasn't been used) in a new position as color commentator of the syndicated Main Event show with Eric Bischoff (which runs in very few markets but will be the only WCW syndicated show that airs in Atlanta, where all the heat is). Long will play a total babyface role. My opinion is that I'm all for equal employment opportunities and this business has perpetuated stereotypes and has often been guilty of prejudice based on race (both positive and negative to minorities), sometimes based on perceived effect on the box office and sometimes just for the sake of being prejudice. However, I don't see how it benefits blacks, whites, wrestling fans or the EEOC to pressure a wrestling company if the end result is that the response is to give a job to a wrestler who is not anywhere even close to the calibre of performer as many others wanting to get in that can't get past the front door.
Frey's new steroid policy talked of last weekend should be finalized sometime this coming week. Frey talked about the policy on the Pro Wrestling Spotlight radio show Sunday night in vague terms, but seemed to indicate the policy wouldn't include steroid testing. Frey said that he doesn't want to "create a police state" with steroid testing apparently in reference to Titan Sports (the term "police state" hardly appears to be an accurate term to describe the WWF steroid program). At press time it was thought by those inside the company that the policy would consist of a six month to one year period in which all wrestlers would get to wean themselves off steroids with the company providing a drug rehabilitation and counseling program. From talking with Frey and other WCW employees, I believe he's sincere about this subject but some wrestlers are skeptical of any affect of a policy which doesn't include enforced punishment for non-conformity.
Anyway, I've come up with my own ideas of a steroid policy for WCW. The policy involves almost no additional costs. It involves no suspensions. It involves no tests. It doesn't even force anyone to get off steroids if they don't want to, but the result would be that either they'll all want to get off steroids, they'll leave the promotion which solves the problem or, over the long run, they'll be forced out of the spotlight. To do so you have to go right to the core of the problem--eliminating the competitive advantage one would gain at least for taking serious doses. That should be one of the main goals of a real steroid policy anyway. A policy that would protect those who don't want to use steroids from suffering from a lessened push or lessened chance of getting employment because of that decision. At the same time, you want to encourage wrestlers to either slack off or to completely get off the juice to protect their long-term health. Let me preface this by saying Vince McMahon would actually be far more effective than Kip Frey in implementing this policy because he has far greater knowledge of steroids and bodybuilding and the psychology that goes with steroid use. But I wouldn't recommend this program to the WWF because for it to work it would take a chief executive who is 100 percent honest and sincere about ridding his company of the competitive advantages steroids bring and would enforce the policy fairly to all. McMahon's actions makes me believe he would be, despite his knowledge of the subject, perhaps the most ineffective person to administer such a program. In Frey's case, we have no way of knowing one way or the other. Thus far nobody has any reason to believe he isn't sincere on this subject and because of that have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The policy is simple. Every wrestler is told that in 90 days, if they still appear to be on steroids, they will do one clean job with no controversy at every television taping until their body no longer has a steroid look. Ninety days is more than enough grace period because you should be able to cycle down (going off cold turkey leads to problems) in three or four weeks and most bodybuilders when they are completely off steroids will have noticeable physique differences in two weeks. At every taping there will be an expert on the subject to look at the guys and yes, there will be some guys with less than gifted genetics who can use some roids and look like they don't and slide through, but those guys weren't getting much of a competitive advantage from using the roids anyway. After all, Dustin Rhodes could use steroids and still never look as good as Lex Luger or Rick Rude would if they didn't use steroids or probably even if they didn't lift because genetics play a big role in how one looks. Any long-time bodybuilding expert or drug guru with a trained eye can study the guys and pretty well would know a certain look that means someone is on. Admittedly, one can be on, particularly low doses or be on and not train hard (but if that's the case, what's the point in being on in the first place) and slide by since there are no suspensions involved, but they aren't benefitting competitively from the use so it doesn't matter except to themselves and their own health and you can't save someone from themselves completely but you can help others. Now I can just hear people saying that there would be some major legal problems about asking someone to do a clean job without any proof in the form of test results that the person was using steroids and if mishandled, that's a valid point. The deal is, nobody will ever be asked to do a job on television to someone who isn't a better worker than they are in the first place. In extreme cases like Rick Steamboat, where nobody is better, if necessary, someone who is on their level. For example, Lex Luger, if they believe he were to be on, would have to lose to someone like Steamboat or Brian Pillman who is a better worker anyway with a crossbody off the top with no controversy. Steamboat to Arn Anderson or Bobby Eaton. You don't have Sting losing to, say, Mr. Hughes, only to someone like Terry Taylor or Anderson. So you're rewarding the good workers which is what Frey is preaching about doing anyway. Even if you err and the guy isn't on (which really should almost never happen), you're still getting a competitive match, and a clean win by the better wrestler to begin with so you really aren't being unfair to any wrestlers or the fans if you are wrong. In some cases, in the fans' eyes, because of how they've been educated to this point, you'll wind up with a major upset on television especially at the beginning, but that will only serve to make the television more interesting when people realize it's unpredictable. I mean, if Scott Steiner were to get pinned clean by Bobby Eaton's Alabama Jam or examples like that would occur every week with big names for a month, nobody would ever know who would win on television and it would probably improve ratings because of unpredictability and clean finishes. That's pretty much the booking strategy that may have made Riki Choshu the wrestling world's best booker in 1991. As long as the wrestler looks like he's on steroids, he does one clean job per taping every week until he looks like he's off. Let the guys still go over on house shows if they're supposed to because you need to have certain types of finishes to send fans home happy or satisfied, but every wrestler knows that if they job eight straight weeks on television, it'll force them from the top of the arena cards inevitably anyway. What's the message the fan at home gets? A great worker beats a muscled-up steroid guy every time. What better message to send to kids teaching them steroids isn't the way? In fact, the subliminal message it gives, if you want to analyze it closely is that using steroids makes one a loser. Yeah, for real sports it's a fake message. But in other ways it's creating a positive message. Wrestling can't change the world, but this policy will encourage those who want to become wrestlers and who idolize wrestlers to learn to be either be great workers or to subliminally appreciate something other than bicep size and striations in the chest. Wrestling would no longer encourage anyone, and in fact, would discourage everyone influenced by it, from shooting roids. In the long run it'll make it a cleaner product and a better wrestling product because the guys will know their bread is buttered based on what they do once the bell rings, and not how they look standing there or flexing. The best thing about this policy is it allows guys to stay on steroids if they want to, but they won't want to and not only because they won't be rewarded for it. Guys who are on roids will either quit the promotion rather than do the jobs which means the promotion will clean up, or, they'll get off roids. If there's one thing that a wrestler who has achieved stardom hates to do even more than see the changes that occurs when one goes off steroids, it's doing clean jobs on television every week.
Buried among all of this news is a change in the 2/29 PPV show from Milwaukee. The former 11-match show has been changed to eight matches, with the P.N. News vs. Mr. Hughes, Tom Zenk vs. Richard Morton and Diamond Studd vs. Van Hammer matches eliminated from the show. In my opinion, this is a major positive step because doing eight matches in two hours and 47 minutes means nobody should have to rush through their matches (particularly since it's the main eventers that usually suffer on the long shows because they don't have time to tell their story). That also allows for more interview and feature breaks to build-up interest and intensity in the important matches. The show will open with an eight man with El Gigante & Big Josh & Mike Graham & Johnny B. Badd vs. Diamond Dallas Page & Young Pistols & Vinnie Vegas which will probably be kept short and should be okay if Pistols dominate the time spent in the ring for the heels. From that point on, every match should be solid-to-excellent, with Terrence Taylor vs. Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Cactus Jack vs. Ron Simmons, Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs. Steve Austin & Larry Zbyszko, Steiners vs. Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton, Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude and Sting vs. Lex Luger. With the impending explosion within the wrestling business, it's almost been hard to get excited about an upcoming PPV show, but I'm looking forward to this show more than any major show since the Wrestle War card last year in Phoenix and the Tokyo Dome last March. Despite rumors to the contrary, Liger is appearing on this show. Liger does have a fairly serious rib injury but didn't even miss one match with New Japan and has nearly three weeks off before the card. Pillman missed television tapings on Monday night with a back injury but it is said to not be anywhere serious enough to threaten him being at the PPV.
There is another PPV show set for this coming weekend, or is there? The on-again, off-again LPWA show was on-again, at least as of Monday afternoon. The card is set for this coming Sunday (2/23) afternoon from Rochester, MN at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time (10:30 a.m. Pacific). Although there is no doubt this show will break the all-time pro wrestling record for lowest buy rate on a PPV show set by Herb Abrams last year at Beach Brawl, it may not be that bad of a card. First off, Jim Cornette's color commentary still ranks among the best in the business so at least it'll be entertaining to listen to. And even though there will probably be no recognition and maybe no reaction to the Japanese women of the recently-folded JWP group appearing, the girls can work. The very tentative line-up has Lady X (Peggy Lee Leather) defending the LPWA title against Terri Power, The Glamour Girls (Judy Martin & Leilani Kai) defending the LPWA tag team titles against probably Bambi & Malia Hosaka (or possibly Rockin Robin & Wendi Richter if they can find Richter and convince her to appear), a few other singles matches including one with Shinobu Kandori, depending upon who else shows up at the card, a tag match with Mami Kitamura & Miki Handa (two of the girls who worked the WCW Wrestle War card last year in Phoenix) and a singles tournament. First round matches in the tournament tentatively are Susan Green vs. Denise Storm, Reggie Bennett vs. Devil Masami, Harley Saito vs. Endo Mizaki and Rumi Kazama vs. Dynamite Kansai (Miss A). Of course card subject to change has never been more appropriate than in this instance. While I have a policy about giving away finishes ahead of time in this case it probably doesn't matter, and it's just as likely not going to happen anyway, but provided things go as scheduled and the card actually takes place, one of the second round tournament matches will be Kansai vs. Saito and I've seen them work with each other (and as a tag team) many times and if they are given enough time, they should have a match equal to Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage at Wrestlemania. But nobody will see it and there won't be any crowd reaction because, among other things, there won't be any crowd. And the $19.95 price tag will drive even those considering it at this point away, although the last word is that everyone who orders will get a four-hour tape mailed to them (of course probably dependent upon the LPWA being in business the day after).
So buried on page three comes confirmation that Hulk Hogan has indeed negotiated with New Japan Pro Wrestling. No deal has been signed. Japanese sources confirmed stateside sources in that Hogan has agreed to a two-year deal for three appearances per year at $100,000 per shot after he retires from the WWF. New Japan sources expected Hogan's retirement as imminent, a time frame that can't be predicted because of all of what is yet to happen. At this point I'm still betting on Hogan taking the summer off and coming back and winning the title and sticking around until the following Wrestlemania. But the process may speed up.
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EMLL 2/7 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City saw Zuleyma & Mari Chan & Mima Chan beat Martha Villalobos & Pantera Surena & Wendy in 18:09 **, Bestia Salvaje & La Fiera & Sangre Chicana beat Apollo Dantes & Love Machine (Art Barr) & Huracan Sevilla in two straight falls at 12:09 when Salvaje made Sevilla submit in the first fall and pinned him with a power bomb in the second fall. This makes three of the past four weeks where heel Salvaje has scored two straight fall wins over Sevilla to set up this past Friday's hair vs. hair match (in which Sevilla almost certainly finally prevailed). **1/2, Pierroth Jr. & Nitron & Fuerza Guerrera beat Mascara Sagrada & Octagon & Canadian Vampire Casanova in 14:42 when Guerrera pinned Octagon in the third fall. They're building to Octagon vs. Guerrera mask vs. mask match. ***1/2, Main Event saw Aaron Grundy (Mike Shaw) & Salomon Grundy & Conan over Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 & Universo 2000 in 16:08 *1/2.2/16 at Arena Mexico saw Aaron & Salomon Grundy & Conan win two of three from Sangre Chicana & Universo 2000 & Mascara Ano 2000, Black Magic (Norman Smiley from Florida) & Mascara Sagrada & Blue Demon Jr. beat La Fiera & Blue Panther & Emilio Charles Jr and they opened up the CMLL World Mini Superstars (midgets) tournament with Mascarita Sagrada, Octagoncito, Espectrito Jr. and Aguilita Solitaria. .. Aaron Grundy will probably change his ring name to Norman (WCW name) and no longer work as Salomon's brother.
Fabuloso Blondy (Ken Timbs) is expected to return next month.
Box y Lucha magazine fan balloting for 1991 had Octagon as Most Popular, Mascara Ano 2000 as Best Heel, Oro & Plata as Best Tag Team, Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 & Universo 2000 as best trio, Volador as best newcomer, El Hijo De Lizmark as Rookie of the Year and Casanova as best foreigner. Conan was named Wrestler of the year.
Since the shows now air in the United States on a nine-day delay, for those of you with satellite dishes that want to see the cards a week ahead of when they air on television, check Satellite Morelos 2 on Ch. 14 at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
Expect several of the top faces to turn heel over the next few months.
EMLL officials expect the imminent jumping from UWA of Negro Casas, Negro Navarro, El Indomito, Jose Luis Feliciano, Shu El Guerrero and Black Terry.
Galavision show this coming Sunday has Cynthia Moreno & Mariko Chan & Mima Chan vs. Martha Villalobos & Wendy & Pantera Surena, CMLL trios champs The New Infernales (Pirata Morgan & MS 1 & El Satanico) vs. The Untouchables (Jacque Mate & Masakre & Pierroth Jr.) in a non-title match, Los Brazos vs. Salomon Grundy & Casanova & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Sevilla vs. Salvaje in a hair vs. hair match. The only thing I know about the card is that there were some in-ring problems with Grundy not wanting to do the job at the end and not wanting to sell for Brazo de Plata and he was pretty well told if it happened again than he's through.
Expect Octagon vs. Guerrera big mask vs. mask match which has been building up for more than one year to take place on 3/21 which also happens to be the birthday of the late Salvador Lutteroth, the father of promoting Lucha Libre and the EMLL.
2/9 at Arena Mexico saw Casanova & Sagrada & Jalisco beat Los Brazos in the main event.
2/1 in Mexico City saw Sevilla win a hair vs. hair match beating Guerrero Negro in a bloodbath and Neftali beat Lola Gonzales to keep the Mexican womens title via submission and Aaron Grundy & Ultimate Dragon & Jalisco beat Kung Fu & Ulysses & Sultan Gargola.
The most famous Lucha Libre fan in the world (and probably the most publicized real wrestling fan anywhere), 92-year-old Vicky Aguilera returned to her ringside seat after two months away because of an illness having to do with her age. She celebrated her birthday this past week which also was her 46th consecutive year of being a front-row regular at EMLL weekly shows.
UWA 2/9 at El Toreo in Naucalpan saw The Killer win the UWA junior heavyweight title winning 2/3 falls from Enrique Vera after hitting Vera with a foreign object given to him by manager Andy Barrow. Also Dos Caras & Tinieblas Jr. & Sr. won 2/3 falls from Canek & Kokina & Gigante Warrior (Butch Masters) when Canek was pinned in the third fall when Kokina splashed him. So Canek and Kokina broke-up with Canek as the face for the millionth time when The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samoan Savage) helped Kokina and Warrior jump Canek. Also Fishman & Samoan Swat Team beat Silver King & El Texano & Fantasma, Los Villanos beat Negro Navarro & Black Power & El Signo via DQ, Baby Face & Scorpio Sr. & Scorpio Jr. drew with El Engendro & Canadian Tiger & Dr. Wagner Jr. and the opener saw Celestial & Samurai & Ninja Sasuke beat Momotaro & Jose Luis Feliciano & Black Terry.2/16 at El Toreo saw Bam Bam Bigelow & The Samoan Swat Team (Samoan Savage & Fatu) win 2/3 falls from Canek & Dos Caras & Fishman (fair), Texano & Silver King & Gran Hamada beat Canadian Tiger & Negro Casas & Dr. Wagner Jr. (best match on show), Killer & La Muerte & El Espanto Jr. beat Fantasma & Vera & Solar I in two straight, Baby Face & El Engendro & El Indomito drew El Sicodelico & Super Raton & Super Pinocchio, Hijo del Diablo & Lobo Rubio & Shu El Guerrero beat Black Terry & Jose Luis Feliciano & Momotaro and Ninja Sasuke & Celestial beat Los Mohicanos.
The Canek vs. Caras title change which went 27:00 was said to be a ****1/4 match while the Pegasus Kid vs. Villano III title match which went 44:00 (which was actually too long) the previous week was said to be **** from people who saw the TV via the satellite. Most of the other matches in recent weeks at El Toreo weren't that hot.
Mil Mascaras & Dos Caras beat Kokina & Gigante Warrior via DQ when Kokina gave Mascaras a low blow in 1/31 in Netzahualcoytol.
Kendo beat El Mohicano II on 2/9 in San Lorenzo in a mask vs. hair match.
Bigelow also worked 2/17 in Puebla teaming with the SST against Canek & Fishman & Villano III.
An American team called Steel Warriors are headed to El Toreo as is Kendo and Kahos I.
Fray Tormenta's son Fray Tormenta Jr. will debut in the next month. Tormenta Sr. returns to El Toreo at the end of this month.
Tony Anthony & Danny Davis will be headed back on 3/1, but this time they'll be a masked tag team called The American Eagles and no doubt feud with Silver King & El Texano over the UWA tag team titles.
Negro Casas beat Valente Fernandez on 1/27 in Puebla in a hair vs. hair match.
El Hijo Del Santo kept the UWA welterweight title on 1/31 in Mexico City beating Casandro.
JAPAN Just a few notes this week. Everything in New Japan regarding Tatsumi Fujinami, Super Strong Machine and the Blond Outlaws and Masanobu Kurisu are all simply a part of "shoot-angles." Machine, Hiro Saito, Norio Honaga and Tatsutoshi Goto each signed new one year contracts just a few weeks ago and at the signing booker Riki Choshu came up with an angle for them to "quit" the promotion and miss the next tour. I believe Fujinami will miss the March tour over an angle to change his character and because of well-known legit heat with Antonio Inoki.Can you believe it's nostalgia now department: A company has bought the rights to videotapes of Tiger Mask's (Satoru Sayama) greatest matches with the likes of Black Tiger, Dynamite Kid, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Les Thornton, Solar, etc. and is coming out with a commercially heavily pushed tape of ten year old nostalgia. It's funny because a great percentage of today's younger Japanese wrestling audience has never even seen Sayama wrestle and even though he's promoting his own new sport, he's basically become completely forgotten in today's scene.
Although All Japan continues to do huge business and Budokan Hall for 3/4 sold out weeks before a line-up was announced (they still haven't announced the card), some fans are starting to complain about it always being the same guys against the same guys on television every week. Some talk that Giant Baba recognizes this and will start booking some dream matches on television like Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi in singles matches against one another.
The newest big name in Japan is Mitsuhiro Matsunaga of the WING group, who got his photo in every sports newspaper that covers wrestling this past week. On the 2/9 WING show at Korakuen Hall, in a street fight match with Gypsy Joe & Matsunaga beating Mr. Pogo & Miguelito Perez, after the match The Head Hunters attacked Matsunaga and were chasing him around the building. Matsunaga wound up escaping by running away, but then climbed up to the balcony of Korakuen Hall and dove with a cross body block off the balcony onto The Head Hunters. All the photographers were told before the show he was going to do the stunt so everyone was ready to take the photo. Since very few readers have obviously ever been to Korakuen Hall, the balcony is approximately 20 feet from the ground floor (as compared with eight feet for Jimmy Snuka's famous cage dives at Madison Square Garden against Bob Backlund and Don Muraco in the early 1980s), so standing up you're talking about a 26 foot drop or roughly triple the distance of the bump that ruined Jim Cornette's knees at Starrcade '86. Results of the show saw Joe & Matsunaga win the main event, Dick Murdoch pinned Mitsuteru Tokuda, Kyoko Inoue & Toshiyo Yamada beat Manami Toyota & Sake Hasegawa and Head Hunters beat Hiroshi Shimada & Yukihiro Kanemura before 1,853 fans.
Television ratings last weekend saw New Japan on 2/8 with a six-man tag team main event do a 6.5 Video Research and 5.3 Neilsen (fair for the time slot) while All Japan on 2/9 with Jumbo Tsuruta losing the triple crown to Stan Hansen did a 6.3 and 3.7 (excellent). This past weekend New Japan had the Jushin Liger vs. Honaga title change, Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Hase vs. Fujinami & Shiro Koshinaka and Rambo & Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Choshu & Masa Chono.
The New Japan wrestlers had a vote amongst themselves as a shoot as to who was the best worker in the group and Chono got the most votes.
New Japan drew a sellout 10,300 fans to Nagoya on 2/10. Don't have all details but Koshinaka & Kobayashi beat Akitoshi Saito & Shigeichi Tagichi (karate men from Nagoya) in a mixed tag when Koshinaka made Tagichi submit, Liger retained both the IWGP junior heavyweight and WCW light heavyweight titles beating Chris Benoit via pinfall in 16:22 and Muto & Hase kept the IWGP tag team titles beating Scott Norton & Brad Armstrong in 22:37 when Muto pinned Armstrong with the moonsault.
There is a huge mixed card on 3/26 with Masayoshi Satake, who has worked with Rings going against current World Karate Association world heavyweight champion Maurice Smith, Willie Williams (who will work with Rings) vs. Nobuaki Tsunoda in a full contact karate match, Akira Maeda vs. Koichiro Kimura (champion of a shoot fighting form called Submission Arts Wrestling although most likely this match will be a work) and others.
SWS tour from 3/14 to 3/22 will include Undertaker, Berzerker, Hercules and Dandy.
Gong Magazine Weekly celebrated its 400th issue this past week. The magazine released the results of its popularity poll (Gong reaches largely a more markish audience then Weekly Pro. Top 20 Japanese for popularity were: 1. Misawa; 2. Muto; 3. Tsuruta; 4. Tenryu; 5. Choshu; 6. Onita; 7. Chono; 8. Kawada; 9. Hase; 10. Kobashi; 11. Maeda; 12. Fujinami; 13. Liger; 14. Inoki; 15. Funaki; 16. Ultimate Dragon; 17. Taue; 18. Takada; 19. Hashimoto; 20. Kikuchi. Top foreigners were: 1. Hansen; 2. Dynamite Kid; 3. Hogan; 4. Norton; 5. Sting; 6. Vader; 7. Gordy; 8. Ultimate Warrior; 9. Scott Steiner; 10. Rick Steiner; 11. Williams; 12. Ace; 13. Mascaras; 14. Terry Funk; 15. Road Warriors; 16. Spivey; 17. Shamrock; 18. The Sheik; 19. King Haku; 20. Furnas and Davey Boy Smith (tied).
JAPANESE TELEVISION RUNDOWN 1/19 ALL JAPAN: 1. Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Yoshinari Ogawa & Masa Fuchi. It started slow with lots of submission holds and wasn't as good as it sounds because Ogawa was bothered by a shoulder injury. Finally they got heat on Kikuchi. After the hot tag, the last few minutes were really hot. Kawada ended up making Ogawa submit to a crossface. ***1/4; 2. Kenta Kobashi made Billy Black submit to the old Bruno Sammartino over the shoulder backbreaker. Only the finish aired but it was fantastic. Black did an Orihara moonsault from the top rope to the floor and a Northern Lights suplex on the floor; 3. Mitsuharu Misawa pinned Johnny Ace with the Tiger-driver (double-arm suplex dropped into a power bomb) in 16:00. Only the last few minutes aired and they were average; 4. Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue beat Stan Hansen & Joel Deaton when Tsuruta pinned Deaton with a back suplex. Solid work but nothing outstanding. ***
1/26 ALL JAPAN: 1. Misawa made Fuchi submit to the facelock. Fuchi kept working on Misawa's knee and dropping them on the announcers table. Fuchi was great here as far as psychology to make this a super match before doing the job. Announcer Fukuzawa is the best in the business and I don't even understand what he's saying but he's been described to me as if you take everything Tony Schiavone does and then do just the opposite, you have Fukuzawa (which isn't meant necessarily as a knock on Schiavone as much as a description of Fukuzawa's style--well, actually I guess it is something of a knock). ***3/4; 2. Kobashi pinned Ogawa with the moonsault. Only the finish aired but what did air looked great. Then again, doesn't it always with Kobashi?; 3. Taue pinned Kikuchi with a Sammartino backbreaker dropped into a power bomb called the Thunder Fire Power bomb by Atsushi Onita. Again they only aired the finish but what aired looked great; 4. Tsuruta pinned Kawada with two back suplexes just after the 20:00 mark. Solid for the first half but few high spots. Kawada came back with a sleeper, a dive over the top and a Cactus Jack elbow drop off the apron to the floor. It turned into a super match as they work so stiff and convincing with one another. They have a knack of combining a realistic looking but still entertaining style. ****
2/1 NEW JAPAN: 1. Tony Halme pinned Scott Norton with a clothesline off the top rope in 8:41. Halme, who is actually one of the strongest men in the world but in the ring looks almost fat and sloppy next to Norton, wears jeans into the ring. Norton is super over while Halme isn't because people can see through him that he isn't what he's pushed as being. 3/4*; 2. Riki Choshu beat Tatsumi Fujinami in 12:11 to unify the IWGP world heavyweight title and Greatest 18 Club title into one belt. This was the main event from the 1/4 Tokyo Dome and while it was watchable, for a Dome main event, it was nothing. The heat wasn't there at all. **1/2
2/2 ALL JAPAN: 1. Hansen beat Kikuchi via submission with the boston crab in 5:00. Hansen just unmercifully beat the much smaller Kikuchi up brutally. I don't understand how Kikuchi can take this kind of punishment on a nightly basis. It was very much watchable but totally one-sided. **1/4; 2. Tsuruta & Taue & Fuchi beat Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi in the 45:00 match. The last 30 minutes or so aired on television. The match wasn't as good as their 52:00 classic last year and in some spots actually dragged because it was so long. Actually, I'd rate the six-man tag match they had on television three weeks earlier as every bit as good. But you can't knock the kind of matches these guys put together, even though you seem to see it every week and it's the same guys every time, it's also the best men's wrestling in the world. It turned into a fantastic match with tons of hot moves. Finish saw Kobashi miss a moonsault, then kick out of Tsuruta's back suplex, Taue's golden arm bomber and power bomb, before finally getting pinned by a second golden arm bomber. ****1/2
OREGON Steve Doll beat Ron Harris on 2/7 in Eugene to win the Pacific Northwest title.The crowd on 2/15 at the Portland Sports Arena fell to just 150 as the lack of television is really staring to take its toll. The opener saw Brickhouse Brown beat John Rambo via DQ, then Jesse Barr pinned Buddy Rose which was followed by a candidate for the most tasteless comment of 1992. After a ref bump, Rose beat up on Barr and had him pinned and screamed to get a ref in to count the fall. Out from the dressing room ran Bart Sawyer (looking 30 pounds heavier than when he left) and when Rose saw him, Barr schoolboyed him from behind and Sawyer counted the pin. After the match Rose grabbed the house mic and said that everyone had better beware because there's a man who used to wrestle here a few years ago named Buzz Sawyer. And last week we had a match. And after the match, he died. Well, onto more tasteful things, Mike Winner pinned Al Madril in a match where both guys wore a mask by using a loaded head-butt after foiling Madril's attempt to do the same thing. This set up a mask vs. mask match between the two of them for next week. Sawyer then went to a double disqualification with Mike Miller when Rose and Brown interfered to set up a tag team match for next week. The main event was a no disqualification match for the held up Northwest tag team titles. Doll & The Grappler beat Ron & Don Harris to win the straps. During and after the match the Harris brothers worked on Doll's knee and he ended up doing a stretcher job. They had already announced Doll vs. Ron Harris for the Northwest title as next week's main event so no doubt Doll will go into the match with the bad knee and sell it the entire time.
The Grappler got juice at the last Uncle Milt's show in Vancouver, WA so apparently the Washington commission is no longer worrying about the blade.
Still no word on getting television but judging from the crowd, over the long haul it may be a necessity for survival of the territory.
GLOBAL The 2/14 card at the Dallas Sportatorium drew approximately 800 fans (no idea of paid vs. paper). The first television show taped saw Bill Irwin beat Black Bart in a bullrope match, Terry Garvin drew Bull Pain, Steven Dane pinned Rick Garren and The California Connection (John Tatum & Rod Price) beat Chaz & Tug Taylor when Chaz was piledriven on a chair. Chaz was legit KO'd as I guess this wasn't the scheduled finish. Second hour of taping saw Eddie Gilbert over Jeff Grettler, Dark Patriot pinned Gary Young (scheduled to be Chaz but he was still shaken up), Dane pinned Rattlesnake (Jeff Raitz) and Sam Houston beat Pain in a Texas death match with a strange ending. Black Bart interfered and hung Houston over the top rope and he fell to the floor and passed out. Two referees were confused as what to do because Houston couldn't be given a ten count when he wasn't in the ring. So they called Commissioner Max Andrews to the ring to make a decision and he casually decided that Houston was the winner. The third hour saw Garvin no contest Scott Putski when all of Scandor Akbar's men attacked Garvin and Putski, Bart & Sweet Daddy Falcone beat Irwin & Rattlesnake, Rockin Robin beat Samantha Pain in a lumberjack match and the main event saw Dark Patriot keep the North American title going to a double disqualification against brother Eddie Gilbert when both Bruce Prichard and Terry Garvin interfered. Two referees were both knocked out. Both wrestlers pulled out foreign objects and hit each other simultaneously for a double knockout. Prichard jumped in and put Patriot on Gilbert and Garvin entered and reversed the positions. When the verdict was announced, Gilbert started getting mad at Garvin saying that he didn't need his help. When Garvin explained the situation, Gilbert apologized and also apologized for everything he'd done in the past. Garvin then went to shake Gilbert's hand, but then Gilbert walked away without shaking Garvin's hand.The promotion is planning on a media blitz in March in an attempt to up the paid attendance and bolster the talent roster.
Billy Joe Travis no-showed so the idea of he and Steven Dane becoming a heel tag team called Fantasy has been scrapped.
2/21 at the Sportatorium has Bruce Forcz vs. Tug & Chaz Taylor, Eddie Gilbert vs. Big Bad John (a very green wrestler who was totally unimpressive here a few months back as Bodysnatcher) in a match where if Eddie wins, Prichard must crawl across the ring and kiss Eddie's feet but if John wins, Eddie must crawl across the ring and kiss Prichard's feet, The Patriot (Del Wilkes) vs. Dark Patriot in a non-title match and if Patriot wins, he gets five minutes in the ring with Bruce Prichard, Barry Horowitz vs. Ben Jordan for the GWF lightheavyweight title and Horowitz will forfeit the title to Jordan if he can't beat him twice within ten minutes, Bart & Falcone & Tatum & Price vs. Garvin & Gary Young & Putski & Irwin in an elimination tag team match (this match is scheduled to be a one-match television show so it'll probably go 30-45 minutes).
2/28 will be a taped fist Battle Royal to create a GWF Brass Knux champion with Bart, Young, Pain, Irwin, Horowitz, Tatum, Price and Kendo Nagasaki.
WWF There wasn't much good news this week in Titan, but perhaps the best was that the FOX network special on 2/8 drew an 8.2 rating and a 13 share. While that only ranked 74th out of 92 shows for the week, for FOX on a Saturday night, it was an unqualified success. While it dropped a full point from its lead-in show (COPS), it's still two points better than FOX averages in the time slot and beat out "Perfect Strangers" and "Growing Pains" enroute to finishing third in its time slot among the four networks, with the vast majority of the Saturday night viewing audience going to the Olympic games on CBS.Highlights from television tapings on 2/17 in Tampa before 10,000 fans (about 1,500 shy of capacity). Many major changes as you'll note as outside forces are causing "booking as you go along" strategy to overtake the normal well planned out in advance angles Titan is usually famous for. Jim Neidhart is gone with no explanation and Owen Hart worked as singles wrestler Owen "The Rocket" Hart winning a few television squashes.
Jake Roberts also wasn't there. Of the five matches advertised, just two of them took place, naturally without any announcement of a change in the card and just after promising no more false advertising to the Florida legislature. The main bouts were supposed to be Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair, which did take place but may have been their worst match so far, Shawn Michaels vs. British Bulldog, which also took place and was the best match on the show, LOD vs. Natural Disasters which obviously didn't take place since LOD is gone, Undertaker vs. Big Bossman which didn't take place even though both were there because Undertaker turned face so Bossman instead worked with Warlord, and Randy Savage vs. Roberts with Sid Justice as ref which also didn't take place since Roberts wasn't there. Before the cameras rolled there were four matches, a try-out with J.W. Storm, who looked bad as far as work but he had that look that nobody is supposed to have, Jim Powers pinned Kato *1/4, Chris Walker pinned Pat Tanaka **1/2 (Tanaka was the best wrestler on the card) and a guy named Lee Armstrong was given a try-out but looked terrible and ended up doing several jobs later in the show in taping matches. For Prime Time, Owen Hart pinned Hercules *1/2. They announced that DiBiase & IRS won the tag team titles in Denver, although they never announced who they beat to win the belts. DiBiase & IRS are now with Jimmy Hart as their manager as Sherri is strictly with Shawn Michaels. They said the finish was when Jimmy Hart used the megaphone, which isn't what happened. The Natural Disasters turned babyfaces with the storyline claiming that Hart cheated them out of their title shot against the champions who never existed. After Ted & IRS won a squash match, the Disasters did a run-in to a big pop and chased them out of the ring. So I guess the Wrestlemania match will be Ted & IRS vs. Disasters, which pretty much to me confirms LOD is history since LOD was to work with Disasters at WM. Doug Somers worked as a jobber for Tatonka. Shawn Michaels has better entrance music. Randy Savage squashed Mountie in 3:18 for Prime Time. In a non-taped segment designed to get the proper fan reaction for later taped segments, Mountie then challenged any man in the house (he does a great job in these segments) and Undertaker and Paul Bearer came out and Bearer KO'd Hart with the urn and Undertaker survived Mountie trying to shock him four times and left Mountie laying with the tombstone. Sid Justice still had a majority of the fans cheering him no matter what he did, and his squashees did stretcher jobs and he puts a license plate on them after squashing them which says to call 911. Virgil beat Tanaka *1/4. Ric Flair did one of the great interviews of his career for six minutes showing a photo of himself with Elizabeth from years back and claiming that he dumped Liz a long time ago. Repo Man pinned Jim Brunzell, Mountie & Disasters beat Roddy Piper & Bushwhackers *, Papa Shongo had a squash which was screwed up since his skull caught on fire and the fire was blazing in the corner and the camera crew had to try and put it out as the match was going on. Justice won another squash and Virgil tried to make the save but Sid left him laying as well. Bossman double count out Warlord 1/2*, Bulldog beat Michaels via DQ when Sherri interfered **3/4. Hogan did an interview and compared Sid with Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Manson and talked about his match in the "Pontiac Hoosier Dome" and he's such a star they didn't even make him re-tape it. Finale saw Hogan beat Flair via count out *1/2.
Judging from how everyone looked at the taping, the steroid policy appeared to be a total fraud as many of the wrestlers looked bigger and more muscular than they had at the previous taping. Steve Planamenta on Tuesday told Alex Marvez of Three Count Newsletter and The Miami Herald that the WWF had done two steroid tests--one in New Haven in November and a second test in Lubbock, TX for the SNME taping three weeks ago. This would mean it was ten weeks between tests. Like the first test in New Haven, apparently there was no penalties associated with the second test since nobody was suspended once again even though the WWF had previously said that anyone with steroids in their system for the second test would be suspended for six weeks. More importantly, it appeared that many (but not all) wrestlers in Lubbock were way down as even was mentioned here after the SNME aired, but from the reports (I obviously wasn't in Tampa myself), that wasn't the case this time. This certainly must make one suspicious that guys were tipped off ahead (which it appeared was the case with the first test as well). I don't even know why we even spend time worrying about Titan's steroid policy anyway.
Quick correction from last week. When reporting on the 1/31 MSG show, we listed Hercules pinned Warlord when the correct result was Warlord winning.
As far as the special ref for the Hogan vs. Justice match at Mania, sources at Top Rank boxing (Bob Arum's promotion) have confirmed that Arum received an offer last week for George Foreman to be a guest referee at Wrestlemania. Arum thought it was okay if it would make Foreman money but Foreman turned it down. The rumors going around, which make a lot of sense, are that Lou Ferrigno will be the guest ref.
I was very disappointed with how they handled the switch from Hogan-Flair to Hogan-Justice with simply an announcement by Jack Tunney which really made no sense.
With the Undertaker turn airing on television this weekend, all the scheduled Hogan & Piper vs. Undertaker & Flair matches will instead be Justice & Flair as a team.
I don't have an updated figure on Wrestlemania ticket sales other than the figure we reported last week of more than 20,000 was later confirmed to us as a worked figure (the real figure was lower) and that sales are well behind what they were expecting them to be and where they needed to be to actually fill the building.
Baseball America magazine in the 2/10 to 2/24 issue has a story on Randy Savage's minor league baseball career.
2/14 in St. Louis drew 5,500 as Tatonka pinned Rick Martel, Undertaker pinned Storm (horrible match, Undertaker totally cheered), Bushwhackers beat Kato & Brian Nobbs, IRS pinned Virgil using the briefcase, Warlord pinned Jim Brunzell, Bret Hart beat Mountie (best match on the card due to Hart) and Savage beat Roberts in a cage match. Only three of the seven matches took place as advertised with an announcement at the beginning of the card that "due to travel problems this is the card" and they announced the revised card without saying who wouldn't be there. Seemed fans were most upset about Von Erich missing the show as he's still over pretty big in the city from his NWA days.
2/15 in Orlando drew 4,600 with most of the same no-shows as St. Louis. They announced the revised card there at the beginning with no offers of refunds and no announcement of who advertised wasn't there. Lots of fans were really upset about LOD not being there. Results saw Tatonka pin Warlord 1/4*, Bushwhacker Luke beat Typhoon via count out -**, Martel pinned Storm -***, Hart beat Mountie **, Kato pinned Brunzell 3/4*, IRS pinned Virgil * and Hogan & Piper beat Flair & Undertaker when Flair accidentally hit Undertaker, who walked out and Flair left by himself was pinned by Hogan (which is Flair's first clean job since coming to the WWF) ***3/4. Hogan & Piper were cheered heavily although Piper more than Hogan. Undertaker and Flair were about 50 percent and 40 percent cheered respectively.
2/16 in Auburn Hills, MI drew 6,000 as Tito Santana pinned Barbarian in 9:10 1/2*, Repo Man pinned Virgil in 9:08 *1/4, Michaels pinned Powers in 13:13 (Shawn did a one-man show) **1/2, Hogan & Piper beat Flair & Undertaker with the same finish and Hogan pinning Flair in 9:57 ***1/4, Big Bossman pinned IRS in 6:37 *, Skinner pinned Walker DUD and Sgt. Slaughter & Jim Duggan beat Nasty Boys when Duggan hit Nobbs with the 2x4. Before this card, they were more specific in announcing that Ted DiBiase (who missed a week with a legit injured back) and Jimmy Snuka wouldn't be there due to injuries.
Hogan was close to universally cheered at his live appearances this weekend in the tag matches with Piper against Undertaker & Flair. I was told on a New York radio show that when they announced his name in Nassau Coliseum on Friday night that the entire place booed but that's second hand but did hear that in St. Louis when they announced his name it was 70 percent silence and 30 percent boos.
2/8 in Los Angeles drew 5,600 as Warlord pinned Walker DUD, Michaels pinned Snuka 1/2*, Flair beat Piper via DQ ***1/4, Bossman & Santana beat DiBiase & IRS **, Mountie pinned Brunzell 1/2*, Repo Man pinned Virgil * and Legion of Doom beat Natural Disasters *.
The magazine Toy and Hobby World in the February issue had a brief mention about wrestling toys. It said while the WWF had added seven new licenses at the start of 1992, its toys declined in sales in 1991 which was attributed to its decline in television ratings nationally and an increase in popularity of World Championship Wrestling during 1991 (which shows how much they know about wrestling I guess).
Prime Time Wrestling was pre-empted on 2/10 because of the Westminster Dog Show (which actually did a better rating than P-T normally gets. All-American Wrestling, the morning after the Saturday Night Main Event, drew a 2.3 rating.
2/15 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia saw Skinner beat Walker, Michaels pinned Powers, New Foundation beat Beverly Brothers, Santana pinned The Barbarian (sub for DiBiase), Slaughter & Duggan beat Nasty Boys, Bossman beat Repo Man via count out and Savage pinned Roberts in a cage match.
2/14 at the Nassau Coliseum drew 5,000 as Santana pinned Barbarian (sub for DiBiase), Skinner pinned Walker, Bossman beat Repo Man via count out, Owen Hart pinned Blake Beverly, Duggan pinned Typhoon (scheduled as tag match but Earthquake wasn't there), Beau Beverly pinned Jim Neidhart, Michaels pinned Powers (sub for Snuka) and Flair beat Piper via DQ for using a chair.
USWA 2/10 in Memphis saw the crowd stay up to 2,100 as Robert Fuller beat Tony Falk, Brian Christopher beat Tom Prichard to win the Texas title (which is never defended in Texas), Eric Embry & C.J. beat Tony Anthony & Dirty White Girl in a match in which the winners gave the losers 10 lashes with a belt, Kimala regained the held up USWA title beating Koko Ware via count out when Friday (Buddy Wayne) held Ware's leg as he was trying to get back in the ring, Anthony won a Battle Royal with all the girls and their guys in which the only way to be eliminated was to be stripped down to your underwear and The Moondogs & The Big Black Dog beat Jerry Lawler & Austin Idol & Jeff Jarrett when the Black Dog pinned Lawler after he was hit with a chair.2/11 in Louisville saw Prichard beat Falk, Miss Texas & Dirty White Girl beat C.J. & Miss Jennifer when Embry and Falk interfered for the DQ, Fuller pinned Doug Masters, Embry DDQ Anthony when the women interfered, Jarrett beat Richard Lee in a cage match and Moondogs DDQ Lawler & Jarrett.
Saw some recent tapes from here. Brian Christopher (Brian Lawler) resembles his father early in his career so much as far as cocky mannerisms it is unbelievable. He's really small (read that probably has never used roids) but his personality is better than most.
The Moondogs vs. Lawler & Jarrett matches have been the wildest and best brawls on major circuits in the country since the Eddie Gilbert vs. Cactus Jack matches (better than Sting vs. Cactus matches). Since it's so different from what is being done in the other promotions, it's quite refreshing to watch it, although the quadruple juice just seems to be something that should be obsolete for health reasons.
When Moondogs worked their squash on television Saturday, both the jobbers juiced heavily.
Robert Fuller appears to be on his way out.
Black Dog is really green. Lawler threatened to throw fire at Black Dog on the 2/16 card.
Tony Anthony is leaving for Mexico.
2/16 in Memphis saw Miss Texas beat Jennifer, Falk beat Ricky Hayes, Fuller beat Masters, Christopher beat Prichard via DQ to keep the Texas title, White Girl beat C.J., Embry beat Anthony in a scaffold match with Anthony doing a stretcher job after working a leg injury, Kimala beat Ware via DQ to keep the USWA titles, Lawler beat Black Dog via DQ and Lawler (subbing for Idol who no-showed) & Jarrett beat Moondogs via DQ.
HERE AND THERE The lawsuit filed by Larry Sharpe over breach of contract against Bam Bam Bigelow comes to trial in New Jersey on 3/23.Former WWF wrestler Paul Roma, who has been training with Kevin Rooney since he quit the federation, has his boxing debut on ESPN on 3/6 for Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions. Top Rank wants to give Roma a push as a heavyweight.
Talked with Stu Hart a few nights back. Stuart E. said that he has no intention of re-starting Stampede Wrestling but there have been talks from time-to-time about trying to syndicate the 30+ years of tapes (1956-1990) he has of the old Stampede territory. Hart said he asked the new company promoting in Calgary not to use the Stampede Wrestling name since he's not involved with it. Hart said the best worker he ever saw was Dory Funk, who he said he never saw have a bad match and had three of the best matches Hart ever remembered seeing (against Dave Ruhl, Billy Robinson and George Gordienko). He said the best drawing card ever in the territory was Abdullah the Butcher in the late 1960s.
Buddy Landel said that the article written in the Jacksonville newspaper about him misquoted some of the things he said. He recently walked out in Puerto Rico over money problems along with one or two other Americans and his goal is to get back with WCW.
The 20/20 story on steroids is tentatively scheduled for a 3/13 air date. It'll concentrate on bodybuilding and Steve Michalik but there will be many references to wrestling.
An indie promoter who sells shows in the Northeast just called to say that high schools and board of educations are leery of running indie shows with the response, "We don't want these steroid freaks in our gyms." This business has to clean up this problem or it will destroy it from within because public perception will only continually get worse unless the problem is eradicated. The opinion to just ride with the storm because it'll go away looks to be very shortsighted.
Rich Mancuso and Steve Mueller are doing a cable TV pro wrestling show in New York on Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. on Ch. 38 and 44 in New York.
Baron Von Raschke, Ray "The Crippler" Stevens and Buck Zumhofe will all be working a show this coming weekend at Fridley High School in Minnesota.
Bob Roop ran a show on 2/15 in Ft. Lauderdale before 300 fans with both main events (Buddy Landel and Kendall Windham) no-showing. Those who worked included The Black Hearts (Tom Nash & Dave Johnson), Rick Ryder, Malia Hosaka, Penelope Paradise and Bob Cook.
The University of Central Florida dedicated an annual scholarship over this past weekend to the memory of Ed Gantner. Among those at the dedication were Scott Hall (WCW's Diamond Studd), Kevin Sullivan (yes, he's alive no matter what rumors you've heard), Woman and Sir Oliver Humperdink.
Gordon Scozzari's American Wrestling Federation has plans for shows in April. Paul Orndorff has vacated the AWF title so the new champ by virtue of divine intervention is Stan Lane.
Curtis Towe, a San Antonio-based prelim wrestler was shot and killed in a bar altercation over the weekend. According to police reports, Towe pulled out a gun in a bar but before he could use it was shot by the brother of the main he was aiming at. The police ruled it justifiable homicide.
Add Terry Funk, Jim Cornette and Butch Reed to the list of those who have agreed to work for Buck Robley's promotion out of Louisiana. Funk will do both television announcing and even wrestle in between filming his television show "Tequila and Bonetti." The group is set for a 3/16 start date in New Orleans.
Motor City Wrestling has a special on Continental Cable in Madison Heights, MI headlined by Mickey Doyle defending the North American title against Mad Max Anthony.
Chris Love announced shows on 3/6 in Belton, TX and 3/7 in Paris, TX with Bull Pain and Sam Houston among the headliners.
Boxer and sometimes wrestler Leon Spinks was injured in an auto accident at 8:45 a.m. on 2/16 in Addison, IL. Spinks' car weaved and hit a stationary and unoccupied pick-up truck. Police were questioning him for a DUI.
Tom Brandi pinned King Kaluha to headline the Valentine's Day Spectacular on 2/8 for the Virginia Wrestling Alliance.
WWC on 2/15 in Caguas, PR saw Carlitos Colon beat Ron Garvin via DQ, Heartbreakers (Wendell Cooley & Frankie Lancaster) over Bobby & Jackie Fulton, Atkee Malumba pinned Rex King, Robert Gibson pinned Road Block, The Law beat Fidel Sierra via DQ and El Exotico beat El Corsario.
WCW Lots of news regarding personnel. Dustin Rhodes, Steve Austin and Brian Pillman all signed two-year contracts. These new contracts have a base salary plus incentives. I believe both Rhodes and Austin signed for bases of $165,000 and $190,000 with incentives that will push that total up from there. Pillman had been heavily pursued by the WWF which is apparently looking at raiding back in the opposite direction.Jesse Ventura hadn't signed his contract at press time but apparently agreed to terms mid-week for a two-year deal to co-host World Wide Wrestling and is scheduled to start around the first of March. He'll also no doubt continue to co-host all PPV and Clash programs.
Terry Gordy & Steve Williams also haven't signed the contract but are either close to or have verbally agreed to a part-time deal in between Japan tours.
Johnny B. Badd signed a one-year contract rumored at $156,000.
KOFY, Ch. 20 in San Francisco will begin airing WCW Pro Wrestling on 3/7. Check for time slot.
2/16 at the Scope in Norfolk drew a $26,000 house (2,400) as Richard Morton pinned Johnny B. Badd, Abdullah the Butcher pinned P.N. News, Mr. Hughes pinned Van Hammer, Steiners beat Young Pistols, Barry Windham beat Larry Zbyszko in a Texas death match and Sting & Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes & Ron Simmons beat Rick Rude & Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin & Arn Anderson in a cage match when Steamboat pinned Eaton.
Terry Taylor & Greg Valentine won the U.S. tag team titles from Ron Simmons & Big Josh on 2/17 in Rock Hill, SC.
Dick Slater won't be coming in since he was originally going to be brought in to team with Valentine.
Tom Zenk & Marcus Bagwell have formed an underneath tag team.
PR chief Barry Norman was fired.
Expect major changes in format and content of the WCW Saturday night show.
Michael Hayes won't be doing any color commentary because they don't want to use anyone involved in angles on commentary and The Freebirds will be getting an angle around April. Expect Magnum T.A. to do color along with Teddy Long as there will be color commentators on every show.
The 3/1 TBS Main Event show will have the wrap-arounds done live in the studio so they can comment about the PPV show from the previous night.
Kip Frey said on John Arezzi's Pro Wrestling Spotlight radio show that he is looking into cutting ticket prices at the house shows. An announcement was made Saturday night in Baltimore that for the remainder of 1992 tickets would be $12, $10 and $5.40.
Sting missed a few shows this weekend due to the birth of a seven pound, eight ounce Steven James Borden Jr. Congratulations to Sting and also to Cactus Jack who should have had an addition to his family before you read this as well.
2/15 in Baltimore drew 3,400 and $40,000 as Zbyszko pinned Bagwell, Steve Armstrong pinned News when Tracy Smothers tripped News who was delivering a suplex, Van Hammer beat Abdullah the Butcher via DQ for an over-the-top rope in an awful match (Hammer was put on the road to replace El Gigante who returned home to Argentina for his mother's funeral--Gigante will be back for the PPV), Morton pinned Badd, Simmons pinned Eaton (good), Steiners beat Cactus Jack & Hughes when Rick pinned Hughes and Windham & Rhodes & Steamboat beat Rude & Austin & Anderson with Dusty Rhodes bullroped to Paul E. Dangerously. The finish saw Zbyszko attack Rhodes, who made his own comeback and beat up both Zbyszko and Dangerously and then used the cowbell on Arn's head to set up the face's pin.
The new policy of posting signs in front of arenas regarding no-shows and making announcements is supposed to begin this week. At the shows Sting wasn't at, they did make the announcement when the show began and offered refunds.
Because of the Hawaiian Open, WCW was canceled last weekend and Main Event aired an hour earlier and drew a 1.9 rating while Power Hour did a 1.7. The golf did a 1.8 which is well below the 2.7 that WCW has averaged every Saturday.
After Sting goes around the horn with Rick Rude in March and early April, the next headline heel will be Big Van Vader as they did an angle 2/17 in Rock Hill, SC where Vader powerslammed Sting a few times and he had to be helped out of the ring. TV taping drew 2,500 and included Anderson & Eaton & Austin beating Chip the Firebreaker & Zenk & Bagwell, Sting & Simmons & Steamboat & Rhodes over Eaton & Anderson & Zbyszko & Austin when Steamboat pinned Zbyszko but they beat up on Steamboat afterwards, Steiners over Eaton & Zbyszko in 15 seconds and more.
Gordon Solie was taken off the WNN segment and replaced with Eric "Mannequin" Bischoff. Solie's only role left is doing the localized promos for Florida cities.
2/14 in Charleston, WV drew 3,000 as Hughes beat Hammer, Morton beat Badd, News over Taylor, Steiners beat Pistols (real good), Windham beat Zbyszko and Steamboat & Simmons & Rhodes beat Eaton & Anderson & Rude in a cage match. A scary moment in the match when Rude fell off the cage backward on his head. He actually wasn't hurt bad but solid it like crazy.
The only poor gate of the week was 2/13 in Cincinnati which drew a $12,000 house.
A get-together has been organized for fans coming in for the Milwaukee show at Major Goosby's at 340 West Kilbourn which is across the street from the Mecca Auditorium at 1 p.m. on 2/29. Observer readers Paul Steinberg and Jon Babler have reserved a section of the bar for a get-together and video party.
2/12 before an overflow crowd at Center Stage saw Taylor & Valentine double-team Bagwell, Hughes pinned Big Josh, they announced Dangerously would be barred from ringside during the Rude-Steamboat PPV match, Steiners beat Pistols ***1/2 and Windham & Steamboat beat Anderson & Zbyszko via DQ for using the phone. This all aired this past weekend. On this coming Saturday's show, Pillman beat Rip Rogers in a good match, Taylor & Valentine issue a challenge to Simmons & Josh for the U.S. belts, Sting & Steamboat & Windham & Rhodes beat Rude & Eaton & Anderson & Zbyszko when Rhodes pinned Eaton. Because the top rope broke during this match, even though it was ***1/2, they re-taped the match on 2/17 in Rock Hill and it'll be the Rock Hill version that airs on Saturday.
THE READERS PAGES Rich Kunkel of 555 College St., Wadsworth, OH 44281 is looking for a tape of the 1/3 Inside Edition piece with Billy Graham and David Shults and the 1/17 concession stand brawl with Moondogs vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jerry Lawler and pre-1988 Wrestling Observer Yearbooks.
The Virginia Wrestling Association has a yearbook available for $2 at P.O. Box 34142, Richmond, VA 23234.
Naoki Ishibashi of 335 Yusaki, Kawanishi-cho, Shiki-gun Nara 636-03 Japan is looking for someone who can supply him weekly with tapes of UWA and EMLL wrestling and in exchange he can provide Japanese tapes.
Koji Suwa of 81-2 Kurado Kisogawa-cho, Haguri-gun Aichi 493 JAPAN is looking for tapes of matches with Japanese wrestlers in the U.S. and can trade tapes of New Japan, SWS and Rings in exchange.
Bob Barnett of 301 5th St. #2, Santa Monica, CA 90405 has two tickets to the Cauliflower Alley dinner on 3/21 in Studio City, CA. Price is $45 each. He also has Japanese tapes for trade.
Teresa DeMarie of 60 Fisher Ave., Tuckahoe, NY 10707 is looking for a tape of the December Portland Wrestling show in which Roddy Piper made the speech about Don Owen.
Dave Scherer of P.O. Box 612, Marmora, NJ 08223 is looking to get copies of the weekly Memphis television show. In exchange he can trade tapes from either Mexican promotion weekly or any Japanese tapes.
Tony Moore of 6187 Oriole Dr., Flint, MI 48506 is looking for a tape of the 2/9 edition of WCW World Wide Wrestling.
Georgiann Makropoulos of 23-44 30th Dr., Astoria, NY 11102 puts out the monthly newsletter Wrestling Chatterbox for $2.50 per issue and is also selling Wrestling Fan On Bard signs for $1 plus a 29 cent stamp and copies of Herb Abrams "Beach Brawl" PPV show for $12.95.
Robert Sears of 721 Chuckwagon Rd., Rio Rancho, NM 87124 is looking for a tape of the 20/20 segment on pro wrestling from 1985.
Fred Cooper of 4312 Nevin Ave., Richmond, CA 94805 is looking for a copy of the 1/10/92 issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Kelly Kroh of 6947 Coal Creek Pkwy SE #164, Renton, WA 98059 has wrestling videos for trade and is looking for Game three of the Smythe Division semifinal series between Los Angeles and Edmonton and for the British comedy show "Dave Allen at Large!" .
Bob Nichandowicz of 2217 Balmoral Ave., Union, NJ 07083 is looking to get New Japan and All Japan tapes on a regular basis.
A.R. of 1 Cherry Ln. #3, Lynbrook, NY 11563 is looking for 1984-85 tapes of Lo Mejor en Lucha Libre, the spanish version of the Jim Crockett tapes hosted by Hugo Savinobich that aired in New York.
Gary Langevin of 124 Maple St., Newport, VT 05855 is looking for god to excellent condition VHS tapes of WWF Championship Wrestling complete shows (1984-86), all episodes of the old TNT show, Prime Time and All-American Wrestling (1985-87), Tri State Wrestling shows, International Wrestling from Montreal (1985), Pro Wrestling this Week (all episodes), Bob Luce Hall of Fame Classics and has more than 600 tapes to trade with. He also publishes bi-monthly newsletter called "On the Mat" for $2 per issue.
Joe Hamilton Jr. of 3040 Hudson St., Baltimore, MD 21224 is looking to get tapes of any Joel Goodhart shows.
Wesley Terrell of 4959 Massachusetts Dr., San Jose, CA 95136 is looking for a tape of the first Royal Rumble on USA network, 1989 and 1990 Wrestling Observer Yearbooks, tapes of Ric Flair matches and Clash of Champion #3 to #7.
West Coast Wrestling Alliance is looking for wrestlers with experience that live in California and Nevada and all prospective wrestlers should send a video and resume to Tim Barrett, P.O. Box 3113, Pinedale, CA 93650.
Western Ohio Wrestling at P.O. Box 750803, Dayton, OH 45475 is selling all sorts of merchandise and for info send $1 and a SASE.
Bob Cook of 8670 Gaillard Ave., North Port, FL 34287 is looking for 70s and 80s tapes of Superstar Billy Graham.
Anthony Scala of P.O. Box 549, Brooklyn, NY 11222 is looking for tapes of WWF television shows, Madison Square Garden house shows and Florida TV shows from 1976-82.
Hiroumi Sagawa of 1-58 Chiogaoka 2 Chome, Tarumi-ku, Kobe-shi Hyogo 655 JAPAN is looking for a tape of the Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Big Van Vader match from 12/21 in Bremen, Germany and is also looking for a weekly supplier of WCW television shows and can trade All Japan, New Japan and SWS tapes in exchange.
Lance LeVine of 507 W. 43rd Pl., Chicago, IL 60609, who puts out the newsletter Chokehold, has a triple issue yearbook available now for $3 plus has put out a non-wrestling book called Trials & Tribs 91: From Pee to Long Dong. The 30-page book goes for $5.
Vic Stanley put together a newsletter called Screwjob Finish at P.O. Box 176, Lafayette, IN 47902 for $2.50 per issue. It's a satire rather than a news publication.
Terry Dart of 21 Upper Ave. #A, London, ONT N6H 2L5 Canada is looking for videotapes of any matches with Bruno Sammartino vs. Don Leo Jonathan and old Stampede Wrestling programs.
Jeff Mullins of P.O. Box 36189, San Jose, CA has an 18-page double issue of the satirical and serious Pro Wrestling Sushi for $1.50 and will to new or former subscribers that order four issues for $6, get the double issue free.
Gary Waugh of 310 N. Oakdale, Salina, KS 64501 has videotapes available of Sunflower State Wrestling for $13 as a special to Observer readers. He also has a discount for Observer readers on SSW t-shirts.
Sam Batts of 1135 Patterson St., Petersburg, VA 23803 is looking for issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that cover the deaths of Bruiser Brody and Gino Hernandez and Ric Flair's WCW departure.
John Golden of 8 Pond St., North Easton, MA 02356 wants Memphis tapes from 1982-83 and Calgary tapes from 1987-88.
Cliff Brenner of P.O. Box 167, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 has a rare copy of the book "The Fall Guys" by Marcus Griffin (about pro wrestling in the 1920s), which is probably the greatest published book ever on pro wrestling, for sale in good condition for $75.
Colin Fritz of 8 Bradley Dr., Lancaster, NY 14086 is looking to correspond with readers in the Buffalo area.
George Vlahos of 945 4th St., Charleston, IL 61920 is looking for recent back issues of the Observer.
GATORWOLF
This letter is in response to Brick Armstrong's letter of a few weeks ago regarding Steve Gatorwolf's American Wrestling Federation. I have wrestled and booked talent for Gatorwolf for nearly seven years. In that time, Steve has given wrestlers from my wrestling school a place to break in and gain experience. Men and women such as "Cutie Pie" Louie Spicolli, The Beast, Riki Ataki, The Mercenaries, John and David Hannah (Gibson), Jason Anderson, Krusher Krugnoff, Jan Flame, Stephan & Thor DeLeon, George Rojas, Michelle Starr, Don Monks, Joe Vidal and of course myself have wrestled for Steve on countless occasions. I've also brought in Sue Sexton, tim Patterson, Peter Maivia Jr. and Tim Tall Tree. I won't tell you that we've obtained fame and wealth in the AWF, but I can tell you that Steve has never profited on a show while cheating his talent. As everyone knows, promoting is risky. But Steve has carved a niche for himself in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. His attendances range from 250 to 800. For a group without television, this is impressive. On shows where Steve drew more than 500 fans, he has always given my wrestlers and myself a substantial monetary bonus. Steve also pays for the wrestlers to fly or drive to the shows as well as paying for hotels. Not many promoters do this for even the big names. I realize Brick Armstrong and Steve have personal problems with each other that is none of my business. I also don't know how the Arizona talent is paid. I do know that there is little good talent around that area so Steve must import reliable people from California and even Alabama where he has brought in Lou Fabbiano and Downtown Bruno. When Steve has tried to use several local wrestlers, they were either late for the show, didn't show up at all or were so lazy they were an embarrassment to the promotion, thereby having a negative net value. As far as Brick's comments about Steve not being the most over wrestler on his shows, I disagree. Many of Steve's shows are on Indian reservations. Steve is a real Indian, therefore he has become a hero and role model for the kids who attend his shows. He doesn't smoke, drink, do drugs, steroids and is married with children. He doesn't always have the best match on the card, but at the end of every show, the fans are satisfied and left with good advice in the ring from Steve and that is him telling the kids to stay in school and get a good education, don't do drugs and show respect for your parents. To me, this is much more important than how many high spots one does during a match.
Bill Anderson
Colton, California
I'm writing a letter in response to the letter in the 1/10 Observer regarding myself. Jim Kolhelp aka Brick Armstrong has forgotten that his first match was in front of a sellout crowd in Winslow, AZ and that he's worked in front of sellouts in other towns such as Greasewood, Page and Springerville, AZ. He seems to have forgotten I've had sellouts before and after he was let into the business, which was my fault. I haven't booked him in over a year or know of any other promotion that has. However, he was correct in saying that Tim Tall Tree has stolen the show at times. He sure has. So has Billy Anderson, Tim Patterson, Lou Fabbiano and others who have worked for me. Yes, I have called the WWF several times in the past when they were doing television tapings here in Arizona to get him and other workers from here on the shows with Bill Anderson's help. As far as money and payoffs go, the people who work for me get their guarantee plus their expenses paid (hotel and gas). The above mentioned names can all corroborate that. I know that a newsletter is not the place to air out personal differences but my personal, business and professional reputation is being assassinated. And remember, I don't try out for no one.
Steve Gatorwolf
Mesa, Arizona
STEROIDS
If Billy Graham was using steroids long before he entered the WWF, how can he try to blame them for his steroid use? Graham says he only went public talking about Hulk Hogan because of his appearance on the Arsenio Hall show. Yet he also talked about his training with Arnold Schwarzeneggar, who has denied taking steroids in every interview he has ever given. If he wants to send the country a message about steroid use and hypocrisy, he should start with the head of the President's Council on Physical Fitness. Has Vince McMahon considered improving the quality of his arena matches with better workers to get fans back to the buildings? The missed moves of bad wrestlers can be covered up on television with post-production but there's no way to cover up the missed moves in the arena.
Dennis Cleary
Clinton, Iowa
DM: I agree that Graham can't blame the WWF for all his health problems since he used steroids before he ever went to the WWF. "I'm not saying they're responsible for the entire problem and obviously not for anything before 1975," Graham said. "I think there is some responsibility from 1975 (when he joined the WWWF) or at the least 1977 (when Zahorian was regularly stationed in the WWF dressing room every three weeks dispensing drugs at television tapings and became the group's, and Graham's, main steroid and downers supplier). I felt (using steroids) was part of my job and I feel they worked in conspiracy with Zahorian to have the drugs available to everyone. I can't say for sure about the 70s, but I couldn't have worked for them in the 80s unless I had a certain look. I was directly told this was in 1986 when I met Vince McMahon in Connecticut and he said to me, `You look great, but I don't think you're quite big enough.' I was about 250, tanned from Florida and fairly cut up at the time." I believe the company certainly rewarded and encouraged steroid use during that time period and it appears they still do to this day, but Graham was a more than willing user and admittedly addicted. Schwarzeneggar has always admitted using steroids (although I'd suspect he wouldn't want people to know just how much and for how long) as a competitive bodybuilder. Schwarzeneggar was also so genetically gifted that, at least when he was younger, he actually got larger (but less cut-up obviously) while off the juice. In fact, he was the one who came up with the line that there comes a point in time for every top athlete where they have to make a choice between their health and attempting to be the best. There are many people who agree that it was very hypocritical and a bad message to send when President Bush appointed Schwarzeneggar to be the head of the President's Council. It should be noted that Graham asked Schwarzeneggar for advice and support when he wanted to speak out. Schwarzeneggar told him he'd help him in any way he could but that he should go light on the subject and shouldn't name names because it would rub his peers the wrong way. "I felt he took a shallow stance," Graham said.
When you write about steroids you mention Billy Graham and Ed Gantner and I know what happened to them. But I don't know anything about Savannah Jack. Is this the same Savannah Jack that I remember was TV champion for the old Bill Watts UWF? If that is him, I'm very surprised because he wasn't a musclehead like Hulk Hogan. Are we talking about the same Savannah Jack?
Jason Jones
Milan, Illinois
DM: We are talking about the same Savannah Jack. It should be noted, and I think a lot of people haven't understood this, that it isn't just the real obvious wrestlers who look like bodybuilders that are the only ones that use steroids. Think of what the 90 percent figure means and realize that it isn't just David Shults, Bruno Sammartino and Billy Graham that have given that figure for the WWF. David Sammartino publicly said 98 percent. Bill Eadie and John Studd have both said 90 percent was a low estimate, although Studd won't say that publicly now. One former WCW road agent said in the Miami Herald 90 percent for that group. Eddie Gilbert said 75 percent of all wrestlers today because he felt the percentage has dropped of late because more wrestlers have seen the bad side effects. Many current and former WWF wrestlers have estimated to me personally, as recent as six weeks ago, between a 90 and 98 percent figure (which I still suspect is a little high but I'm not in the dressing rooms). Five or six years ago the Miami Herald did a huge feature on anabolic steroids in various sports and in high schools and interviewed myself and many pro wrestlers on the subject. When the reporter (this wasn't Alex Marvez, he would have been in junior high back then) asked me what percentage of wrestlers used steroids and I said I felt it was around 75 percent, he said he talked with a dozen pro wrestlers and none gave him a figure less than 90 percent. Lightning Kid has used steroids. Chris Von Erich was once arrested for bringing steroids across the border from Mexico. With the exception of Jerry Lawler (and I believed he was telling the truth), I can't recall one wrestler in recent years who has told me point blank that he had never used steroids (I believe there are many who haven't ever in the smaller groups, a few in WCW and maybe a few in WWF). Hulk Hogan may have lied on the subject but don't get the mistaken idea that everyone who takes steroids looks like Hogan, Sid Justice, Lex Luger or The Ultimate Warrior. More look like Tully Blanchard or Kendall Windham (which is not to say that either of those two use steroids, just that using steroids alone doesn't make one look like Ken Patera or Billy Graham in their prime). Not all steroid users weigh 300 pounds and have 20 inch arms. Only a very small percentage of steroid users have the genetics, no matter how many steroids they want to take and how hard they train, to get 20 inch arms. Many more weigh less than 200 than weigh 300. Savannah Jack (Ted Russell) was forced to retire from wrestling because of heart problems that he told me was due to his long-time steroid use. When he left wrestling, his heart was so bad that his doctors told him he would need a transplant (similar to Steve Courson). When he discontinued his steroid use, his heart improved to the point he no longer needed a transplant and could lead a normal life, but not be active in athletics. I'm not certain of this, but I believe his younger brother, who wasn't a wrestler but also used steroids, died in 1991 of a heart attack although there I've received no word that steroids had anything to do with it or not.
The Superstar Billy Graham interview was outstanding. Whatever happened to the book Ray Didinger was going to write on pro wrestling in 1985? Did it die of the symptoms you discussed in the 2/3 letters page? One thought on Lyle Alzado following our interview in December. He's got brain cancer caused, he thinks, from mixing steroids and Human Growth Hormone. Scott Irwin died of brain cancer. Could there be a connection? And is Bill Irwin's drop in size due to getting off the juice after Scott's death? Doesn't the controversy over Nintendo trying to buy the Seattle Mariners remind you of the time Hacksaw Duggan told Nikolai Volkoff (or was it Boris Zhukov) that he's couldn't sing the Russian national anthem "because this is the land of the free?"
Joe Lancello
Sports Director, KKWQ Radio
Warroad, Minnesota
DM: No idea what happened to Didinger's proposed book but I'd guess it met the fate you presumed. Most doctors, including those well versed on steroids, don't seem to believe there's any connection between what Alzado has and either steroids or Human Growth Hormone so I seriously doubt there's any connection with Scott Irwin. There have been several reported deaths from a brain cancer like disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob attributed to natural Human Growth Hormone which is an AIDS like disease because of its long incubation period. The natural HGH, which caused the disease, is the drug derived from the pituitary glands of actual cadavers. The chemically engineered HGH produced by Eli Lilly and Genentech in the United States has not been linked to the disease. Nothing remotely similar to brain cancer has been attributed thus far to steroids. However, most athletes believe the genetically engineered HGH isn't as effective for performance enhancement and building muscle tissue as the much harder to obtain HGH from cadavers so if they can find a supplier of the HGH from cadavers, many are willing to take the risk because it can result in greater muscle gains. The leading underground pro-steroid newsletter surprisingly took the stand that Alzado's health problems could be due to HGH because he abused the drug so badly, citing he was using eight units per day of HGH (hardcore bodybuilders would generally use three to five units per week) almost year-around which is how he amounted his $30,000+ annual drug bill. There is an awful lot of suspicion and speculation, which has been brought up and denied by Alzado in various interviews, that all of his claims about dying from steroids is an AIDS cover-up. I've always been told Bill Irwin's great weight loss a few years back was due to his giving up beer.
Keep up the excellent work. The Billy Graham interview was the best thing that I've ever read on pro wrestling.
Vicki Contavespi
Forbes Magazine
Your recent interview with Billy Graham was one of the most interesting pieces done on anabolic steroids that I've seen anywhere to date. I look forward to any other articles on this subject that might be coming up. I think you've become the "policeman" of the pro wrestling business. Gone are the days when wrestlers and the promoters can try and pass along anything that they want to and have it accepted carte blanche. You newsletter has become a must read for anyone in the industry. You should be commended for your work.
Ron Martinez
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
DM: Ron Martinez is part of a family that promoted pro wrestling for many years, most notably in the Buffalo and Cleveland areas.

March 2, 1992 Observer Newsletter: WCW releases drug testing policy, Yamamoto dies, WWE raid update

Wrestling Observer Newsletter PO Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228 March 2, 1992 World Championship Wrestling officially addressed the subject of anabolic steroids and related substances with a nine-page policy finalized Thursday by Executive Vice President Kip Frey.
The major points of the policy are as follows:
*Wrestlers may not, under any circumstances, use anabolic steroids, growth hormones, related substances, or masking agents designed to hide the presence of steroids or related substances in a wrestler's system
*Bookers, trainers or other wrestling personnel may not condone, encourage, supply or otherwise facilitate in any way the use of steroids or any related substance
*WCW physicians may not prescribe, or otherwise supply or facilitate a wrestler's use of steroids, including by prescribing or otherwise supplying masking agents, except in cases of legitimate medical need
*All WCW personnel, including wrestlers, are subject to discipline by the Executive Vice President for violation of this policy or federal or state laws relating to possession and distribution of steroids
*Frey will establish a Wrestler's Advisory Committee comprised of three wrestlers elected by their peers to participate in and give input into the subject. The complete anti-steroid program will be directed by Frey, the committee, a medical advisor and a consulting toxicologist appointed to the committee
*The medical advisor will be a physician knowledgeable in the field of anabolic steroids and will be made available to confidentially consult with wrestlers on steroid-related matters.
*The medical advisor will conduct quarterly seminars regarding steroids and other controlled substances with attendance mandatory for all wrestlers and fines imposed for absences
*The advisor will be available free of charge on a confidential basis for counselling and/or medical treatment
*The WCW booker will be required to maintain a policy of promoting wrestlers based on ability and fan acceptance, not merely size. All booking decisions will be reviewed periodically by the Executive Vice President to insure compliance with this directive
*All new wrestler contracts will contain a clause creating a bonus of up to ten percent of the wrestler's annual salary for voluntary testing
*Between the sixth and ninth month after the inception of this policy, the Executive Vice President will evaluate the program and decide at that point whether and when to institute mandatory anabolic steroid testing. WCW will institute mandatory random unannounced testing should the voluntary compliance program fail to meet its objectives
*Any wrestler testing positive will be subject to unannounced reasonable cause testing at a frequency determined by the Medical Advisor in consultation with the Executive Vice President
*Failure or refusal to take a test will be considered a positive test and subject to similar discipline
*Penalty for failure will be: For the first positive test, the wrestler will be required to undergo counselling under the supervision of the Advisor and will not be allowed to return until testing negative. For the second positive test, the wrestler will be suspended without pay for a minimum of three months. For a third positive test, the wrestler will be banned from World Championship Wrestling
*Confidentiality of wrestlers' medical conditions and test results will be protected to the maximum extent possible but it is recognized that wrestlers who are disciplined for violating this policy will come to the attention of the media and the public. Neither the Advisor or Consulting Toxicologist nor anyone in their employ is permitted to comment publicly on behalf of WCW or communicate with the news media concerning those activities.
*Any wrestling employee that publicly divulges, directly or indirectly information concerning positive drug tests or otherwise breaches the confidentiality provisions of the policy is subject to a fine of up to $10,000 by the Executive Vice President.
So what does all this mean? Basically, all wrestlers who sign new contracts from this point forward can earn a bonus of up to 10 percent of their salary for voluntarily testing on a regular basis for steroids and passing all their tests for one year. The company will provide medical counselling and medical supervision to help wean wrestlers off steroids if the wrestler desires such. The wrestlers can refuse to submit for the testing with no penalties attached, however at some point, probably between six and nine months from this point, if the policy isn't working, one would expect the end result would be mandatory unannounced testing. The booking policy contains the major loophole which is fan acceptance, since it is, at least still today, much easier for a larger or a more muscular wrestler to get over to the public even if the booker throws out size and muscularity itself as a criterion.
Will this policy work? I'd like to write here about differences between this policy and the World Wrestling Federation policy, which today, eight months after being publicly announced, has become something of the laughing stock of the business. That's not to say the WWF wrote a bad policy (Vince McMahon refused to release the policy publicly), because I'd assume it was well written just as Frey's policy is. They may even fairly enforce the policy at some stage of the game, but any testing policy is still limited by the fact that testing for anabolic steroids can be beaten by anyone educated as to how to beat it. I've had lengthy discussion with McMahon on the subject and a recent discussion with Frey on it. While there was basically a 180 degree difference in the attitude of the two (McMahon insisted his policy was fool-proof and actually unbeatable and tried to deny use was anywhere near as prevalent as reported while Frey's claims have been completely realistic), that doesn't mean one program will be any more effective than the other.
This program is fair to the wrestlers. But it won't work unless the wrestlers truly want to get off steroids. No matter how some people may view things, by and large, the wrestlers who work for the WWF and those who work for WCW have similar backgrounds and similar ways of thinking. There is more individuality of spirit among the WCW wrestlers, at least based on my impressions, and generally more of a caring about match quality while WWF wrestlers seem to care more about maintaining a certain look. You could use that and say the WWF would have more of a problem ridding itself of steroids even if we throw out the assumption that perhaps (and by its hiring practices, I believe this to be so) they were never sincere in regards to their public statements on the subject to begin with. All of that being the case, that still doesn't mean the attitude of the individual wrestlers are going to be that much different. It doesn't mean the ones who want to use steroids will not try and find a way around any policy. My feeling is this is a sincerely written policy and an excellent attempt to be fair. As for whether this policy will achieve its desired objectives, I'd like to say yes, just as I originally hoped the WWF's policy would. I'd be less than honest if I said that I wasn't skeptical. I'm less skeptical about the actual intentions of those running the company and those who have come up with the policy, but actually more skeptical going in because we've seen the results of the WWF policy as far as wrestlers' compliance. We have seen that a solid percentage of wrestlers are going to take steroids and a few will even claim to be willing to risk losing their jobs if it comes down to the choice, or at talk that way on the surface.
"This has been the main thing I've been working on for the last month," Frey said. "I started by basing it on the NFL policy. I've been struggling with the value judgement that you don't want to send the message that our guys would use (steroids) if we didn't test.
"It's (possession and use of steroids) still a felony. You can believe all the underground literature (that steroids taken in moderate doses are relatively harmless) but it's still against the law. I believe there is a serious health concern. A bogus testing situation is already a proven loser.
"I read it (the policy) to a few of the guys (before distributing it) and they were all real positive about it," Frey said. "You never know how people will react. If I have to, I'll go to the next step (random unannounced testing). This is a positive method to get rid of the problem but it may not work and I know that, but I'll have given a positive policy a try."
I spoke with a few wrestlers about the policy, all of whom have used steroids regularly in the past and some of whom still do. All indicated the bonus would be more than enough incentive for them to give up using steroids. All commented that if everyone were to give up steroids, generally everyone would drop in physique quality simultaneously and, proportionally, the guys with the better physiques will still have the better physiques anyway. There was skepticism as to if everyone would accept this policy the same way. This would create an environment where those who got off would start shrinking and look even smaller in comparison with those who stayed on. The reaction to the policy was enthusiastic as far as how Frey wrote it and his motives for doing so, however the consensus seemed to be that when it's all said and done, he's still going to eventually have to institute mandatory testing.
By initiating a policy such at this and in fact with PSA's and other public relations ideas Frey has regarding an anti-steroid campaign, he also has put the company into a position where they know they'll be scrutinized even closer in regards to this subject. He has clearly put the onus of the problem away from management and to the wrestlers by actually rewarding compliance with steroid testing. But that still leaves the loopholes we've previously discussed when it comes to testing. However, if the testing in six to nine months becomes mandatory because there are those who are obviously still using, it appears that would also mean the voluntary compliance bonuses will go out the window. My gut feeling is it'll create an unpredictable atmosphere because a lot of guys are probably very willing to give up steroids for a 10 percent pay increase, but those that aren't will blow the deal for the ones willing which will create an interesting peer group situation.
There's one more point I'd like to bring up. WCW is in competition with the WWF. The WWF is the leading group by a large margin. When the average person thinks of wrestling, they think of WWF and its wrestlers. If WCW actually can get steroid use down significantly, it faces another problem. The public. Why do you think McMahon hasn't taken even greater steps to rid himself of this problem when every time some of these guys go in front of the public on television and at the arenas, it confirms his steroid statements as a fraud and risks even greater public relations problems since his company's base audience is children? It's been eight months since the program was announced and four months since testing and the majority of wrestlers still look the same and the newcomers being brought in hardly look natural. The public is generally lacking a knowledge of the steroid aspect but the muscular physiques have been accepted by the public as what it wants. They do have "natural" bodybuilding contests (which doesn't mean those guys necessarily haven't used steroids either although that's supposed to be the idea, but they certainly don't look to be using the industrial amounts of the faces on the cover of the major magazines). But those shows aren't marketable to the public and the less freakish bodies don't sell the magazines and products like the guys who load up on whatever they can. If the WCW policy is successful, and it's a big if, then as the No. 2 group, they will have yet another mountain to climb if and when the general fan sees big, ripped monsters on one station and average looking (in comparison) physiques on the other. WCW already has an uphill climb and this could work from a marketing standpoint as a significant disadvantage. It is not an incorrect analogy between steroids in competitive wrestling organizations and nuclear weapons in a cold war. Nuclear weapons don't do anyone anything positive, but it was pretty hard for one side to downsize their arsenal without the other agreeing to do so as well because of the tactical disadvantages inherent in doing so alone. Perhaps, this week, both groups began a policy which will result in downsizing their respective arsenals.
The WWF also sent out a letter to some people it employs on Friday asking them to sign a release form allowing them to randomly test at anytime for steroids and other drugs as part of an eight-page policy. The policy includes not only wrestlers, but also everyone employed by the promotion such as ring announcers, television announcers, referees, managers, etc. I don't know if this policy was sent to contracted wrestlers who in theory are already under the existing policy that this would duplicate, or just to those not originally covered. I'm also not certain if television jobbers (who were to sign release forms saying they weren't using any drugs but weren't being tested) are included this time as part of the policy. The major points of the policy are random unannounced testing for steroids and related drugs and street drugs and banning all use, purchasing and distribution of such drugs. There is a provision for entering drug rehabilitation with the promotion and the employee each paying half the cost for the rehabilitation program. The new provisions are a six week suspension for first offense and firing for second offense. These penalties are harsher than the previously listed policy of six week suspension for first offense, six weeks plus rehab for second offense and termination for third offense. Will this new program (if it is even a new program or simply just adding everyone who comes through the performers entrance as part of the existing program) be serious as compared with the other ones that certainly by appearance have been questionable? With the timing of a possible DEA investigation into Titan Sports, the closeness to which the company avoided even more of a p.r. disaster in St. Louis and the upcoming media stories (20/20 in particular), one would think this policy should be deadly serious. Logic, since the company has placed itself behind the eight-ball, says that it is, but how many times can you listen to someone cry wolf? We've got about six weeks or so to find out.
Legendary pro wrestling personality Tojo Yamamoto, the most famous of the post-World War II "Japanese heels" in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, died this past Thursday, Feb. 20 of an apparent suicide. Yamamoto, whose real name was Harold Wantanabe, was listed in wire service stories as being 51, however our information places his age at 64. Yamamoto, who was really born in Hawaii, was reportedly despondent about severe kidney disease and diabetes which knocked him out of the wrestling business about six months ago. Yamamoto had worked as a manager for promoter Jerry Jarrett on-and-off until that time. Although only 5-foot-2 and probably not much over 200 pounds, Yamamoto was remembered for his chops to the chest that would send the biggest of foes taking wild bumps. He began wrestling in 1954, and arrived in Nashville in 1959 working for promoter Nick Gulas. Except for a 1960s stint in Texas under the ring name P.Y. Chung, he spent most of the rest of his career in the Tennessee area. In recent years he would get a run working for Jarrett and then leave and run or work smaller independents in the same area.
The USWA television show on Saturday did a four-minute photo catalogue-like tribute to him that was said to be one of the most tastefully handled tribute to a deceased wrestler in recent memory. Yamamoto was always a favorite of Jarrett, who gave the eulogy at his funeral later that day in Nashville, since he helped break Jarrett (and later son Jeff) into the wrestling business and was his most famous tag team partner. Yamamoto feud on top against top area babyface Jackie Fargo in the 60s, and turned face in the late 60s when Dr. Ken Ramey's Masked Interns were beating up on Jarrett and Jerry Barber in one of the most remembered angles ever in the territory. Jarrett & Yamamoto were the area's most popular face tag team feuding with The Interns, Kurt and Karl Von Brauner and Don and Al Greene and Al Greene and Phil Hickerson (who he referred to as The Tank Brothers, Sherman and Septic) among others. After that period, Yamamoto turned back-and-forth with and against Jarrett and others dozens of times. Over the past decade he was primarily a manager but continued to occasionally wrestle as late as the past year. He often managed Japanese tag teams which had included some of Japan's current biggest stars like Shinya Hashimoto and Atsushi Onita. By this time, he was mainly a comedy figure with his unintentionally funny interviews with a worked Japanese accent. Yamamoto also had a hand in training many of today's biggest name wrestlers including Randy Savage, Bobby Eaton and Tommy Rich. The entire crew of USWA wrestlers attended his funeral on Saturday along with Rich, Don & Al Greene, Hickerson, television announcer Dave Brown, former referee Paul Morton (father of WCW's Richard Morton) and Tommy Gilbert. By his request, his ashes were thrown into the Tennessee River. According to police reports, Yamamoto apparently shot himself in the right temple with a .25-caliber automatic pistol in his apartment in Hermitage, TN, a Nashville suburb. He left a handwritten, notarized will and a note thanking an assistant manager at his apartment complex for her kindness while he was ill.
Since last week's deadline, much more has surfaced in regard to the "search-and-sniff" attempted drug raid of the WWF dressing room in St. Louis on 2/14. At the show, several police officers along with a drug-sniffing dog and possibly a Drug Enforcement Agency official (there are contradictory stories whether such a person was present including three different confirmations and even more denials) were at the performers entrance to The Arena from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. They searched everyone who came through the door and the dog sniffed everyone looking for the scent of illegal drugs. Nobody was found with drugs in their possession and there were no arrests. According to one performer and a second source who contacted us that night, that was because road agent Jack Lanza had alerted all the wrestlers about an hour before they came to the building because word of the search had been leaked. Contradictory stories abound, most of which don't appear to hold any water. The WWF at press time last Tuesday claimed the search had nothing to do with the WWF but it was part of an investigation of a building employee. Basil DeVito, WWF Vice President in charge of misleading press releases and covering up embarrassing situations claimed he was told that by the arena on Saturday. Arena management initially claimed DeVito didn't speak with them until the following Wednesday. Kathleen Hines, who works in media relations for The Arena in St. Louis told Alex Marvez of the Miami Herald on Tuesday that the officer in charge identified himself as a Drug Enforcement Agency agent and the search was event-related and not, to her knowledge, because of the action of any Arena employees. But she changed her story in regard to the officer identifying himself as a DEA agent the next day. The St. Louis city police initially denied that any officers or dogs were even sent to The Arena and that anything had taken place. Officer Leeman Dobbins initially said he sent two officers to The Arena because it was afraid of a reprisal from a recently fired employee and said searches of the type were common at rock concerts and wrestling shows. However, in the 60-year history of the building, there is not one incident on record of it ever happening at a wrestling show (it has happened at least twice at rock concerts). In addition, why would a trained drug-sniffing dog be sent to examine the bags of pro wrestlers at the performers entrance to the building rather than a trained fight dog sent with police to the employee entrance if the police were investigating a disgruntled former employee? All along, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, which we were initially told specifically was in charge of the raid as part of an ongoing investigation into Titan Sports, denied any involvement. Another officer on Wednesday night joked that, "They f---ed up the investigation (because of them dispatching officers and a drug-sniffing dog for three-and-a-half hours and coming up with nothing) and everyone's looking for cover (to cover their ass publicly so to speak)."
On Thursday, the WWF, through Steve Planamenta said that according to Capt. Gary Perkins, the head of Narcotics for the St. Louis City Police, that it wasn't a DEA investigation but it was "a routine inspection that gets done whenever a large group of people come in from out of state. Our guys cooperated and nothing was found." That probably wasn't completely untrue in that such an investigation does seem to be routine for the head of a Narcotics unit of a police department. As for the bit about it getting done whenever a large group of people come in from out of state, it's hard to believe that even the most hopelessly naive person would buy that one. When we attempted to reach Perkins, we were told he was on vacation. Later that day, David Docter of St. Louis County Police Intelligence claimed it was a joint operation between the St. Louis City and St. Louis County police departments as part of an investigation of the WWF in regard to suspected cocaine use of a wrestler. An individual with the building who was among the first ones informed the night of the attempted raid said later in the week said that there was no doubt it was the feds (who initiated the investigation) whatsoever. Since drug-sniffing dogs are not trained for steroids, that would seem to indicate that whomever did call for the investigation was looking for drugs most likely other than or at least in addition to steroids. It's far too much trouble to go if they were looking only for marijuana.
While this was all going on, the WWF was in the midst of one of its best weekends at the gate in a long time as the promotion builds toward Wrestlemania. Yet this exceedingly healthy on the surface promotion has to be concerned over several major mass media stories in the works. It's pretty hard to speculate on what the result of those stories will be since they are all still being worked on at press time and we aren't privy to all the information that may wind up being released. The key topics being investigated are: 1) Hulk Hogan in general and specifically charges made by Billy Graham and David Shults that have already been reported here but have been corroborated by several others; 2) Apparent anabolic steroid use within the company and 3) Recent allegations of homosexual harassment by former prelim wrestler Barry Orton. There are other topics as well.
Without complete knowledge of what news will be presented, how it will be presented, and what the reaction of the rest of the media will be to the presentations, here is my speculation at this point. The only way for this to have a major detrimental effect on live attendance directly will be, as stated last week, if television stations cancel the programs or possibly move the shows out of time slots aimed at children's viewing. The odds are still very slim that the repercussions would be strong enough for that to result. However, if Hulk Hogan becomes the Pee Wee Herman of 1992, which is a possibility, the indirect result will be a drop in WWF attendance. Hogan is the big draw and he's irreplaceable. If Hogan stays with the company, I don't believe wrestling fans will ever boo him, at least not in great numbers, but that doesn't mean some regular viewers will stop attending. But by and large, the reaction of the wrestling fan is the one thing Titan really doesn't have to worry about. If there is a disassociation between Hogan and Titan, it is going to have a significant affect on attendance and even more on future merchandising. It's hard to ascertain what the merchandising results will be even without a disassociation until we see the repercussions. But major damage is possible. I expect Hogan will be dead as far as future endorsements no matter how this all turns out, but advertisers have put Hogan's name on hold until 20/20 airs ever since Phil Mushnick's New York Post column ran in January because of a fear of what ABC would uncover. But adding anymore ingredients to what could be a powder keg, as could have happened in St. Louis, might be enough to blow everything sky-high.
Planamenta did comment regarding Barry Orton's statements on Mike Tenay's Wrestling Insiders radio show on 2/15 and unlike what I suspected here last week, it didn't involve any attempt to bring up Orton's past. While Orton did allege there have been wrestlers promoted based on doing homosexual favors, a specific instance where he was hit on by a current WWF office employee actually took place before either Orton or this employee worked in the WWF. "I don't have an account of it if it doesn't apply to the WWF. Here's another guy trying to sell a book. I'm not going to demean him because I don't know him."
Orton, when responding to a question of whether he has seen wrestlers moved into main event matches because of favors responded, "Absolutely. Without a doubt. Let me begin by saying I believe it is each and every citizen's prerogative as to their sexual preference. I believe whatever they do is fine. I don't think anybody should push that preference where it's not wanted.
I'm a man, and it's not like I've never done anything wrong or pushed myself on a member of the opposite sex. But when you're young, you don't know any better. When you get older, you start respecting people's feelings. I want to make it clear that unwarranted sexual harassments of any sort are wrong. For people willing to give sexual favors or be involved in whatever they need to do to get advancement makes it very unfair to those unwilling to make that sacrifice, to degrade themselves to that length. That goes on a lot.
I'm not blowing smoke where it doesn't need to be blown, but I'm talented. I worked very hard. Performing was my life. Imagine how I felt knowing I needed to kneel before someone.
I passed up some lucrative situations offered to me where I could have been living the good life instead of struggling. It happened a lot. Some guys are immune to that sort of thing. Hulk Hogan is one of them. I don't think i have to go out on a limb throwing names around saying who is immune to that sort of stuff. The WWF is becoming a bit overrun by the homosexual community or clique. Like with (name withheld by editor until I can get a second wrestler to corroborate this or a similar incident or at least until the person is given the right to defend himself), when I was 18 or 19, I had just broken up with my girlfriend from my childhood. () rode with me once from Amarillo to Albuquerque--six hours, 300 miles--begging me to perform a certain sexual task for six hours. I just kept explaining to him, "No. Hey, you're a nice guy." I didn't want to offend him. With the way he's looked at me since he's been in the office, I knew he was never going to forget that. You can be damn sure when my ass was on the line, I would be saying, "Here's a guy who is never going to bat for me." Had I given in, who knows? I could be wearing the WWF title right now. But not without going through (another name)."
Hopefully I'm not the slightest bit homophobic so whatever someone's preference is, that is none of my business nor my concern. If monetary advantages are attached to it, it's wrong. I'm sure one can say it happens in Hollywood with casting couch privileges and all that, but it's still wrong. Orton is not the first wrestler to make comments such at this in regard to the WWF front office, although he's the first one publicly since Jim Wilson. Yes, Orton was a talented enough wrestler that his ability both in the ring and on interviews deserved better than he got. There are people, just through being the wrong place with the wrong booker that go through that daily in this business. Is refusing to succumb to homosexual advances the reason? Orton may very well believe it is and it still might not be true. And maybe he's correct. My feeling is that when it comes to the top guys who draw the money, while there is always going to be favoritism to friends in any business requiring personal judgement, I don't think Titan would bury someone who could potentially draw them big money for reason alleged here. I would surmise a great percentage of wrestlers wouldn't degrade themselves to that level. Surely, in any cross-section there are those who would. In lower spots, there is more potential for abuse because people in those roles for the most part are interchangeable. I do expect with the tabloid-television generation we are living in that this story will actually gain some momentum.
The mixed boxer vs. wrestler match between boxing legend Roberto Duran (now 40-years-old) and pro wrestler Masakatsu Funaki of Pro Wrestling Fujiwara was officially announced this past week for 4/19 at the Tokyo Coliseum. No other matches were announced for the show. It had been rumored Duran would get involved in a mixed pro wrestler vs. boxer match since late last year. Duran drew some PPV boxing gates that were all-time records at the time against Sugar Ray Leonard, but due to tax problems stayed in boxing well past his prime and his last fight came this past March on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock card where he lost to Pat Lawlor after reportedly dropping 40 pounds in several weeks to get into shape. There is some talk the semifinal will be Yoshiaki Fujiwara against former World Karate Association cruiserweight champ Don Nakaya Neilsen (who had perhaps the three greatest mixed matches ever several years back while working with New Japan against Akira Maeda, Keiichi Yamada and Fujiwara).
LPWA SUPER LADIES SHOWDOWN
Thumbs up35 (77.8 percent)
Thumbs down2 (04.4 percent)
In the middle8 (17.8 percent)
BEST MATCH POLL
Harley Saito vs. Mizuki Endo20
Harley Saito vs. Eagle Sawai6
WORST MATCH POLL
Reggie Bennett vs. Denise Storm14
Susan Greene vs. Denise Storm5
Based on phone calls and fax messages to the Observer as of Monday afternoon, 2/24. Margin of error: 0 percent since probably everyone in the country who ordered it must have voted in this poll.
The biggest news regarding the LPWA PPV show was that it actually happened. The LPWA hasn't run a television taping in about nine or ten months and this show was in jeopardy literally until the last minute. The show took place Sunday afternoon, 2/23, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN before 400 fans, all let in free. On television they tried to explain the small crowd by saying there was an ice storm that day in Minnesota, which wasn't the case. Given there was little preparation involved and that few experienced women wrestlers even participated, everyone involved should be pleased with the end result. It wasn't bad. It was even more entertaining than some PPV shows that both WCW and the WWF have run over the past year. The fans who were there provided a surprising amount of heat considering the majority probably weren't familiar with any of the wrestlers and even the promotion and the announcers couldn't possibly have been familiar with about half. Since nobody other than a few friends of promoter Tor Berg and those who read last week's Observer had a clue as to what the line-up would be in the first place, the no-shows really couldn't disappoint anyone. But then again, how many people actually ordered? Surely the number of orders was well below Herb Abrams' Beach Brawl last June which would make this the least ordered PPV show in history. When you throw in travel costs for eight wrestlers coming from Japan and 13 others flying from around the country (Denise Storm was local) plus Jim Cornette, Boni Blackstone, Joe Pedicino and manager Boogaloo Brown, not to mention payoffs and just the inherent cost of running a PPV, and this had to be a major loser. It's sad because this show did make an important statement. Women wrestling can be an entertaining major show in this country and those who were there live, who went in with no knowledge of virtually all the competitors, still enjoyed themselves. Whether the public will buy it is totally unproven. Berg brought in eight wrestlers from the now-defunct JWP group in Japan, all of which had been off for a month because their company had gone out of business. In addition, with the exception of Harley Saito (who wasn't at 100 percent because of a bum knee), who ended up the night as one of the biggest crowd favorites, and Shinobu Kandori, none of them were top-of-the-line talent. Both Devil Masami and Dynamite Kansai (Miss A), who were originally scheduled, appeared. Even with second-rate Japanese women talent for the most part, the fans got into the wrestlers that they didn't know and the bouts were entertaining. Wendi Richter also missed the show because they couldn't find her in time since this was all put together on the fly and Magnificent Mimi missed largely because they didn't want her there. During the show they actually announced a follow-up PPV show emanating from Tokyo for the summer, but I doubt that will ever take place and also expect this show as the swan-song for the LPWA, which has been in dire financial straights for a long time. Another drawback is that a lot of cable companies in the Northeast pulled the plug on the show because it went overtime just as the main event was beginning.
1. Miki Handa & Mami Kitamura beat Lisa Starr & Alison Royal in 3:46 when Kitamura pinned Starr with a powerslam off the top rope. WCW fans may remember both these women from the Wrestle War '91 PPV show. Ring announcer Al DeRusha managed to botch up their names in the introductions. Well-paced. The Americans were crowd favorites simply because the fans started booing all the Japanese even those these two didn't work as heels. *1/2
2. In the first round of the tournament for the newly-created LPWA Japanese title, Denise Storm pinned Susan Greene in 6:02. Opened with hot action on the floor but sloppy in the ring. Storm pulled a chain out from her boot and KO'd Greene, then threw the chain away right in front of ref Bruce Krietzmann who had to pretend not to see what was right in front of his face. Although the execution of the finish was messy, it got a lot of heat. *
3. In a first round match, Reggie Bennett pinned Yukari Osawa in 6:19 with a tilt-a-whirl slam. Bennett was announced at 189 but she looked bigger than Dump Matsumoto. I saw Reggie Bennett's second pro match a few years back here in San Jose and she was maybe 135 pounds then. It's almost impossible to believe it's the same person. Highlight of the show was Osawa's cross bodyblock off the top rope to the floor. These two have worked together when Bennett worked JWP so it was cohesive. Jim Cornette kept making jokes about Bennett's weight, comparing her to Man Mountain Mike and Haystacks Calhoun. It was an interesting match even with the huge size difference. **1/2
4. Shinobu Kandori pinned Desiree Peterson with a double-arm suplex into a power bomb in 4:31. This was commentated on as if it were a first round tournament match, but after Kandori won, she never came out for a subsequent tournament match. Kandori played heel. Fans chanted "USA, USA" even though Peterson was announced as being from Denmark and is really from Canada. The announcers didn't know about Kandori's legit three world championships in women's judo before she became a wrestler and her shooter rep, but it can be forgiven since they didn't even know who was going to be there until the last minute. Kandori looked good. **
5. In another first round match, Harley Saito pinned Mizuki Endo in 7:06 with a flying spin kick and a tombstone piledriver. Crowd immediately went for Saito as the face and she was impressive. Match had a lot of heat, which was surprising. Turned into a good match with lots of near falls. ***
6. In the final first round match, Eagle Sawai pinned Madori Saito with a reverse salto slam in 5:43. *1/2
7. Black Venus pinned Rockin Robin in 5:39 when she caught Robin between the legs and fell down with her and used the trunks. They referred to Robin as Sam Houston's sister and Grizzly Smith's daughter but not as Jake Roberts' sister. Robin bled, and it looked hardway from being run into a table. They both worked hard. **1/2
8. In the tournament semifinals, Storm beat Bennett via DQ in 8:27. They worked stiff on the floor but it turned into the worst match on the show with even boring catcalls. Bennett clotheslined ref Eddie Sharkey. Storm brought in a chair and Bennett got it from her but before she could use it, they already called for the DQ. Bad match and even worse finish. I was under the impression Bennett was originally going to win this tournament but she didn't make the weight limit. 1/2*
9. Saito and Sawai went to a time limit draw at 9:08 in the other semifinal. The crowd was tired at this point and harder but they worked hard and the crowd ended up into it. Sawai mainly worked on Saito's knee. Wally Karbo then awarded the match to Saito on points to send her into the finals against Storm. **1/2
10. Leilani Kai & Judy Martin, the famed Glamour Ghouls of WWF tag team fame, kept their LPWA titles beating Bambi & Malia Hosaka in 8:47. This was American style with more brawling but it was entertaining, ending with Martin pinning Hosaka with a Onita-style Thunder fire power bomb. **1/2
11. Saito beat Storm in the finals to become the LPWA Japanese champion in 8:07 with a rolling crotch hold. Fans were really behind Saito even though Storm was a local girl, but that's because Storm played a strong heel role. **1/2
12. Terri Power won LPWA title from Lady X (Peggy Lee Leather) in 8:36. Power, who some of you may recall worked as valet Tailor-Made Medina in Portland before becoming a pro wrestler, is pretty inexperienced by throws a nice dropkick which she relied on. This wasn't good although both worked hard. Finish was messed up because X was supposed to load her mask (she did that fine) and miss a head-butt off the top rope (unfortunately, Power didn't move and she hit her in the shoulder). X sold it like she missed and Power missed her with a crossbody off the top rope. Power did two interviews in that baritone voice talking about the power of positive thinking so much that hopefully they were one of the sponsors of the show. 3/4*
The WWF is saying that Kerry Von Erich will be welcomed back upon completion of his rehabilitation at the Betty Ford Clinic following being taken off the road to enter rehab and a subsequent arrest before rehab. Fritz Von Erich appeared on television station KDFW in Dallas this past week and claimed Kerry was addicted only to painkillers and that he had been addicted to them for the past six years ever since the motorcycle accident. The drugs he allegedly falsified the prescription for on 2/9 which resulted in two felony counts were in fact pain killers, Valium and Vicodin. On thursday, the district attorney in Richardson, TX decided to press charges in the case, which in a worst-case scenario would result in ten years in prison and a $5,000 fine. It's expected that upon completion of drug rehabilitation, Von Erich will receive a suspended sentence. Fritz Von Erich, when asked on television if Kerry's rehab is unsuccessful should he remain in wrestling, admitted that if it doesn't work, he should find a new profession. On Wednesday, WCW wrestler Tom Zenk plead innocent on six counts of steroid possession. Zenk would have received two years probation and a $1,000 fine if he had plead guilty. A subsequent hearing will be scheduled in about a month.
This is the third issue of the current four-issue set of Observers. If you have a (1) on your address label it means your Observer subscription will expire next week. Renewal rates remain $6 for four issues, $12 for eight, $24 for 16, $36 for 24, $48 for 32 up through $60 for 40 issues within the United States and Canada. Overseas rates for weekly airmail delivery are $9 for each set of four issues up through $90 for 40 issues. All subscription renewals, letters to the editor, reports of live shows, news items and any other correspondence relating to this publication should be sent to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.
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EMLL For those of you who are videotape collectors, a must-see match aired this past Sunday on Galavision between Bestia Salvaje and Huracan Sevilla with hair vs. hair stipulations. It was probably the best EMLL television match since the Dandy vs. El Satanico match back in December of 1990. Ironically this card also drew a below par house. Complete results of the 2/14 show at Arena Mexico in Mexico City saw Tony Arce & Rocco Valente (Arce's brother) & Vulcano beat Love Machine (Art Barr) & Mano Negra & America via DQ in 19:54 ***, In a non-title match, The New Infernales (MS 1 & Pirata Morgan & Satanico), the CMLL Trios champions won 2/3 falls from The Untouchables (Jacque Mate & Masakre & Pierroth Jr.) in a battle of heels with the Untouchables pretty much working as faces in 10:29. Third fall saw Pierroth Jr. have his mask almost completely removed and he allowed himself to be pinned and have his partners shield his identity rather than get up and continue the match without his mask that had been removed **3/4, Los Brazos won 2/3 falls from Salomon Grundy & Canadian Vampire Casanova & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. when Jalisco did the job in the third fall (Grundy was supposed to have which caused some heat with the office) ** and Salvaje won 2/3 falls from Sevilla in 19:13 in the hair vs. hair match which contained so many dives out of the ring that I lost track but suffice to say that Sevilla, who is just an average wrestler, put on a career performance here trying to be a Jushin Liger. The gimmick in the third fall was Sevilla was put in a submission hold after the two had traded about 12 minutes of near falls and heel ref El Gato Montini (with bleached blond hair) signalled that he had heard Sevilla submit although he protested after the match that he didn't. ****1/2.
Custodia Magazine in Mexico ran an article in its 3/2 issue calling for AIDS testing for pro wrestlers because of the exposure to one another's blood in the ring. I believe this is the first mainstream publication to address this subject.
The CMLL World Super Mini-Stars (midgets) title tournament is now down to four competitors after 2/16 in Arena Mexico with Mascarita Sagrada, Aguilita Solitaria, Octagoncito and Piratita Morgan.
Love Machine may not be around much longer as he's in trouble for apparently sucker-punching Blue Panther in the office and promoter Paco Alonso had to break it up.
2/23 at Arena Mexico was headlined for the third straight week by Salomon & Aaron Grundy (Mike Shaw) & Canadian Vampire Casanova beating Mascara Ano 2000 & Cien Caras & Universo 2000. Fans booed everyone in the match except Casanova.
The CMLL welterweight tournament is down to the semifinals which are America vs. Khalifa and El Felino (Baby Casas) vs. Fuerza Guerrera.
UWA 2/23 at El Toreo in Naucalpan saw Canek & Fishman & Dos Caras win 2/3 falls from Bam Bam Bigelow & The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samoan Savage) via DQ in the third fall when Bigelow gave Canek a low blow after Canek had bodyslammed him. Also Gran Hamada & Silver King & El Texano drew with Negro Casas & Rambo & Dr. Wagner Jr. when Casas and Hamada were simultaneously pinned in the third fall, La Muerte & Canadian Tiger & The Killer beat Enrique Vera & Solar I & Fantasma in two straight falls with Muerte pinning Vera in both falls to set up a hair vs. hair match between the two on 3/1 at El Toreo, Baby Face & El Engendro & El Espanto Jr. beat Super Raton & Super Pinocchio & Celestial and the opener saw Katana (Leon Chino) & Lasser & Halcon 78 beat Ricky Boy & Momotaro & El Falcon. La Muerte is a wrestler from Guatemala being brought in for this program with Vera.
Silver King & El Texano defend the UWA tag team titles against Negro Casas & El Espanto Jr. on 2/24 in Puebla.
El Hijo Del Santo retained his UWA world welterweight title on 2/9 in Netzahaulcoyotl beating El Espanto Jr. via DQ when Negro Casas interfered.
The wrestler working here as Transformer is known in Japan as Kendo and also works here as Kato Kung Lee II and Kendo Star.
ALL JAPAN The new series started on 2/22 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo before a sellout 2,100 fans as Steve Williams & Terry Gordy & Richard Slinger won the main event beating Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue & Yoshinari Ogawa in 17:23 when Williams pinned Taue with the Oklahoma Stampede. Also on the show Stan Hansen & Johnny Ace beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi in 11:59 when Ace pinned Kobashi (they have to push Ace hard to get him over as a main eventer of the calibre of the top Japanese and Hansen, Gordy and Williams with Danny Spivey gone), Toshiaki Kawada & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas in 14:50 with Kawada using the dragon sleeper submission on Kroffat, Joe & Dean Malenko beat The State Patrol (James Earl Wright & Buddy Lee Parker), Dory Funk & Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura beat Haruka Eigen & Motoshi Okuma & Masa Fuchi when Dory used the spinning toe hold on Eigen in 20:34, Fire Cat (Brady Boone) pinned Isamu Teranishi, Mighty Inoue pinned Satoru Asako and Mitsuo Momota pinned Masao Inoue. 2/23 in Yamato drew a sellout 2,100 as Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi beat Williams & Gordy & Slinger in 17:27 when Misawa pinned Slinger, Tsuruta & Taue beat Hansen & Parker, Kobashi & Funk beat Wright & Ace, Kroffat & Furnas beat Fuchi & Ogawa, Baba & Kimura beat Eigen & Okuma, Malenkos beat Teranishi & Mighty Inoue, Fire Cat pinned Asako and Momota pinned Masao Inoue.
The 2/22 show aired on television Sunday night. This coming Sunday's television show will be taped on 2/27 in Matsumoto which should be hot with Tsuruta vs. Kobashi as the main event plus Misawa vs. Taue, Gordy & Williams vs. Hansen & Ace, Kawada vs. Fuchi and Ogawa vs. Kikuchi.
The biggest show of the tour is the already sold out 3/4 card at Budokan Hall with Gordy & Williams defending the PWF world and international tag team titles against Tsuruta & Taue, Hansen defending the triple crown against Misawa (I actually expect both belts to change hands here), Ace vs. Ogawa, Malenkos vs. Kroffat & Furnas, Baba & Dory Funk & Andre the Giant vs. Kawada & Kobashi & Kikuchi (is this going to be an interesting match to see or what?) and Eigen & Okuma & Fuchi vs. Kimura & Teranishi & Mighty Inoue.
The 2/16 television show, which was a weak show headlined by Chris & Mark Youngblood vs. Jackie & Bobby Fulton drew a 4.1 Video Research rating a 3.2 Neilsen.
NEW JAPAN This past Saturday's television show had both title matches from 2/10 in Nagoya with Jushin Liger vs. Pegasus Kid for both the WCW lightheavyweight and IWGP jr. heavyweight belts and the tag title match with Keiji Muto & Hiroshi Hase defending against Scott Norton & Brad Armstrong. The 4/16 to 5/1 tour will include the annual Super Junior Heavyweight tournament with the finals on 4/30 at Tokyo Sumo Hall. The tournament will include Negro Casas, David Finlay (England), Pegasus Kid and Eddie Guerrero (making his Japanese debut) along with Japanese wrestlers including Jushin Liger, Akira Nogami and Norio Honaga with them wrestling round-robin style (everyone has one match against every other wrestler in the tournament) with the top two point-getters meeting in the finals. Also on the tour will be Norton, Tony Halme, Larry Cameron and Badnews Allen.
Tatsumi Fujinami wants to go to WCW for a while as part of an angle where he's feud up with New Japan. No word if it'll materialize.
New Japan will debut a new Tiger Mask on 3/1 at the Yokohama Arena big show. It'll be prelim boy Koji Kanemoto that has to fill the shoes originally created by the legendary Satoru Sayama and then filled to Mitsuharu Misawa. There was some talk one year ago that if Yoshihiro Asai had jumped to New Japan rather than SWS that he would have used the Tiger Mask gimmick. Tiger Mask faces Samurai (Osamu Matsuda) in his debut match.
2/10 in Nagoya before a sellout 10,300 fans saw Flying Scorpio beat Koji Kanemoto, Black Cat pinned Osamu Nishimura, Osamu Kido made Tony St. Clair submit, Bam Bam Bigelow & Halme beat Rambo & Kim Duk, Liger pinned Pegasus Kid in 16:22, Riki Choshu & Masa Saito & Kengo Kimura beat Shinya Hashimoto & Masa Chono & Akira Nogami when Kimura pinned Nogami with the power bomb in 13:26, Shiro Koshinaka & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat Akitoshi Saito & Shigeichi Tagichi in a wrestler vs. karate tag team match and Hase & Muto beat Armstrong & Norton to keep the tag titles.
2/11 in Owase drew a sellout 1,540 as Kimura pinned Kido, Koshinaka & Kobayashi beat Kantaro Hoshino & Masashi Aoyagi, Armstrong pinned Black Cat, Saito & Muto & Hase beat Bigelow & Halme & Duk when Muto made Duk submit, Pegasus Kid & Scorpio beat Liger & Nogami when Kid pinned Liger and Choshu & Chono & Hashimoto beat Norton & Rambo & St. Clair.
Series finale was 2/12 in Osaka before a sellout 3,580 as Kimura pinned St. Clair, Kido & Aoyagi beat Duk & Armstrong when Kido made Armstrong submit, Norton pinned Rambo in a non-title match, Bigelow & Halme beat Saito & Hashimoto when Bigelow splashed Saito, Liger & Nogami beat Kid & Scorpio when Nogami pinned Scorpio, Choshu & Chono beat Muto & Hase in a non-title match in 16:18 when Chono caught Hase in the STF at the same time Choshu had Muto in the scorpion for a double submission at the same time to set up a title shot down the line and Akitoshi Saito beat Koshinaka in 11:46 in a double juice mixed match via knockout.
TV on 2/15 headlined by Choshu & Chono vs. Rambo & Bigelow drew a 6.9/6.5 rating.
SWS It was announced this week that Ric Flair will make his SWS debut on 4/18 defending the WWF heavyweight title against Genichiro Tenryu at the 10,000 seat Tokyo Coliseum. Flair and Earthquake John Tenta will work the April tour from 4/16 to 4/18 with big shows the final two nights. Prelim wrestler Toshiyuki Nakahara is being sent to EMLL and will be trained by Blue Panther.
The Natural Powers (Yoshiaki Yatsu & King Haku) became the first SWS tag team champions winning the tournament final on 2/14 in Kyoto beating Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara in the finals. Both teams had finished the round-robin with 5-1 records.
In tournament matches 2/10 in Aizumi, Tenryu & Hara beat Davey Boy Smith & Naoki Sano, George & Shunji Takano beat Kendo Nagasaki & Kenichi Oya and in a major upset, Shinichi Nakano & Tatsumi Kitahara beat Haku & Yatsu in 20:09 when Nakano pinned Yatsu with a sunset flip off the top rope. 2/12 at Korakuen Hall before a sellout 2,100 saw Smith & Sano beat Nagasaki & Oya via DQ, Haku & Yatsu beat Takano Brothers, Kitahara & Nakano beat Samson Fuyuki & Takashi Ishikawa, Hara pinned Kabuki and Tenryu pinned Hercules in the main event.
March tour from 3/14 to 3/22 will include Undertaker (3/18 to 3/22), Hercules and The Berzerker.
OTHER JAPAN NOTES Talk is the now defunct JWP women's group will end up with two different new promotions being formed that will debut over the spring and summer with the talent split between the two groups. Leon Spinks & The Sheik will form the world's most unlikely tag team on the FMW mat later this year. Spinks returns in late March as part of a tour which includes Big Titan, Horace Boulder and Amigo Ultra starting 3/20.
All Japan women on 2/22 in Kaiman saw Bull Nakano & Akira Hokuto & Tomoko Watanabe beat Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota & Sake Hasegawa in 2/3 falls, Kyoko Inoue beat Etsuko Mita and Suzuki Minami & Yumiko Hotta beat Aja Kong & Miori Kamiya.
2/18 in Mie saw Nakano & Hokuto & a Korean wrestler beat Hotta & Mita & Toyota, Yamada drew Kong over 30:00 and Minami & Kyoko Inoue beat Debbie Malenko & Hasegawa.
FMW on 2/11 in Nagoya drew a sellout 3,280 fans Blond Bomber (Chris Candito) beat Yukihide Ueno (Ueno is leaving for the Tijuana area of Mexico for a lengthy tour), Miwa Sato beat A.J. Watson from Florida to keep the WWA women's title, Ricky Fuji made Star Man (Billy Anderson) submit and an elimination tag match saw Atsushi Onita & Sambo Asako & Tarzan Goto beat Big Titan & Sabu & Horace Boulder three falls to one.
UWFI drew an overflow and then some 2,600 to Korakuen Hall on 2/11 as Masahito Kakihara pinned J.T. Southern in 4:31, Kiyoshi Tamura & Yuki Miyato beat Mark Silver & Tatsuo Nakano in 18:03, Yoji Anjyo made Pez Whatley submit in 5:10 and the main event saw Gary Allbright (being pushed as the killer American) & Tom Burton beat Kazuo Yamazaki & Nobuhiko Takada in 17:11 when Allbright beat Yamazaki via knockout after giving him a series of german suplexes.
WING on 2/10 in Honjo drew 1,018 as Mr. Pogo & Miguelito Perez beat Gypsy Joe & Iceman (Ricky Santana), Mitsuteru Tokuda & Mitsuhiro Matsunaga beat Original TNT (Perry Jackson) & Dick Murdoch and Debbie Malenko beat Kaoru Ito.
2/11 in Hamamatsu drew 2,427 as Kanemura won a Bunkhouse Stampede Battle Royal, Murdoch pinned Pogo, Iceman beat Perez and Matsunaga beat Original TNT.
2/14 in Kitabaraki drew 932 as Pogo & Perez beat Murdoch & Tokuda. This card was held in a gym and after the match Iceman interfered and climbed to the top of the basketball hoop and did a flying crossbody off the rim.
2/15 in Hamamatsu drew 1,816 as Iceman won a Battle Royal, Matsunaga & Original TNT beat Murdoch & Kanemura and Pogo beat Iceman and Perez beat Tokuda.
2/16 at Korakuen Hall which didn't sellout was headlined by Pogo beating Gypsy Joe in a cage match. Outrageous moves here were Joe doing a dive off the cage which is more amazing since he's about 60-years-old and the new sensation Matsunaga doing a cross body off the top of the cage to the floor on Pogo after the match, Murdoch beat Matsunaga, Perez kept the Caribbean title pinning Iceman and Suzuka Minami pinned Bat Yoshinaga in a women's match.
All Japan women had a television taping 2/12 in Tokyo with Yamada & Toyota winning 2/3 falls from Kyoko Inoue & Hokuto in a battle of the super workers which went 30:33 and Hotta & Minami beat Malenko & Hasegawa. This airs on Tuesday night of this week. Upcoming big shows for All Japan women are 2/24 with Kong vs. Hokuto and Toyota & Yamada defending the UWA womens tag team titles against Kyoko Inoue & Hasegawa; 2/28 has Nakano & Hokuto vs. Kyoko Inoue & Yamada, Toyota & Mita vs. Malenko & Hasegawa and Kong vs. Hotta. 3/6 has Kong & Kimura vs. Yamada & Inoue, Toyota vs. Hokuto, Nakano vs. Minami and Malenko & Hasegawa defend the Japanese tag team titles against Ito & Yoshinaga. 3/7 has Kong & Kimura vs. Malenko & Hasegawa, Nakano vs. Hokuto and Toyota & Yamada vs. Hotta & Minami. 3/14 has Kong & Kimura vs. Inoue & Toyota, Hokuto vs. Hotta and Yamada & Hasegawa vs. Nakano & Ito and 3/20 has Kong & Kimura defending the WWWA tag team titles against Yamada & Toyota, Nakano vs. Inoue and Shimoda & Yoshida return from Mexico vs. Malenko & Hasegawa.
Next Rings show is 3/5 with Akira Maeda vs. Ramzai Buzariashivili from the Soviet Union.
UWFI is planning a major show on 5/8 at the 17,000 seat Yokohama Arena with Takada against another pro boxer. The last pro boxer they used, Trevor Berbick, who Mike Tyson originally won the heavyweight title from, was convicted on a rape charge in Florida last week.
GLOBAL The 2/21 card at the Dallas Sportatorium drew 900 as for 3/10 airing on ESPN: Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) pinned Chaz Taylor after Patriot used an object in his mask given to him by Bruce Prichard to head-butt Chaz, Gary Young & Scott Putski beat John Tatum & Rod Price via DQ when Tatum hit Putski with Scandor Akbar's shoe, The Patriot (Del Wilkes) pinned Slammer of Bruce Forcz and Big Bad John (formerly Bodysnatcher) beat Eddie Gilbert when referee Sam Esposito (Sam Lowe) claimed he heard Gilbert submit although Gilbert didn't. Ref James Beard claimed Gilbert hadn't submitted as did Gilbert and Terry Garvin and due to pre-match stipulations, Gilbert crawled across the ring and kissed Prichard's feet. For 3/18 on ESPN saw a one match television show lasting 40+ minutes with Bill Irwin & Young & Putski & Garvin beating Tatum & Steven Dane & Price & Black Bart. It came down to Irwin vs. Bart with Irwin getting the pin after Bart missed a legdrop off the top rope. This was said to be a very good match with Irwin putting on his best performance in recent memory. Third hour was for 3/17 on ESPN which saw Ben Jordan win the GWF lightheavyweight title from Barry Horowitz. The bout had the stipulation that Horowitz would forfeit the belt to Jordan unless he could beat him twice in ten minutes and he could only beat him once. Also Big Bad John beat Rick Garren, Bruce Forcz beat Tug & Chaz Taylor, Garvin pinned Horowitz and after Big Bad John & Dark Patriot joined Horowitz on Garvin when Eddie Gilbert made the save by throwing fire at Horowitz. After it was over Garvin asked Gilbert to be his tag team partner next week and Gilbert kept stalling until finally he shook Garvin's hand and agreed. Main event saw Patriot beat Dark Patriot via DQ when Prichard interfered. With the win, Patriot got five minutes with Prichard and Prichard threw powder in Patriot's eyes and jumped him for 2:00 before Patriot made the superman comeback at which time Dark Patriot & Bruce Forcz ran in for the DQ but Patriot ran all of them off. Starting in two weeks they'll be running one dark match per week for a dual purpose. The obvious purpose is to have a non-televised match to attempt to help the live gate although the real purpose is to allow the guys to use gimmicks and juice which is banned by ESPN. That show will have Gilbert vs. Big Bad John in a barbed wire match as the dark match plus Dark Patriot defends the North American title against Patriot with Gilbert as ref and Prichard in a cage.
2/28 show has Garvin & Gilbert vs. Dark Patriot & Big Bad John and if Gilbert turns on Garvin, he'll surrender his TV title to Garvin, Jordan defends GWF lightheavyweight title against Horowitz with Horowitz putting up his hair and Tatum & Price defending the GWF tag titles against Putski & Young with the titles changing via DQ plus a 10 man Battle Royal to determine the GWF Taped Fist champion.
Sweet Daddy Falcone blew out his knee working an indie show on Saturday night.
WCW Terry Gordy and Steve Williams have officially signed but probably won't be in until around May, working as a heel tag team between Japan tours. The 1/4 Tokyo Egg Dome show will air as a mini-PPV show between 3/7 and 3/21 on Viewers Choice for a $9.95 suggested price. The matches that will air as Jushin Liger & Akira Nogami & Masashi Aoyagi vs. Super Strong Machine & Hiro Saito & Norio Honaga, Dusty & Dustin Rhodes vs. Kim Duk & Masa Saito, Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko vs. Shiro Koshinaka & Michiyoshi Ohara, Big Van Vader vs. El Gigante, Riki Choshu vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Lex Luger vs. Masa Chono and Sting & Great Muta vs. Steiners. They will acknowledge the show was taped in early January as an explanation as to why Luger will be the champion. They specifically excluded the Shinya Hashimoto vs. Bill Kazmaier and Scott Norton vs. Tony Halme matches because they sucked, but for some reason the master tape sent from Japan didn't include Antonio Inoki vs. Hiroshi Hase so that match wasn't excluded based on a decision in Atlanta so they say.
One late change in Saturday's SuperBrawl line-up has the eight man tag team match now off and instead they'll have a tag match with Vinnie Vegas & Mr. Hughes vs. Johnny B. Badd & Van Hammer. Although it on paper looks to be the worst match on the show, there is a booking reason for this because they want to program Vegas & Hughes against the Steiners and they want to get them in a strong position.
The NWA title tournament is very tentatively set for late spring or early summer with attempts to hold the tournament in Japan although nothing is concrete as far as I know.
In this market, WCW Pro starts on KOFY (Ch. 20) at 10 a.m. Saturday's starting 3/7.
WCW will lower prices across the board at all the arenas in an attempt to bring in new customers. The top seats everywhere will be $12 and $10 with a low GA price anywhere from $5 to $7 depending upon the market.
Big Van Vader is negotiating for a two-year deal where he'd work here in between Japan tours.
Brian Pillman will be off until the PPV because of his back injury.
WCW on 2/15 drew a 2.8 rating with Main Event on 2/16 getting a 2.4 and Power Hour on 2/15 a 1.8. All are pretty close to what the three shows have been averaging of late.
Jesse Ventura is scheduled for many mainstream media appearances before you read this including a CNBC cable television talk show, Larry King's radio show and there should be a mention in the gossip column of USA Today on Thursday or Friday. An attempt to get Ventura on the Arsenio Hall show fell through on Monday afternoon for reasons that you probably can imagine.
2/20 at Reunion Arena drew a disastrous 780 fans (Just breaking even at Reunion Arena has to be a $50,000 house) for a not very good show as Richard Morton pinned Mike Graham, Van Hammer beat Abdullah the Butcher via DQ (didn't Abby turn at one point?), Rick & Scott Steiner beat Young Pistols (all stalling), Tom Zenk pinned Terrence Taylor, Ricky Steamboat & Sting beat Rick Rude & Steve Austin when Steamboat pinned Austin with Paul E. Dangerously handcuffed to Barry Windham (subbing for El Gigante who is still in Argentina after his mother passed away) in the best match of the show when Windham got the phone and hit Austin with it and Ron Simmons & Windham & Dustin Rhodes beat Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko & Bobby Eaton in a cage match when Windham pinned Zbyszko.
The same crew of 2/21 in Fort Hood, TX drew a sellout and a $29,000 house.
2/22 in Chattanooga drew 3,100 as Diamond Dallas Page pinned Mike Graham, Big Josh beat Mr. Hughes, Van Hammer DDQ Abdullah the Butcher, Morton pinned Badd, Steiners beat Young Pistols (best match on card), Rhodes & Windham beat Anderson & Zbyszko, and Sting & Steamboat beat Rude & Austin.
2/23 in Knoxville drew 1,500 as Page beat Graham, Morton beat Badd, Windham beat Zbyszko, Steiners beat Pistols, Rhodes & Josh beat Anderson & Eaton in a non-title match and Sting & Steamboat beat Rude & Austin.
2/24 in Greenville, SC drew 2,400 and $26,000 as Jushin Liger pinned Morton, who was subbing for Pillman, (Liger got the biggest pop of the show and even though injured did every move under the sun including a running across the ring and vaulting to the top rope and coming backward with a moonsault all in one move) ***1/2, Josh DDQ Abdullah *, Hughes pinned Badd after hitting him with a gimmick 1/2*, Steiners beat Pistols (all stalling for 19:00) DUD, Windham beat Zbyszko **1/2, Anderson & Eaton beat Rhodes & Steamboat when Eaton pinned Rhodes with the Alabama jam (you read that finish correctly) ***3/4 and Rude beat Sting via DQ with the Dusty finish ***1/2. There was super heat during the Rude-Sting match. Apparently the original orders were for Steamboat to do the job in the tag match but Rhodes then volunteered since if he waits to be asked he'll be waiting until 1996.
USWA Koko Ware won the USWA title on 2/24 in Memphis from Kimala in a match where Ware put up his bird Frankie against the title. On interviews, Dennis Coraluzzo (who does taped interviews for Kimala from New Jersey) said that when Kimala won, that he'd eat Frankie in the ring. Finish saw a ref bump and Tony Falk gave Friday (Buddy Wayne) an object, but before Kimala could use it, Ware dropkicked him and used it on Kimala and pinned him. It was the Moondogs television show on Saturday with them interfering in just about every match. The Moondogs have really revitalized the territory with their good brawls everywhere. Anyway, it started with a Jeff Jarrett squash and the Moondogs came in and beat up both Jarrett and his jobber opponent until Jarrett came back with a board and garbage cans. Moondogs then said they were going to interfere in every match for the rest of the show, which they did. First they had their own squash and destroyed a jobber named Tim Wilson whose back was left cut open and bleeding from beatings from chairs and garbage cans and even broke the ring bell and threw the table on him. Wilson certainly earned his $25. Next came a Brian Christopher squash and the Moondogs came out but Christopher just ran off letting them destroy the jobber and three referees who tried to break it up. Finally Tom Prichard had a match with Tony Falk with Miss Texas and Miss Jennifer in the corners. The Moondogs came out and attacked both men and threw referee Kevin Christian (Kevin Lawler) over the top rope and he took the bump of the year. As the Moondogs were on the rampage, the Big Black Dog tried to kiss Miss Texas while Moondog Spot tried to kiss Miss Jennifer.
Austin Idol is already history after drawing two of the biggest Memphis houses in a long time.
2/24 in Memphis had Dirty White Girl beat Miss Jennifer as part of the USWA womens title tournament, Brian Christopher beat Kenny Kendall from Florida to keep the Texas title, Prichard beat Jim Steele from Florida for the Southern title, Pat Tanaka beat Embry via DQ when Falk interfered, Ware beat Kimala to win the USWA title, and the main event had Lawler & Jarrett & Junkfood Dog beat The Moondogs & Big Black Dog (a local football player) when Black Dog submitted and did a stretcher job so I'll assume that's the end for him.
They aired a video of JYD when announcing his return which showed him from 1982 when he had a body like Ron Simmons.
They announced Embry injured Tony Anthony (who is now in Mexico) and he then said he was going to show Dirty White Girl what a real man was which got C.J. upset and they wound up with White Girl and C.J. having a clothes tearing television brawl with C.J.'s shirt being ripped off.
HERE AND THERE The Ultimate Warrior Slim-Jim commercial which has just started airing was apparently filmed around 18 months ago when he was still with the WWF. A Lucha Libre group starts 2/29 in Santa Ana with most of the Los Angeles based Lucha Libre wrestlers. A group running Lucha Libre shows in Fresno and Bell, CA that is advertising Mil Mascaras and Rayo de Jalisco Jr. are apparently using bogus individuals with their ring costumes.
The television show "A Current Affair" did a segment Thursday night on Andre the Giant. It was one of those daddy dearest stories showing Andre's 12-year-old daughter who he has only seen four times and talked of the court fight to get Andre to pay child support after blood testing proved he was the father.
Verne Gagne and Brad Rheingans are negotiating with TGP Productions for a syndicated amateur wrestling television show.
Eddie Gilbert will now be hosting Pro Wrestling this Week in Atlanta with Sam Kent while Teddy Long will be in the studio each week introducing the World Wide show on Ch. 69. Joe Pedicino will be back with Boni Blackstone as the host of the Saturday night wrestling block.
Sam Kent is starting up a North Georgia promotion and television show which will air in Atlanta with the Georgia regulars.
Jimmy Snuka is said to be opening an indie in Salt Lake City.
Carol Lindsay and Tim Golden ran a Galaxy Promotions show on 2/22 in Gadsden, AL before 300 fans as Patriot (Del Wilkes) beat Night Stalker, Bob Armstrong beat Death Row (a different one than on WCW television), Scott Armstrong beat Nightmare (Ted Allen) and Ken Timbs beat Alabama Inmate.
2/20 in Athens, GA saw Ron Garvin beat Joel Deaton, Bob Armstrong beat Steve Lawler and Peggy Lee Leather beat Bambi.
2/23 at the Alpharetta, GA Auction Barn drew 70 fans headlined by Dino Minelli & Steve Lawler beating Rip Morgan & Jack Victory. A newcomer named Glen Gilbunetti, in his fifth match, showed a lot of potential and was reminiscent of Paul Roma in losing to Georgia champ Mike Curvich. They are talking about doing the first North Georgia wrestling TV taping in the same building in two weeks.
Chris Love's show on 2/22 in Kaufman, TX drew 227 fans headlined by Terry Daniels winning a Battle Royal, Rod Price beating Steve Simpson, Steven Dane beat Daniels and prelims.
Piledriver Promotions in Kansas City has already folded.
Howard Brody's WWOW has shows 2/28 in Immokalee, FL with a Battle Royal, Wendi Richter vs. Penelope Paradise, Luna Vachon vs. Malia Hosaka, Bambi vs. Pink Cadillac, Alison Royal vs. Peggy Lee Leather and A.J. Watson vs. Big Bad Momma; 3/1 in Port St. Lucie, FL with Leilani Kai & Judy Martin vs. Richter & Bambi, Lee vs. Rockin Robin, Candi Divine vs. Hosaka and more and 4/20 in Fort Lauderdale headlined by Kai & Martin vs. Richter & Robin.
Southeastern Championship Wrestling had shows last week in Mississippi with Johnny & Davey Rich, Tommy Lane, Don Bass, Carl Fergie and manager Sam Lowe.
Ken Willis promoted Wild Wrestling Action on 2/16 in New Albany, IN before 252 fans headlined by Dutch Mantell DDQ Bill Dundee plus Todd Morton, Calypso Jim and Mike Doggendorf among others.
Ohio Championship Wrestling on 2/8 in Mansfield, OH saw Shane Douglas beat Mike Sharpe and champ Ron Cumberledge beat Charlie Fulton via DQ.
The Streetnoise wrestling program that airs in Canada on cable on 3/25 will run a segment on Sweet Daddy Siki and Ron Hutchison's wrestling school out of Toronto.
A group called World Wrestling Association ran a TV taping on 2/15 in Parkersburg, WV using among others Lord Zoltan, Calypso Jim, Ron Cumberledge, Scott Summers and Charlie Fulton.
ICWA on 2/20 in Tampa before 200 fans saw Kendall Windham beat Kevin Sullivan in a Texas death match that lasted 4:55, Lou Perez & Allan Iron Eagle beat Terminators via DQ, Jim Backlund beat Rob Von Dom, Mark Starr beat Coconut Man in a lumberjack strap match and Tex Sallinger beat Lebanese Assassin. They announced the main event on 2/27 at the Tampa Sportatorium would be Hercules vs. Greg Valentine.
Steve Gatorwolf has shows on 3/9 in Windowrock, AZ and 3/5 in Tuba City, AZ with himself, Zodiac The Star Man (Billy Anderson) and Abdullah Hussain (Lou Fabbiano).
Mike Jackson ran a show on 2/7 in Cullman, AL which drew 1,300 fans with Robert Gibson and Dutch mantell and drew 450 on 2/8 in Clanton, AL with the same names and 475 on 2/15 in Clanton, AL using Adrian Street.
Windy City Wrestling has a show on 5/16 at the International Amphitheater with The Untouchables vs. Maxx Brothers (Sam Decero & Eli the Eliminator) in a cage match on top.
WWF These dates were announced for a post-Wrestlemania tour of the United Kingdom: 4/13 and 4/14 at Wembley Arena in London; 4/15 in Belfast, Northern Ireland; 4/16 in Dublin; 4/17 in Birmingham, England and Glasgow, Scotland; 4/18 in Birmingham, England and Glasgow, Scotland and 4/19 in Yorkshire. Tickets for these shows will probably be all sold out before you read this considering the WWF's popularity in the UK. Don't know what the situation is regarding Hercules but after being told on Thursday that he had been released, he worked several shows over the weekend. I guess he's been released from his contract but will still work on a show-to-show basis, which allows him to negotiate his own independent work, but that's just a guess.
2/22 at the Target Center in Minneapolis drew 5,600 as Tatonka pinned Kato, Berzerker pinned a local guy, Tito Santana pinned Ted DiBiase, Repo Man pinned Virgil, Skinner pinned Jim Brunzell, Natural Disasters beat Jim Duggan & Sgt. Slaughter via DQ, Big Bossman pinned IRS and Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair & Sid Justice when Hogan pinned Flair.
2/22 in Syracuse drew a sellout 8,500 as Warlord pinned Chris Walker, Shawn Michaels beat Jim Powers (Michaels now has a gimmick where after his prelim match, they announce "Shawn Michaels has left the building" and later in the show announce "Shawn Michaels has left..." whatever city they are in), Bushwhackers & Bret Hart beat Mountie & Nasty Boys, Rick Martel beat J.W. Storm, Undertaker pinned British Bulldog, Owen Hart & Koko Ware beat Beverly Brothers and Randy Savage beat Jake Roberts in a cage match.
At the house shows where LOD was replaced by Bushwhackers it was announced as being due to an injury to Hawk (that is, at the shows they were even acknowledging the replacement).
Prime Time Wrestling did a 2.6 on 2/17 while All-American on 2/16 did a 2.4.
Television tapings for Wrestling Challenge on 2/19 in West Palm Beach drew a sellout 5,000 with the main dark match Hogan & Piper beat Flair & Justice when Hogan pinned Flair. They did an angle where Nasty Boys attacked Natural Disasters so they'll be programmed as well. Roddy Piper did an interview and said he didn't want to wrestle Bret Hart because he's been friends with Stu Hart and Bret came out and they wound up shaking hands. Undertaker choked out Jake Roberts during an interview and left him laying. Also, Savage pinned Berzerker and Santana beat Michaels via DQ.
2/23 at Madison Square Garden drew 14,000 fans and a whopping $260,000 house as Berzerker pinned Brunzell *, Nasty Boys beat Bushwhackers *, Warlord pinned Walker -***, Justice pinned Hercules in 20 seconds DUD, Piper beat Repo Man **1/2, Undertaker pinned Bulldog *, Martel pinned Bossman ** and Justice won a 21 man Battle Royal (which also included Hogan and Flair). Last two were Justice and Hogan and the ref was bumped and Hogan threw Justice over the top rope. Justice got back in and threw Hogan out of the ring threw the middle rope and the ref got up and saw Hogan on the floor and raised Justice's hand.
3/23 at Madison Square Garden has Flair & Justice vs. Hogan & Piper, Nasty Boys & Mountie vs. Bushwhackers & Hart, IRS vs. Santana, Michaels vs. Virgil, Skinner vs. Tatonka and more.
2/9 in Toronto drew 8,000 as Martel pinned Powers, Slaughter & Duggan beat Nasty Boys, Kato pinned Brooklyn Brawler, New Foundation beat Beverly Brothers, Hart pinned Berzerker, Tatonka pinned Skinner, Justice beat Undertaker via DQ and Savage pinned Roberts in a cage match.
Undertaker turn was really almost amazingly well put together on television when you consider Savage & Liz walking down the aisle was taped on a Monday and Jake behind the curtain was taped on a Tuesday and they spliced them together so well.
2/23 at the Capital Centre in Landover, MD drew 6,039 as Tatonka pinned Bob Bradley ***, Michaels pinned Powers ***, IRS pinned Virgil **, Owen Hart & Ware beat Beverly Brothers **, Bret Hart beat Mountie ***, Natural Disasters beat Duggan & Slaughter *, Santana pinned DiBiase *** and Savage beat Roberts in a cage match ***.
2/23 in Hartford drew 5,500 as Skinner pinned Brunzell 1/2*, Berzerker pinned Hercules DUD, Undertaker pinned Bulldog *3/4, Nasty Boys beat Bushwhackers *1/2, Martel pinned Walker **, Bossman beat Repo Man via DQ ** and Hogan & Piper beat Flair & Justice when Hogan pinned Flair in 15:05 ***.
2/19 in Utica drew a full house of 4,400 as Repo Man pinned Virgil *3/4, Warlord pinned Walker DUD, Michaels beat Powers **, Hart & Bushwhackers beat Mountie & Nasty Boys *1/2, Martel pinned Storm -*, Undertaker pinned Bulldog * and Piper beat Flair in 16:00 in a cage match when both were hanging from the cage and Flair bashed Piper's head into the cage and Piper fell to the floor. Piper left with both belts even though this was a non-title match. ***1/4
THE READERS PAGES Anthony Watson of 932 Longfellow, Detroit, MI 48202 is interested in purchasing Wrestling Observer yearbooks through 1989.
Brian Berkon of 710 Summerly Dr., Nashville, TN 37209 has photos of USWA wrestlers for sale and is looking for the Best of the WWF tapes 5-23 and AWA Superclash shows.
Breck Ray of 100 Chanticleer Dr. #D-301, Conway, SC 29526 is looking for a videotape of the 8/90 Saturday Night Main Event and a 1990 WWF Dusty Rhodes action figure and will trade videotapes for either item.
Frank Munguia of 634 NE 4th Ave. #1, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 has tapes for trade.
Francesco Castano of 13135 Colton Ln., Gaithersburg, MD 20878 is looking for the Celebrity Sleuth issue with photos of Sensational Sherri.
Michael Welsh of 82 Pilot Dr., Brick, NJ 08723 is looking to buy or trade for tapes of the 1/11, 1/18, 2/1 and 2/8 Memphis television shows.
Wade Keller of P.O. Box 201844, Minneapolis, MN 55420 is about to publish his Pro Wrestling Torch yearbook. These are always must-read publications. Price is $10.
Ross Abrams of 9930 Wingtip Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19115 is looking for tapes of Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan matches and the 1986 and 1987 Crockett Cup tag team tournaments and for lists of people who are willing to trade tapes.
STEROIDS Let the record show that the following is meant to neither condone nor condemn steroid abuse but rather to supply a different perspective. Having spent many years socializing with what some would call a fast crowd, I have come to know a variety of drug abusers and their way of thinking. Be one into alcohol, barbituarates, heroin, amphetamines or cocaine, the user believes the immediate gratification outweighs the potential long-term effect. No one pauses before snorting a line of speed to consider the number of cells they are damaging. Those fully cognizant of the likelihood of a decreased life span generally feel that living 20 years in triple time is the equivalent of living 60 at the traditional pace. No doubt some readers will vehemently disagree, but through the eyes of people who prefer quality to quantity, the equation makes perfect sense.
In the "King of Comedy," Robert DeNiro's starstruck character summed it up with one sentence: "It's better to be king for a day than schmuck for a lifetime." I suspect this is the philosophy espoused by those who continue abusing steroids despite legal and suspected health problems.
Ernie Santilli
Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Keep up the coverage on the steroid issue. The wrestlers may think that it's simply part of their life, but the fans do care about the wrestlers and nobody wants anybody to turn out like Billy Graham. Are there any bodybuilders from the 1970s suffering from body breakdown from steroids? Why doesn't the press blow the cover off the bodybuilding business? Don't they know there's one way to slow down if not stop steroid and HGH use is by exposing the truth about the big names in bodybuilding and knocking the magazines off the shelves. Making examples of people isn't new and it's the only effective tool. Stories that don't mention big names don't mean anything to the public.
Larry Saale
Sandoval, Illinois
DM: I don't know of any 1970s bodybuilders suffering from avascular necrosis, although Bo Jackson has it in his hip and there are powerlifters from the 70s with the same problem. The press generally doesn't cover bodybuilding because to the mainstream media, like wrestling, it's considered unimportant. 20/20 will focus heavily on bodybuilding in its steroid piece. The press may not realize just how influential the muscle business is on teenagers today because there is a major generation gap between those who control the mainstream media and teenagers. When those who control today's media were teenagers, being muscular was considered almost socially unacceptable. Today, a muscular look among teenagers is in vogue. It would be a violation of everyone's basic rights, particularly the rights of those who publish the magazines to knock bodybuilding magazines from the shelves of magazine stores when some of them sell very well. Granted, they can have a negative influence on people's self-image and develop false standards of health and create standards of muscularity unattainable without drugs. The government becoming mind police is far more dangerous.
I have no respect for the new administration at WCW. The public service announcements made by some of the wrestlers are very hypocritical and only serve to take advantage of the sour press aimed at Hulk Hogan and the WWF. Brian Pillman has openly admitted to using steroids. I used to do TV jobs at the TBS studios. In 1987, during the Great American Bash, I watched one of WCW's biggest stars get injected with steroids. I was three.
So now these wrestlers are making public service announcements against steroids. If Pillman and the other wrestler don't come clean and say, "Yes, we used steroids, but we have stopped. We want to tell you kids to never get started," and then they have completely stopped using steroids, then these PSA's are bogus publicity stunts! It doesn't mean much to me to hear a drug user tell me not to use drugs. Hulk Hogan is taking heat because so many of the wrestlers have used steroids. If the other steroid users are jumping on the anti-drug bandwagon just because Hogan's career is in jeopardy, than this is crap! Let it be known that I will never pay to see a WCW event again whether it be live or on PPV.
Name withheld by request
DM: This letter was specific about the name of the other wrestler which I have withheld pending secondary confirmation and the airing of these PSA's to see if the wrestlers confirm past use, deny past use, or are non-committal about past use and an attempt to get a comment from the specific wrestler named.
Why hasn't the steroid story been covered in Japan? Is it because a high percentage of Japanese wrestlers are on the sauce and if this was reported the fans would regard it as extremely dishonorable? Or have they worked a cover-up of the story as a favor to Hulk Hogan so he'll have a place to go after being disgraced in the United States?
Also, have you heard of other long-time steroid users having problems similar to Billy Graham? I wonder about some of the top bodybuilders of the 70s like Frank Zane, Robby Robinson and Franco Columbu. These guys appeared to be juiced to the max for years. Have they, or others suffered any major health problems as a result of steroid use?
John Henrickson
Chicago, Illinois
DM: The steroid story in regard to the Zahorian trial received minimal coverage in Japan except in Weekly Fight which did a two-page major feature using the Observer as the main source. There has been some coverage as well, but minimal, of the claims of Billy Graham and David Shults. When I was in Japan in 1984, the wrestlers and particularly the younger ones had a very negative attitude toward steroids to the point that some refused to give Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith the credit they deserved as workers and were almost dismissed by some wrestlers even though they were over like crazy with fans because the wrestlers believed they used lots of steroids. Ditto Hulk Hogan. In 1990, it seemed pretty evident that a lot of the younger wrestlers were using them and which to me meant that attitudes had changed. The percentage of use still appears to be much lower than in this country. Promotion of the Japanese wrestlers based on physique above ability is almost non-existent. But that isn't the case with the foreigners although they favor a huge, bulky look above the sleek, bodybuilder look. I don't see evidence of promotions actually encouraging use but I don't know if it's really discouraged either. A lot of long-time pro bodybuilders, both men and women, have had severe health problems which they believe are due to steroids and there have been deaths of bodybuilders as young as teenagers linked to steroids. Two factors have to be taken into account when one talks about the big-name 1970s bodybuilders. First off, in general, they didn't use the doses anywhere near what today's big-name bodybuilders use or even many of today's wrestlers. Second, most of them cycled and generally only used heavy doses leading to contests. In those days, almost all the photos you saw of those guys were taken in the home stretch of contest preparation so they always looked in peak condition in the magazine, but they really only looked like that for a week or two each year. Zane, for one, gave exhibitions in off-season condition here often and was more impressive with his knowledge and philosophy of bodybuilding than impressive looking except it seemed the day of the Olympia. Ed Corney, who placed in the top six or seven several times in the Olympia back then, who I trained with on a few occasions, didn't even have the most impressive physique in the gym except for the last two weeks before the Olympia each year when he looked unbelievable. Robinson in those days always looked in near-contest condition, and he suffered problems from an enlarged heart (which probably was more genetic than steroid-related but who knows if steroids in some way weren't a minor cause for his occasional flare ups). Several of the big names of that era aren't alive today due to heart attacks, a percentage far higher than one would expect from a relatively small group, most of whom are still in their 40s. Others have had major heart, kidney and liver ailments. Others, as far as I know, suffered few if any problems.
Loved your ideas to rid WCW of steroids. It was well thought out and would definitely work. There is just one problem. It makes too much sense.
Jim Thompson
Detroit News
GOODHART This letter is for information purposes for your readers. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission has seized TWA promoter Joel Goodhart's promoters bond, which is required to be a promoter in Pennsylvania. The amount of the bond is $10,000. This bond money will be used to reimburse people who purchased tickets to TWA shows which never came off and also to season ticket holders to recapture the unused portion of their tickets. I don't know how many of your readers purchased these tickets but hopefully this will help the ones that did get their money back. I hope other newsletter editors reprint this information for their readers.
I'll inform you when this goes into effect because ticket money will be returned on a first-come, first-served basis and the total amount that will be returned will be $10,000. As most people are aware, Goodhart and myself along with Larry Sharpe were rival promoters and I had no liking for him whatsoever and I'm sure the feelings were mutual. This letter isn't meant in that vain, but it was a shame that up until the night before he went on the air to announce to folding that he was collecting ticket money, tape money, fan club membership money and wrestling school tuition. I have to believe some of this money was collected with full knowledge the shows weren't going to take place, the school was closing and the fan club was being abolished. I feel an obligation as a wrestling promoter in this area to try and help those fans that feel that they were ripped off. I hope this letter will help get rid of the bad taste in the mouths that they may have with wrestling promoters right now. I'll personally feel better if some people get their ticket money back and at least don't feel the wrestling business ripped them off. The one good thing Joel Goodhart tried to do was stir up interest in independent wrestling in this area and hard work was put in both on his side and on my side. I just hope wrestling fans don't get turned off by what happened and I hope this will restore some faith in the wrestling business. Unfortunately, many people who don't read newsletters won't know of this ticket reimbursement. This is a major positive point in favor of state athletic commission regulation of the pro wrestling business.
Dennis Coralluzzo
Promoter, Excalibur Promotions
I found the Billy Graham interview very interesting. I've often wondered, like many readers, why many of today's wrestlers take such a bad attitude toward the fans and the sport. I was discussing this with a friend of mine who is an independent wrestler that does television jobs for the WWF and he said, "You've got to realize that most of these big stars today aren't like you and me. They were never fans growing up. They don't understand what it's like to buy a ticket and look forward to a night of wrestling at the local arena or high school. They've never been a kid that's run up to one of the wrestlers for an autograph or a handshake. This business to them is just a way to make a buck." I guess he's right and that's why this sport is in the shape it's in.
To change the subject to Joel Goodhart, while your assessment about Goodhart bringing in many name stars on his cards being the reason for his financial downfall is correct, the TWA was headed for failure no matter who Goodhart booked. On his last radio show, Goodhart wanted to know why he couldn't draw more fans when he had a listenership weekly of 25,000 but in the same breath he said, "People said our wrestling was too violent, but I didn't give a damn. Wrestling is a violent sport." His contention that his wrestling cards are what pro wrestling used to be like is just plain false. While one match every now and then may have been like what Goodhart promotes, old-time wrestling was never a continual orgy of blood. Any attempts to tell him this was must with cries of "jerk" and "idiot" and even kids who called up his show to tell him this were constantly put down and told to grow up. Goodhart had a loyal group of hardcores that enjoyed his bloody horror shows but that was it. What usually happened was what took place at his "Pine Hill Punishment" card. Families poured out of the building vowing to never see live wrestling again. I understand from one of the teachers at the high school that the school board will now never allow another wrestling card at the school. Unfortunately, all the wrestling promoters get painted with the same brush after a bad experience like this. My wife wouldn't attend Joel's shows. I would never allow my daughter to attend his shows. As a wrestling fan, I didn't appreciate paying for a ticket to a wrestling show that consisted primarily of chair shots and juice in the crowd. Joel didn't promote wrestling for the fans. He promoted for himself. If they didn't like what he promoted, he said the heck with them. Unfortunately for Joel, a lot of fans said the heck with him. Hopefully the damage done by Joel can be repaired and we'll still be able to see those nights out at the local high school to see wrestling matches and our kids can get autographs and meet with the wrestlers that wrestle because they love the business and not because it's just a way to make a buck.
Paul Verlander
Gloucester, New Jersey
DM: You have to look at things from the other side as well. Big name wrestlers are constantly hounded by fans everywhere they go. This can get old after a while. Even if the vast majority of fans are polite in their approach, there are many who aren't. Unfortunately, the fans who are rude, even though they are the minority, are the ones that stick in the minds of the many wrestlers and that's may be part of the reason many develop the attitude they do toward the fans

March 9, 1992 Observer Newsletter: Patterson and Garvin resign amidst scandal, WWF reeling, more awards

Wrestling Observer Newsletter PO Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228 March 9, 1992 World Wrestling Federation Vice President in charge of talent, Pat Patterson and booking assistant Terry Garvin resigned Monday amidst a scandal that could threaten the very future of the company.
Patterson, who is generally considered one of the six or seven most influential men in the pro wrestling business, along with Garvin, one of his long-time assistants, announced their resignations following allegations of sexual misconduct by two former ring attendants, an ex-front office employee and charges made a few weeks back on the Wrestling Insiders radio show by former preliminary wrestler Barry Orton.
The allegations of two former ring attendants, both of whom were underage at the time and one of which is planning to file a lawsuit within a few weeks according to an article in this past Wednesday's New York Post, were the first stories of this nature to actually make the mainstream news. WWF owner Vince McMahon was furious about the charges, particularly those made by Orton, because he felt that because of Patterson and Garvin's gay lifestyle, they would be unable to defend themselves against the charges even though both claimed they were innocent of any wrongdoing. McMahon said both felt by staying with the company it could have a severe negative impact on the company. Thus, according to McMahon, both men offered their resignations.
McMahon on Tuesday denied all of the charges against both Patterson and Garvin. He said that Garvin totally refuted the charge made by Orton and McMahon was upset at Orton and those in the media for bringing up an incident from 1978. He was also upset with charges by a former employee in regard to Patterson as ridiculous and claimed the employee, Murray Hodgkins, who he called a certifiable lunatic, was fired because he couldn't do his job properly. He noted that Patterson has been in the wrestling business for 30 years and in that time hadn't had any allegations brought against him and claimed the various sources complaining both in regards to Patterson and Garvin and also Hulk Hogan weren't credible.
McMahon did admit that Hogan didn't tell the complete truth on the Arsenio Hall show but denied he had anything to do with what Hogan said except he told Hogan to tell the truth. He said he was devastated when Hogan didn't tell the complete truth. McMahon was also critical of WCW Executive Vice President Kip Frey's new steroid policy and of the wrestling newsletters reaction to the policy saying the only valid policy is involuntary testing if one is serious about the subject. He also denied knowing about any new letter sent to employees last week as was reported in last week's Observer even though one part-time employee claimed he received a letter last Monday with a release form to sign making himself available for steroid and drug tests that was mailed the previous Friday. McMahon was also defensive of his own steroid testing program, which he claimed was far better than that of either the International Olympic Committee or the National Football League. He'll release his written policy to the media shortly, and, provided they dig themselves out of this current hole, he'll hold anabolic steroid symposiums with Dr. Mauro DiPasquale (who is generally considered the leading expert on beating steroid tests in the Western World) of Canada to educate the media to the subject. In addition, McMahon, after many false starts, implemented steroid testing to his World Bodybuilding Federation performers with a blood test taken a few days back (the WWF wrestlers didn't have blood tests taken and the procedure for the bodybuilders will be more stringent than that of the wrestlers) and urine tests to be taken sometime this week. According to other sources in bodybuilding, McMahon told the bodybuilders they would be tested five times between now and the 6/13 WBF championships in Long Beach and if the levels of steroids in the bodybuilders' systems didn't continually decline in every test than they would be suspended. McMahon said that he didn't think the current testing procedures used for the wrestlers were good enough, particularly when it came to the WBF competitors and said that everyone in the Long Beach contest will be off steroids in their final preparation phase. In a related development, the contract between McMahon's most highly publicized and highly-paid bodybuilder, Lou Ferrigno, was severed on Friday. Ferrigno is claiming to still be with the WBF and simply taking time off to repair a hand injury which will result in him missing the WBF championships which were basically being promoted as a match-up between himself and last year's champion Gary Strydom. However, that isn't the case and sources close to the WBF said it was because Ferrigno balked at drug testing, a story McMahon didn't confirm. McMahon did say he expected Ferrigno to wind up with the rival Weider organization. McMahon admitted losing Ferrigno was a major marketing blow to the fledgling WBF.
Patterson, who came to work for the WWF in the late 1970s as a wrestler and upon his arrival, sold out Madison Square Garden four times in title matches against then-champion Bob Backlund, was considered one of the all-time great workers during his 24-year career. He was particularly well known in Northern California where he was the area's leading drawing card in the early 1970s. His tag team combination with Ray Stevens is one of the most famous duos in history, and perhaps with the exception of the Road Warriors, they were the only team to hold both the NWA and AWA world tag team titles during their career. Patterson was eventually moved into an office role after serving as a color commentator on television and becoming a part-time wrestler. After leaving the ring in 1985, he eventually took over as the second in command (behind McMahon) as far as talent and booking in the WWF after the firing of George Scott. Garvin, who was also an active wrestler during the 60s and 70s, part of a famous wrestling family with "brother" Ron and "brother" Jimmy (neither of whom he was actually related to) eventually held office positions with several promotions after retiring. He was working for Bob Geigel in Kansas City seven years ago when he made the move to the WWF.
The resignations came just a few days into what will almost certainly be the most critical period ever for the WWF. There have been several allegations of steroid and other drug use, sexual harassment and sexual abuse that will be breaking in several newspapers around the country and on the ABC television show 20/20 television over the next two weeks.
Most of the major creative and talent decisions all along have been made by McMahon, who for all real purposes was the booker even though most in wrestling referred to Patterson as such. But Patterson was clearly his second in command for years and heavily involved in all creative angles. The loss of Patterson and Garvin will be a void and most likely J.J. Dillon will become in charge of the administrative end of the talent coordination.
*****

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. JOHNNY B. BADD (203) 1,427
2. Lightning Kid (196) 1,365
3. Ishinriki (16) 492
4. Debbie Malenko (12) 289
5. Chaz Taylor (3) 185
Honorable Mention: Chris Candito 136, Rob Van Damme 108, J.T. Smith 89
PREVIOUS WINNERS
1980 - Barry Windham
1981 - Brad Rheingans and Brad Armstrong (tied)
1982 - Steve Williams
1983 - Road Warriors
1984 - Tom Zenk and Keiichi Yamada (tied)
1985 - Jack Victory
1986 - Bam Bam Bigelow
1987 - Brian Pillman
1988 - Gary Allbright
1989 - Dustin Rhodes
1990 - Steve Austin
BEST PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER
1. JIM ROSS (258) 1,601
2. Tony Schiavone (59) 951
3. Vince McMahon (47) 662
4. Dr. Alfonso Morales (51) 537
5. Akira Fukuzawa (61) 339
Honorable Mention: Craig Johnson
PREVIOUS WINNERS
1981 - Gordon Solie
1982 - Gordon Solie
1983 - Gordon Solie
1984 - Lance Russell
1985 - Lance Russell
1986 - Lance Russell
1987 - Lance Russell
1988 - Jim Ross
1989 - Jim Ross
1990 - Jim Ross
WORST TELEVISION ANNOUNCER
1. GORILLA MONSOON (255) 1,526
2. Herb Abrams (99) 843
3. Lord Alfred Hayes (29) 402
4. Vince McMahon (28) 401
5. Eric Bischoff (30) 362
Honorable Mention: Sean Mooney 234, Craig Johnson 189, Jim Ross 158, Michael St. John 154, Dusty Rhodes 88, Roddy Piper 80
PREVIOUS WINNERS
1984 - Angelo Mosca
1985 - Gorilla Monsoon
1986 - David Crockett
1987 - David Crockett
1988 - David Crockett
1989 - Ed Whalen
1990 - Herb Abrams
BEST MAJOR WRESTLING SHOW
1. WCW WRESTLE WAR '91 2/24 PHOENIX 131
2. New Japan/WCW Starrcade in Tokyo Dome 115
3. 5/26 All Japan Women Tokyo 80
4. WCW 11/18 Savannah Clash 55
5. WWF Royal Rumble 1/16 Miami 41
WCW SuperBrawl 5/19 St. Pete 41
Honorable Mention: 4/18 All Japan Tokyo Budokan Hall 38, WWF Summer Slam '91 8/27 New York 18, WWF Wrestlemania VII 3/26 Los Angeles 12, New Japan G1 tournament final 8/11 Tokyo 12, All Japan Women Wrestlemarinpiad 11/16 Kawasaki 11
PREVIOUS WINNERS
1989 - NWA Baltimore Bash 7/23
1990 - U.S. and Japan Wrestling Summit 4/13 Tokyo
WORST MAJOR WRESTLING SHOW
1. WCW BALTIMORE BASH 7/14 331
2. WWF Survivor Series 11/27 Detroit 89
3. WWF Summer Slam '91 8/27 New York 34
4. WWF Wrestlemania VII 3/26 Los Angeles 18
5. WCW Fall Brawl Clash 9/5 13
PREVIOUS WINNERS
1989 - WWF Wrestlemania V 4/2 Atlantic City
1990 - WCW Clash XIII 11/20 Jacksonville
BEST WRESTLING MANEUVER
1. MASAO ORIHARA'S MOONSAULT FROM TOP ROPE TO THE FLOOR 169
2. Jushin Liger's Frankensteiner off top rope 152
3. Yoshihiro Asai's moonsault out of ring 107
4. Scott Steiner's Frankensteiner 77
5. Jushin Liger's Asai moonsault 55
Honorable Mention: Bull Nakano's somersault legdrop off top rope 32, Jushin Liger's Liger flip dive out of the ring 31, Cactus Jack's elbow drop to the floor 25, Keiji Muto's moonsault 16, Kenta Kobashi's moonsault 15, Hiroshi Hase's Northern Lights suplex 14, Akira Hokuto's Northern Lights bomb 11, Monkey Magic Wakita's Monkey special 7
PREVIOUS WINNERS
1981 - Jimmy Snuka's superfly splash
1982 - Super Destroyer's superplex (Scott Irwin)
1983 - Jimmy Snuka's superfly splash
1984 - Davey Boy Smith's power clean combination with Dynamite Kid's dropkick off the top rope
1985 - Tiger Mask's dive with mid-air flip out of the ring (Mitsuharu Misawa)
1986 - Chavo Guerrero's moonsault bodyblock pin
1987 - Keiichi Yamada's shooting star press
1988 - Keiichi Yamada's shooting star press
1989 - Scott Steiner's Frankensteiner
1990 - Scott Steiner's Frankensteiner
********
SUPERBRAWL II
Thumbs up 188 (89.5 percent)
Thumbs down 2 (01.0 percent)
In the middle 20 (09.5 percent)
BEST MATCH POLL
Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman 175
Rhodes & Windham vs. Austin & Zbyszko 14
Rick Rude vs. Rick Steamboat 13

WORST MATCH POLL
Vegas & Morton vs. Zenk & Hammer 101
Sting vs. Lex Luger 37
Terrence Taylor vs. Marcus Bagwell 10
Based on phone calls and fax messages to the Observer as of Monday afternoon. It should be noted that because of a problem with the answering machine, all phone calls made from late Saturday night through 10 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday night failed to register on the tape. Anyone calling during that time period should phone once again before Monday morning for responses to be included as part of this poll. Margin of error: 100 percent.
LPWA SUPER LADIES SHOWDOWN
Thumbs up 51 (82.3 percent)
Thumbs down 3 (04.8 percent)
In the middle 8 (12.9 percent)
BEST MATCH POLL
Harley Saito vs. Mizuki Endo 33
Harley Saito vs. Eagle Sawai 7
WORST MATCH POLL
Reggie Bennett vs. Denise Storm 22
Susan Greene vs. Denise Storm 5
A few questions to ponder for the week before getting into the serious news. 1) Now that the Natural Disasters are babyfaces, does that mean Typhoon becomes Tugboat once again; 2) How come Lex Luger gained 20 pounds when he was getting ready to go from an organization with no steroid testing to an organization with the best steroid testing in the world?; 3) With Luger history in WCW, who exactly is Mr. Hughes the bodyguard for?
When I was in college, I had a professor who was considered one of the most influential people in the local city government. We were studying the make-up of city government and then one morning, the headline story in the local newspaper was about probably the best-known member of the city council being indicted for bribery from developers and assorted other misdeeds. Pretty much everyone in the class had either read or heard about it from that morning when we went into class and wondered how the professor would react to the news since the newspaper reported the charges in a manner where nobody really had any idea if they were true or not. The first thing he said, almost laughing, was, "I guess you all learned this morning how city government really operates." I had that same feeling Wednesday when I heard about Phil Mushnick's column on the back page of the New York Post with the bold headline, "WWF to face suit alleging child sex abuse." The story read as follows:
The World Wrestling Federation, already reeling from allegations of persistent steroid abuse among its biggest kiddie-TV stars, appears headed toward even greater scandal. According to several highly placed sources, a lawsuit will be filed soon alleging that male WWF administrative employees and executives sexually harassed and abused underage teenage boys who were engaged as ring assistants in the mid and late 1980s.
The suit, which is expected to be filed early next month at a New York federal courthouse, will also, according to the sources, charge the WWF with transporting minors across state lines for the purpose of oral corruption as well as violating child-labor laws.
The plaintiff's tales of sexual misconduct by WWF employees, according to the sources, have been corroborated by another party, who claims to have been similarly abused while an underage teen in the employ of the WWF as a "ringboy" or go-fer.
A WWF staffer, speaking yesterday from the organization's headquarters in Stamford, Conn., said the only authorized spokesman, Steve Planamenta, was unavailable for comment.
David (Dr. D) Shults, a former WWF star, may have provided credibility to allegations of sexual abuse within the WWF when he was quoted last month about the organization in an independent pro wrestling magazine, Pro Wrestling Torch.
"We're talking about some of the top executives' sexual habits, their sexual preferences, sexual abuse and harassment." Shults recently joined another ex-WWFer, Superstar Billy Graham, in providing detailed claims of pervasive illegal drug use within the WWF, including steroid abuse by the WWF's marquee performer, Hulk Hogan.
On Friday, Mushnick ran another item related to the story as part of his column:
The World Wrestling Federation continues to take on water. This week's Village Voice reports that ex-WWF performer Barry "Barry O" Orton recently appeared on a radio show over KVEG in Las Vegas and said out loud what has been whispered about for years--that WWF male executives engage in sexual harassment via a casting couch for male wrestlers. Orton provided details of one such episode in which he claims to have been repeatedly subjected to the advances of a WWF exec.
Meanwhile, WWF performer Kerry Von Erich was arrested for drug possession, a lengthy WWF drug expose is expected in next week's Los Angeles Times, and a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of underaged boys by WWF staffers is expected to be filed in New York Federal Court early next month. Furthermore, ABC's 20/20 has tentatively scheduled March 13 to air a piece that, in part, points to steroid abuse within the WWF.
All this comes after allegations from ex-WWF stars Superstar Billy Graham and David "Dr. D" Shults that the WWF is lousy with illegal drugs and sexual exploitation, and that they personally watched or helped kiddie hero Hulk Hogan inject steroids "hundreds of times." And those allegations arose following a trial in which a Pennsylvania doctor, George Zahorian, was convicted of distributing steroids to several WWF stars, including Rowdy Roddy Piper.
On Friday, the WWF responded with a press release aimed at Muchnick's stories:
The New York Post has published a story containing serious, yet unsubstantiated charges about the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). We want to categorically state that the WWF and its parent company, Titan Sports, do not and will not tolerate illegal or improper behavior by any of our employees at any time. We will take responsible action regarding any legitimate claims filed through lawful channels.
However, Titan Sports, Inc. and the WWF feel no obligation to respond to charges that cannot be reasonably substantiated. Further, our attorneys have advised us to urge all news media and others to consider the credibility and the motives of any accuser before irresponsibly making public reckless charges, which are not grounded in fact, and which may have been made with malicious intent.
Titan Sports is proud to have corporate policies that are at the leading edge of any existing in the entertainment and sports industries regarding drug use, employment practices, and employee behavior.
The lawyers in the lawsuit that Mushnick referred to in his column took depositions this past week from Barry Orton and Superstar Billy Graham and are working on other depositions. I didn't expect this story to break at least until the lawsuit was filed. One reporter at ABC television several weeks ago noted to me that many people in the New York media were aware of this impending story and were waiting to see who would break it first. In legal cases, we've also seen that two or three weeks in about to file a lawsuit time can stretch out a lot longer. When the lawsuit is filed, it becomes public record and anyone can read it and write about what is charged in graphic detail. What that means is anyone's guess. But we are about to enter three of the most interesting weeks in the history of this business. We've got the Los Angeles Times story on Hulk Hogan, which is expected to run within the next seven days, which will break the stories about Hogan that have both been in and some stories that have never been in these pages to the general public. We've got a four-part series in the San Diego Union-Tribune which will cover the same ground but not only on Hogan, but on the entire wrestling industry. The 20/20 piece, which is expected to be mild in comparison since the WWF is only a part of the steroid story, is only days away. The Washington Post has also started working on a piece.
If that's all there is, then it'll be an embarrassing two weeks for the WWF leading into the biggest show of the year. If it mushrooms from there, it's impossible to predict just what will happen. The big question is, where does this leave the wrestling business and the WWF in particular? Pro wrestling is a unique form of sports entertainment and that will probably work in its favor. But the potential, because it's pro wrestling, is that if it doesn't work in its favor, it will devastate the WWF and maybe the entire wrestling business. Imagine if all of these stories broke at the same time about a team in the NFL, or even the NHL. From lies and hypocrisy on the steroid issue, allegations of an organization rampant with street drugs, alleged homosexual harassment of wrestlers tied into promotion and earning power (this aspect has the most potential to be blown, pardon that word, completely out of proportion since this is one allegation I'm not convinced of) to allegations of attempted homosexual abuse on underage boys. What would the result be? The media pressure, if attempts at a cover-up were blown, and general public reaction would be so intense that it would probably be one of the biggest sports scandals of the decade. It would make point-shaving look like shoplifting. However, the league, whether it was the NFL or the NHL, would be ultimately spared by the press after it took its initial licks. The scapegoats would be the individuals caught and they'd be dead and buried, but not the industry. In wrestling, the odds are still better than 50-50 that no matter what happens, the mainstream media will ignore it because it's wrestling. In that case, there will be no devastating effects from all this other than possibly an embarrassing lawsuit and a few people losing their jobs or taking a publicity fall and scapegoats. But if the media jumps on this, and it's got enough sordid angles that it could easily mushroom from the Los Angeles and San Diego stories, than the WWF will be devastated. It won't be individuals, but the company and perhaps, sadly enough, even the entire industry that would take the heat. Even in a best-case scenario, the WWF is finished as an important name in kids' products said New Jersey licensing consultant Woody Brown in an article by Irv Muchnick in this week's Village Voice. That is a major chunk of income right there. Merchandising probably accounts for close to 50 percent of the company's revenue. If the media does seize the WWF as a cesspool of something or other and turns Vince McMahon into this year's Jim Bakker, and the similarities in some cases are scary, particularly if there is any truth to some of these new allegations, then sponsors will sprint faster than Ben Johnson on steroids out of this industry. As written here before, the key is television. It will take one hell of a lot of impact and pressure from the media for television to cancel WWF programming. As we've pointed out here a few times, it has happened before in recent television history (the most obvious case being the Morton Downey Jr. television show, and all Mort did was work his own angle with himself by pretending skinheads beat him up in an airport bathroom when he apparently really smashed his own face into a sink to draw sympathy but when it came out it was a work, he was history). But it's very unlikely and certainly the worst-case scenario, short of any criminal indictments. Without television, the house shows and pay-per-views won't draw and the business on the level we know it will be a small piece of the history of television junk pop culture, just like the Roller Derby of the early 1970s. With television, no matter how much bad ink this may get, the house shows and pay-per-views will survive and probably won't be hurt that much (although if the Hogan name goes down in the process, the indirect effect on the WWF will be substantial, but the company will survive in its present form but maybe at a lower plateau).
How will World Championship Wrestling fit into the picture and the rest of the wrestling industry? It's impossible to tell. In a worst-case scenario of WWF, it may adversely affect WCW merchandising as well. They won't take a direct hit in any of the scheduled pieces, but let's face it, while there is probably more steroid consumption in the WWF than in WCW, probably around 50 percent of WCW wrestlers are on the juice as well. If there is any impact on this business over the steroid issue, WCW may be treated nicer, but it won't be spared the criticism. And this criticism should hardly be limited to wrestling. When we're looking at this genre of entertainment aimed to generate merchandising, the new touring hit of the year, American Gladiators, probably has a great percentage of its athletes on steroids than either major wrestling group, and half the Gladiators are women. And remember, the WWF is pro wrestling to the vast majority. If the WWF goes down, maybe some sponsors will jump on the WCW bandwagon but more than likely they'll jump to Gladiators which won't carry the "negative wrestling stigma."
A lot of people expected SuperBrawl on Saturday, 2/29 from Milwaukee to be the show of the year. While it was a virtual consensus that this was a good show, somehow expectations were so high that it didn't quite live up to the card of the year mark. Still, there was a legitimate match of the year contender on the show and most of the matches were good. The main event, in which Sting defeated Lex Luger to win the WCW championship for a second time, was a letdown for a PPV main event, let alone a major world title change match. Preliminary figures we've received as of Monday indicated a buy rate around 0.6, which if it holds up nationally has to be a terrible disappointment. While legitimately some of this can be blamed on the increase in price from $19.95 to $24.95, one can't blame a fall in purchases by almost half from Starrcade on that. Part of it has got to be attributed to the main event not garnering enough interest. Considering on paper this looked to be a great card and with the debut of Jesse Ventura thrown in, it says there is still a long way to go. Being one month before a Wrestlemania priced at $29.95 could be attributed by some as a factor, but they've run PPV shows one month before Mania every year and always have done decent business. If the 0.6 holds up, that would be around a $2.35 million total gross.
The live show from the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee drew a full house of 5,000 fans (4,000 paid for a $67,000 house). What wasn't a disappointment was the opening match with Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman. This will certainly finish high in the match of the year balloting this year. In comparison with other match of the year calibre bouts I've seen live over the past three years, I'd rate it below the War Games last year from Phoenix, slightly better than the Steiners vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki from the Tokyo Dome last year (which won match of the year in 1991), better than Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect from last year's Summer Slam and even slightly better than the Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger from St. Petersburg at last year's Wrestle War. It wasn't as good as the Suzuka Minami vs. Manami Toyota match I saw on an All Japan women's show in March of 1991 nor close to Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa match I saw in 1990 in Tokyo's Budokan Hall.
The atmosphere before the show was about the level of most PPV shows. There was a surprising amount of banners all over the building. The most were for Sting and Jesse Ventura (who got a huge reaction live coming in on a Harley), probably followed by the Steiners although there were many also for Jushin Liger and several for Brian Pillman, Cactus Jack, Rick Rude, Paul E. Dangerously and even a few for Terrence Taylor and Ric Flair. I'm not sure if it was the time (the show lasted from 5:30 p.m. to 8:47 p.m. local time), but the crowd clearly got tired and the heat wasn't what you would have expected for the so-called important matches. The decision to start the show off with a bang with Liger-Pillman sounded smart on paper because they wanted to do a blow-away show and it's best to start with a guaranteed blow-away match. However this was such a blow-away match that it really wasn't until five matches later that the crowd fully got into a match. The crowd seemed tired for Rude vs. Steamboat and while they reacted to Sting vs. Lex Luger, it was anti-climactic and really not a good match at all. As world title change matches go, it would rank in the bottom tier. I didn't sense nearly as many people knowing in the crowd this was Luger's last hurrah with the company as one would think for something that has been such a poorly kept secret. It was nothing like last year in St. Pete when it was Sid Vicious' last match and it seemed everyone knew about it.
A. Big Josh pinned Diamond Dallas Page in 7:38 with a butt drop off the top rope that his father Tough Josh made famous in the 1960s in Oregon. Page's best spot was spitting into the crowd. 3/4*
1. Pillman pinned Liger in 16:58 to regain the WCW lightheavyweight title. Pillman was legit working against doctor's orders because of a back injury. There were so many hot moves in this match that you couldn't even remember them all. But there were dives out of the ring, hot moves in the ring, unique submissions and all kinds of hot moves like power bombs, superplexes off the top rope, german suplexes and the like for near falls which popped the crowd like it was Japan. For the most part, the crowd cheered both men. There was a "USA, USA" chant when Liger had Pillman in the figure four, but almost immediately Liger did a somersault splash off the top rope to the floor which got the crowd chanting "Jushin, Jushin." I sensed there was a solid percentage of the crowd that wanted to boo Liger going in but couldn't. Anyway, describing it doesn't do it justice. If you didn't see it, get a videotape. Finish saw Liger miss a diving head-butt off the top rope and Pillman pin him with a Japanese rolling crotch hold. Liger handed Pillman the belt and both guys hugged after the match to a huge ovation and the crowd heavily cheered both men when they left the ring. ****3/4
2. Marcus Alexander Bagwell pinned Terrence Taylor in 7:36. Taylor was wearing a Ted DiBiase hand-me-down outfit. You had to pity these guys because there was no way to follow the previous match. Taylor carried Bagwell completely. Bagwell looked really gay, if that's the correct adjective, in that white outfit that was three sizes too small which is why the crowd booed him. Bagwell got lost going into the rolling reverse cradle and the pin was heavily booed and the place cheered when Taylor hit him with the five-arm after the match. *1/2
3. Ron Simmons pinned Cactus Jack with a cross bodyblock off the top rope turned into a powerslam in 6:33. Cactus took a few frightening bumps, the first one being hanging himself in the ropes. He also did an elbow drop off the middle rope to the floor. After the match Abdullah the Butcher did a run-in to apparently attack Jack, but lo and behold he attacked Simmons instead and they doubled on Simmons until Junkfood Dog came out of the audience and head-butted a few security guards (who double as television jobbers) and made the save. You'd be shocked at the pop JFD got with the fans chanting his name. He's dropped 61 pounds, although when the starting point is 346, that means there's still about 15-20 left to go. **1/2
4. Tom Zenk & Van Hammer beat Vinnie Vegas & Richard Morton in 12:00 when Zenk pinned Morton with a sunset flip coming out of the corner. Zenk was subbing for Johnny B. Badd who was embroiled in a contract dispute and pulled from the card at the last minute. Morton replaced Mr. Hughes with the cover reason being that it would make it a better match but actually Hughes was pulled from the show as punishment for some kind of non-drug related misdeed. It should have been okay with Zenk and Morton doing all the work and just letting the green boys in for quick power spots. Instead, Hammer and Vegas worked most of the match. At times it was surprisingly okay, but most of the time that wasn't the case. There were a few botched up spots and the brawling back and forth was terrible. After the match, Zenk and Vegas yelled at each other and it seemed like Zenk was issuing a challenge. I just hope it was for a one-on-one basketball game rather than a wrestling match. -1/2*
5. Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes beat Larry Zbyszko & Steve Austin in 18:21. This was a tremendous match with good brawling back-and-forth. Austin's timing is just incredible considering his experience. They got heat on Windham in the early portion, then heat on Rhodes later. Windham made the hot tag and came in and went for the superplex but Zbyszko shoved him off. Rhodes shoved Zbyszko off the top rope and Windham pinned him with a flying lariat. ***3/4
6. Bobby Eaton & Arn Anderson retained the WCW tag team titles beating Rick & Scott Steiner via DQ with the dreaded Dusty finish in 20:00. They announced that Paul E. Dangerously was banned from ringside during this match (to give him time to make a costume change). Eaton & Anderson sold the Steiners big moves for the first half of the match which consisted of power moves and slowdown tactics in between. There were a lot of good moves but it was slow-paced in spots and the consistency of crowd intensity wasn't what you'd expect. Rick came off the top rope to a knee in the groin and they started working on Rick but you didn't get a sense of a lot of sympathy. Scott came in but was cut off and thrown over the top rope behind the refs back. Rick made the hot tag and they went to the finish. Anderson threw white powder in a bag into Rick's eyes, and since he couldn't see, he gave ref Randy Anderson a belly-to-belly suplex. Scott gave Bobby a Frankensteiner and got a three count when a second ref came in. Finally head referee Nick Patrick came in and reversed the decision because Rick gave the ref a suplex. That finish wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't done it on so many house shows (like almost every one) over the past two months. ***1/4
7. Rick Rude pinned Rick Steamboat in 20:01 to retain the U.S. title. Before the match, they aired several interview segments with Missy Hyatt (that appeared to be done live but were actually filmed a week earlier in Rock Hill, SC) where "The Ninja" chased Madusa away which one is supposed to figure led to Dangerously guard the door in a Ninja costume and come to the ring with Steamboat. This was a 70s style match. All the spots were perfect and there were some nice moves thrown in but kind of slow paced since they were going 20. Steamboat really turned it on at the end, with the finish coming when Paul E. the Ninja hit Steamboat twice with the phone and Rude pinned him. **3/4
8. Sting pinned Lex Luger in 13:01 to win the WCW title. Luger was so huge he looked like a member of a different species. If it hadn't have been confirmed already, this officially confirmed Luger's joining the WBF. They spent the first two minutes pretending they were doing a silent movie by standing there and doing nothing. Then they started working and the near 300 pound Luger blew up within two minutes. The match was kept simple and it did have interest but was a long way from a classic title change match. Luger controlled the match pretty much playing superman, even not selling a Stinger splash. Sting did get Luger in the torture rack. Sting kicked out of Luger's piledriver. Finish came out of nowhere with Sting decking Harley Race and pinned Luger with a cross bodyblock. Luger and Sting shook hands and embraced after the match but on television they switched to a crowd shot so the folks at home didn't see it. *1/2
NOTES: After the card, in a ballroom at the Mecca they did a worked press conference with Sting and it was interrupted by Dangerously and Rude. Rude threw a drink in Sting's face and the entire Dangerous Alliance attacked Sting until Nikita Koloff made the save for his face turn. This angle airs on television this coming Saturday. One of Rude's blows (I think it was Rude anyway) potatoed Sting's eye which was badly swollen the next day in Chicago.
Also in town for the show was Tatsumi Fujinami, who apparently will be winning the NWA world heavyweight title when they have the tournament. Fujinami & Takayuki Iizuka are tentatively scheduled to wrestle Rick & Scott Steiner in a match to determine the No. 1 contenders for the IWGP tag team titles held by Bam Bam Bigelow & Big Van Vader on 5/17 at Wrestle War in Jacksonville in the semi-main event to the War Games which will pit Koloff & Sting & Steamboat & Rhodes & Windham vs. Dangerous Alliance. I don't believe Fujinami is the right choice, but he's got the seniority. He's nothing compared to what he once was, but he is a legitimate legend in this business, but he's hardly known in this country in comparison with Keiji Muto and isn't the calibre of worker these days as either Masa Chono or Hiroshi Hase.
Best estimate from here is about 50 percent of the guys on steroids. Since the guys got the letter in the mail on Saturday or Monday of last week, it's too soon to notice any changes as of yet but the next PPV should provide a good indication of how well voluntarily compliance works as a steroid policy works. But the guys who are on should show noticeable changes by early next month.
A few notes on Wrestlemania which is scheduled for 4/5 at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. The new issue of the WWF Magazine that will be released this week lists the matches already announced on television (Hogan vs. Justice, Flair vs. Savage, Piper vs. Hart) plus the Undertaker vs. Jake Roberts match that will probably be announced next week. The magazine confirmed the original plan which was to have Money Inc. (IRS & Ted DiBiase) defending the WWF tag team titles against Jim Duggan & Sgt. Slaughter and the Legion of Doom in a street fight against the Natural Disasters. With the suspension of Hawk of Legion of Doom, they were pulled from the Mania show and the Disasters were turned face and it'll now be IRS & DiBiase vs. Disasters for the tag team titles. The originally planned Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Janetty match will now be Michaels vs. Tito Santana. Also scheduled is Tatonka vs. Rick Martel and Big Bossman & British Bulldog & Virgil vs. Nasty Boys & The Mountie. The status of LOD in the WWF is currently still up in the air. McMahon had a meeting with Animal, who from most reports wants to stay with the company. Hawk has been wanting out for some time, but both men want to keep the tag team together. They haven't officially reached an agreement to return after Wrestlemania but the odds of it are much better this week than they were previously.
While away this past weekend, we also caught the WCW show at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on 3/1. The show was scheduled for eight matches, but it turned out to only have six and the entire undercard consisted of scrambled eggs. There were no announcements about a change in the line-up before the show, refunds offered and all that jazz that we write about every week. Brian Pillman vs. Johnny B. Badd was switched to Pillman vs. Mike Graham because of Badd's contract dispute. Richard Morton vs. P.N. News simply didn't take place because News wasn't there, although it isn't like anyone missed it. Abdullah the Butcher vs. Cactus Jack didn't take place since Abdullah has turned back with Cactus the night before, although both were in the building. Vinnie Vegas no-showed so Cactus replaced him teaming with Mr. Hughes against Ron Simmons & Big Josh. The top three matches went on as scheduled, although there was a lot of confusion regarding the main event, a cage match with Sting vs. Rick Rude. The match was never announced as a title match nor a non-title match in the building and on television it wasn't advertised either way. When Rude won, most in the crowd believed the title had changed although there was no announcement made one way or the other and went home with that feeling. This is very similar to WWF house shows now with Roddy Piper vs. Ric Flair cage matches that Piper is winning and Piper even leaves with arena holding both belts although no announcement is made. Anyway, the UIC show drew about 2,700 fans and $33,000.
1. Taylor pinned Bagwell in 14:09 with a back suplex using the ropes for leverage. A little bit better than their match the previous night. *1/2
2. Pillman pinned Mike Graham in 9:49 with a cross bodyblock off the top rope. The local ref (Mike Figueroa, a commission ref) messed up the count to make the finish even worse. Pretty dull overall. After the match, Morton came out and challenged Pillman to a title match and Pillman agreed to give Morton the match on the spot. The bell rang (although there was no ref in the ring), they did one high spot and Morton walked out of the ring. DUD
3. Simmons & Josh beat Cactus & Hughes in 2:19 when Simmons pinned Hughes with a powerslam. Hughes landed wrong on the powerslam and his back went out and he couldn't move so he just laid there and was pinned even though the ref stopped the count even though Hughes didn't kick out since it wasn't supposed to be the finish. It became obvious quickly to the crowd that Hughes was really hurt and the crowd reaction was interesting because almost everyone understood there was no acting involved and responded accordingly. When Hughes was taken out on a stretcher, the crowd clapped politely at him and even the little kids realized it was a legit injury. By Monday it appeared that Hughes wasn't hurt that badly and he may even be in the ring again this week. DUD
4. Windham pinned Zbyszko with an inside cradle in 6:59 in what was billed as a one fall death match. Finish got a lot of heat and after the match Windham flipped Madusa over. **1/4
5. Steiners & Rhodes beat Anderson & Eaton & Austin in an elimination tag team match. Steiners did most of their offensive moves on all three for the first ten minutes. Rhodes and Austin were both counted out at 14:30. Scott Steiner backdropped Eaton over the top rope for the DQ in 20:00. This left Rick with Anderson and Eaton and Rick pinned Bobby at 21:31 with a bulldog off the top rope and Anderson with a clothesline as he was coming off the top rope in 21:48. Real good. ***1/2
6. Rude pinned Sting in a cage match in 12:35. Sting came out first and gave a speech mocking Rude's speech about all the fat, out of shape sweathogs. Action was pretty good throughout. Rude came off the top rope twice and if nothing else, since he fell off the cage a few weeks back, shows he has a lot of guts. Finish saw Sting go after Paul E. Dangerously, who threw the phone into the ring and Rude used it on Sting and pinned him. ***1/4
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EMLL Fuerza Guerrera captured the CMLL welterweight tournament on 2/15 in Puebla beating El Khalifa (a local hero in Puebla) via submission in the finals. Khalifa had defeated America in the semifinals that night while Guerrera had defeated Felino. This sets up a title unification match with NWA welterweight champion Misterioso later in the year.Mascarita Sagrada, to nobody's surprise, captured the first CMLL World Super-Mini (midget) championship beating Espectrito Jr. in the finals on 3/1 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City. In the semifinals on 2/23 in the same building, Sagrada defeated Aguilita Solitaria in a face match while Espectrito Jr. beat Octagoncito. Sagrada, generally considered the best midget worker of the past few decades, got a huge standing ovation in a pageantry-filled post-match celebration.
2/21 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City saw Super Astro & Blue Demon Jr. & El Filoso win 2/3 falls from Tony Arce & Vulcano & Rocco Valente **, Apollo Dantes & Ultimate Dragon (Yoshihiro Asai) & Kato Kung Lee beat Javier Cruz & Bestia Salvaje & Blue Panther in 19:42 when Dantes pinned Panther in the third fall with a Northern Lights suplex **3/4 (match was super when the workers Dantes, Dragon, Salvaje and Panther were in the ring but pretty bad when Lee was in), The New Infernales (Pirata Morgan & MS 1 & El Satanico) won two straight falls from The Untouchables (Jacque Mate & Masakre & Pierroth Jr.) when Masakre was pinned by Morgan in the second fall to set up their hair vs. hair match for 2/28 that airs on television this coming Sunday **** and Conan & Sangre Chicana went to a double disqualification with Perro Aguayo & Cien Caras ***. The story of the match was that Caras once again turned on Aguayo and Chicana and Caras both beat on a bloody Aguayo for three minutes before Conan made the save for Aguayo, his long-time enemy.
Rey Bucanero, the younger brother of Pirata Morgan, made his Mexico City debut on 2/11 at Arena Coliseo.
Octagon retained his Mexican Middleweight title on 2/12 in Acapulco going to a draw with Guerrera.
On 2/12 in Mexico City, Arce & Vulcano beat Canadian Vampire Casanova & El Hijo de Solitario with Casanova & Solitario not getting along.
UWA 3/1 at El Toreo in Naucalpan saw Enrique Vera beat El Muerte (a star in Guatemala) in the main event of a hair vs. mask match. La Muerte, who was managed by lead heel manager Andy Barrow, turned out to be Jose Sanchez Perez of Mexico. Vera bled buckets. In the co-feature, The Death Missionaries (El Signo & Black Power II & Negro Navarro) captured the UWA trios title from Los Villanos, Gran Hamada & Villano III & El Colosso beat Rambo & Negro Casas & The Killer, Silver King & El Texano & Fantasma beat The American Eagles (Tony Anthony & Danny Davis) & Dr. Wagner Jr. via DQ in the best match on the card, Scorpio & Scorpio Jr. & Canadian Tiger beat Katana & Halcon 78 & Celestial and Shu El Guerrero & Lobo Rubio & Hijo Del Diablo beat Lasser & Kendo & Marlin.Hamada beat El Engendro in a hair vs. hair match on 2/29 in Cuernavaca.
Silver King & Texano kept the UWA tag team titles beating Negro Casas & El Espanto Jr. on 2/24 in Guanajuato.
Main event on 3/2 in Puebla was American Eagles & Casas vs. Dos Caras & Villano III & Colosso.
2/28 in Netzahualcoyotl with the main event having career vs. hair match with Tamba the Flying Elephant putting up his career and having to retire if he lost against Canadian Tiger (Mike Lozansky)'s hair.
ALL JAPAN The biggest show of the week was 2/27 in Matsumoto before a sellout 2,600 for television taping of the show that aired Sunday night. The gimmick was a four match series of singles matches with Jumbo Tsuruta's team of himself, Akira Taue, Masa Fuchi and Yoshinari Ogawa against Mitsuharu Misawa's team of himself, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. Misawa's squad ended up winning the first three matches to clinch the deal although Tsuruta captured the main event pinning Kobashi in 21:39 of a super match with his back suplex. Misawa made Taue submit to a facelock in 15:44, Kawada made Fuchi submit with a facelock in 14:24 (I guess you can see why the facelock is so over in All Japan right now) and Kikuchi pinned Ogawa. Also on the card, Steve Williams & Terry Gordy beat Stan Hansen & Johnny Ace in 22:44 when Gordy pinned Ace, Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas beat Dory Funk & Fire Cat (Brady Boone) when Cat did the honors, Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura beat Haruka Eigen & Motoshi Okuma, State Patrol (Buddy Lee Parker & James Earl Wright) upset Joe & Dean Malenko and Mighty Inoue & Masao Inoue & Isamu Teranishi beat Satoru Asako & Mitsuo Momota & Richard Slinger.Last Sunday's television show headlined by Williams & Gordy & Slinger vs. Tsuruta & Taue & Ogawa drew a 4.7 Video Research and 5.3 Neilsen rating.
All Japan announced its Championship Carnival singles tournament from 3/21 to 4/17 which will include all the top name Japanese wrestlers plus Hansen, Gordy, Williams, Abdullah the Butcher, Ace, Kroffat, Furnas, Billy Black, Joel Deaton, The Master Blaster (Al Greene) and the return of Dan Spivey.
2/29 in Okazaki drew 2,900 as Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi beat Williams & Gordy & Slinger in 22:02 when Kobashi pinned Slinger, Tsuruta & Taue beat Hansen & Wright, Baba & Funk & Andre the Giant beat Fuchi & Okuma & Eigen, Kroffat & Furnas beat Parker & Ace, Malenkos beat Ogawa & Inoue and Kikuchi pinned Fire Cat.
2/24 in Kuraicki drew 1,200 (smallest All Japan card in a long time) as Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi beat Tsuruta & Taue & Ogawa in 21:06, Williams & Gordy & Slinger beat Hansen & Ace & Parker, Kroffat & Furnas beat Fire Cat & Wright, Baba & Funk & Kimura beat Okuma & Eigen & Fuchi, Inoue pinned Dean Malenko and Joe Malenko pinned Teranishi.
2/25 in Koga drew a sellout 1,900 as Misawa & Kawada & Kobashi beat Williams & Gordy & Slinger when Misawa pinned Slinger in 19:10, Hansen & Ace beat Tsuruta & Fuchi, Taue & Ogawa beat Furnas & Kroffat, Baba & Kimura beat Okuma & Eigen, Funk & Kikuchi beat State Patrol and Malenkos beat Inoue & Teranishi.
2/26 in Kisarazau drew 1,800 as Tsuruta & Taue & Fuchi beat Misawa & Kawada & Kikuchi when Taue pinned Kikuchi in 25:37, Williams & Gordy & Slinger beat Wright & Ace & Hansen, Kroffat & Furnas beat Funk & Ogawa, Kobashi pinned Parker, Malenkos beat Inoue & Teranishi and Fire Cat pinned Asako.
3/1 in Higashi drew a sellout 3,300 as Misawa & Kawada & Kikuchi upset Tsuruta & Taue & Fuchi when Kikuchi pinned Fuchi in 24:54, Hansen & Ace beat Furnas & Kroffat when Hansen lariated Furnas, Andre & Inoue beat Gordy & Slinger when Andre pinned Slinger, Funk & Kobashi beat Fire Cat & Williams when Kobashi pinned Fire Cat, Baba & Kimura beat Okuma & Eigen, State Patrol beat Ogawa & Momota, Joe Malenko beat Teranishi and Dean Malenko pinned Asako.
NEW JAPAN The new tour opened on 3/1 at the Yokohama Arena before a sellout 18,000 fans paying in excess of $1 million (ringside was $156) for the New Japan 20th anniversary show. A lot of different things happened that drew the crowd including several old-timers matches and a tag team title change. Bam Bam Bigelow & Big Van Vader won the IWGP world tag team titles beating Hiroshi Hase & Keiji Muto when Vader splashed Muto for the pin in 24:18. The main event saw Riki Choshu & Kengo Kimura beat Antonio Inoki & Osamu Kido in 28:00 when Choshu pinned Kido with a lariat. Kimura got a rare main event as a sub for Masa Saito, who was hospitalized, while Kido got a main event which was announced well in advance as a sub for Tatsumi Fujinami, who was in Milwaukee for SuperBrawl. In other matches on the special card, Samurai (Osamu Matsuda) returned from Mexico and pinned Tiger Mask (Koji Kanemoto) in a super match. Kanemoto under the hood did a complete Satoru Sayama replica routine which got over huge to the long-time fans who remembered Sayama who was one of the country's biggest drawing cards as the original Tiger Mask (1981-83). Also retired wrestlers Seiji Sakaguchi & Shozo Kobayashi won via disqualification from Tiger Jeet Singh & Umanosuke Ueda (the top heel tag team in New Japan up until the mid 1980s), Kantaro Hoshino & Kotetsu Yamamoto (the television color commentator) went to a 10:00 draw with Black Cat & Hiroyoshi Yamamoto, Shinya Hashimoto pinned Masa Chono in 18:10 of a super match, Shiro Koshinaka pinned Akira Nogami, Brian Blair beat Michiyoshi Ohara (in his final match in Japan before he leaves for Europe for seasoning for a few years) and Osamu Nishimura pinned Satoshi Kojima.Upcoming big shows have on 3/2, Bigelow & Vader vs. Choshu & Chono and Hase vs. Singh and a television taping on 3/9 has Bigelow & Vader defending the IWGP tag team titles against Chono & Hashimoto, Jushin Liger defending the IWGP junior heavyweight title against Mad Bull Buster Spike, Choshu & Takayuki Iizuka & Samurai vs. The returning Blond Outlaws and Koshinaka & Kuniaki Kobayashi vs. karate fighters Akitoshi Saito & Masashi Aoyagi.
3/11 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall has Bigelow & Vader vs. Masa Saito & Hase, Nogami vs. a blond Outlaw to be announced, Samurai against another blond Outlaw, Hashimoto & Iizuka vs. two other blond Outlaws and Choshu & Chono & Muto vs. Vader & The Wild Samoans (Kokina & Samu).
For those of you planning trips to Japan, here are the major New Japan shows through January. 4/30 at Sumo Hall will be the finals of the junior heavyweight tournament, 5/17 is a big show at Osaka's Castle Hall (13,000 seats), 6/26 is Tokyo Budokan Hall (which may be the one-night tournament for the NWA title), 8/7, 10, 11, 12 is the second annual G1 tournament with opening night in Nagoya and the next three nights at Sumo Hall, 9/23 will be the return to Yokohama Arena, 11/22 and 11/23 are two more straight nights in Sumo Hall, 12/11 is Nagoya Rainbow Hall and 12/14 is a major show in Osaka while Starrcade '93 will be 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome and tickets go on sale on October 10th.
2/22 television headlined by Muto & Hase vs. Scott Norton & Brad Armstrong drew a 7.7 Video Research rating and a 6.2 Neilsen rating.
OTHER JAPAN NOTES The UWFI drew a sellout 2,600 to Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on 2/29 as Gary Allbright pinned Masato Kakihara in 2:28 in the main event to help build up the Allbright vs. Nobuhiko Takada match which most figure will headline the 3/17 card in Nagoya. Takada beat Mark Fleming (protege of Lou Thesz) submit with an armlock, Kazuo Yamazaki beat Tom Burton, Yoji Anjyo beat Yuki Miyato, Kiyoshi Tamura beat Mark Silver and Tatsuo Nakano beat Pez Whatley.All Japan women on 2/29 in Kamagaya drew 1,750 as Manami Toyota & Suzuka Minami & Sake Hasegawa won 2/3 falls from Aja Kong & Miori Kamiya & Kauro Ito, Toshiyo Yamada pinned Debbie Malenko, Bull Nakano pinned Etsuko Mita and Kyoko Inoue & Yumiko Hotta beat Akira Hokuto & Tomoko Watanabe.
WING starts its new tour on 3/6 with the headline match on tour being Ivan Koloff vs. Mr. Pogo in a Russian chain match on 3/11. Also on tour are Miguelito Perez, Iceman (Ricky Santana), Vic Steamboat, Vladimir Koloff, Rip Rogers and The Head Hunters.
Onita announced an outdoor show at the Kawasaki Baseball Stadium (where he drew a sellout 33,000 fans last year) for 6/17.
The Masakatsu Funaki vs. Roberto Duran match will be announced at a press conference in Miami on 3/19.
PWF on 2/24 at Korakuen Hall drew a sellout 2,300 as Funaki made Wayne Shamrock submit in 40:00, Minoru Suzuki made Jerry Flynn submit in 8:46, Yoshiaki Fujiwara beat Yusuke Fuke via the five knockdown rule in 15:58, Bart Vail beat Kazuo Takahashi and L. Kilaueau beat Wellington Wilkins Jr.
JAPANESE TELEVISION RUNDOWN 2/22 NEW JAPAN: 1. Liger pinned Pegasus Kid to retain both the IWGP jr. and WCW light heavyweight titles in 16:22 with a rolling crotch hold. Liger was selling his rib injury so Pegasus had to carry the match and looked great in doing so. Liger did the Asai-moonsault and kicked out of several moves off the top rope. ***3/4; 2. Kimura & Choshu & Saito beat Nogami & Chono & Hashimoto in 13:26 when Kimura pinned Nogami with a power bomb after Choshu hit Nogami with a lariat. All action good match. ***1/2; 3. Koshinaka & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat Akitoshi Saito & Tachigi (two karate fighters from Nagoya where this card was being taped). This mixed match only went 4:56 but was intense with a ton of heat. The crowd was on its feet the whole way and it pretty well was worked to look like a shoot. The karate guys from the stable that Saito & Tachigi came from were at ringside along with the New Japan prelim wrestlers and at one point both sides started fighting. Koshinaka made Tachigi submit with a dragon sleeper. **3/4; 4. Muto & Hase kept the IWGP world tag titles beating Norton & Brad Armstrong in 22:37. Hase and Brad were great here. Brad sold a lot of the match and was finally pinned by Muto's moonsault. ****
2/23 ALL JAPAN: 1. Kawada & Kikuchi beat Kroffat & Furnas in 14:12 of a super match. Kawada made Kroffat submit with the Dragon sleeper in the finals. All sorts of great spots and near falls. A legit match of the year candidate. ****1/2; 2. Ace & Hansen beat Misawa & Kobashi when Hansen hit Kobashi with the lariat and Ace pinned him. After the match Hansen hit Misawa with two more lariats. ***3/4; 3. Williams & Gordy & Slinger beat Tsuruta & Taue & Ogawa when Williams pinned Taue with the Oklahoma Stampede. Okay match but nowhere close to the level of the previous two matches. Slinger is really good but very small. **1/2
USWA 2/25 in Louisville saw Kenny Kendall pin Doug Masters, Koko Ware pinned Jim Steele, Pat Tanaka pinned Tony Falk, Brian Christopher beat Tom Prichard via DQ, Dirty White Girl beat Connie (Connie Cook, subbing for C.J., more on that later) in a mud match, Eric Embry beat Tony Anthony in a scaffold match, Jerry Lawler beat Black Dog via count out for throwing fire and Jeff Jarrett & Junkyard Dog beat Moondogs via DQ.C.J., Embry's valet, left the tour last week and claimed sexual harassment on the part of Eric Embry and no word how this will all be settled.
A new tag team debuted call The Fat Boys, Meat and Potatoes. They were pretty green and will apparently feud with The Moondogs. A lady came out and took a seat at ringside and scouted this team and all the matches during the television show on Saturday.
King Cobra returned and will challenge Brian Christopher for the Texas title.
Embry got a swollen shut eye from a potato shot on Monday night from Tanaka to start a new feud. Embry KO'd Dirty White Girl after the match and she was carried out of the ring.
On television, Tanaka beat Falk and after the match White Girl attacked Miss Jennifer.
The 3/2 card at the Mid South Coliseum saw The Fat Boys vs. Falk & Jim Steele, Dirty White Girl vs. Miss Texas for the USWA ladies title, Christopher vs. Cobra for the Texas title, Prichard vs. Dr. Death (no idea who, managed by Nurse Kratchett) for the Southern title, Tanaka vs. Embry for the Bare Knuckles title held by Tanaka, Ware vs. Kimala for the USWA title and Moondogs vs. Lawler & Jarrett for the USWA tag team titles.
Dr. Death uses a proctologists glove as a gimmick while his Nurse uses a bed pan to KO the foes as a gimmick.
GLOBAL With the number of comps heavily reduced, the crowd on 2/28 at the Dallas Sportatorium was down to 500. For 3/23 on ESPN, Barry Horowitz pinned Ben Jordan when Bruce Prichard held his feet so Horowitz retained his GWF lightheavyweight title, Bull Pain & Black Bart beat Bill Irwin & Rattlesnake in a double bullrope match when Irwin was tied to the ropes and they double-teamed and pinned Rattlesnake and John Tatum & Rod Price beat Gary Young & Scott Putski to keep the GWF tag team titles when behind the refs back, Price hit Putski with one of the belts for the pin. For 3/25 on ESPN, Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) beat Terry Garvin via count out and Black Bart won a 10 man taped fist Battle Royal to become the first GWF Brass Knux champion. The final two were Bart and Irwin and Bart used the branding iron to get the title. For 3/30 on ESPN, Dark Patriot & Big Bad John beat Brian Ferrar & Mike Reid in a terrible match, Pain drew Irwin in a good match, Jordan beat Horowitz via DQ and Bart pinned Young using the branding iron. In the dark match main event, Eddie Gilbert & Garvin beat Dark Patriot & Big Bad John, Eddie pinned brother Doug after hitting him with a chain and after the match Eddie was attacked and bled buckets and Eddie did a stretcher job. They are doing dark matches in an attempt to perk up the house show attendance since previously all the matches eventually aired on television, and also to use juice since it's banned by ESPN.3/6 at the Sportatorium has Fantasy (Billy Joe Travis & Steven Dane as a heel team) vs. Chaz & Tug Taylor, Horowitz vs. Garvin in a no DQ match, Pain vs. Irwin with Samantha at ringside to be countered by Big Bertha (Bill Irwin in drag), Bart vs. Sam Houston for the Brass Knux title, Dark Patriot vs. Patriot for the North American title with Gilbert as ref and Prichard in a cage and Gilbert vs. Big Bad John in a non-televised barbed wire match.
Jeff Gaylord showed up Friday night looking for a job and apparently asked Gilbert why he hadn't hired him. Gilbert said because he didn't even know Gaylord was looking for a job and apparently told him that he had the next four weeks booked so he couldn't use him until then. Gaylord claimed that he had told Scandor Akbar weeks ago that he was looking for work and Gilbert said he hadn't heard about it. Apparently this didn't go as diplomatic as it sounds because Gaylord sucker-punched Gilbert and was pounding on him until brother Doug hit Gaylord in the head with a coke bottle and Gaylord left the building bleeding all over while Eddie had a puffed-out face from the punches that landed. Joe Pedicino apparently decided that Gaylord will never work for GWF in the future.
HERE AND THERE Blackjack Mulligan beat Mondo Kleen to become the champion for Eddie Mansfield's IWF on 2/28 in Orlando before 200 fans at the Fairgrounds. Kleen is now gone from the promotion. GWF is interested in Kleen.2/29 in Caguas, Puerto Rico saw Cyclone Salvadorino beat Randy Rhodes, The Wild One beat Herb Gonzales, Rockin Rebel (from Pennsylvania) beat Atkie Malumba, La Lei bet Fidel Sierra via DQ, Invader #1 beat Ron Garvin via DQ, Miguelito Perez pinned Dick Slater, Carlitos Colon DDQ Dick Murdoch and The Heartbreakers beat Rex King & Ricky Santana.
2/28 in Yabacoa, PR saw Wild One & Rhodes beat Rebel & El Corsario, La Lei beat Malumba via DQ, Slater pinned Perez, Colon DCOR Ron Garvin, Salvadorino beat Sierra via DQ, Murdoch pinned Invader #1 and Heartbreakers beat King & Santana.
2/29 in Portland saw Bart Sawyer beat Ron Harris via DQ, John Rambo beat C.W. Bergstrom, Mike Winner beat Al Madril via DQ when Mike Miller interfered, Steve Doll beat Don Harris in an I Quit match and Brickhouse Brown & Sawyer & The Grappler beat Col. DeBeers & Buddy Rose & Miller via DQ on a reversed decision. . .The Fox Network television show "Over the Edge" is doing a special about a guy training at the Monster Factory preparing to make his wrestling debut. The wrestler's name is Ronald Oakes from Washington and he'll debut this coming weekend on Sharpe's shows 3/6 in Union, NJ and 3/7 in Woodbury, NJ and the show will air in April.
Speaking of Sharpe, he'll be holding Monster Factory try-outs at the Tampa Sportatorium on 4/5 which will include a taped-delay showing of Wrestlemania and buffet and drinks for the media.
LPWA is pretty well done in the United States with no future cards or tapings planned but will still attempt to syndicate the old tapes in Canada.
2/29 in Kaufman, TX for a Chris Love show drew 388 (kids were free) which included Bull Pain, Awesome Kong, Jeff Gaylord, Billy Travis, Terry Daniels, Steven Dane and the main event had Steve Simpson beat Rod Price.
Kevin Von Erich is running a show on 3/7 in Denton, TX with himself defending the WCCW title against The Arabian Sultan (Tony George managed by Scandor Akbar) and Chris Adams vs. Iceman King Parsons.
West Coast Championship Wrestling drew 200 fans on 2/14 in Chilliwack, BC with Buddy Wayne beating Michelle Starr in a coal miners glove match on top. Tim Flowers and Ole Olson also worked the show. Upcoming shows 3/12 in Surrey, BC and 3/27 in Aldergrove, BC.
South Atlantic Pro Wrestling drew 90 on 2/14 in Mars Hills, NC with Bambi beating Peggy Lee Leather **, Helmut Hessler beat Patriot (Del Wilkes) ** and Patriot won a Battle Royal.
The name of the San Antonio-based prelim wrestler killed in a bar altercation a few weeks back was Curtis Poe, not Curtis Towe as reported here.
Congrats to Jeff Zinger on his recent marriage.
Tony Condello's WFWA drew 275 fans on 2/25 in Winnipeg with Sudden Impact (Chris Jericho & Lance Storm), wrestlers named Pampero El Firpo and Red Bastien Jr. (no relation to either) and another wrestler named Gene Kiniski. A real big-time wrestler Nick Bockwinkel did the color while the biggest names appearing were Bulldog Bob Brown and Jerry Morrow.
Howard Brody's Ladies Major League Wrestling drew 716 paid on 2/28 in Immokalee, FL as A.J. Watson beat Big Bad Momma, Peggy Lee Leather beat Alison Royal, Luna Vachon beat Malia Hosaka, Bambi double count out with Pink Cadillac managed by Sir Oliver Humperdink, Wendi Richter beat Penelope Paradise via DQ and Cadillac won a 10-woman Battle Royal.
ICWA drew 220 on 2/27 in Tampa as Hercules Hernandez beat Greg Valentine via DQ, Jim Backlund beat Coconut Man via DQ to keep the lightheavyweight title, Hurricane Walker beat Tex Sallinger via DQ when Dan Spivey interfered, Spivey pinned Tommy Starr and Bambi pinned Peggy Lee Leather. Jim Neidhart debuts with this group next week and Denny Brown returns.
2/25 in Philadelphia at the Original Sports Bar saw J.T. Smith & D.C. Drake DDQ Larry Winters & Johnny Hot Body. Ivan Koloff did a job for Tony Stetson. Promoter Todd Gordon announced Kevin Sullivan, Eddie Gilbert, One Man Gang and Neidhart as coming in for future cards.
Gator B. Long has a show on 4/25 in Naples, FL headlined by Bugsy McGraw and Lord Humongous and manager Abdullah Farouk Jr.
Wrestler Cowboy Woody Lee (Woody Coulter) had his home burn down on 2/28 in Lima, OH as a result of an electrical fire. None of his family was home at the time although his dog perished. Lee lost everything he owns and Motor City Wrestling at 313-795-9490 would like any indies in the Ohio and Michigan area to contact them as he's looking for any bookings he can get.
WCW Johnny B. Badd is in the midst of a contract dispute with management. Several different versions have come our way, but apparently Badd and Kip Frey agreed to a contract for $156,000 per year but it wasn't signed. Badd has claimed he wanted better injury benefits (the contract calls for a specific time period if the wrestler is out of action with an injury that the contracts don't cover him) while others say he asked for more money. Badd has negotiated with Titan. Badd did have a meeting on Monday with Frey to work things out, but he was pulled from the PPV show because of the dispute.2/25 in Macon, GA drew 2,000 as Tom Zenk beat Diamond Dallas Page, Terrence Taylor pinned Van Hammer, Mr. Hughes beat Big Josh, Steiners beat Young Pistols (pretty good), Jushin Liger pinned Richard Morton (Liger's worst match of the tour which he was well aware of and was throwing things in the locker room because so many moves and the finish were missed), Barry Windham pinned Larry Zbyszko and in a cage match, Sting & Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes & Ron Simmons beat Rick Rude & Bobby Eaton & Arn Anderson & Steve Austin.
The next Clash will be mid-June in Charleston, SC.
World Championship Wrestling drew a 2.7 rating last week while Main Event did a 2.6 and Power Hour a 1.9.
Jesse Ventura's first World Wide Wrestling taping will be 3/20 in Topeka.
WWF Heading into the WWF full-time on the road are Brian Adams as Crush and Del Wilkes.The television production in last weekend's Jake Roberts/Randy Savage/Elizabeth/Undertaker angle was incredible when you consider the scene in front of the curtain took place one day and the scene behind the curtain took place the next day.
Even though there is an explosion brewing behind the scenes, few people are aware of it and business has been excellent the past few weeks leading to Wrestlemania.
2/29 in Boston drew 10,000 fans and $150,000 as Warlord pinned Chris Walker, Rick Martel drew British Bulldog, Tito Santana pinned Ted DiBiase, Natural Disasters beat Jim Duggan & Sgt. Slaughter via DQ, J.W. Storm pinned Kato, Big Bossman pinned Repo Man and Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair & Sid Justice when Hogan pinned Flair.
2/24 in Hershey, PA saw Tatanka pin Kato, Shawn Michaels pinned Jim Powers, IRS pinned Virgil, Owen Hart pinned Beau Beverly, Santana pinned DiBiase, Natural Disasters beat Duggan & Slaughter via DQ, Bret Hart beat Mountie and Randy Savage pinned Jake Roberts in a cage match.
Former WWF wrestler Paul Roma, who appeared on the Wrestling Insiders this past Saturday night, makes his pro boxing debut this coming Friday. Roma said his weight has dropped from 250 in wrestling to 215 for boxing, 15 pounds of which he attributes to getting off steroids. He said he had no problems withdrawing from steroids even though others have and that he felt steroids were a necessary evil when working in the WWF. Roma said that in order to get a release from Titan Sports to keep his "Glory" nickname that he had to sign a deal that said he would give Titan Sports no negative publicity although he termed his stay there "six years of hell." .
3/2 in Johnstown, PA drew 3,600 as British Bulldog pinned Martel *1/2, Kato pinned Storm 1/2*, Bossman pinned Repo Man *1/2, Disasters beat Duggan & Slaughter via DQ 1/4*, Warlord pinned Walker DUD, Santana pinned DiBiase ** and Piper beat Flair in a cage match **.
2/28 in Pittsburgh drew 12,500 as Warlord pinned Walker, Bossman pinned Repo Man, Santana pinned DiBiase, Disasters beat Duggan & Slaughter via DQ, Storm pinned Kato, Bulldog pinned Martel, Hogan & Piper beat Flair & Justice when Hogan pinned Flair.
2/29 in Springfield, Ma drew 4,500 as Storm pin Kato 3/4*, Martel pinned Bossman **1/4, Santana pinned DiBiase *3/4, Bulldog pinned Repo Man 1/4*, Disasters beat Duggan & Slaughter via DQ * and Piper beat Flair in a cage match ***. These cage matches have the finish where first both guys hit the ground simultaneously. Then they go back in the ring and one of the heels smashes the door on Piper's head but he recovers and gets down to the floor first.
2/21 in Worcester saw Martel beat Rex Armstrong, Skinner pin Jim Brunzell, Berzerker pinned Hercules, Bushwhackers beat Nasty Boys, Bossman beat Repo Man via DQ, Undertaker pinned Bulldog and Piper beat Flair in a cage match.
Demolition Ax (Bill Eadie) filed a suit against the WWF and McMahon for a share of profits because he claimed he came up with the Demolition persona. Among those Eadie's lawyer got depositions from were Earthquake, Big Bossman, Jesse Ventura, Jake Roberts, Jim Duggan, Randy Savage, Typhoon, Kato and IRS. . .The New York Times ran a piece on Tuesday morning when the mayor of Stamford, CT proposed a show to raise money for the public library at the local high school stadium. The WWF would provide the wrestlers at no charge for the show. But when residents of those who live near the stadium heard about the plan, they protested at a city council meeting last week and seem to have gotten the idea nixed. The show has been postponed until a new time and a new venue can be determined.
Expect the WWF to hire a high-powered p.r. firm to try and present a positive image in the wake of what will be coming out in the next two weeks.
THE READERS PAGES Rob Faught of 625 Wrexham Ave., Columbus, OH 43223 is looking for tapes of the Crockett Cup tag team tournaments.Vinnie Riccardi of 33 Utica Rd., Edison, NJ 08820 is looking for tapes of Joel Goodhart shows and of Florida shows from the 1980s.
Chris Boddie of 613 University Ave. #006, Syracuse, NY 13210 is looking for tapes of TBS and World Wide Wrestling shows from 1985-87 and World Class from 1985-86.
Harvey Cobb of 2619 Ruffin Way, Norfolk, VA 23504 has wrestling tapes to trade.
Andy Vineberg of Box 237 Narrows Run Rd., Corapolis, PA 15108 is looking for the TNT episode with Randy Savage & Elizabeth, Haiti Kid and Iron Sheik and also for a tape of the 10/25 Hogan vs. Flair match from Oakland.
Joseph Carroll II of 7330 Rudderow Ave., Pennsauken, NJ 08109 has a list of concert and wrestling tapes for trade and is selling issues of the Wrestling Observer from 7/2/90 to the present.
Don Hernandez of 345 N. Melrose Dr. #E, Vista, CA 92083 is looking for any referee jobs and will go anywhere in the country on the shortest of notice. You can call him at 619-945-3094. He has nine years experience as a wrestler and was trained by the Harts in Canada.
Ahbdul Maldonado of 40-15 61st St #2B, Woodside, NY 11377 is looking for old WWWF, AWA and UWF tapes and will trade anything in his collection in exchange for them. He also gets EMLL tapes for anyone who is interested in trading for them.
Bobby Yates of 1971-D Lakeview Rd., Asheboro, NC 27203 is looking for the Japanese wrestlers telephone cards.
Lenis Sargent of 12 Spring St., Gainesville, GA 30501 is looking for a weekly supplier of USWA tapes from Memphis and can trade tapes from almost everywhere else in exchange. He's also looking for a tape of Jim Cornette's birthday party for his dog Fifi, the FMW tag team tournament and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous episodes on Jesse Ventura and Jason Hervey and any other television shows involving wrestlers or wrestling.
Craig Reedy is publishing a newsletter called Wrestling Down Under at P.O. Box 988, Bayswater, Victoria 3153 AUSTRALIA for $2 U.S. per issue and $2.50 Australian currency.
Robert Costolo of 966 Hungerford Dr. #28B, Rockville, MD 20850 would like to hear from readers in Maryland, Virginia, D.C. area that are interested in attending live shows.
Slammers Wrestling Gym at P.O. Box 1602, Studio City, CA 91614 is selling Slammers Wrestling Federation tournament tapes for $35 plus $5 postage and handling.
LPWA PPV SHOW
Since the time women's wrestling was legalized in California in the late 60s, I've hated it. I didn't respect the women as wrestlers or athletes and regarded women's wrestling as some sort of a sexual freak show. The best thing I ever said about a women's match was that it was short. So you can see I was prejudiced. The Jumping Bomb Angels in the WWF challenged my point of view and later I became interested in Mary the Duchess of Discipline (Bad Girl in LPWA) who stole a couple of Alex Knight independent shows in Los Angeles. After meeting Magnificent Mimi at the Cauliflower Alley dinner and watching some Japanese tapes, I developed a small interest. I ordered the LPWA PPV show due to the write-up in the Observer and to my surprise, I enjoyed it as much or more than any PPV show ever. I gave the show a huge thumbs up and would rate it as four stars. All the matches were great with nothing less than **3/4. Great work, good heat, the Japanese girls, particularly Harley Saito lived up to their reputation and the Americans (Terri Power, Reggie Bennett, Denise Storm and Black Venus) seemed to be improving. The interviews were all realistic and believable and not just boring shouting into the mic. Denise Storm impressed me as a great subtle heel and the announcers were great. But the main reason I enjoyed it more than any PPV in memory was that at no point did they insult your intelligence. The newsletters should do a better job in promoting women's wrestling and the LPWA. The Americans are improving and need a place to work regularly. It's a shame that the two best woman wrestlers in the U.S. are in their prime now and working as managers.
Steve Yohe
Alhambra, California
MUCHNICK COLUMN
One would think Vince McMahon is now at wits end. I mean, he's still reeling from the steroid scandal that hasn't gone away and now he gets pulverized with a sex scandal. When you think about it, the scenario described is pretty sick. If it's true, then those involved should be called on the carpet and be held accountable for their actions. I hope McMahon has the brains not to lie and cover this up as was done in the steroid fiasco.
Joe Dante
Union, New Jersey
I got a chance to hear you on Wrestling Insiders this weekend and I must say you are one of the best sports analysts I've heard in any sport. You have a great head for seeing the big picture and articulating your observations which is uncommonly refreshing in the world of wrestling.
It seems like we may be in the most important phase of wrestling history since 1984. Only in this case, the steroids, hard drugs and homosexual harassment stories may be completely devastating.
Have you talked with (name withheld by editor) about this issue. Apparently when he went for a try-out with the WWF he ran into the same experiences that Barry O was talking about. Maybe you should interview him privately and see if his stories match up with anyone else's.
While I have certain spiritual opinions about homosexuality in general, I'm not inclined to try to force my opinions on anyone else, especially in the wrestling world. But sexual harassment in any form is unfair and in certain cases, illegal. Whatever consenting adults do is one thing, but exchanging career promotion and contracts for sexual favors is quite another.
David Hart
San Diego, California
OVERSEAS
This is a letter for all the U.S. wrestlers that read the Observer. Please do not do business with a promoter in South Africa named Mr. Shane aka Shane Jaipal. He is an Indian promoter that will leave you stranded without pay or in jail without any money. He will cancel your ticket home once you get there. Myself and Ron Starr were left out to dry and without any money, food, or shelter plus no tickets home. Don't do business with him.
Bobby Blaze
Largo, Florida
GOODHART
On Saturday 1/18, Joel Goodhart ceased all of his ties to the wrestling business. Being from the Philadelphia area, I know the disappointment this has left to the hardcore wrestling fans of the area. I think nobody can duplicate Goodhart's contributions to the sport of pro wrestling in this area with his radio show, luncheons, trips to major events, fan clubs and the best cards for real fans.
Bill Garrett
Abington, Pennsylvania
In response to your article on Joel Goodhart, I'm responding with my own letter. I was one of the season ticket holders left empty handed when he went out of business. I found out from a friend who called me up that he closed up shop with no notice and no warning. I had tried to contact him several times and left several messages during the early part of January when I hadn't received my tickets to the 1/25 show and he never even had the courtesy to respond to my messages. The way he dealt with his customers was a disgrace. He owes all his former customers an accounting of where the money went and an apology.
Since Goodhart didn't have the decency to contact his customers and handled the whole matter in an unethical manner, I've failed complaints with the Better Business Bureau in Philadelphia and the Consumer Division of the Attorney General's Office in Philadelphia. I have also provided the U.S. Post Office in Philadelphia with information to see if it would be appropriate for them to launch an investigation relating to mail fraud since a product was sold through the mail and not delivered. I urge all others who have been gypped by him to do likewise by getting the number by calling Philadelphia information.
I might be out $140 and maybe the complaints I've filed won't accomplish much other than to make me feel better, but if they force Goodhart to step forward and be honest with his former customers and the wrestling public, I'll be satisfied.
I applaud Goodhart's efforts in bringing top-name wrestling stars and great wrestling action to the Northeast as well as giving fans what they want to see. However, I can't condone his lack of honesty and the sneaky and underhanded way he dealt with his customers.
Deborah McWilliams
Jersey City, New Jersey
WCW
Kip Frey's initial moves have garnered virtually unanimous approval thus far. Most of the moves, however, are correct past stupidity or addressing neglected crises that marred the reign of Jim Herd. What is most important is how he, WCW and the Turner organization as a whole will respond to the issues raised by the EEOC's investigation of racial discrimination in WCW. This will show how Frey will respond to the thornier challenges that face him.
Although I don't know the specifics of the particular EEOC case filed, the harsh real facts are that pro wrestling has not in the main really broken the color barrier. Just look at the few black wrestlers featured in the big groups--The Bodyguard Virgil, The Bodyguard Mr. Hughes, The All-American Ron Simmons, Abdullah the Butcher and now Popa Shango. In 1962, Ebony Magazine did a feature on the top black wrestlers of the day including Bearcat Wright, Sailor Art Thomas, Bobo Brazil and Dory Dixon. Could you imagine a magazine such as that doing a piece like that today?
True, the answer doesn't lie in simply bringing back JYD or handing a world title belt to Ron Simmons to justify your case. There must be a plan to recruit, train and develop quality black athletes for pro wrestling. While today's problem is partly a result of the short-sighted destruction of the territories that worked as a feeder system, it particularly manifests itself in the dearth of top black wrestlers. If Frey and WCW try to dodge this bullet by bringing in a few old-time black wrestlers as tokens, they are only shooting themselves in the foot. A bold new approach is needed, not that much different from the route taken by Branch Rickey. You also need black bookers who hopefully would be less likely to rehash stale 1960s stereotypes. It shouldn't be hard to figure out that this could result in not only more black fans attending house shows and buying PPV's, but also adding the exciting elements of black culture that have enlivened and reinvigorated every other start and area of entertainment. The fact that there still hasn't been a black world champion is just an example of this disgrace. If WCW is serious about overtaking WWF, than they should beat them to the punch on this issue fast.
Eddie Goldman
New York, New York
I don't know if Sting is the right man on top for WCW. I agree he's the most over face in the promotion and the short-term thinking always says to put the most over guy on top and hope it'll sell tickets. There is also a symbolic importance in having Sting pin Luger if Luger winds up in the WWF as Hogan's successor.
The problem is Sting needs opponents who can sell tickets against him and WCW is very thin on lead heels. After Rude, there is nobody. While Austin has promise, he's not ready and the match-up won't draw. In theory they always can (and probably will) turn Windham but they run the risk of turning him into another Luger that nobody cared about. Eaton, Taylor and Anderson all have the ability, but due to the way the promotion has used all of them, they can't get over as main event draws.
On the other hand, the promotion is rich with faces they could put on top against a heel champion with Steamboat, Simmons, Windham, Rick and Scott Steiner and Pillman. At least one person in the company would put Dustin Rhodes in that category. And of course Sting heads up that group. WCW must fill out of the year with compelling or interesting main event match-ups to draw and keep an audience. A strong heel champ could work his way through these guys, perhaps dropping and regaining it from one of them somewhere along the way, leading to the inevitable match with Sting. There is talent to have great matches and good story lines. During that time, which could be stretched to the summer of 1993, the promotion could work on either acquiring or developing some new heels who would then be ready to go after Sting.
I think the failure of Sting as champion in 1990 and Luger in 1991 was that the promotion didn't think out what they were going to do once they put them over. After Sting got the title, his first and only feud was with The Black Scorpion. Fine idea, but they had no idea what they were doing all along and no idea who the next challenger would be and they ended up going back with Ric Flair, who they spent months trying to bury along the way. For Luger, they only had Ron Simmons to waste time until Sting. The public didn't buy that match. Luger-Rick Steiner looked good on paper and was set up well, but it did nothing to put the title over when they couldn't follow the undercard.
WCW needs to look beyond a few months and draft out a plan for all of 1992 and much of 1993. Who would best fit the bill long-term as champion? What are the possible attractive matches we can make with that champion? As I said, for a babyface, the only viable heel right now is Rude. All the other good heels are in the WWF. The best thing they could do is bring back Flair, but that's a moot point. After Flair, the best possibilities are Curt Hennig, Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase. Keiji Muto is a candidate and a terrific wrestler, but one fears WCW wouldn't have a clue how to make it work. While I don't know the choice WCW should make, I do have this feeling Sting doesn't have enough opponents to keep the title picture interesting through the end of 1992.
If I had to make the choice, I'd have Steamboat win the title from Luger in February, eventually drop the strap to Rude (Hennig or DiBiase would be preferable if you could get them) in May. The heel champion could run through all the babyfaces and tease everything for Sting sometime in 1993. Would it work? I don't know. But what they've done in the past hasn't worked, either.
John Williams
Pasadena, California

March 16, 1992 Observer Newsletter: Wrestlers speak on WWE scandals, SuperBrawl II, Mania line-up

Wrestling Observer Newsletter PO Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228 March 16, 1992 SUPERBRAWL II
Thumbs up383 (90.3 percent)
Thumbs down10 (02.4 percent)
In the middle31 (07.3 percent)
BEST MATCH POLL
Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman367
Rhodes & Windham vs. Austin & Zbyszko27
Rick Rude vs. Rick Steamboat26
WORST MATCH POLL
Vegas & Morton vs. Hammer & Zenk192
Sting vs. Lex Luger76
Terrence Taylor vs. Marcus Bagwell19
Based on phone calls and letters to the Observer as of Monday afternoon. Margin of error: 100 percent.
By the time most of you read this, any attempt to do a lead story will already be obsolete. The question on what, if any, impact the pro wrestling business will suffer will be a whole lot easier to ascertain. Rest assured that not only was Vince McMahon worried this past week, but there is also concern in the executive camp of World Championship Wrestling and the nation's third largest syndicated television promotion, Joe Pedicino's Global Wrestling Federation. What the other two companies fear is that if/when these stories break this week and sponsors get apprehensive over it, the World Wrestling Federation, which is pro wrestling in this country in most people's eyes, may very well suffer. But in the event the WWF is something sponsors don't want to be associated with, the expectation is sponsors will steer clear of the entire wrestling industry and the two other major syndicated promotions will suffer aftershocks from this earthquake. At the same time, there still may be no impact on even the WWF, let alone any other wrestling promotion that won't even be covered with this adverse publicity.
A steady stream of wrestlers were willing to come on the record and speak publicly this past week. What was amazing is that of all the wrestlers contacted, of the ones willing to talk, not one backed up the WWF's side of anything.
One wrestler who was very willing to risk whatever was left of his wrestling career was Billy Jack Haynes, 38, who was seething mad about an apparent rib played on him a few weeks back by Pat Patterson. Haynes spoke this past week to the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Union, and People Magazine among others. After his interviews, there were allegedly two phone calls placed to his father in Portland on Friday morning and afternoon respectively, William A. Haynes, Sr., who is blind and not even "smart" to the wrestling business.
The first call to his father asked for Billy, and when he said he wasn't there, the caller said, "Tell your son to back off or jack off." A few hours later Haynes' father received a second phone call which said, "If your son doesn't back off what he's doing, he'll be six feet under."
The strange thing about these calls is that at the time they were placed, almost nobody knew Haynes had spoken to reporters. Unlike David Shults, who claimed to have received threatening phone calls after going on Inside Edition, which was viewed by millions, or myself, who got two threatening phone calls in January (which I blamed on random pranksters), nothing Haynes had said had been printed anywhere or even known about outside of a circle of about a half-dozen people.
As Haynes describes the story, his friend Brian Adams (Crush) was scheduled to return to the WWF. Adams, Mike Miller and himself were all, according to Haynes, listening on a speaker phone when Haynes asked Patterson for a job as well. Patterson offered Haynes a try-out at the tapings a few weeks back in Lubbock and Amarillo. Haynes drove down from Portland, Ore. to Lubbock and when he got there, Vince McMahon indicated he had no idea Haynes was going to be there and that he had already put together the television and couldn't give him a try-out match. According to Haynes, Patterson started walking away and kept walking as he yelled for Patterson to come back and talk. The next day in Amarillo, he went to the taping again and Chief Jay Strongbow came up to him and said that Vince says he doesn't need you. Haynes said he exploded and Hercules (who was one of Haynes' friends when he worked with the WWF 1986-88) put his arm around him and said, "Billy, don't do it" since Haynes said he felt like punching McMahon out. "Thank Hercules for me not tearing Vince's head off," Haynes said. "Maybe I should have. But it's not worth going to jail for." He had to drive 1,700 miles home from Texas. "I had to suck it up. I drove 200 miles and just started crying. It broke me."
McMahon said that Haynes arrived unexpected looking for work. He said that Haynes had just stopped by without warning as he was moving from Portland to Tampa and came to the television tapings in Lubbock. He said he had no room for Haynes. Haynes, who still lives near Portland, doesn't know where anyone would get a story about him going to the tapings on the way to a trip somewhere else or moving to Tampa.
"George Zahorian went to jail for the crimes of Vince McMahon," Haynes said. Haynes recalled in 1987 when he was on a plane from Detroit to Miami and he was working while in severe pain with two broken fingers but he said McMahon wouldn't let him have time off since he was working in a major program with Hercules at the time. He was using Codeine and Tylenol III supplied by Zahorian because of the pain. "The codeine made the pain bearable. I took two on an empty stomach." Haynes, who was also on steroids at the time, saw his heart start beating irregularly which forced the plane to make an emergency landing in Charlotte where he was rushed to the hospital. "They (the doctors) told me I need either shock treatment for a pacemaker. I picked the shock treatment."
Haynes said that incident was enough to keep him away from steroids from that point forward, although he blames the heart problem more on the pain killers. When asked about the 90 percent figure that has been oft-used for steroid use in the WWF during that time period, Haynes felt that Billy Graham was being "very generous" to the WWF by saying 90 percent. "I think it was 100 percent. Everyone was on. I can't think of one guy who wasn't. There was too much of a supply and too much of a demand. Vince made sure there was both a supply and a demand. If it wasn't Zahorian, it was the doctor in (editor's note: Haynes specifically mentioned the doctor and the city but at this point it wouldn't be legally prudent to mention his name, although he was the third wrestler to go on the record with the same name) who came into the building with suitcases full of the stuff.
"The smaller guys were under the most pressure," he remembered. "If you didn't get big, you couldn't get a job. I didn't like steroids because they made me light-headed but I can't lie and say I didn't use them. I've shot up (named two of the WWF's current biggest stars besides Hogan)..."
Haynes said that he considered himself buddies with Hogan when both were in the WWF and recalled an incident where Hogan came to Oregon City several years ago to make an appearance at the grand opening of Haynes' gym. Haynes said that about a week before the opening, which Hogan had committed to months earlier and publicity was out, McMahon, who Haynes claimed knew about the commitment months ahead of time, tried to get Hogan to back out and make another appearance. Hogan refused, citing the earlier commitment. McMahon admitted Hogan did the appearance for Haynes against his will, and said that Hogan didn't charge Haynes an appearance fee, and wouldn't make an appearance that day McMahon had wanted him to make. But like many others, he points to Hogan's appearance on the Arsenio Hall show as a turning point.
"I've injected him myself on more than one occasion," Haynes recalled. "And he's injected me." When asked if he felt Hogan right now is an innocent victim since steroid use hardly begins and ends with Hogan or even pro wrestling, Haynes said, "He's an innocent victim up to a point. When you're using your name to sell vitamins to children when you got big by using drugs you're not very innocent. Even though this business is a work, you have to draw the line somewhere. I know Hulk will hate my guts for saying this, but it's the truth."
Surprisingly, Haynes doesn't blame McMahon, as most others in the business do, for Hogan's performance on Arsenio.
"I think Vince filled his head up but Hulk has a brain of his own. He's the best in the business, the best there's ever been, at getting over with the public. It's b.s. to blame Vince. That was Hogan talking. If he was a man and Vince told him to lie, he'd go on television and tell everyone that he was told to say something and then tell the truth. But this business doesn't have a lot of stand-up guys. David Shults is one, Billy Graham is one and so is Rick Rude."
Haynes said he felt the drug problem in the WWF was as bad as ever when he was at the television tapings, describing various wrestlers as "zombies," but that steroid use was down, at least at that taping (this was the taping session where they filmed the Saturday Night Main Event on Fox where we here pointed out how most of the wrestlers appeared to be off steroids, which ironically, was also when the second unannounced test was done).
"I thought the majority of the guys were off the stuff. I don't know if they were all cycling down at the same time, but it looked like they'd shrunk. The majority had anyway."
Haynes said that when he was with the WWF and they tested for cocaine (mainly in late 1987 and early 1988), he felt the testing procedure was fake because the tests weren't monitored. He said the guys brought balloons and the guys who were clean would piss into the balloons for the guys who had used cocaine so they would have warm urine. When the guys went to give a sample, they'd empty the balloon into the cup and flush the balloon down the toilet and thus pass the test. This is the same trick regularly used in the past among college football players. Today's WWF tests are actually monitored by a witness to make sure the urine in the bottle came from the wrestler.
When asked about allegations of sexual harassment, Haynes described an incident which happened to him. "(An executive he named) wanted to get in my shorts. One night as I was coming out of the shower, () stuck his finger up my ass. I told him not to ever touch me again. He started laughing. I never talked with him again."
Sexual harassment and worse seems to be all over the news this week. Quite frankly, I don't think it would be prudent to get into a deep discussion over it if or until the lawsuit talked about in last week's Observer is filed, which should be about a week after you read this. Geraldo Rivera's television show "Now it can be told" is doing a segment and has already interviewed one boy, now 20, who has a story about his experience while working as a WWF ringboy at the age of 15. Barry Orton was also scheduled to be filmed for that show. Another former WWF wrestler gave a similar story as Orton this past week but was advised by his attorney not to try the case in the media but to take legal recourse instead and doesn't want his name out until that happens. Yet another wrestler, who never worked for the WWF, faxed us a letter on Sunday (which is being held pending further developments) because he was upset with McMahon's denial of Orton's statements. McMahon tabbed Orton an incredible worker but said there's no place in the business for a 185 pound guy who is a great worker with a bad attitude. Orton said he weighed about 215-220 legit when he first went to Titan, but quickly got to 235-240 legit after getting on steroids. According to Orton, McMahon told him after he'd gained the weight, "Hey, thanks for changing your appearance." He led me to believe it would be the only way I'd get a push. It was my desire to take the steroids although I never used them before being in the WWF, but it was encouraged by Vince. I don't know where the bad attitude comes in. I never said No when they asked me to put someone who couldn't lace my boots over. I wasn't like Legion of Doom who would say they won't do jobs. I can't figure out where any bad attitude would come from until I did the radio show (Wrestling Insiders three weeks ago where Orton made claims about sexual harassment)."
While McMahon's claim that Pat Patterson (Pierre Clermont) and Terry Garvin's (Terry Joyal) resignation wasn't an admission of any wrongdoing and blamed it on media pressure, the fact is, with the exception of a few newsletters and one radio show, no names had been mentioned in any stories. Indeed, if there was no substantiation in all of this and no more stories had broken, those names wouldn't have even been known outside of hardcore wrestling circles and a few radio listeners. While the New York Post did break the story more than one week ago, a story Titan claimed to have been lacking substantiation, there were no names mentioned either in that story or in this newsletter until Patterson and Garvin resigned last Monday. Patterson and Garvin were two of the names mentioned by Barry Orton on the Wrestling Insiders radio show three weeks ago. But while McMahon claimed Patterson and Garvin resigned because of their love for the company and that the resignations weren't asked for, ring announcer Mel Phillips was suspended at the same time. Phillips, whose name hadn't publicly come up anywhere in regards to this story but people behind the scenes knew if/when stories went public he would inevitably be linked to it, was punished at the same time Patterson and Garvin resigned. This seems to ruin the credibility that Patterson and Garvin acted on their own in this manner without any encouragement or that there is no substantiation to the charges. McMahon admitted several years ago that Phillips, who has been in wrestling for about 30 years, was dropped by the WWF and indicated it was a disciplinary problem relating to the subject, but that he later took him back. I spoke with two different friends, one who owns a million dollar company and another a significant local lawyer and gave them both this situation, going under the assumption that they knew their two key executives were innocent and how they would handle it. All said they'd defend an innocent employee, particularly a loyal Vice President, in the face of unfair charges. Given the same circumstances that McMahon alleged, both said they wouldn't have accepted the resignations. McMahon said he had no choice in that Patterson and Garvin were going to refuse to come to work so he had to accept their resignation. Almost nobody in the wrestling business that I've spoken with this week believes Patterson, at least, is really not still a part of Titan, although that is a rumor that would naturally develop in a suspicious industry where everything is a work. That doesn't make it true.
McMahon has taken a new strategy this past week, seemingly admitting the company has made serious major mistakes, although not admitting to any of the mistakes in a specific matter other than saying in retrospect the Persian Gulf War angle and snake-bite angle may have been over the line, and trying to position himself as the sympathetic babyface being taken down by what he alleges as a conspiracy. Steve Planamenta was even quoted Monday in the Mexico City News that "steroids are a lot more widespread in the wrestling business. And that is kind of frightening." Planamenta admitted steroid use was still a problem and that it would take time to clean it up. Dan Denton, the reporter, who is a former pro wrestler in Canada and Mexico, did a column as part of his four-part series on steroid use in wrestling and said: "If the public is just figuring out now that there is a problem with steroid use in wrestling, then the public is just plain stupid. Do you actually think that people look like that naturally?" Denton said steroids were an issue that needed to be addressed, but he felt recreational drug use was a bigger problem than steroids. He also said he was very disappointed in WCW's response to this issue (Denton called WCW publicist Barry Norman, who no longer works for the company, prior to Kip Frey's implementing the new policy, and he felt Norman evaded the issue and never returned subsequent phone calls on the subject) and also the response by promoters in Mexico, which he said were both playing a waiting game rather than dealing with the issue. Denton said he believed there is a clean-up going on in the WWF because he thinks McMahon realizes the potential damage p.r. wise since he sells so much merchandise to children. One wrestler told us this past week he was told specifically by the office just a few days ago, "We've come to a point where size doesn't mean anything anymore. We'll always have our Earthquakes and Typhoons but no more steroids." McMahon told us on Sunday he believes the horde of bad publicity all coming at the same time is a conspiracy between Ted Turner and Joe and Ben Weider, his promotional rivals in the wrestling and bodybuilding business respectively and that they've worked together with Billy Graham. While McMahon is saying that and he possibly may even believe it, it isn't true, although McMahon claimed he has his own investigation out to prove his theory. The problem is that McMahon ran a very dirty operation for many years. He encouraged rampant use of steroids, then denied it when it came time to face it, and his leading star issued a denial that every wrestler who worked for the company knew wasn't true. He didn't take action when certain situations took place, whether serious or in jest that many took seriously, which made an awful lot of people believe there was homosexual harassment tied into employment at the marginal level and perhaps even in regards to a push. Even if that wasn't the case, and I don't believe it was tied into a wrestler receiving a top position, there are enough people who have come forward with similar stories to make me think there is some smoke in this fire or at least belief in the wrestlers' minds, at least for the marginal position wrestlers. That kind of thing can't be hidden forever. When you throw in allegations by minors, at least three of whom have come forward, and a lawsuit just filed two weeks ago by the would-be voice of the World Bodybuilding Federation, that is an overwhelming amount of corroboration in such a short period of time that this was a company completely out of control in many different directions. When you tie those problems being apparently widespread, or at least knowledge of those problems being widespread, coupled with the fact that there were so many people who believed they have been stepped on that were working there at the time this was all going on, and it's a testimony to the just how closed-knit the wrestling business is and the fear of the power of Vince McMahon that none of this came out years ago. Ultimately, this is the best thing for pro wrestling. If the allegations are true, then certainly this type of activity will never be ignored in the future. In the long run, if McMahon survives this onslaught, and he almost surely will, in order to survive, many aspects of the business that were seen as simply part of the sleazy nature of wrestling, will no longer be tolerated which only makes it a better business for everyone.
By the end of this week, we'll have a better idea of how strong this will all break. As of press time Monday, two newspapers, the San Diego Union and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had gotten a measure of cold-feet. The San Diego story was actually completed back on Feb. 11, but the finished product was so filled with so many different shocking allegations to people who aren't familiar with wrestling that it apparently scared the paper into putting the deep freeze on the story although at press time it appears the story will run this coming weekend. In Pittsburgh, the newspaper had a major problem with any allegations regarding Hulk Hogan doing drugs other than anabolic steroids which caused reporter Mark Madden to become livid to the point of getting a speeding ticket in Ohio at the prospect of coming out with a story the same day as the Los Angeles Times and not getting nearly as deep into the story, despite having every bit as much if not more knowledge of the subject. The Pittsburgh and Los Angeles stories both were concentrating on Hogan, as was another story that will be released on Monday in People Magazine. The San Diego story was on the business in general. The much-talked-about 20/20 piece may be postponed for one more week or may have run on Friday because so much has broken as of late. The WWF's strategy in regards to 20/20 was to agree to be a part of the piece only if McMahon could go on live with Barbara Walters after the piece airs and not to be taped and be a part of the piece. Expectation from here is that it's unlikely 20/20 with agree to that, although with McMahon talking everywhere else, it wouldn't surprise me to see him eventually agree to become a taped part of the piece. The WWF's attempted counter at People was to agree to let the magazine interview both McMahon and Hogan for a story provided Irv Muchnick be pulled from the story. People backed Muchnick, and McMahon ended up talking to him Monday night and to show just how high a priority it must have been for McMahon, the one-hour conversation took place from Mobile, AL during the final television taping before Wrestlemania. The Los Angeles Times story on Hogan is scheduled for Thursday. McMahon asked Hogan to just one interview regarding this publicity onslaught, with the times, and Hogan refused.
Speaking of Wrestlemania, the complete show for 4/5 in Indianapolis has Hogan vs. Sid Justice with no guest referee (which pretty well confirms that it would have been Lou Ferrigno had they not had their falling out), Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage for the WWF title, Undertaker vs. Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart for the Intercontinental title, Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & IRS) vs. Natural Disasters for the WWF tag team titles, Tito Santana vs. Shawn Michaels (who is going to get a strong singles push), Tatonka vs. Rick Martel, British Bulldog vs. Berzerker, Owen Hart vs. Skinner and Jim Duggan & Sgt. Slaughter & Big Bossman & Virgil vs. Nasty Boys & Repo Man & Mountie. The show has been cut down to ten matches and just under three hours including intermission (which makes it about the same length as the recent WCW PPV shows) because McMahon felt previous Wrestlemanias simply has dragged on too long. Ticket sales are in the 30,000 range which means 72,500 paid, or anywhere close, is out of range, but it'll look more than healthy on television and they can cut down the arena to make whatever number they get into a full house.
Wrestlemania will also be the last booking for Hulk Hogan and among the last for Roddy Piper, at least for a while. Hogan, as mentioned earlier, will leave after Wrestlemania to do a movie and if he ever returns is a matter of conjecture. Piper's last U.S. appearance will be Wrestlemania but he'll stay on a few more weeks to work the European tour. Piper is leaving mainly to pursue acting although he may continue to work in some capacity as a television personality for WWF which would mean maximum exposure and limited travel. Legion of Doom returns at the television taping after Wrestlemania and is back for good. They probably will do an interview at Mania as well.
The situation with Hogan has been the subject of much speculation. McMahon has publicly, both here and in other interviews, claimed to have told Hogan to tell the truth on the controversial segment of the Arsenio Hall show last July. He said he was devastated that Hogan didn't tell the complete truth. However, the blame can't be shifted away from the WWF since in media questions regarding this subject, Steve Planamenta, who represents the WWF, parroted Hogan's "three lines for therapeutic reasons" line in regard to Hogan's steroid use. McMahon can't shift the blame for the lie, and that's the correct word, all the way to Hogan. One WWF source, who is close to Hogan then McMahon parroted McMahon's version that Vince wanted Hogan to tell the truth and it was Hogan on his own who decided to lie, but in replaying that tape, the Arsenio interview was a promo for the WWF steroid policy and most of what he said appeared to have been coached. Most importantly, Hogan has had eight months to tell the truth and instead has refused to not only address the issue, but of late, even talk with the media.
Of course Hogan is still only a scapegoat here for the hypocrisy of not only the wrestling business, but many major sports and society in general. Even though everyone knows the methods of getting a certain look, whether it's anabolic steroids or breast implants or plastic surgery, the society encourages the end result despite disdaining the methods to reach the end result. This results in denial and lies to pretend you got somewhere by "natural" methods. The same magazines which promote and push people in the role of heroes who took a certain road to get there will then take a negative approach to the methods they used, while knowing all along of the connection. But then, if there becomes a tie-in, such as a failed drug test, look what happened to Ben Johnson even though Florence Griffith-Joyner really did need a shave worse than Bruce Willis. Is this fair to Hogan considering how many wrestlers have used cocaine and steroids? That's a funny question. Is it fair that Hogan made more money in this business in three months then the combined income of every wrestler on the small circuits will during the entire year of 1992? Well, neither is fair. That's the advantages and disadvantages of stardom. Hogan knew the rules he was playing under because for the most part, he's predominantly benefitted from the good side of stardom and had his negatives covered up for him. Is it fair to talk about the cocaine? Well, he is a celebrity. He did allow himself to be marketed in a way where using cocaine could be considered an issue and if it's an issue, the truth in regards to the subject is also an issue. He never lied about the subject, but he's done numerous "Say no to drugs" speeches which makes any possible use of his own into something he has to be publicly held accountable for if he's going to publicly encourage kids on that subject. But he is a celebrity and the advantages that go along with it are the money and the fame and the disadvantages are that your life is more of an open book than the average wrestler. It may strike other pseudo-celebrities who have done cocaine the wrong way, but if it gets brought up, hopefully they'll learn the most valuable lesson we've all learned from Hulk Hogan, and that is, don't lie. At least not when you have a lot of enemies out there who know you are lying. At this point it's impossible to have any sympathy toward Hogan in regard to the steroids. He had a chance to tell the truth. He didn't, despite overwhelming evidence, for reasons only he can tell. But he won't tell. He didn't tell the lie just once. He spent the entire month of August, day and night, promoting a movie and telling the same lie, and continued publicly repeating it through November. Then he's had months to come up with a reasonwhy he lied. He ignored it.
If there turns out to be a story that could be crippling, it is the story Phil Mushnick wrote about last week. At this point, it's pretty much a story which we can't go into detail on it goes through the proper channels. The real game here is twofold. Can McMahon find the alleged victims and make amends (read that anyway you want to) before something is filed legally which makes the subject fair game to anyone? And if he does, will one or all accept? Quite frankly, some damage will be done in any case because of the "Now it can be told" interview, which is considered poor legal strategy for a potential case, has already been done. However, no matter how credible the charges may or may not be, shows of that type don't generally carry a lot of influence with the mainstream media. The fact that the CBS Evening News is now investigating this story upon filing makes this a loaded gun like one we've never seen before.
A lawsuit was filed two weeks ago in Stamford Superior Court by Murray Hodgson, 29, who was hired last summer to be the television voice of the WBF (When the WBF television show debuts on USA network in April, McMahon will be the host). Hodgson filed a suit claiming breach of contract and wrongful termination of employment against Titan Sports. There was also initially a sexual harassment charge filed against Pat Patterson. The charge had to be dropped because it didn't go through proper legal channels. McMahon claimed that the initial filing was a cheap shot in that it made public a passage, which he denied, that looks pretty sickening in print. Hodgson is under advice from his attorney not to talk with the press although his attorney, Ed Nussbaum of Stamford, CT, hasn't been shy about talking about the incident. Allegedly, on July 29, 1991, Patterson made a pass at Hodgson which he rejected, and three weeks later he was fired by McMahon. McMahon claimed it was because Hodgson was incompetent at his job.
In the face of all this media pressure, McMahon, as mentioned last week, hired Dr. Mauro DiPasquale, ironically considered the expert in North America on steroids and also at beating steroid tests, to upgrade the steroid tests. In the face of all the steroid criticism, McMahon once again is trying to switch the subject matter from rewarding wrestlers who look like Sid Justice to how much money he's spending on steroid testing. McMahon and Dr. Anthony Daly, the overseer of the Titan drug testing program, both admitted this past week that approximately 50 percent of the wrestlers tested positive at the first steroid test on 11/13 in New Haven. Since that time, there have been three tests, with the most recent showing approximately a 15 percent figure on those who have tested positive according to both. Wrestlers are only suspended (which nobody has been up to this point) if the level of steroids in their system doesn't decrease. Figures are misleading because there are still masking drugs that don't show in a urine test that can hide the presence of steroid metabolites. There are oral steroids that clear the system in as little as eight hours, although most take several days. It's pretty well-known that there will be a few weeks between tests, which would in theory allow a wrestler to go on orals for a week after every test and be pretty safe as far as testing positive, although McMahon claims upon close inspection other functions change while on steroids and use can be ascertained. In the other direction, oil-based injectable steroids like Winstrol V and Decadurabolin take a few months to clear the system, and in rare cases as long as six months. Hulk Hogan passed all four of his steroid tests according to McMahon and Daly (I bet that shocks you, huh?). It should be noted that the first time the NFL did drug testing, which was a non-penalized testing, that six percent of the players failed even though it was the general consensus about 40 percent of the players used steroids. Now, nobody fails the drug test even though the estimates are about 15 to 20 percent still use the stuff although one current coach told me the percentage couldn't be that high. McMahon also admitted that several of the wrestlers believed to be heavy steroid users had blood work done on them in the past two weeks to show the effects of steroids on their systems. For example, according to McMahon, Davey Boy Smith was discovered having a thyroid imbalance which means that without medication, his weight and bodyfat would balloon if he got off steroids because of a slow metabolic rate (since steroids artificially enhance your metabolic rate and can cause some body organs to shut down their natural production).
Here's some major WCW dates for the next few months. After the 5/17 PPV show from Jacksonville, there will be a Clash on 6/16 from Charleston, SC, a PPV from Mobile, AL on 6/20, the Bash is being moved from Baltimore to Philadelphia (why?) on 7/12, a Clash will be held either 9/2 or 9/3 from somewhere in Ohio and a PPV on 9/13 from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO (aka Big Van Vader University) called "Campus Crush." While this isn't definite, I believe the tournament for the NWA title will take place from 8/7 to 8/12 in Japan with the final three nights at Sumo Hall in Tokyo. Starrcade in late December will be from the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. There will also be a tournament this summer, probably in the United States, to determine the NWA world tag team champions who will eventually unify with the WCW tag team champions.
Bad news for WCW is that barring an unforseen rabbit pulled out of a hat, the last card at the Meadowlands will be 3/31. Because of poor attendance, the arena decided to go with the WWF. The WWF pulled out of the building after the building booked dates with WCW. The strategy in this case generally is that they pull the power play of only booking one promotion or the WWF pulls out, and then pull out because in the long run they'll come back because WCW won't be able to draw as well in the building and it's worked almost every time.
Coming on the heels of the surprisingly weak showing on PPV of SuperBrawl II (WCW sources claim an 0.8 buy rate while most other sources are saying 0.6 to 0.7 which would mean somewhere between a $2.4 and $3.2 million gross) came figures that showed last weekend was the weakest as far as television viewership in many months. The heavily-pushed WCW show with Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura pushing the PPV and airing the tag team title change with Terrence Taylor & Greg Valentine beating Ron Simmons & Big Josh drew a 2.0 rating, the lowest in months. The Main Event show the day after the PPV, which traditionally does around a 3, did just a 2.3 while Power Hour on Friday night in a different time slot did a miserable 0.9. WWF didn't fair much better with All-American doing one of its lowest ratings of all-times, a 1.8 on 3/1 while Prime Time on 3/2 did a 2.4.
WCW came to town here on 3/7 for a show at the Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland as part of a three-day California swing. I didn't get the exact attendance but would estimate it at around 1,400 for a decent, but unspectacular show. The biggest news would have to be it was the first live show I've seen in I can't remember how long from either major U.S. office without a single no-show or changing of the card in any way.
1. Johnny B. Badd pinned Richard Morton in 11:12 with a schoolboy. A better opener than you would think. **1/2
2. Terrence Taylor pinned Marcus Bagwell in 11:32 using the ropes for leverage. They worked better together than in previous matches I've seen. Taylor did a lot of comedy spots. **
3. Cactus Jack went to a double count out with Abdullah the Butcher. They brawled for 5:49 with a garbage can and some work on the ringside table. Still, Abdullah is pretty limited in what he can do and it takes a lot of Cactus' repertoire away. *1/2
4. Big Josh & Ron Simmons beat Vinnie Vegas & Mr. Hughes in 11:59 when Simmons pinned Hughes after Hughes collided with Harley Race. Harley didn't take one of his picture perfect bodyslam or suplex bumps here. Hughes now wears red wrestling boots and a matching red band for his glasses. He needs to drop some weight as he looked too fat even in a suit. 1/2*
5. Barry Windham pinned Larry Zbyszko in 3:47 of a Texas Death match with an inside cradle. DUD
6. Rick & Scott Steiner & Dustin Rhodes beat Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin in an elimination tag team match. The storyline was the exact same as in Chicago the previous Sunday. An all-action good hard-hitting match. I kind of pity Anderson & Eaton because they've got to work with the Steiners every night for the rest of their natural lives which is no picnic. Actually there were a lot of people upset with the quickness of the latter falls. First fall went 13:23 with Austin and Rhodes both counted out. Second fall went 2:07 with Scott disqualified for backdropping Eaton over the top rope. So this left Rick with both Anderson & Eaton. Instead of getting a little heat up for this two-on-one heel advantage, Rick simply pinned Bobby with a bulldog off the top rope in :32 and pinned Arn with a clothesline in :09. ***1/4
7. Sting pinned Rick Rude in a cage match in 10:32. This was also a good match but a bit short for a main event. Rude was excellent here. Finish saw a ref bump, Paul E. Dangerously threw the phone in, which Rude got. Sting picked Rude up for a back suplex and instead of the finish where Rude hits Sting with the phone from the position, Rude didn't hit Sting and Rude was pinned with the back suplex. Rude & Dangerously attacked Sting for a few minutes after the match was over. ***1/4
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EMLL Misterioso & Volador won the Mexican tag team titles from Tony Arce & Vulcano on 3/8 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City. Cien Caras kept the CMLL world heavyweight strap beating Salomon Grundy on the same night. America (formerly Pantera II) won the CMLL welterweight belt on 3/8 at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City beating Fuerza Guerrera.
The 2/28 show at Arena Mexico in Mexico City was another hot one headlined by Pirata Morgan beating Masakre in a hair vs. hair match. Both guys juiced heavily and were biting each others cuts which shows AIDS awareness at its highest point. Morgan won the third fall via submission in a bout that went 20:00 ***1/4. Also Conan & Rayo de Jalisco Jr. & Perro Aguayo beat Sangre Chicana & Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 in two straight falls in 19:27. The second fall ended with the heels DQ'd because they wouldn't pin Conan and all the faces were left laying when it was over to set up the next week main event. ***1/4. The best match on the show saw Octagon & Mascara Sagrada & Lizmark over Emilio Charles Jr. & Jerry Estrada & Pierroth Jr. in 13:14. Estrada and Pierroth both juiced. ***3/4. The opener saw midgets Espectrito Jr. & Pequeno Pierroth beat Mascarita Sagrada (the great midget wrestler there's ever been) & Octagoncito in 15:13 **3/4.
Rival promoter Benjamin Mora, who has a running feud with Conan and publishes Lucha Libre magazine and promotes in Baja California brought in a bodybuilder who used to wrestle as Drago as the new Conan and wore Conan's old mask. However Antonio Pena took legal action since the Conan name is registered and he had to change his name to El Colosso. Mora also published some photos of Natural vs. Synthetic with a photo of Canek as natural and Conan as Synthetic. Canek ain't natural, folks.
Cien Caras defends against Canadian Vampire on a big show 3/15 in Monterrey which is expected to draw 15,000 fans.
Carl Styles is headed in and Negro Casas is expected to debut here in May and feud with Octagon and/or Atlantis.
Among the newcomers headed in are KKK, Ciclon Azul, Remolino Negro, Manos de Oro II and Rams (who wears a Los Angeles Rams uniform), MS 2 and MS 3.
This week's television show has a rematch with Conan & Rayo & Aguayo vs. Caras & 2000 & Chicana plus Salomon & Aaron Grundy (Mike Shaw) team with Lizmark vs. Nitron & Satanico & Morgan.
A new midget will debut shortly called Ultimate Dragoncito.
Women wrestlers Tania and Esther Moreno are both out of action with foot and ankle injuries respectively. Esther, who is probably the best non-Japanese women worker in the world right now, will be out two to four months.
WWF Vice President Dick Glover is negotiating to run a joint show in Mexico City with this promotion, probably around summer-time.
The Bestia Salvaje vs. Huracan Sevilla hair vs. hair match a few weeks back drew 15,000 fans to Arena Mexico.
UWA Veteran wrestler Tamba the Flying Elephant will be retiring at the end of this month after fulfilling his current contracts. Tampa lost a hair vs. retirement match to Canadian Tiger (Mike Lozansky) on 2/28 in Netzahualcoyotl. The UWA's television contract expired last week and both the UWA and Imavision want to continue airing UWA shows. The two sides are negotiating with two key points remaining in the negotiations which are, what arena to tape from each week and how long-term should the contract be. The UWA no longer wants the shows taped from El Toreo, which is the major house show card in the Mexico City area each week. Lately they've been taping the weekly Friday night shows in Netzahualcoyotl instead of the Sunday afternoon El Toreo cards, for airing eight days later.
The show taped this past Friday night had Fishman & American Eagles (Tony Anthony & Danny Davis) vs. Mil Mascaras & Enrique Vera & Villano III and Los Villanos vs. Rambo & Negro Casas & Baby Face.
Expect Canadian Tiger to turn babyface.
Mascaras is in all week since so many of the major UWA names and champions, Dos Caras, The Death Missionaries (Negro Navarro & El Signo & Black Power II), El Hijo Del Santo, Gran Hamada, Silver King, El Texano, Kendo and Dr. Wagner Jr. are all in Japan.
The El Toreo shows in which Bam Bam Bigelow headlined drew 10,000 and 8,000 fans respectively.
The 3/8 show at El Toreo in Naucalpan was headlined by Buffalo Allen (Badnews Allen) teaming with The Can-Am Express, DNS Furnas (Doug Furnas) and Phil Lason (Dan Kroffat) getting disqualified in the third fall against Mil Mascaras & Villano III & Canek. Kroffat & Furnas got over so well even though they were heels that the fans gave them a huge ovation after the match. Also Fishman & Rambo & The Killer beat Enrique Vera & Fantasma & El Colosso via DQ, Villano I & Super Raton & Super Pinochio beat The American Eagles & Kahos in two straight falls, Casandro & El Sicodelico & El Magnetico (making his El Toreo debut) beat Shu El Guerrero & Lobo Rubio & El Hijo del Diablo and Katana & Los Dragones Chinos beat Momotaro (Monkey Magic Wakita) & Ricky Boy & Angel Mortal.
ALL JAPAN The 3/4 show at Tokyo's Budokan Hall drew a new building record of 16,300 fans and set a new gate record for the All Japan promotion headlined by Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue capturing the PWF world tag team titles beating Terry Gordy & Steve Williams in 31:18 when Tsuruta pinned Williams after a back suplex. In the co-feature, Stan Hansen retained the triple crown pinning Mitsuharu Misawa with a lariat in 19:12. In other results, Giant Baba & Andre the Giant & Dory Funk beat Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Kenta Kobashi & Toshiaki Kawada in the all-time miscarriage of justice result when Dory made Kikuchi submit with the spinning toe hold in 14:48, Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas retained the Asian tag team titles beating Joe & Dean Malenko, The Wild Bunch (Masa Fuchi & Motoshi Okuma & Haruka Eigen) beat Isamu Teranishi & Mighty Inoue & Rusher Kimura, Johnny Ace pinned Yoshinari Ogawa, State Patrol (James Earl Wright & Buddy Lee Parker) beta Fire Cat (Brady Boone) & Richard Slinger and Mitsuo Momota pinned Masao Inoue in the opener. The tour finished up with sellouts the final two nights as well.
3/5 in Funabashi drew 2,900 as Tsuruta & Taue & Ogawa beat Parker & Ace & Hansen when Tsuruta pinned Parker, Williams & Gordy beat Misawa & Kobashi in 24:17, Furnas & Kroffat beat Kikuchi & Kawada, Baba & Andre & Kimura beat Wild Bunch, Funk & Momota beat Inoue & Teranishi, Malenkos beat Slinger & Fire Cat and Wright pinned Satoru Asako.
3/6 in Hirotsuka drew 3,900 as Tsuruta & Taue & Fuchi beat Misawa & Kawada & Kikuchi when Taue pinned Kikuchi with the golden arm bomber in 24:57, Williams & Gordy beat Malenkos when Gordy made Joe submit to the STF, Andre & Funk & Kobashi beat Fire Cat & Ace & Hansen when Kobashi pinned Fire Cat, Kroffat & Furnas beat State Patrol to retain the Asian tag team titles when Furnas pinned Parker and Baba & Kimura beat Eigen & Okuma.
The 3/1 television show headlined by Tsuruta vs. Kobashi drew a 5.4 rating.
The Budokan TV show aired Sunday night.
NEW JAPAN Apparently those involved in the NWA world title tournament from 8/7 to 8/12 will include Sting, Rick Steiner, Rick Rude, Scott Steiner, Big Van Vader, Keiji Muto, Tatsumi Fujinami and Riki Choshu plus others. 3/8 in Izumisano drew a sellout 2,380 as Choshu & Muto & Hiroshi Hase beat The Samoans (Samu & Kokina) & Bam Bam Bigelow when Choshu lariated Samu in 10:48, Takayuki Iizuka & Shinya Hashimoto beat Vader & The Killer Bee (Brian Blair), Masa Chono beat Masanobu Kurisu via DQ, Akira Nogami & Jushin Liger beat The Mad Bull Busters, Shiro Koshinaka & Osamu Kido beat Samurai (Osamu Matsuda) & Black Cat, Kengo Kimura pinned Scorpio and Koji Kanemoto pinned Hiroyoshi Yamamoto.
3/6 in Matsudo drew a sellout 2,330 as Choshu & Muto & Iizuka beat Samoans & Vader when Choshu pinned Samu, Chono & Hashimoto beat Killer Bee & Bigelow, Hase & Kimura beat Kurisu & Tiger Jeet Singh, Nogami & Liger beat Cat & Samurai, Hoshino & Koshinaka beat Mad Bull Busters via DQ and Kido pinned Kanemoto.
3/5 in Otaki drew 1,700 as Vader & Bigelow & Killer Bee beat Kimura & Muto & Chono when Bigelow splashed Kimura, Choshu & Iizuka beat Singh & Kurisu, Samoans beat Hase & Hashimoto, Cat & Samurai beat Liger & Koshinaka, Nogami & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat Mad Bull Busters and Kido pinned Scorpio.
Last week's television show did a 6.7 Video Research rating.
OTHER JAPAN NOTES WING had a big show on 3/8 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall before a sellout 2,300 fans as Mr. Pogo beat Mitsuhiro Matsunaga when the ref stopped the match when Matsunaga was unable to continue after Pogo threw fire in a Bunkhouse match main event. Also Ivan & Vladimir Koloff DDQ Head Hunters from Puerto Rico, Aja Kong & Bison Kimura beat Kyoko Inoue & Akira Hokuto in a women's match, Miguelito Perez pinned Vic Steamboat, Yukihiro Kanemura pinned Rip Rogers and Iceman (Ricky Santana) pinned Ryo Miyake. Universal opened on 3/7 in Yokohama before 2,300 fans as Los Brazos beat Kendo & Dos Caras & Gran Hamada, The Death Missionaries (Signo & Navarro & Powerslam Johnny Bonello aka Black Power II in Mexico) beat Dr. Wagner Jr. & Silver King & El Texano and Punish & Crush (Akiyoshi & Takayama in Mexico) & El Hijo del Santo beat The Global trio (Lightning Kid & Dynamic Lynn aka Jerry Lynn & Ricky Rocket who may be Ricky Rice but I'm not sure) plus Kauro Maeda beat Miori Kamiya in a womens match. All the six-mans are part of a week-long trios tournament.
3/8 in Osaka drew a sellout 2,200 as Texano & King & Wagner beat Santo & Punish & Crush, Kendo & Caras & Hamada beat Death Missionaries, Global trio beat Los Brazos and Suzuka Minami pinned Maeda.
The Global trio replaced El Exoticos (May Flowers & Rudy Reyna & Pimpanela Escarlata) who do the transvestite gimmick.
Akira Maeda's RINGS on 4/3 in Hiroshima has Maeda vs. Volk Han from the Soviet Union.
Rings announced new rules in that pinfalls no longer count for a victory. The only way to win is either knockout or submission.
WING on 3/6 in Hitachi drew 1,256 as Perez & Pogo beat Kanemura & Matsunaga, Koloffs DDQ Steamboat & Iceman and Head Hunter B beat Rogers.
All Japan women taped television (airing Monday night) before 2,800 in Yokosuka as Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota retained their UWA (Mexican) world tag team titles beating Yumiko Hotta & Suzuka Minami in 22:47 plus a battle of regular tag partners saw Bull Nakano pin Akira Hokuto, Kong & Kimura beat Kyoko Inoue & Sake Hasegawa, Debbie Malenko & Takako Inoue beat Bat Yoshinaga & Tomoko Watanabe and Etsuko Mita pinned Kuaro Ito.
Next big women's show is 3/20 at Korakuen Hall with Hotta & Minami vs. Yoshinaga & Watanabe, Malenko & Hasegawa defend the Japanese tag team titles against Mariko Yoshida & Mima Shimoda returning from Mexico, Nakano vs. Kyoko Inoue in a non-title match and Kong & Kimura vs. Yamada & Toyota with the WWWA tag titles against the UWA tag titles. The big show after that is Wrestlemarinpiad on 4/25 in Yokohama headlined by Nakano vs. Kong for the WWWA singles title.
SWS on 3/14 in Aomori has Yoshiaki Yatsu & King Haku vs. George & Shunji Takano, Genichiro Tenryu & Takashi Ishikawa vs. Hercules & Berzerker, Samson Fuyuki & Fumihiro Niikura & Naoki Sano vs. Shinichi Nakano & Tatsumi Kitahara & Kenichi Oya.
3/16 in Akira has Yatsu & Haku vs. Tenryu & Ishikawa, George Takano vs. Hercules, Kendo Nagasaki & Berzerker vs. Shunji Takano & Oya.
3/18 in Niigata has Yatsu & Haku vs. Takanos, Undertaker vs. Ishikawa, Tenryu & Fuyuki vs. Nagasaki & Berzerker and Sano & Ultimate Dragon vs. Dandy & Goro Tsurumi.
3/22 at Korakuen Hall has Undertaker vs. Haku, Tenryu & Fuyuki vs. Nakano & Kitahara, Hara vs. Yatsu and Dragon vs. Dandy.
WING has the first scaffold match ever in Japan on 3/13 with Iceman vs. Perez.
Rings drew 5,160 on 3/5 in Amagasaki with Akira Maeda beating Buzariashvili Ramazi in the main event in 11:18 with a half crab.
JAPANESE TELEVISION RUNDOWN 2/8 NEW JAPAN: 1. Tony Halme pinned Kim Duk in 7:20 with a Samoan drop. Fans really boo Halme because he's just not good enough and they keep pushing him. DUD; 2. Hiroshi Hase & Masa Chono beat Shiro Koshinaka & Tatsumi Fujinami in 15:51 when Chono made Koshinaka submit to the STF. Match was disappointing except when Hase was in and he was great. **1/2; 3. Choshu & Muto & Hashimoto beat Much Rambo & Bigelow & Scott Norton in 13:37 when Hashimoto pinned Rambo with a running DDT. Bigelow was very good but he could only carry things to an average level since Rambo is pretty green. **
2/9 ALL JAPAN: 1. Taue & Ogawa beat Kikuchi & Kawada in 17:11 when Taue pinned Kikuchi with the golden arm bomber. Pretty solid early and turned into a good match with all the hot moves and near falls. About what you'd expect. ***1/2; 2. Hansen pinned Tsuruta with the lariat to win the Triple crown. Jumbo worked on Hansen's arm early. Hansen came back working on Tsuruta's knee. Kind of a sluggish match that got good at the end with near falls that looked to be the finish. Tsuruta kicked out of a lariat and laid down for the second one. **1/2
2/9 ALL JAPAN WOMEN: 1. Takako Inoue beat Kamiya in 16:48 to keep the Japanese title. They really messed up a lot of moves in the first half of the match. In fact, the whole match was a communications disaster at one point. They got back on track and it was good with Inoue winning with a back suplex. **1/4; 2. Kyoko Inoue & Yamada beat Malenko & Hasegawa in 19:49 when Yamada pinned Hasegawa after Inoue gave her an elbow drop off the top rope. Inoue & Yamada did all kinds of great Lucha Libre moves early. Both Yamada and Hasegawa went back-and-forth with great kicks. ***1/2; 3. Kong DDQ Nakano. The match really never got started with them brawling all over the arena with foreign objects and furniture. ***1/4
2/15 NEW JAPAN: 1. Akitoshi Saito beat Michiyoshi Ohara in a karate vs. wrestler match in 6:15 via knockout. They work these matches to look like shoots and they're very exciting. The karate guys and wrestlers are at ringside cheering their guy on and broke out into a fight of their own as well. Ohara juiced heavy. **1/2; 2. Liger pinned Honaga with a Frankensteiner off the top rope to win the IWGP jr. title and keep WCW lightheavyweight title in 17:30. Liger did all sorts of great moves to make the match. Not the greatest Liger match ever but still awesome. ****; 3. Muto & Hase beat Fujinami & Koshinaka in 20:03 when Hase pinned Koshinaka with the Northern Lights suplex. Koshinaka worked almost the entire match getting pounded on and Fujinami and Koshinaka split up after the match. ***; 4. Choshu & Chono beat Rambo & Bigelow in 13:02 when Choshu pinned Rambo with a lariat. Good when Bigelow as in. Bad when Rambo was in. **
GLOBAL Results from 3/6 at the Dallas Sportatorium before 575 fans saw: ESPN air date 3/24--Bull Pain pinned Brian Ferrar, Dark Patriot pinned Gary Young after a loaded head-butt, The California Connection (Rod Price & John Tatum) beat Chaz & Tug Taylor when Chaz was pinned after a Tatum superkick and Black Bart retained his Brass Knux title beating Sam Houston via knockout when Scandor Akbar hit Houston with a foreign object. For ESPN air date 4/1--Steven Dane pinned Ferrar, Barry Horowitz pinned Chaz Taylor with a finish when Bruce Prichard shook the top rope and Taylor was crotched and fell into the ring to be pinned, Bart retained the Brass Knux title by hitting Tug Taylor with his branding iron and Bill Irwin pinned Pain with Gary Young in drag as Big Bertha Young in Irwin's corner to counter Samantha. Young was apparently hilarious in this don't miss performance and the finish saw Young kiss Pain on the lips and he was so upset that Irwin pinned him. For ESPN air date 3/31--The Viper (Mike Davis) pinned Ferrar, Dane drew Houston, Terry Garvin pinned Horowitz in a non-title match. The main event was scheduled as Dark Patriot defending the North American title against The Patriot, however since Del Wilkes is headed to Titan, he didn't appear and was replaced by Garvin. Eddie Gilbert was the ref and Bruce Prichard was placed in a cage. Gilbert favored Garvin as ref. As the match went on, ref Eddie Gilbert and brother Dark Patriot nearly came to blows and James Beard came out and removed Eddie as ref saying that he wasn't going to let a biased ref continue with the match. Garvin ended up pinning Dark Patriot and was given the belt. After Prichard was released from the cage, he, Big Bad John and Horowitz triple-teamed Garvin until Eddie Gilbert made the save. Prichard then began arguing with Beard and Joe Pedicino about the title situation since the contract was for Patriot and not for Garvin. Beard said he had to agree with Prichard's claim so Dark Patriot kept the strap. The finale had Gilbert beating John after hitting him with a chain. 3/13 at the Sportatorium has Price & Tatum defending the tag team titles against Scott Putski & Young, Dark Patriot vs. Garvin for the North American title and Gilbert vs. Big Bad John in a hair vs. hair match with falls counting anywhere in the building plus a 15 man Battle Royal.
The original plan was for Eddie Gilbert to turn back heel by turning on Garvin, but with the babyface void left by Patriot leaving, that won't be happening at least in the near future.
USWA Jeff Jarrett is out of action with a legit back injury suffered in the gym rather than in the ring. 3/2 in Memphis saw The Fat Boys beat Tony Falk & Jim Steele, Miss Texas beat Dirty White Girl to win the USWA womens title, Brian Christopher beat King Cobra to keep the Texas title, Tom Prichard beat Dr. Death to keep the Southern title, Eric Embry beat Pat Tanaka, Koko Ware pinned Kimala to keep the USWA title when The Moondogs attempt at interference with a garbage can backfired and hit Kimala and Moondogs beat Ware (subbing for Jarrett) & Jerry Lawler when Lawler did the job, but after the match, Kimala made the save and ran the Moondogs out using a door and turned babyface.
3/3 in Louisville saw Falk beat Ricky Hayes, White Girl beat Connie, Prichard beat Steele, Christopher beat Kenny Kendall, Embry double count out Tanaka and Moondogs & Black Dog bet Lawler & Prichard & Ware.
On television, Dr. Death hit Prichard with a bed pan and Nurse Kratchett hit Miss Texas over the head with the bed pan as well.
Prichard wrestled Tanaka in a face match on television 3/7 which ended with Dr. Death jumping in and attacking Prichard.
3/9 in Memphis had Falk vs. Hayes, Texas vs. Kratchett, Christopher vs. Tony Williams for the Texas title, Fat Boys vs. Scorpions, Prichard vs. Dr. Death in a bed pan on a pole match, Embry vs. Tanaka and the main event has Moondogs & Richard Lee vs. Lawler & Ware & Kimala.
HERE AND THERE Lightning Kid & Jerry Lynn, who have feuded for a few years, made their tag team debut on 3/3 at The Mirage in the Twin Cities area for Pro Wrestling America before 300 fans beating Tommy Ferrara & Billy Blaze. Charlie Norris DDQ Punisher #1 in the co-feature. Congrats to Dr. Joel Lerman for finishing the Napa Marathon Sunday in a time of 3:45. It's his first and most definitely last marathon.
Mick Karch's Saturday Night Ringside wrestling block in the Minneapolis area was canceled because the station was bought out by new owners who are turning it into a religious station.
Peach State Wrestling on 3/6 in Warner-Robins, GA drew 672 fans as R.D. Swain won a Battle Royal throwing out Billy Black in the finals, Paul Orndorff pinned Stan Lane managed by Ronnie Gossett with Nikita Koloff clotheslining Gossett at the finish, plus also working included Ranger Ross, Joel Deaton and Night Stalker.
Billy Anderson is sending proteges Tim Patterson and Samoan Cannibal to FMW for an April tour.
Larry Sharpe and Dennis Coraluzzo ran WWA wrestling on 3/6 in Union City, NJ before 300 fans as Bobby Muniz & Angel Vera won the WWA tag titles from the Lords of Darkness, Tricky Nicky won the welterweight title from Bud Lucious and Spider beat Joe Daniels to keep the WWA heavyweight title plus Victor Rivera Jr. drew Chris Candito. 3/7 in Woodberry, NJ drew a sellout 1,000 fans as Thor won a Battle Royal (taped for a segment on Fox television about a kid trying to be a wrestler), Chris Evans beat Candito in a hot match and Spider beat Joe Daniels via DQ. Promoter Coraluzzo was handcuffed to Amy Lee Murray but Dennis the Menace was knocked out and Murray got the key from him and interfered but the decision was reversed to set up a mixed tag on 3/28 in Clementon, NJ. They have a show 3/27 in Pikesville, MD headlined by Nikolai Volkoff vs. Kimala.
North Georgia Wrestling debuted with a taping on 3/8 in Alpharetta, GA before 80 fans with Festus, Steve Lawler, Convict Blade, The Jailhouse Rocker (Lawler's younger brother doing an Elvis gimmick), The Maulers (Rip Morgan & Jack Victory), etc. Scott Hudson and Steven DeTruth do the television announcing for this group which is run by Sam Kent.
3/7 in Portland saw Jesse Barr beat Buddy Rose via DQ, C.W. Bergstrom & Mike Winner beat Col. DeBeers & John Rambo via DQ, Bart Sawyer & Brickhouse Brown beat Al Madril & Mike Miller via DQ and in the main event, Steve Doll & The Grappler beat Ron & Don Harris via DQ. Pick up a pattern in those results? .
3/7 in Caguas, PR saw Randy Rhodes & Wild One beat El Corsario & Rockin Rebel, Sasha beat La Tigrese, Doug Masters pinned Rex King, Cyclone Salvadorino & El Bronco #1 beat Heartbreakers (Wendell Cooley & Frankie Lancaster), Ron Garvin pinned Invader #1 to keep the Universal title when Carlitos Colon came to ringside and accidentally hit Invader with a 2x4 (the long-awaited Colon vs. Invader matches seem impending), La Lei beat Fidel Sierra in a pole match and Colon double count out with Dick Murdoch.
Former wrestling manager Lou Albano has a major role in the new movie, "Complex World." .
Steve Gatorwolf has shows on 3/2 in Bagdad, AZ before 300 fans as Louie Spicolli pinned Electric Youth (David Gibson), Samoan Cannibal (James Aiono) beat Rip Savage via DQ, Star Man (Billy Anderson) beat Shawn Dakota, Cannibal & Youth beat Spicolli & Star Man and Gatorwolf beat Sheik Abdullah Hussain (Lou Fabbiano). Same grew drew 250 on 3/3 in Mesa, 200 on 3/4 in Prescott Valley, 620 on 3/5 in Tuba City.
WWA on 2/28 in Tijuana, Mexico drew 3,000 headlined by El Hijo Del Santo & Tinieblas Jr. beating Dr. Wagner Jr. & Negro Casas plus Tinieblas Sr. & Ultraman 2000 (Amigo Ultra for FMW) & Kamikaze Ninja beat Gigante Warrior (Butch Masters) & El Cobarde & El Caballon.
The new Stampede Wrestling in Calgary is apparently history.
Ladies Major League Wrestling on 3/1 in Port St. Lucie, FL drew 325 as Susan Green beat A.J. Watson, Penelope Paradise beat Alison Royal, Candi Divine beat Malia Hosaka, Pink Cadillac won a handicap match and Judy Martin & Leilani Kai became the first LMLW tag team champions Wendi Richter & Bambi.
ICWA on 3/5 in Tampa drew 200 as Alison Royal beat Paradise, Jim Backlund beat Mitch Incognito, Terminators (Al Greene & Marc Laurinaitis) kept the U.S. tag belts by getting DQ'd against Lou Perez & Allan Iron Eagle, Jim Neidhart pinned Star Rider Rock, Denny Brown beat Mark Starr via DQ.
WCW The 3/9 television tapings in Anderson, SC before 3,500 fans (no idea of paid vs. paper) saw the debut of Steve Williams & Terry Gordy as a tag team. They worked three matches that were taped, but none will air on television until May because they aren't coming in until June to work a program with the Steiners. The gimmick on television is they are going to say that they aren't sure if they're coming in or not and that Japanese interests are trying to keep them from coming in. When they do arrive, they'll be renouncing their American citizenship and talking about how great Japan is and they'll be both billed from Nagoya, Japan. Told they looked phenomenal. Also debuting was J.T. Southern as a heel to feud with Van Hammer. Even though this program hardly promises to be a part of the improved wrestling product and downplaying gimmickry that they've been so vocal about, the initial angle was done well. Southern did an interview and said that Van Hammer, "Can't sing, can't dance, can't play guitar and can't wrestle." All the boys in the back were cracking up at the interview for obvious reasons, although for all we know, he really can dance. As for Southern, well, I've never heard him sing, but he definitely can play the guitar. Anyway, after Hammer beat Steve Armstrong, Southern did his speech and whenever Hammer tried to respond, Southern drowned him out by amplifying the guitar. Kevin Sullivan was also at television and is going to feud with Cactus Jack at some point or team with him, I'm not exactly sure which.
Nikita Koloff also worked as a face.
Rick Steiner beat Steve Austin via DQ in a TV title match when Madusa interfered and it ended up with Scott hitting Paul E. with the telephone. Greg Valentine & Terrence Taylor beat the unhappy Patriots, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat beat Rick Rude & Steve Austin & Arn Anderson when Austin his Steamboat with a chair for the DQ, Steiners beat Larry Zbyszko & Austin, Tom Zenk pinned Valentine, Ron Simmons & Health Food Dog beat Vinnie Vegas & Diamond Dallas Page (Mr. Hughes no-showed television), Steamboat beat Eaton via DQ which ended when Rick Rude hit Steamboat in the nose with the phone and Steamboat will be doing a broken nose angle and finally Rhodes & Windham beat Eaton & Anderson in a non-title bunkhouse match.
Jesse Ventura will be featured on the George Michael Sports Machine tentatively on 3/23.
I believe Johnny B. Badd did sign his contract this week for $156,000.
Missy Hyatt hasn't signed yet even though they pretty much reached an agreement a few weeks back.
3/4 tapings in Columbus, GA before 3,000 saw Steamboat vs. Anderson ending when Rude interfered but Steamboat made his comeback and choked Rude over the rope with his belt, Simmons pinned Cactus Jack with JFD making a save, Zenk & Bagwell beat Taylor & Valentine in a non-title match.
The Bull Drop Inn with Dusty Rhodes will be brought back as a segment, probably not on the weekly television but on the big shows.
3/6 in Los Angeles drew 2,000 paid and 5,000 in the building as Richard Morton pinned Badd *1/2, Bagwell pinned Taylor clean **, Cactus double count out Abdullah **, Vegas & Hughes beat Simmons & Josh when Vegas pinned Josh *, Windham pinned Zbyszko in a 3:00 death match DUD, Steiners & Rhodes beat Anderson & Eaton & Austin in an elimination match **3/4 and Rude pinned Sting in a non-title cage match by using the phone in 12:00 ***.
They aired the post-SuperBrawl press conference which looked interesting although I'll bet nobody realized it was Nikita Koloff running around clotheslining everyone since it wasn't mentioned. I thought it was Jesse Ventura since they're both bald. Did you all notice Jason Hervey in the background maneuvering around so he could see the angle since people kept getting in his way? . . I hope Eric Bischoff gets his game show hosting job because he's just so annoying to watch on television.
Main April house show feuds look to be Sting-Vader, Rude-Steamboat, Steiners vs. Anderson-Eaton, Rhodes & Windham vs. Austin & Zbyszko, Zenk & Bagwell vs. Taylor & Valentine, Pillman vs. Badd and Simmons & JYD vs. Cactus & Abdullah.
Kip Frey awarded Steamboat, Rude, Liger and Pillman $2,500 each for being the hardest workers on the PPV show.
Don't expect Scott Norton until the summer at the earliest.
Expect Liger to return for the Bash in July and Great Muta as a babyface in May along with Tatsumi Fujinami.
Talk of making Liger & Pillman a team.
3/8 at the Omni in Atlanta drew 2,100 paid as Bagwell drew Mike Graham, Hammer pinned Page, Valentine & Taylor beat Patriots (all bad matches), Pillman pinned Badd, Simmons & Josh beat Hughes & Vegas, Windham pinned Zbyszko in a bullrope match which saw Rhodes & Austin both interfere, Rhodes pinned Cactus (real good), Steiners beat Anderson & Eaton in a non-title match and Sting & Steamboat beat Rude & Austin when Sting pinned Austin.
Ventura may lose his football announcing gig with the Minnesota Vikings over his going back into wrestling. According to the 3/3 St. Paul Dispatch Press , KFAN officials are uncomfortable with him working for WCW. "if that's the profession he chose, it doesn't coincide with our Vikings broadcasts," said Mick Anselmo, KFAN General Manager. "We have no interest in that (doing the Vikings) if he's full time with them (WCW)." Ventura said if he has to choose between the two, he'll choose wrestling but seemed unhappy since he worked with the WWF as an announcer at the same time he did the Tampa Bay Bandits radio broadcasts.
Wayne Coulter, who worked in public relations, was fired.
Center Stage on 3/3 before 700 fans included the TV that aired this past weekend as Freebirds beat Tracy Smothers & Thomas Rich, Morton beat Brad Armstrong using color commentary, Anderson & Eaton & Zbyszko beat Pillman & Zenk & Bagwell when Eaton pinned Bagwell and Austin pinned Hammer. This weekend has Paul E. Dangerously open with one of the best interviews in a long time, Rhodes & Windham beat Page & Rich in a horrible match, Valentine pinned Bagwell, Pillman pinned Morton, Scott Steiner beat Austin via DQ in a TV title match.
Freebirds gave a 30-minute, seven song concert after the Atlanta Hawks basketball game on 3/7 at the Omni. It was well received particularly because the band was real strong.
WWF Highlights from television tapings that took place 3/9 in Mobile, AL saw the beginning of a feud with Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels for post-WM. Hart was wrestling Mountie when Michaels and Sherri came out and caused Hart to lose via count out. Ted DiBiase didn't work because of a legit back injury although they kept the program with Natural Disasters going.
Newcomers at TV were Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samoan Savage) as babyfaces to fill the vacant tag slot with the break-up of the New Foundation and The Maulers (Rip Morgan & Jack Victory) as heels.
Hulk Hogan's post-WM movie is called "Rough Guys." .
The Madison Square Garden card aired on the MSG network head-to-head with the SuperBrawl PPV so I'm not sure about this cable rule of not putting free wrestling opposite PPV shows.
Entertainment Tonight on Thursday did a Wrestlemania plug.
The bodybuilding television show Body Stars debuts 4/4 on USA network at 11 a.m. Saturdays for a 13-week run. It'll concentrate more on soft-core health and fitness rather than hard-core bodybuilding.
Everyone is raving about the interview Ric Flair did on Superstars this past weekend regarding the Randy Savage match. Bet what you don't know is it was the 17th take. Says something about the difference between cranking out television and trying to put together flawless television.
3/7 in Chicago drew 7,500 as Tatonka pinned Skinner, Michaels pinned Jim Powers, Tito Santana pinned DiBiase, Bushwhackers & Bret Hart beat Nasty Boys & Mountie, Warlord pinned J.W. Storm, Bossman pinned Repo Man and Hulk & Roddy Piper beat Flair & Sid Justice when Hogan pinned Flair.
3/1 in Bangor, ME saw Warlord pin Chris Walker, Kato pinned Storm, Santana pinned DiBiase, British Bulldog pinned Rick Martel, Bossman pinned Repo Man, Natural Disasters beat Jim Duggan & Sgt. Slaughter via DQ and Hogan beat Flair via count out.
3/1 in Moline, IL drew 4,000 as Tatonka pinned Skinner -*, Michaels pinned Powers **, Crush (Brian Adams) pinned Berzerker -***, Bushwhackers & Hart beat Mountie & Brian Knobbs & Michaels (they didn't lock up for 9:00) **, IRS pinned Virgil -*, Owen Hart & Jim Brunzell beat Beverly Brothers *** and Randy Savage pinned Jake Roberts **1/2. Roberts got 30 percent of the cheers. When they announced Hogan's name about his new T-shirt, everyone booed. Six total no-shows.
2/28 in Normal, IL drew 4,300 as Michaels beat Powers, Tatonka beat Skinner, Crush pinned Berzerker, Bret Hart & Bushwhackers beat Michaels & Knobbs & Mountie, IRS pinned Virgil, Owen Hart & Brunzell beat Beverly Brothers and Savage beat Roberts in a cage match.
3/6 in Oshkosh drew 4,500 as Berzerker pinned Tom Stone (sub for Bulldog) DUD, Martel pinned Del Wilkes DUD, Crush & Brunzell beat Beverly Brothers **1/2, IRS pinned Virgil *1/2, Natural Disasters beat Duggan & Slaughter via DQ -1/2* and Savage beat Roberts in a cage match -1/2*.
THE READERS PAGES Steve "Dr. Lucha" Sims of 1427 W. Dickens Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 puts out Lucha Libre weekly for $1 per issue. This will turn out to be one of the best newsletters on the market.
Maniax at 2-19-8 Nishi Magome, Ota-Ku Tokyo 143 JAPAN has the new Wrestling Super Catalogue on sale for $18. Please send dollar bills only as cashing personal checks in Japan is next to impossible.
John May of 1 Terry Circle, Hope, AR 71801 is looking for a VHS tape of SuperBrawl II.
Joseph Gianninoto of 472 Gramatan Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10552 is looking for a copy of the 1937 book "The Fall Guys" by Marcus Griffin.
Scott Decker of P.O. Box 5600, Hamden, CT 06518 has tapes for trade from everywhere.
Bill Brown of 168 Boston Rd., Middletown, CT 06457 is interested in trading videotapes and is looking for tapes ofindependent promotions.
Brian Dyke of 615 15th Ave. SE #3, Minneapolis, MN 55414 has a tape of SuperBrawl II and is looking for tapes of Crockett Cups in 1987 and 1988 and Clashes I-III and tapes of any Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham matches in exchange.
Bryan Platt of 3708 Elmley Ave., Baltimore, MD 21213 is looking for a tape of the 3/3 Joan Rivers show with Howard Stern as guest and AWA Superclashes, Wrestle Rock and Twin Wars and will trade anything on his list in exchange.
Jeff Mullins of P.O. Box 36819, San Jose, CA 95158 has newsletter Pro Wrestling Sushi for $6 for four issues and if you order now you get a double issue free.
Gary Will of 55 Carolina St. N #901, Waterloo, ONT N2L 6B9 Canada is looking to compile a complete list of regional titleholders and is looking for histories of championships during the 1970s.
Rob Silvernail of 3057 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, NY 14217 is looking for any material on early 1970s WWF Assassin (Bill Walters) and a tape of Bruno Sammartino's birthday party incident.
Jeff Gagliardo of 5954 Hillrose Dr., San Jose, CA 95123 is looking for a tape of WrestleTalk with Jim Cornette and Dan Farren as guests.
Mike Sawyer of 831 Pasadena Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14304 puts out the newsletter Legdrop for $5 for five issues.
John Carella of 36 Tardy Ln., Wantagh, NY 11793 is looking for copies of Wrestle Rock '86 and early Traci Lords movies.
Ken Hamblin of 1611 S. 115th St., Tacoma, WA 98444 is selling wrestling Grab bags for $6 with old programs, photos, posters, newsletters and other paraphernalia.
Mike Leathers of 3152 Altadena Ave. San Diego, CA 92105 is looking for a VHS tape of SuperBrawl II.
Alan Raskin of P.O. Box 14537, Philadelphia, PA 19115 puts out the newsletter Pro Wrestling Review. Send a SASE for more information.
Jim Murphy of P.O. Box 1536, Cayce, SC 29033 is looking for a regular supplier of All Japan and New Japan tapes.
Dave Perrotta of 26 Bendix Pl., Lindenhurst, NY 11757 is looking for old tapes of NWA World Championship Wrestling television shows.
Gary Langevin of 124 Maple St., Newport, VT 05855 is looking for WWF Championship Wrestling shows from 1984-86, all episodes of TNT, Prime Time and All American Wrestling from 1985-87, Tri State Wrestling, International Wrestling from Montreal from 1985, all episodes of Pro Wrestling this Week, Bob Luce Hall of Fame Classics and will trade anything in his collection in return.
Frank Strom of 81 Sargent St., Revere, MA 02151 is looking for a tape of the LPWA PPV show and will trade tapes of All Japan women in exchange.
George Foster of 931 Mears Ct., Stanford, CA 94305 is looking for photos of Woman, Misty Blue, Missy Hyatt, Sherri Martel and Lady Blossom.
GOODHART REFUNDS
This is a follow-up letter to the recent one about refunds for TWA tickets. I've listed some instructions below which may be helpful. Anyone who had purchased tickets directly from TicketMaster or TicketMaster tickets from Joel Goodhart may return them for a refund by going to the Philadelphia Civic Center box office or to their place of purchase. These tickets must have the code "adult" on top of them. If not, they must be returned for a refund to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. Those tickets should have a "K-Prom" on top of them. When mailing your tickets to the commission, please photo-copy them for your records in case they are lost. For people who have only canceled checks and no tickets, there is a possibility you may not get a refund. But the Athletic Commission told me if they're sent in with a letter there is an outside chance of a refund. Remember to photo-copy all correspondence for your own records. All refunds will be on a first come, first served basis. The commission can't reimburse you for tapes or fan club money so don't waste your time on that. All requests can be sent to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, Room 611 A, Tranportation Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. If any additional questions from anyone should arise, feel free to contact me at Excalibur Promotions, 1020 Cooper St., Deptford, NJ 08096. I made one mistake in my last letter I want to correct. The commission didn't seize Joel's bond but seized a letter of credit for $10,000 through his bank. He was under the old system where a bond or a letter of credit was needed to be licensed. Now a bond is required. They no longer will take a letter of credit.
Dennis Coraluzzo
Woodbury, New Jersey
SUPER BRAWL
SuperBrawl gets a major thumbs up from me. My only complaint about the show as Sting's reaction to winning the world title. Usually athletes are a bit more enthusiastic when they achieve their lifetime dream. It's appropriate Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman took place on leap year day, as matches of that calibre occur in the United States about as often as we have a Feb. 29. I've thought for a long time that Pillman would make an excellent choice as world champion. He has it all, great babyface charisma, intense interviews, youth and he's a fantastic wrestler. He's shorter than most of today's wrestlers but that could be used to his advantage. He could be an underdog champion who overpowers his larger opponents through superior skill and raw courage like Bob Backlund in the early 80s. If only Brian's dad was the booker.
John McAdam
Nashua, New Hampshire
SuperBrawl was an average show. Jesse Ventura and the Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman match made the show. Lex Luger vs. Sting was disappointing. Luger will go down in history as one of the worst world champions of all-time. He looked terrible in almost every one of his major matches. I wish WCW would change its name to NWA and forget about trying to be the WWF. Forget the rampway and fireworks and produce PPV shows like they did in 1989.
Jason Leier
Sacramento, California
Thumbs up live. Everybody on the card looked good. Why were there so many announcers? I've seen Jushin Liger in better matches on tape but he impressed the audience enough for them to stop that "USA, USA" chant and give him a huge ovation when he hugged Pillman after the match.
Rocco Malce
Chicago, Illinois
Jesse Ventura's line about the Vinnie's he's known was hysterical, but it didn't make SuperBrawl II into the tremendous show it was supposed to have been. The opener was good, but there were dead spots in between the high spots and the finish was disappointing. The Dusty finish in the tag title match was inexcusable. Both that finish and that booker should be put into permanent retirement. The Rude-Steamboat finish detracted from an otherwise good match. Finally, the world title match was very poor but considering the shape Lex Luger was in, he probably couldn't have done much better. Overall I'd give it a 6.5 on a scale of one-to-ten.
Michael Bahn
New York, New York
On 8/26 at SummerSlam, Curt Hennig entered Madison Square Garden with a serious back injury and managed to put on an excellent match with Bret Hart. On 2/29, Jushin Liger entered the Mecca Arena with bruised ribs and Brian Pillman entered with a bad back. The two put on what will surely be the match of the year in the United States (****3/4). Do you suppose that at Wrestlemania VIII that if Randy Savage and Ric Flair roll into the ring on wheelchairs, that they'll have the greatest match in the history of pro wrestling?
Evan Schlesinger
Great Neck, New York
Thumbs up. The reduced number of matches gave each match more time to develop. Most of the matches were good and none of that were that bad. Best was Windham & Rhodes vs. Austin & Zbyszko. Worst was Vegas & Morton vs. Zenk & Hammer which was below average, but not that bad. Steiners vs. Anderson & Eaton was a great match until the Dusty finish. Liger vs. Pillman was a good match but it wasn't as good as Liger's matches with Naoki Sano. Luger vs. Sting was okay and Steamboat vs. Rude was very good but suffered from the screw-job finish. Madusa looked good enough to add a star to every match she was at ringside for.
Tim Whitehead
Johnson City, Tennessee
SuperBrawl II ranks with the 1989 Bash as one of the great PPV shows ever. It was well-paced, with Jushin Liger stealing the show. It was great to see him live. I loved Jesse Ventura's comments on Vinnie and bodybuilding. Is it just me, or is Shiro Koshinaka one of the most underrated wrestlers in the world?
Michael Iong
Whitestone, New York
WCW
You made an interesting point when you wrote that the American public can't equate U.S. economic problems with a guy in a space-suit doing gravity-defying moves as suggested by Brian Pillman. However, aren't U.S./Japanese economic relations so strained right now with Japanese leaders being quoted (or misquoted as they have suggested) that the American work ethic is weak while our government is attempting to shift the focus of our nation's economic difficulties from ourselves to blaming Japanese greed and resistance to fair trade practices. Any Japanese wrestler right now is almost certain to draw heel heat whether the promotion pushes the point or not. With the shift of wrestling ever-so-slowly moving toward the athleticism which Japanese promotions have so successfully employed, will this be hampered here in the states whenever a Japanese wrestler works here since the American babyface vs. Japanese heel scenario will be inherent in any such match-up? Won't the rule of thumb then become ceremonial salt and Asian nerve holds as opposed to numerous high spots and big moves with exciting near falls?
Chris Martin
Springfield, Illinois
During the last Clash, Jim Ross said that Big Van Vader was a two-time All-American at Colorado at the No. 1 draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams. What year was the draft and under what name did he play football?
John Hoven
San Dimas, California
DM: Big Van Vader's real name is Leon White. He did play football at University of Colorado and was a very good college player although I'm not certain if he was on any All-American teams. He was predicted to be a first round draft choice (I believe in 1978) but while running a 40-yard sprint for NFL scouts he suffered a pretty severe injury which put his playing pro ball into question. The Rams actually did still pick him, in his injured condition, but it was in the sixth round. He spent a few years on injured reserve but never could make the full comeback.
I need to express my disgust with WCW. Now, I don't think anything is all that bad about the organization, but one thing has really gotten to me. I've seen in the past few weeks little clips of the Steiners beating the Road Warriors and the Nasty Boys. I shrugged it off as a playful little stab at the WWF. The next week they showed clips of Sting and Lex Luger beating Sid Vicious. That got to me a bit more. This weekend, they crossed the line. The segment was to feature how Sting and Luger used to be friends to set up their SuperBrawl match, it just so happened that each and every clip featured Ric Flair. The biggest shot at Flair was during a flashback to Wrestle War '90 when Luger had Flair in the torture rack and Jim Ross did a voice-over on the clip with comments like "Luger had Flair beaten here" and "Flair was about to lose his title," all suggesting that Luger was better than the WWF champ. I fail to see why WCW would sink that low. They seem to be relying on these clips to get by as competitive. Do they need to do this? No. Ric Flair was the man who made their promotion for a decade. I'm disappointed to see WCW stab him in the back like this.
Dave Prazak
Lisle, Illinois
WWF
It appears that Vince McMahon is making Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin the sacrificial lambs in this episode. Yet, according to Phil Mushnick's article, Vince doesn't admit to any wrongdoing by either party. What does he mean when he says they have been the target of unfair innuendos? Once again, instead of acing the issue head-on, he tries to skirt the issue and hopes it will go away.
Joseph Dante
Union, New Jersey
As the father of a nine, seven and three-year-old who all got turned onto pro wrestling by me, it is my sincere wish that pro wrestling and the WWF in particular take a searching and fearless inventory of themselves, publicly admit to the mistakes they've made in the past and move forward with a clean company in all matters. We all make mistakes in our lives. It is the winners who learn from them and are not doomed to repeat them.
Kevin Moran
Stockton, California
By your own admission, it is hardly fair to judge Hulk Hogan against his image before he was that image in regards to cocaine allegations. I don't know of a single wrestler who qualifies for anything approaching sainthood. I'm aware of temptations of life in the last lane. As for people being able to make an argument that using cocaine is okay if you do it on your own time and it doesn't interfere with your job but the argument not holding water with steroids because of the competitive advantage, that holds no weight in a court of law. A magazine interviewer reported on the Joan Rivers Show about a month ago that it is a condition of interviewing Arnold Schwarzeneggar that steroids won't be discussed. I've often heard it said by various sportswriters that Schwarzeneggar suffered kidney damage from steroids and believe Roy Firestone mentioned it on the Ron Reagan show. Isn't the head of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports an appointment made specifically for the kids of America. Who do you think has more of an effect on the youth of America than Schwarzeneggar?
Teresa DeMarie
Tuckahoe, New York
DM: The entire anabolic steroid issue has turned many athletes and celebrities into major hypocrites and liars, only two of which are Hulk Hogan and Arnold Schwarzeneggar. And I believe Schwarzeneggar has far more impact on kids, particularly teenagers, in this country than Hogan. As far as Hogan goes, and I'm sure you're well aware of, the cocaine allegations now cover a time period well after Hogan was portraying his current image and not just before he was his current marketing image

March 23, 1992 Observer Newsletter: WWE scandals make worldwide headlines, infamous Donahue show, more

Wrestling Observer Newsletter PO Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228 March 23, 1992 Years of lies and deception caught up with Vince McMahon in what had to be a week the likes of which he has to hope he'll never have to live through again.
A series of wrestling scandals, from Hulk Hogan's lies about steroids, to claims of homosexual harassment of the wrestlers all the way to the charge of WWF executives sexually abusing underage ringboys went from the front page of newspapers around the country and even as far as England, all the way to People Magazine, Larry King Live on CNN and the syndicated Phil Donahue show.
On Monday, the one charge that threatened the merchandising future of the multi-million (not billion) dollar Titan empire was settled in a most bizarre turn of events. Tom Cole, the 20-year-old former ringboy from Utica, N.Y., who claimed he was sexually harassed or abused at various times by all three WWF officials who are no longer with the organization, Pat Patterson, Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin, received $70,000 for two-years back-pay plus was given a multi-year contract to return to his former job as a ringboy. The settlement occurred just before a lawsuit was to be filed and before a taping of the Phil Donahue show where Cole was asked to be a guest. The fact a deal was made was no surprise because of the amount of bad publicity this case would have brought against Titan, but the nature of the deal was. The most bizarre aspect came after the Donahue show, when Cole and his older brother Lee, who had been befriended and had depositions done for their lawsuit by Barry Orton, Billy Graham and Bruno Sammartino, turned on them saying that of the panel on the Donahue show, only one guy cared about them and that was Vince McMahon.
Cole's charges, which were first reported in the New York Post, by Phil Mushnick, went attributed in a devastating front page story in the San Diego Union-Tribune by Jeff Savage last Wednesday. Entitled, "Sleaze no illusion in world of wrestling," the story detailed drug abuse, both anabolic steroids and recreational, sexual harassment and the most damaging claims of sexual abuse. Many newspapers around the country made reference to it as the week went on and it led to a national television feature Thursday night on Entertainment Tonight with Orton, Billy Jack Haynes and McMahon. It was also covered nationally Thursday night on ESPN Sports Center. The story had quotes from Cole and Chris Loss, two of the three ex-ringboys who came forward with claims of sexual abuse while minors working for Titan Sports. Cole said that while on tour with the WWF in 1985 at the age of 13, an employee would film Cole with a video camera while fondling his feet and masturbating. "He had a foot fetish," Cole said. "He would play with all the young boys' feet for hours at a time." Loss was 16 when he began working as a ringboy in Niagara Falls in 1989. He said the same employee cited by Cole "accidentally" stepped on his foot when he met him, and then when he said his foot hurt, the employee took off his shoe and began rubbing. "Boys are getting propositioned and played with all the time," Loss said. "You sort of put up with it because you can make a lot of money." Cole also claimed he was grabbed in the genitals numerous times by a second WWF official and the harassment continued unabated until he was fired in February of 1990 after rebuffing an advance from a third official. In that incident, Cole said he was driven to the official's house where he was asked to smoke marijuana, snort cocaine and have homosexual sex. When Cole rejected his advances, the official refused to take him home, so Cole slept in the WWF official's van in the driveway. He was fired the next day.
The same day, in an item entitled "Taste Test" in the Village Voice, it detailed the claim of Murray Hodgson about his two meetings with Patterson. Hodgson was hired in July of 1991 to announce for both the WWF and the World Bodybuilding Federation (in fact, he's the announcer on the first WBF championships videotape). In court papers, Hodgson said that on July 29, 1991, Patterson approached him at a wrestling television taping and asked, "So you're the new guy? .
So what do you taste like?" Hodgson replied, "You've got the wrong guy." Patterson: "Not if you want to keep your job, I don't. Think about it." On August 20, Hodgson was fired. On August 29, Hodgson met with McMahon and after the meeting, Patterson was waiting for Hodgson when he came out of McMahon's office and allegedly said, "Wouldn't listen to me, would you?"
The next day, Steve Planamenta sent out a press release saying: "The San Diego Union has published a story containing serious inaccuracies about alleged widespread wrongdoing in the World Wrestling Federation. We do not believe the charges in that newspaper to be true and we are so outraged that we have asked our attorneys to determine what legal action might be appropriate. However, as a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize that even false allegations must be investigated, and we will continue to do so. The WWF promotes good family entertainment. We are incensed that anyone would accuse us of behavior not in keeping with this philosophy. While we are not immune to human error, we rigorously enforce corporate polices regarding employee practices and behavior in keeping with the high standards demanded of a family entertainment company."
Let's see now, serious inaccuracies about things we don't believe are true but we're going to investigate accusations we've already determined are false.
On Thursday in the New York Post, a page seven story with a front page tease was headlined "Boy Sex Scandal Rocks Wrestling." The story repeated the claims from the San Diego story the previous day and included items from a letter to the Observer from Tom Hankins (see letters pages) which was written because Hankins was outraged when reading the 3/9 Observer where McMahon denied Orton's charges.
More national publicity came that same day when the inevitable front-page story in the Los Angles Times broke with the behind-the-scenes story on Hulk Hogan. Entitled, "Wrestling's Star Takes a Tumble," the story by John Cherwa and Houston Mitchell ran in newspapers throughout the country over the next several days. While not nearly as devastating to either the WWF or Hogan as stories that were yet to come, it still detailed Hogan's steroid use, with Superstar Billy Graham comparing him with former Washington D.C. mayor Marion Berry, David Shults claiming Hogan not only was a heavy user but also a black market dealer and that he shot Hogan up hundreds of times. The Times also noted that in 1980, Hogan was arrested in New Jersey for a firearms violation and served six months probation, after which the felony charge was dropped. Barry Orton noted that when he met Hogan in Las Vegas in the early 1980s, Hogan asked him if he could score some cocaine and Barry said that it was routine that he, Hogan and others would go up to a room after the cards whenever Hogan came to Las Vegas to snort lines. Billy Jack Haynes detailed a trip from Madison Square Garden to Hogan's Northeastern house in Stamford where Hogan was driving and going 80 miles per hour while swerving from lane-to-lane because he was both drinking and doing drugs (marijuana and Valium) while driving while Haynes was in the car with Hogan, Brian Blair and Brutus Beefcake. Hogan and Haynes nearly got into a fight in the car but later that night Hogan apologized. Nova Lanktree, one of the country's leading experts on sports merchandising said that these allegations will end Hogan's career as a spokesperson for any product. "If it is true that he has used steroids and other drugs and has denied taking steroids publicly, then no comp-any or advertiser will touch him."
The same day, The Oregonian in Portland, Ore. had a story headlined "Portland wrestler links Hogan to steroid use." The story, based on the accounts of Haynes, mentioned the two threatening phone calls to his father (this past Sunday he claimed to have received a third threat, this time on his phone; two others involved in reporting on this story also received anonymous threats this past week, one via telephone and another via a strange visiter to their mother's apartment telling the mother "Your son is living in a dangerous neighborhood"). Haynes talked of injecting Hogan with steroids in a Denver hotel room. "I don't want to sound like I'm drug-free," Haynes said. "I'm not an abuser. I started in 1986 taking pills, Dianabol. I was taking pills before I took shots of testosterone and used steroids for six months. I started getting really light-headed. My mood swings changed tremendously. I knew basically something was wrong. I wasn't me. I was already big, like 260. It made you strong and made you more of a man. You wanted to skill somebody. I'm just glad I got off them. but nobody took them for me. I took them.
"Vince wanted you to be drugged up. Every day you'll be traveling and by being drugged up you were wrapped around his finger. The drugs made you content."
The story even made the front page of the London Daily Mirror across the Atlantic Ocean with the headline, "Hulk quits in cocaine shame." The story was the only one that quoted a spokesperson for Hogan, his personal agent Peter Young, who said, "I don't think Hulk ever denied taking steroids, but it was under medical supervision."
The first San Diego story and the Thursday Post story led to McMahon booking himself on Larry King Live in an effort to stifle the momentum of the various stories. But before King came a third straight front page story in San Diego, entitled, "Will Hulk's next fortune be made in Japan?" The story noted Hogan's agreeing to a two-year, six event contract for $600,000 with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Graham noted in the story that Hogan sometimes used cocaine before his matches and that he had unintentionally injured opponents while high on coke (I do know of one wrestler who told me years ago that Hogan apologized to him after a match because he stepped on his back and injured him, with Hogan allegedly blaming the mistake on using cocaine before the match). Savage reached Hogan at home two weeks earlier and Hogan denied all allegations of drug use once again and then disconnected his telephone the next day. The story quoted both Gillette, which uses Hogan to endorse Right Guard and Solaris Marketing Group Inc., which distributes Hulk Hogan Vitamins for children, as saying they weren't canceling their projects. Orton was quoted in this story as saying, "Every time Hulk came into Las Vegas he would call me up looking for some blow (cocaine). A couple of years ago he bought an eight-ball (an eighth of an ounce) and did all of it in his hotel room after the show."
Friends of Hogan are telling the Observer that after Wrestlemania, Hogan plans on retiring from wrestling except for the few contracted Japan shots and is moving from the Tampa area to Hawaii to get away from it all.
All of this because he lied on the Arsenio Hall show.
No matter what anyone thinks of Vince McMahon personally, he has to be respected for a great deal of business and marketing acumen. Along the way of building Titan Sports into a company that grosses in excess of $125 million per year (those $1.7 billion figures quoted on every media news report and even in very respectable newspapers are ludicrous beyond belief), McMahon has made a lot of enemies. But even his enemies would probably admit that he isn't stupid. Yet, after watching the Larry King Live, I had to shake my head in disbelief. Yes, it's the sexual abuse and sexual harassment that have put the company under fire more than Hogan lying on Arsenio did. But without the lie, the climate wouldn't have been created to give those who want to speak out publicly against McMahon and Titan a forum. Without the media already examining the company because of the steroid issue, nobody would have paid a rats ass worth of attention to Murray Hodgson. If nothing else, a smart person would learn from their mistakes. Even though dishonesty is an inbred part of any wrestling promoter, one would think McMahon learned something from this debacle.
Instead, throwing caution to the wind, he decided to trade wits with Bruno Sammartino and Barry Orton and play the denial game. Was McMahon so bent on personal satisfaction of a momentary illusory "victory" over two men he hates that he repeated the mistake that put him in the position in the first place? Apparently he was. Certainly whatever credibility of his previous claim that Hogan acted on his own in his decision to tell "the truth but not the complete truth" on Arsenio went right out the window when McMahon did the same thing.
His experience and composure on television in some ways saw him run rings around Sammartino and Orton. But his lack of honesty was so outrageous, that if it was a debate, Sammartino would have won by an early disqualification. Calls to the Observer generated about 65 percent thinking Sammartino got the better of McMahon. But of the remaining 35 percent thought McMahon completely wiped the studio with Sammartino. Friends who weren't wrestling fans (thus probably not as adept as seeing through McMahon), seemed to score it closer to 55-45 with Sammartino still having the edge. Considering King, who clearly went on the show uninformed about his subject, seemed to favor McMahon and as a host joined McMahon in accusing the accusers, those percentages were surprising since the public generally believes whomever the host sympathizes with.
The going on cold speaks volumes for King professionally since his office staff spent two hours on the phone with me that morning to give King background information. It appeared he didn't bother with that information and instead got stuck on the subject of why nobody had come forward until this point. As a television performance, Orton, who was on via telephone, came off poorly to the point King cut him off midway through the show. Problem with Orton, was he was so worried about having credibility and being completely honest that he explained things in such great detail. For a television show looking for quickie sound bites, that's not how things are done. But this wasn't a debate. The only possible thing McMahon appearing on King would do for Titan Sports would be if he could diffuse the issue. Even for those who thought McMahon ran rings around Sammartino and Orton, let alone the majority who didn't, they would admit when the show was over, the issue was stronger than ever.
Some specific McMahon lies, misleading statements and outright distortions:
*He wasn't given a chance to respond to the various newspaper stories - First off, every newspaper reporting on this contacted McMahon. And he talked to several reporters before their stories but avoided directly answering the significant questions and chose not to talk with others. Hogan, who several stories were written about, wouldn't talk to anyone.
*He never even heard rumors of sexual misconduct in his organization until he read about them in the last two weeks - There is no way he couldn't have heard rumors. One upstate New York radio host who promoted towns for the WWF in 1984-85 phoned me and said he'd heard the specific stories about two of the departed men and was warned by wrestlers about them seven years ago. Maybe McMahon didn't know specifics (more on this point later), although even that seems to be iffy. Probably he knew, but I can accept maybe not. Hodgson first made his charge in September of last year. Jeff Savage of the San Diego Union first contacted Steve Planamenta about the story back on Feb. 9 and called almost every day for a month to get responses that never came back. Savage also phoned Terry Garvin (and spoke a few times with his wife) at home, Mel Phillips (and spoke with Phillips' family but never Phillips) and Pat Patterson (who he did speak with) weeks ago detailing the various allegations and got furious responses and hang-ups with demands never to call back in each case
*Claimed there was never even one allegation of misconduct ever made about any of the parties involves in all their years in wrestling - McMahon admitted, as was reported by Mushnick in his brutal column Wednesday entitled, "WWF's Defense Just More Lies," that Phillips was fired four years ago "because Phillips' relationship with kids seemed peculiar and unnatural." Midget wrestler Lord Littlebrook claimed Sunday he had written a letter to McMahon making a claim against one of the employees who resigned and never heard back from McMahon. Tom Hankins noted on Donahue that after his incident with Patterson he did call to complain to McMahon but never got through.
*McMahon also claimed Phillips had never been an employee of Titan Sports although he had worked as "an occasional laborer" - Technically correct since Phillips, as are all wrestlers, technically not company employees but independent contractors contracted with the company. However, the occasional laborer has been a regular ring announcer for Superstars of Wrestling for some time. In fact, a New Jersey athletic commissioner called John Arezzi's radio show and said that in Phillips' announcers license, he listed the Titan office address as his home address
*Tried to switch the issue by saying that while sexual harassment is prevalent in our society, so is homophobia, to give the idea that there is no truth to these allegations and it is simply gay bashing - There is at least one wrestler who spoke out (who wasn't on the Donahue panel) that I believe simply was gay bashing. However, who, my friends, has done more to teach homophobia to children that Vince McMahon with his gay stereotypical characters, all of whom worker as heels, educating youngsters that gay bashing is a positive trait since all their heroic babyfaces do it when matched with an effeminate heel
*Claimed Murray Hodgson's complaint has been legally dropped and that he never worked for the WBF - In fact, while technically the lawsuit is not a sexual harassment lawsuit but a wrongful termination lawsuit, as anyone who saw Donahue knows, Hodgson has hardly dropped the allegation. Hodgson, in fact, is the voice of the WBF on its premiere videotape. Hodgson went on King's radio show later Friday night and claimed that almost every word as it regarded to him that was said earlier on television was a lie
*Said Hulk Hogan never denied using steroids on Arsenio Hall - A totally misleading statement because Hogan issued a complete denial with the exception of taking a therapeutic drug that had a form of a steroid in it
*Said nobody in the WWF is on steroids - While use is clearly down, saying nobody is ridiculous. McMahon didn't learn one thing from the problems created on the Arsenio Hall show because he did almost the exact Hulk Hogan lie. For a guy who wants people to believe that Hogan said what he did on his own and that he wanted Hogan to tell the complete truth, he sure didn't practice what he preached. That particular statement was the most disappointing thing to me about the entire show. For a guy who openly complained about the way Kip Frey's policy was received, maybe he should have read that morning's Atlanta Constitution and realized his own p.r. errors. That paper quoted Johnny B. Badd as saying, "We're really trying to get guys off the gas. We realize now we've made a mistake." Frey was quoted as saying, "We want to send the message that we have athletes who have made the choice not to use steroids. Most of our guys have used them previously." Read that last sentence. No subterfuge. No misdirection. No lies. Just the truth.
*Said he wasn't negotiating a settlement with Tom Cole and called the various charges "bunk" - On Monday, a settlement had already been reached, which according to Alan Fuchsburg, Cole's attorney in Mushnick's Wednesday column in the Post, McMahon will make a full and sincere admission that the sexual misconduct claims made by Cole are true. Of course, if this deal was really struck and McMahon agreed to the admission, both before the Donahue taping, then why didn't McMahon say so on Donahue and admit some of the charges were true? The two sides had begun talks the previous Tuesday although it wasn't until Sunday that McMahon told Cole he believed him, with the Donahue show just one day away. According to Fuchsburg, with tears swelling his eyes McMahon said he, too, was abused as a child, and offered him the job as restitution and saying the offending parties are all history. Fuchsburg was adamant about McMahon being a changed man, however Cole's previous attorney, Tom Pachura said, "Tom Cole has secured the position as the king's pawn. He's the court jester and he doesn't even know it. But if he's happy, that's what you want to do as a lawyer, make your client happy."
But what is the issue? There is no simple issue. Of course there is steroids, pro wrestling's ongoing and never-ending scandal. Use started 20 years ago, but pressure on promotions didn't really start until the Zahorian trial last June. But that's been pushed into the background by the sleaze stories. But the problems of Titan Sports today have largely been created by the dishonesty in regards to the steroid issue. As we wrote just a few weeks ago before this media blitz began, the officials of Titan Sports never fully understood just how much the steroid lies had destroyed the company's credibility. Hopefully, they know now and have learned from it and the company will do an about-face. But as McMahon showed Friday on Larry King, this is a company that has been so inebriated with its marketing success that it doesn't have the capacity to learn from its mistakes. If a few reporters did work to break a similar story on the NFL, whether true or not, the NFL has maintained enough credibility that reporters and the public would believe its spin of the truth. With McMahon, his quotes in the various newspapers were more for comic relief in between the staggering charges.
Sexual harassment. How prevalent is it? First off, I believe Barry Orton's story about the two incidents that happened back when he was 19 years old. Orton alleges one incident occurred with Garvin, who was then both wrestling and promoting in the West Texas territory, on a six-hour trip from Amarillo to Albuquerque, Garvin started propositioning him over-and-over again. Another time in a car on a road trip he claimed he was in the back seat between Patterson and Garvin and he alleges they were grabbing at him and he ran out of the car. According to his sworn deposition, "It wasn't a like a rape situation. It was more of a teasing type thing. But, you know, they were trying to overpower my will." Orton said when he got out of the car, his pants were all ripped in the crotch area. Orton was so outraged by McMahon denying his stories in regard to the claims about incidents involving Patterson and Garvin that he took a lie detector test based on his deposition in the prospective lawsuit with Tom Cole which detailed the incidents. He passed with flying colors. According to a report prepared by Anthony De Sio, President of Colt Protective Security, Inc. of Las Vegas, "After complete testing and careful analysis of the polygraph charts, this examiner is of the opinion that Mr. Orton was truthful and there were no deceptive reactions to the relevant questions asked." Lie detectors are not close to 100 percent accurate nor are they admissible in court. However, by agreeing to take the test, and making it public to myself and others in the media beforehand (and with one media member present while he took the test), he put himself in the position for his entire credibility to be destroyed as a result of a nervous reaction. The willingness to take the test meant more to me than the actual results.
But those incidents happened in the late 1970s when the two men involved didn't even work for Titan Sports. However, when Orton worked for Titan Sports, they were executives, the booker and his assistant. Did they hold those incidents against him and did that stifle his career? Did they promote others who did favors above him? Those are the two relevant questions. Even Orton only claims one name as a wrestler who did favors. The wrestler was far less talented than Orton and also was only given a minor push, but is still with the organization while Orton was let go. I spoke to one major wrestling personality who had nothing to do with the show but coincidentally was in the city later that night. He rebuked Orton's complaints, said the guy wouldn't have been a main eventer no matter what he did. Then I brought up a comparison with the other wrestler. The question is, do you think Orton not performing sexual favors as compared with someone who allegedly did with less talent, that when the time came, who was given better treatments as far as number of bookings and which of the two was kept and who was let go when crunch time came? The performer agreed in that specific instance Orton had a valid point. However, I myself have a problem with the term casting couch that has been used in the media. That paints a picture that the wrestlers in the WWF perform homosexual acts and sleep their way to the top. It just ain't so.
There were several other instances brought out, including a claim that the WWF stopped booking midget wrestlers because Karate Kid (Chris Duby) didn't accept a sexual advance by one of the departed officials. Maybe true, but when Karate Kid and midget booker Lord Littlebook (Roger Brooks) went through the story, I wasn't convinced. It seemed to me that they were reading something into something that wasn't there. Then again, Duby was very nervous on the air which makes one less believable, but perhaps I was reading dishonesty into something that was just nerves.
Sexual abuse of minors? A totally different and terribly emotionally charged issue. Part of the emotion of this issue is that the alleged incidents involved male-to-male. The fact is, sexual abuse by male wrestlers on females is hardly uncommon although no less legal and seemingly a lot less emotionally charged. If a select few employees of the company were involved in this, and the resignations and the recent agreement with Tom Cole seem to indicate an admission of this, how much should the owner of the company and the company itself be held responsible? I have a lot of mixed feelings here. First off, I know Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson and have talked with both frequently. I haven't talked with Terry Garvin in years, but used to talk with him at least once a week years back. I don't know Mel Phillips at all. It's one thing to think they put together a PPV show that wasn't very good. It's even one thing to sometimes, or even often, disagree with their business ethics. It's a totally different thing to try and ruin someone's life or their business. If the stories weren't completely convincing, the damage toll created with a false accusation was too much. But there were just too many stories and too many corroborations, particularly in such a closed business. Here is my feeling. If these were isolated incidents, or maybe not even isolated, unbeknownst to McMahon, and they are true, and the offending parties are truly history, then it's over and done with. If McMahon knew about them all along and did nothing, and it can be proven, his should have a lot of explaining to do. If he had something to do with overtly covering up previous incidents and it comes out, they're finished. Knowing the way the wrestling business operates, nothing is out of the question. But getting enough evidence to print the truth isn't always easy. I can't buy for a second that McMahon had never even heard rumors since they were fairly prevalent in the business. But in his defense, it would be a horrible company and a horrible society if someone could be fired just because someone started a bad rumor about them. If he heard a rumor but had no significant evidence and did nothing, the president of the company is not to blame. Yes, Vince McMahon is dishonest and if lying was a crime, he'd be serving seven life terms. But lying isn't a crime.
If McMahon's reputation was one of honesty, he could pull it off here and people would believe him. If he had said he had heard rumors but you can't fire someone on rumors, even with his reputation, that would be a believable story. But never heard even one rumor?
Same thing with the steroid problem. While I don't discount outright arrogance, one would think McMahon right now wouldn't want wrestlers who look juiced to the gills around. They are a magnet for negative publicity. But, let's use Chris Walker as an example. Let's say McMahon was truly serious about cracking down on steroids and fired him because he sure does look like he's on steroids. Even if he is on steroids, but learned to beat the test, if a wrongful termination suit went to court, and lord only knows how many of them are out there right now, Walker would win without the proof of a positive test. One Titan employee admitted to me just how afraid McMahon is right now of firing anyone, because a fired employee who was po'd and knows a few skeletons could be devastating in the media, let alone in a courtroom. Titan has to be court-room shy right now anyway since this past week a Wisconsin jury awarded a $100,000 judgement to a former small-time wrestler/promoter Albert Patterson since he owned the trademark to the name "Superstars of Wrestling" in the state of Wisconsin. Patterson promoted small-time wrestling and trademarked the name back in 1979.
Friday night was also supposed to be the 20/20 segment on steroids in sports, with some focus being put on Hulk Hogan and pro wrestling. The segment didn't air amidst all the mass media pressure. The segment hasn't been canned, nor does it have a scheduled air date although it is assumed it'll run in about 30 days.
This brings us to the Phil Donahue show on Monday. I was asked on Thursday that if they were going to do a show, would I be interested in being a guest. I said I wasn't the guy for a show on sexual abuse because I hadn't worked hard enough on the story but said if they wanted to do something on pro wrestling in general or steroids in pro wrestling I'd be interested. On Friday, they told me the segment was a definite for Monday and they wanted me on so I agreed. The only names I knew of that were going to be guests were John Arezzi, Bruno Sammartino, Orton and Hankins. Later that day I learned that Billy Graham and David Shults had been invited and that Titan rejected an invitation to send either McMahon or a spokesperson. Monday morning I received a phone call telling me that McMahon's office was furious about the show because they claimed every guest but one wasn't credible (me supposedly being the one) and they were at a complete loss in regard to Hankins because they knew nothing about him (ie, no dirt for comebacks to throw him off). Later that morning I was told McMahon had agreed to appear provided the show agreed to a few stipulations: 1) 12 spots in the studio audience for "plants" (in order to try and sway the crowd live and at home with audience reactions favorable to McMahon); 2) McMahon would get to open the two with a two minute uninterrupted speech; 3) He wouldn't go on alone and would bring two guests, a doctor (for credibility if steroids came up) and a lawyer (for credibility on legal issues); 4) That David Shults be bounced from the show. They wouldn't agree to any of the stipulations, although later compromised and agreed only to the fourth one. But at that point, it was obvious McMahon would be there because he wouldn't have made demands unless he had already decided to appear. I didn't know for sure that McMahon was going to appear until an hour before showtime, nor about Murray Hodgson.
Behind the scenes were fascinating. Hodgson knew nobody but was anxious for the show to get underway. Orton seemed kind of nervous because he wanted to improve on his performance on Friday. Sammartino was frustrated with McMahon's lies on Friday and was begging everyone to make sure McMahon wasn't allowed to sit next to him because he was afraid of his temper. Graham seemed to feel the same way. I was pacing, literally scared out of my mind since I'm not a television personality and almost everyone else was.
About ten minutes before show time, Donahue came into the Green Room (waiting room for guests) and all the guests present were in one room. The tension was incredible in the room when McMahon walked in. I don't know if I've ever been in a room where an aura of mutual hatred so filled the air. I believe I was the only one who even acknowledged McMahon and I don't think he made eye contact with anyone else in the room, nor visa versa.
Show time came. McMahon threw the first pitch--the old change-up. Instead of indignance at the charges, it was a new strategy, remorse, understanding, trying just to learn. Clearly, going on the offensive against those who were making allegations about his company on Larry King, while it may have been personally satisfying to those who led him to believe he trounced Bruno, was from a corporate standpoint a bad decision. It only heated the issue. To diffuse the issue there was only one way to go. McMahon was going to have to do a job on television. Sit back and take the lumps and possibly wind up as a babyface at the end because the intensity of some of the guests would be such that it could turn into overkill. From a television and excitement standpoint, the high point of the show was in the opening segment, McMahon going one-on-one with Hodgson. My feeling in retrospect is that there were two people McMahon personally wasn't going to lay down for--Hodgson and Graham. I don't know if Hodgson was honest or not, but he either blitzed McMahon with a well prepared truthful offensive, or simply out-McMahoned McMahon. Hodgson claimed he was fired because he wouldn't sleep with the Vice President. McMahon claimed he was fired because he was a terrible announcer, he couldn't make the transition from radio-to-television. Hodgson made that statement look ridiculous within 30 seconds as he dismantled McMahon with the poise of a 20-year television veteran that even McMahon couldn't match. When McMahon claimed Hodgson's lawyers wanted $160,000 this morning or he'd go on the air, it was clearly last-ditch desperation. When Hodgson denied it and said that ever since he made his charge, McMahon has been trying to buy him out, it resulted is a near standing ovation. Orton and Hankins made their charges, both sounding believable with McMahon really not even trying an offensive against either one.
At that point, the rest of the guests, myself included came on. The show never reached that emotional peak again, although Graham and McMahon got pretty heated at one point. It clearly looked like it was everyone against one person, which would have created some sympathy for McMahon, although the live audience didn't buy his attempts at sincerity. He was clearly the heel and his lack of honesty was pretty well exposed for the entire nation to see. He may not have been the only heel on the show, though. Still, as a television personality, he weathered the storm very well all things considered. Even when Graham got out of control to the point McMahon started getting some sympathy, the crowd still popped for Graham's ranting. The show was over too soon. It accomplished very little. Donahue was a super host. His producers had done their homework and unlike King, he was active and thought provoking and wasn't afraid to put anyone on the spot. If there was a negative, I sensed from the audience that the feeling was that no matter how shocking the story, how heinous the situation, that as long as it involved wrestling, to some people, it just didn't matter because as one girl in the audience said, "it's so sleazy and so gross anyway."
Maybe so. If there is one thing hopefully learned by what took place this week, it is that dishonesty catches up to people in the long run. The results when exposed, from a p.r. standpoint, make the short-term gains from the con seem like nothing. McMahon had gone through personal hell. He seemed to have aged six-to-eight years since the last time I had seen him live, which was only a few months back. Hey, everyone involved in the story had gone through a personal hell. Chris Loss, one of the kids who corroborated Cole's story, by the end of last week had underwent so much media pressure that he didn't want to talk to anyone else and just wanted to get on with his life. McMahon's newspaper quotes about how this hasn't even affected anything nor would it may cover things on the surface, but the reality was a whole lot different. He'd spent nine years creating an empire and had pretty much autonomous control of his industry. He did what he wanted, when he wanted and to who he wanted. Ethics, honesty, even laws, they were for someone else to follow. He didn't always win, but even the losses were usually only minor inconveniences. But this time, right in the midst of some of the strongest business he's done in a long time, the whole thing was in jeopardy. Not a bad PPV buy rate. Not an angle that didn't play well and some weak houses. Not a short-term cash flow problem. The whole thing.
In Wednesday morning's Post, Mushnick wrote the single most damaging article ever in a mainstream publication. A giant back-page headline with a photo of McMahon wrote: "Sex, Lies and the WWF," with the sub-title, "McMahon bought way out of sex suit." The story on the inside was headlined, "WWF's defense, just more lies." Let's quote Mushnick: "Never will you encounter a human being more cold-blooded, more devoid of humor and propriety than Vince McMahon, America's foremost TV babysitter. In your wildest, most twisted dreams, you won't meet up with the likes of McMahon, a miscreant so practiced in the art of deception, the half-truth and the bald-faced lie as to make the Artful Dodger appear clumsy. A George Steinbrenner or a Don King pale by comparison. So help us. Indeed, Hannibal Lecter (the cannibal in the movie Silence of the Lambs) is the only fictional character who comes close." Don't kid yourself, nobody, and I mean nobody wants to have a morning paper brought to him and read things like this about himself. McMahon's personal reputation had dropped so low that the joke around New York radio the next day was that the estate of Hannibal Lecter was going to sue the Post for defamation of character because they compared him with McMahon. It's even worse knowing that millions of people on the subways are reading and believing every word of it. Mushnick called McMahon's performance on Larry King, "30 minutes worth of indignation and unblinking lies."
The wrestling business has to come to grips with the fact that it's 1992. The negatives of Titan Sports are simply too much in the public eye right now. For his own self interest and to avoid future explosive situations with wrestlers, McMahon himself should advocate his wrestlers joining an already-existing independent union like SAG. Yes, this will usurp his own autonomous power in a major way. But there will be a standard procedure for grievances. The wrestlers who have the grievances won't be afraid to pursue a remedy for fear that they'll be terminated for rocking the boat. McMahon has to encourage everyone who has a legitimate problem to go to a legitimate outside source without fearing for their position. Yes, knowing wrestlers, there will be those who will try to use this as another con and some who will be sincere, but the avenue needs to be there. But part of the problem is the entire mind-set of the business. There is such a fear of the truth within wrestling that many wrestlers have looked the other way for years at genuine criminal activity because of the fear that it might hurt the business. It's like the far too many wrestling people I've encountered when the subject of the abuse comes out who respond something like, "but we've got a $130,000 advance at the Garden for next Monday" as if somehow the fact that business is good justifies that nothing bad has really happened. When Bruiser Brody died in 1988 in Puerto Rico, the immediate reaction of the wrestlers in the dressing room who witnessed the incident was to not go to the authorities because if they testified against their booker than they'd lose their job. One or two wrestlers had to talk a few of the Americans to go. A murder was committed, but they were more concerned about protecting the business and the jobs. At the trial, the wrestlers who did testify all lived in Puerto Rico with there was only one major promotion running and the man on trial owned 25 percent of the company they worked for. You figure it out.
All owners hate unions because they become an outside power force to deal with. But an atmosphere like we have in the present is even worse. Perhaps the worst thing about the business as viewed from an outsider, the thing that makes it the rottenest to the core, is the no-snitch mentality. I understand the present system but the general public never will and inevitably they will find out. But think about it, the present system is horrible if it allows these kind of abuses to go on without anyone saying anything. Over the long-haul, the entire business will become so disreputable with continuing stories such as we've just had that no major corporation would want its name associated with it. What happened this week should be viewed as the greatest thing, although a painful thing, for the WWF and the entire wrestling business. That is, if they learn from their mistakes. After the show was over, McMahon indicated to me that what happened was the best thing for all concerned. But was that just another work? If he had told the truth on Larry King from start-to-finish, I'd have believed him. If nothing else, one has to think McMahon would never tolerate sexual abuse of minors in his organization ever again. The stakes are too high now and a repeat of this week would be deadly. Even a skeptic should at least accept the last point and if that's the case, then something positive was accomplished. But my read on the big picture is that this is a company with a mindset so deep in the either you are with us or you are our enemy philosophy that they didn't learn a thing. That attitude, if it doesn't change, will be the achilles heel that will inevitably destroy the company, even if it really was as big as the media tried this past week to portray it as.
If the attitude has changed, I suggest Titan send apologies to the various reporters, Jeff Savage and Phil Mushnick in particular, who alerted the country and if we are to believe Titan Sports, the company itself to these problems despite the company so vehemently denying them to the point of threatening legal action. I suggest Titan adopt a new p.r. attitude that they are an honest company and can afford to tell the truth no matter how damaging. At least then they'll have credibility in the crunch, something they badly lack. I suggest McMahon explain to the boys that whatever the mores of the business were in 1991, that the entire business is different now. It's time to be honest with the media and with the public. Yes, pro wrestling is entertainment, a show, and those admissions don't damage the business in 1992 one iota. There are problems, steroids, drug abuse, no business is perfect. Pushes will no longer be based on muscularity. The schedule will be eased up so as to not encourage uppers and downers. The big stars won't be allowed to get "clean jobbers" do their urine tests for them anymore if they've just done a coke run. And admit that with 50 or 60 wrestlers, not all are going to be model citizens and instead of the company trying to hide the problems, admit when there is a problem. Admit that much of what the detractors have said is actually the truth, and deny what isn't. And guess what, then people will believe it. The saddest thing about this week from my perspective was that Titan put itself in a position to become sitting ducks for almost any charge imaginable, because no matter who said anything, no matter what their background, the person would still have more credibility than Titan Sports. We live in a society that will allow tremendous leeway in making mistakes to people who are being honest. Make admitting any problems and asking for time to correct them and making a sincere effort to do so a new company policy. I also believe nothing will change and nobody will learn anything from past mistakes. If I'm correct, don't kid yourself by the houses over this past weekend, Titan Sports is in a lot of trouble.
Jim Crockett was fired earlier this week from World Championship Wrestling. Because we've been on the road, details of the firing aren't known at press time. Crockett, former owner of Jim Crockett Promotions that sold out to Turner Broadcasting in late 1988 and became WCW, apparently had philosophical differences with booker Dusty Rhodes and was bounced.
This is the second issue of the current four-issue set. If you've got a (1) on your address label it means that your Observer subscription will expire in two more weeks. Renewal rates remain $6 for four issues, $12 for eight, $24 for 16, $36 for 24, $48 for 32 up to $60 for 40 issues within the United States, Canada and Mexico. Rates for overseas airmail subscriptions are $9 for each set of four issues up through $90 for 40 issues. All subscription renewals, letters to the editor, match reports and all other correspondence to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.
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EMLL Ultimate Dragon (Yoshihiro Asai) will move from middleweight to light heavyweight and begin challenging Lizmark for the NWA title and Jerry Estrada for the CMLL title. Dragon-Lizmark would be a face vs. face encounter and the feud should start in May.Bestia Salvaje had a hair vs. hair match with Kato Kung Lee this past Friday which headlines this coming Sunday's Galavision card from Arena Mexico. . . SWS wrestlers Masao Orihara (he of the famous moonsault off the top rope to the floor move) and Toshiyuki Nakahara debuted here under the names Iga and Koga, a tag team, on 3/7.
3/6 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City saw Ciclon Ramirez & America (formerly Pantera II) beat Gran Sheik (Arias Romero) & Felino (Baby Casas) in two straight falls, second fall via count out *1/2, Octagon & Ultimate Dragon & Kato Kung Lee beat Salvaje & Javier Cruz & Blue Panther in two straight falls in 16:39 when Lee pinned Panther. ***3/4, Salomon Grundy & Aaron Grundy (Mike Shaw) & Lizmark beat Nitron & Pirata Morgan & El Satanico in 18:12 when Satanico was counted out of the ring after Lizmark hit him with a dive through the ropes ** and the main event saw Cien Caras & Sangre Chicana & Mascara Ano 2000 beat Conan & Perro Aguayo & Rayo de Jalisco Jr in two straight falls in 19:53. An incredible brawl ****1/4.
The big show on 3/15 in Monterrey saw Cien Caras keep the CMLL heavyweight title beating Canadian Vampire Casanova via count out when Chicana threw Caras into the ring behind the refs back and he saw Caras in the ring and awarded him the bout when Vampire didn't beat the count.
CMLL will hold a tournament to determine the first world women's champion starting 3/27 at Arena Mexico with Yumiko Hotta and Akira Hokuto from Japan coming in for the tournament.
Fuerza Guerrera's son debuted on 3/15 in Tecozaulta using the ring name Fuerza Gimm.
UWA The trio called The Canadian Express (Buffalo Allen aka Badnews Allen, DNS Furnas aka Doug Furnas and Phil Lason aka Dan Kroffat) headlined all the major cards this past week. Kroffat & Furnas were apparently a huge hit particularly in the Mexico City area even though they worked in a heel role because of their Japanese style moves. On 3/12 in Mexico City at Arena Pista Revolucion, Lason & Furnas headlined against Mil Mascaras & Canek; on 3/13 in Netzahualcohyotl saw the Canadian Express vs. Mascaras & Canek & Villano III and on 3/14 in Cuernavaca the Express headlined against Los Villanos.Mascaras has been a huge drawing card in Mexico City while most of the top UWA names are touring Japan and will remain as a regular until the end of the month.
The wrestlers strike which was headline news here a few months back was officially settled this past week. On Thursday, 3/12, representatives of the EMLL and UWA and the wrestlers union syndicate along with arena promoters got together and signed agreements that television cameras would be allowed in certain arenas (Arena Coliseo and Arena Mexico for EMLL and El Toreo, Netzahaulcoyotl and Querertaro for UWA) in return for financial guarantees to the wrestlers and the union. In return, the union promised not to strike. On the UWA television show that aired on 2/22 there was apparently a ****1/4 match with Canadian Tiger & Dr. Wagner Jr. & Negro Casas vs. Silver King & El Texano & Gran Hamada.
3/15 at El Toreo in Naucalpan saw The Canadian Express win 2/3 falls from Villano IV & V & Enrique Vera. Dos Caras & Villano III were originally scheduled to team with Vera in the main event but their plane arriving back from Japan was delayed so they missed the show. Allen pinned Vera with a low blow in the third fall. Also Fantasma & Solar I & El Coloso beat Rambo & Kahos I & Fishman via DQ, Villano I & El Magnetico & El Sicodelico beat Shu El Guerrero & Lobo Rubio & El Hijo del Diablo and American Eagle #1 (Danny Davis) & Baby Face & El Engendro beat Celestial & Halcon 78 & Gran Apache.
GLOBAL Rumors abound that this group is in some trouble since Craig Johnson was dumped as television announcer in a cost-cutting measure and there are a lot of reports elsewhere that I won't get into that indicate more of the same.Terry Garvin changed his ring name this week to Terry Simms, which is his real name. He said he had returned from a trip to Louisville, his home town, and when he spoke at his daughter's school the kids were confused how his daughter Amanda Simms could be the daughter of Terry Garvin. Considering the plight of the other Terry Garvin, that story sounds like a work and that he just didn't feel like having the ring name Terry Garvin right now.
3/13 show at the Dallas Sportatorium drew 450 fans as for 4/6 ESPN air date--Sam Houston beat Black Bart via DQ when Bart pulled the ref into Houston's way, California Connection (John Tatum & Rod Price) beat Scott Putski & Gary Young via DQ in a two-of-three fall match when Putski pinned Tatum with a Polish hammer but manager Mr. Akbar threw a foreign object into the ring and as it was on the mat, showed the ref who saw it and he reversed the decision and Dark Patriot (Doug Gilbert) pinned Simms when Bruce Prichard hit him with a shoe. For 4/8 ESPN air date--Dark Patriot pinned Rick Garren, The Viper (Mike Davis) pinned Chaz and Simms won a 15 man Battle Royal. Finish saw Prichard on the ring apron holding Simms. Ref James Beard was trying to pull Prichard down. When Dark Patriot went after Simms, Beard pulled Prichard's sweats down. Prichard got unnerved and let go of Simms, who ducked and Dark Patriot went over the top rope. After the match Dark Patriot, Big Bad John and Prichard triple-teamed ref Beard until Simms made the save. Joe Pedicino then announced he wasn't going to fine Prichard and his group for the actions but instead was suspending them. Beard and Simms begged Pedicino not to suspend them because they wanted revenge (I can just picture this angle in the WMC studio). It leads to next week's six-man tag match with Beard & Simms & Eddie Gilbert vs. Dark Patriot & The Viper & Prichard. For 4/13 ESPN saw Bart double count out Bill Irwin in a Brass Knux title match, Viper & Steven Dane DDQ Putski & Young, Tatum & Price beat Jeff Grettler & Rick Garren and Eddie Gilbert beat Big Bad John in a hair vs. hair match so John got his head shaved.
Lots of talk of Terry Funk coming in for a few shots along with the tag team of The Blazers from Georgia (Sugar Ray Lloyd & R.D. Swain) and The Ebony Experience (two black wrestlers trained by Ivan Putski out of Houston).
3/20 at the Sportatorium has Giant Warrior (Butch Masters) vs. Big Bad John in a bodyslam challenge, Barry Horowitz vs. Danny Davis for the lightheavyweight title, Dark Patriot & Viper & Prichard vs. Eddie Gilbert & Simms & Beard, Tatum & Price vs. Young & Putski with the GWF tag team titles up against the hair and Big Bertha Young (Gary Young in drag) & Irwin vs. Bart & Akbar.
Ref Sam Esposito (Sam Lowe) is pretty well now established as a heel ref.
JAPAN Television ratings last weekend saw New Japan headlined by Riki Choshu & Kengo Kimura vs. Antonio Inoki & Osamu Kido draw an 8.7 and a 7.0 while All Japan headlined by Jumbo Tsuruta & Akira Taue winning the tag team titles from Steve Williams & Terry Gordy drew a 5.7 and a 5.2.New Japan held a television taping before a sellout 8,900 fans in Kyoto on 3/9 as Jushin Liger retained his IWGP junior heavyweight title pinning Mad Bull Buster Rex, Bam Bam Bigelow & Big Van Vader retained the IWGP tag team titles beating Masa Chono & Shinya Hashimoto in 25:08 when Bigelow pinned Chono, Super Strong Machine & Tatsutoshi Goto & Hiro Saito beat Riki Choshu & Takayuki Iizuka & El Samurai (Osamu Matsuda) when Machine pinned Iizuka with a diving head-butt and Shiro Koshinaka & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat karate guys Akitoshi Saito & Masashi Aoyagi. At 6:39 the ref stopped the match ruling Saito too bloody to continue, but Aoyagi grabbed student Keigo Kuruhara and they re-started the match with Kobayashi making Kuruhara submit in 1:12.
Universal has a 4/19 show at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall booked with no foreign talent.
All Japan's Champion Carnival tour will consist of two round-robin tournaments. Tournament A has Jumbo Tsuruta, Mitsuharu Misawa, Masa Fuchi, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Terry Gordy, Johnny Ace, Doug Furnas, Joel Deaton, Giant Kimala II and Master Blaster (Al Greene). Tournament B has Akira Taue, Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi, Yoshinari Ogawa, Stan Hansen, Steve Williams, Dan Kroffat, Billy Black, Dan Spivey and David Isley. Everyone in each tournament wrestles each other and the two guys with the best win-loss record meet for the tournament championship.
FMW announced shows on 5/15 in Tijuana and 5/16 in Los Angeles.
FMW on 3/25 at Korakuen Hall has a WWA World Martial Arts title match with Tarzan Goto vs. Leon Spinks.
UWFI on 3/17 in Nagoya headlined by Kazuo Yamazaki vs. Gary Allbright and Nobuhiko Takada vs. Steve Day (231-pound U.S. Olympic team amateur wrestler). Koji Kitao signed with UWFI and retired wrestling legend Billy Robinson will appear in an exhibition match in May.
USWA Only news is results from 3/17 in Louisville before 1,300 fans in Louisville (largest crowd in a LONG time mainly to see the return of Jimmy Valiant) as Tony Falk pinned Cat Man, Brian Christopher beat Pat Tanaka via DQ, Dr. Death won the Southern title from Tom Prichard when Dr. Death got the bed pan off the pole to win, Miss Texas beat Nurse Kratchett via DQ when Dr. Death interfered, Tanaka beat Eric Embry via DQ when Tony Falk interfered and Tony Anthony made the save, Jerry Lawler & Jimmy Valiant & Prichard beat Moondogs & Richard Lee via DQ when Black Dog interfered.Jeff Jarrett still out with a back injury.
ASSORTED NOTES Paul Roma's boxing debut was less than successful, a fourth round KO loss to Jerry Arentzen when manager Kevin Rooney threw in the towel on 3/6.Cauliflower Alley Banquet takes place on Saturday.
Gene Kiniski, the former world champion from the 1960s, really did come out of retirement for a WFWA television taping match in Winnipeg a few weeks back. By our records, Kiniski would be 66 years old.
3/13 in Eugene, OR drew 90 as Ron Harris drew C.W. Bergstrom 1/2*, Mike Winner beat Don Harris via DQ *1/2 (Winner has a bad knee legit), Steve Doll pinned Buddy Rose to keep the Northwest title ** and Bart Sawyer & Brickhouse Brown beat Al Madril & Mike Miller via DQ * and Winner won a Battle Royal 1/2*.
More indie news next week.
Former Los Angeles wrestling promoter Mike LeBelle is recuperating from a recent stroke.
The real Karate Kid (Ralph Maccio, who starred in a hit movie of the same name) is said to be furious when he found out this week watching Donahue that there was a midget wrestler using the name, particularly since the publicity isn't exactly favorable.
WCW 3/12 in Camp Lejuene, NC drew 1,800 as Mr. Hughes pinned P.N. News, Vinnie Vegas pinned Big Josh, Abdullah the Butcher DDQ Cactus Jack, Rick & Scott Steiner beat Bobby Eaton & Steve Austin (pretty good match), Johnny B. Badd pinned Terrence Taylor, Sting & Ron Simmons beat Rick Rude & Larry Zbyszko.El Gigante still hasn't returned from Argentina after his mother's funeral.
Latest reports have the SuperBrawl PPV hitting at about an 0.6 buy rate which is far and away the lowest for any WCW major PPV event.
3/13 in Fort Bragg drew a sellout 3,350 as Taylor pinned News, Vegas pinned Josh when Hughes interfered, Abdullah DCOR Cactus Jack, Steiners beat Eaton & Austin when Scott pinned Eaton with an incredible Frankensteiner, Badd pinned Morton and Sting & Simmons beat Rude & Zbyszko.
3/15 in Winston-Salem, NC drew 1,500 as Taylor pinnedMarcus Bagwell **1/2, Van Hammer pinned Diamond Dallas Page DUD, Badd pinned Cactus Jack ***1/2, Simmons & Josh beat Hughes & Vegas **1/2, Steiners & Steamboat & Rhodes beat Anderson & Eaton & Zbyszko & Austin & Dangerously in a 8 1/2 man tag team match when Steamboat pinned Zbyszko **** and Sting cradled Rude **1/2.
For WCW taping that airs this coming weekend from Center Stage, highlights include Taylor & Valentine over News & Junkfood Dog via the Dusty finish, Dallas Page tries to do an interview but Doug Dillinger runs him off since he's banned from doing interviews and Steiners beat Zbyszko & Eaton when Rick pinned Zbyszko. Madusa challenged Missy Hyatt over who is the first lady of WCW. For 3/28, Patriots returned and looked worse than ever, Zenk pinned Taylor with Valentine and Bagwell both interfering afterwards, Badd pinned Steve Armstrong, Anderson & Eaton & Austin beat JFD & Brad Armstrong & News and Rude pinned Bagwell with Steamboat doing a post-match run-in.
Jake Roberts was backstage during the taping.
Scott Anthony said to be coming in using the ring name Scotty Flamingo.
Kevin Sullivan's return seems to have been nixed.
WWF Reba McIntyre was announced as a celebrity guest for Wrestlemania.It's rumored that on television the week before Wrestlemania, Hogan will announce it's his last match and they'll do a tribute to him on television.
Kevin Kelly is coming in under the name The Convict for a feud with Big Bossman.
3/14 in Anaheim before 9,600 fans saw Chris Walker pin Skinner 1/2*, Repo Man pinned Jim Brunzell *3/4, Nasty Boys beat Bushwhackers *, Randy Savage won an 18 man Battle Royal, Crush double count out Warlord -**, British Bulldog pinned Rick Martel *3/4 and Bret Hart beat Mountie 3/4*.
3/15 in San Diego drew 5,800 as Warlord pinned Walker **1/4, Repo Man pinned Virgil DUD, Bulldog pinned Martel **, Bret Hart & Bushwhackers beat Nasty Boys & Mountie 1/2*, IRS pinned Brunzell -*, Crush pinned Skinner -3/4* and Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair & Sid Justice when Hogan pinned Flair **1/4.
The same basic crew drew a whopping $169,000 house (13,000 paid) in Oakland for a 3/15 matinee show which is the largest house in the Bay Area in a few years, even topping the first Hogan-Flair match late October.
I believe every show but one at the post-Wrestlemania European tour is already sold out.
Piper will remain with WWF as a television personality doing Piper's Pits after WM but won't work house shows anymore.
Elizabeth was in the studio audience at the Donahue show.
There was talk of Randy Savage leaving after Wrestlemania as well, but everything appears to be settled in regards to him staying.
McMahon finally admitted between commercial breaks that the steroid test can be beaten.
WWF is holding a steroid seminar in New York in a few weeks.
THE READERS PAGES Brian Berkon of 710 Summerly Dr., Nashville, TN 37209 is selling USWA photos.
Jim Merchetta Jr. of 107 Cheryl Ave., Mingo Junction, OH 43938 is looking for a tape of SuperBrawl II and the 2/18 issue of The Globe.
Mike Wood has two 11th row ringside tickets for WrestleMania and is willing to take the best offer. He can be reached at 916-922-7643.
Tony Valotta of 115 Arden Dr., Glenshaw, PA 15116 is looking for a tape of the Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair matches from Madison Square Garden.
Scott Williams of HMM-166 (C) S-4, UIC 41028, FPO AP 96611-1028 would like tapes of Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, Terry Funk, Stan Hansen and Abdullah the Butcher. He's now stationed once again in the Persian Gulf.
Carlie Gill of 1851 Falcon Circle, Anchorage, AK 99504 is looking for a regular supplier of Smoky Mountain Wrestling and videos of Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy from the 70s in Tennessee and the copy of the Wrestling Observer which covered Terry Gordy's illness in Japan.
Roger Calvert of 164 Browns Ford Rd., Scottsville, KY 42164 is looking for a tape of the British Bulldogs vs. Rock & Roll Express match.
Russ Cress of 787 Andover Rd., Union, NJ 07083 has tapes of Jesse Ventura on the Ed Coleman and Dave Samms sports talk show and will trade them.
Deborah Stoehr of 5320 N. Central Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220 is looking for tapes of The Ultimate Warrior on Regis & Kathy Lee, Arsenio Hall and the Phil Collins special and the WWF video on Warrior and the Bret Hart WWF Spotlight special issue as well as LJN dolls of The Hart Foundation and back issues of the Wrestling Observer Yearbooks.
SEX SCANDAL
Vince McMahon's denying of sexual charges against Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin is a laugh. Anyone seriously involved in the wrestling business knows only too well of both Patterson and Garvin's well-earned reputations. McMahon's calling Barry Orton's charges ridiculous and unfounded is just too much for me to take and remain silent. Orton did nothing more than tell the truth. Perhaps if I was still involved in wrestling, I wouldn't be writing you this letter. I'd like to think otherwise. But since I'm retired, I'm not even thinking twice about writing you. I first started in the business in 1973 working for Nick Gulas out of Nashville. I was warned by Jack Donovan, Sam Bass and others about Terry Garvin from day one. At first I thought that they were ribbing me. But it only took Terry a few days to approach me in the same manner he did Orton, with my answer to him being the same as Barry's.
In early 1985, one night in Los Angeles after the WWF had run a show at the Sports Arena, I happened to be at the University Hilton Hotel, sitting at a bar drinking with Pat Patterson, Andre the Giant, Jerry Graham and Mike LeBelle. I was seated between Andre and Pat. After about an hour, I asked Patterson about giving me a shot at doing TV jobs for them. He told me in no uncertain terms that there was only one way that I was ever going to work for them, and that was by having sexual relations with him that very night. Pat was pretty drunk at this point and he was spouting off rather loudly about his fondness for oral sex with other males and asking me if that made him a bad guy. I told him that I felt he was free to do as he pleased, but that I definitely wasn't interested in being a participant. He responded by reiterating that I would never work for the WWF in that case. He kept his word. He even went so far as to throw me out of the dressing room at subsequent shows although I had always been allowed free access up until that point, even though I hadn't been working for them.
Based upon my experience, I cannot help but feel that this was typical behavior for Patterson. Yes, he was an outstanding worker in the ring, but his business and personal ethics suck. He more than deserved to take this fall. I'm just surprised that it didn't happen sooner. If everyone who has experienced this same situation were to come forward and speak out, I think everyone would be shocked at just how many instances like this there were.
Tom Hankins
Sepulveda, California
DM: This was the letter Tom, who I should point out I had never met nor spoken with previously, wrote me on 3/8 that led to his appearance on the Donahue show Monday. Hankins did try and report this incident to Vince McMahon but nobody at Titan ever returned his calls.
STEROIDS
Just a few thoughts on the steroid subject from a personal stance. This past week, for the first time ever, I watched somebody get a shot full of what supposedly was testosterone in the ass. This guy is a young wrestler in our area and this was his first dose of the stuff. I had actually thought he'd been on the juice for a while because he has an impressive physique. I probably would have thought he was lying about this being his first shot if he wasn't behaving so nervously and asking, "Is this stuff really okay for me?" type questions to the guy giving him the juice. The reason I refer to the stuff as supposedly being testosterone is because the guy administering the shot was not another wrestler, definitely not a doctor, but a friend of a friend of a friend who was selling what he claimed to be testosterone.
I personally hate what's happened with the steroid craze. However, what bothered me the most about this incident was just how little the wrestler knew about what he was doing. I'm not a biochemist and am definitely no expert on steroids, but I was still shocked at just how little this guy knew about the very stuff he had just had injected into his body. He knew nothing about the issues discussed in the Observer. He knew nothing about the Zahorian case. He didn't even know whether the drugs he was using were legal or not. He had definitely heard warnings about the dangers of steroids before. Who hasn't? Perhaps the warnings weren't strong enough. And perhaps the warnings were too strong. This reminded me of my dope smoking days, especially in regard to why I started getting high when I was a teenager. At that time, the "Just say No" messages consisted of extremely slanted and melodramatic portrayals of crazed teenagers losing their sanity after catching a whiff of the evil weed. People like myself felt insulted that adults expected us to believe this propaganda, so what did we do to show them that we didn't buy it? We went to the other extreme and thoughtlessly indulged in all sorts of recreational drugs.
I think the anti-steroid campaigning (I doubt all the magazine shows on television have a selfless concern about the subjects they present) could be in danger of receiving the same response that recreational drugs got in my day. If all we see are the most extreme claims by Superstar Billy Graham and Steve Michalik (Michalik, in fact, practically personifies all the bullshit anti-drug movies I saw in my junior high heath class), I think people will start questioning the credibility of the reports. Remember, along with anti-steroid forces in the press, there are pro-steroid messages floating around locker rooms in even greater number.
There is no doubt these pro-steroid messengers are coated with the same peer pressure that is used when people get high for pleasure. The difference between the two seems to be that the pressure to take recreational drugs when I was younger was to be "in" and to get a buzz. The pressure to take steroids is also to be "in" but also in this business, to help get you a job.
I believe that the anti-steroid messages we see in the letters pages to various wrestling newsletters are written from the heart. Like I said, I'm very anti-steroid and am glad that it's a felony to use the stuff. However, if former users are painted too much like heroes and if the detrimental results turn into self-serving propaganda or if the concern is geared only toward the politics of the issue, then who is really being helped in the long run? The kids and young adults being pressured into shooting up? No way.
I'm totally bothered that this young wrestler who started on steroids is so damn naive about what he's doing. I didn't, however, clobber him with a panic stricken "Just say no" slogan. I told him rationally what I do and don't know about steroids and told him he should be careful. I did tell him I hated the stuff. Maybe he'll continue using. Maybe he'll stop. But telling the truth and giving a balanced message is better than shoving blatant scare tactics at people. People usually overcome to fear of scare tactics so the truth is the best thing in the long run.
I think the straight-forward stance you've taken in your steroid discussions. I think by now overblowing it to the right or to the left has made the Wrestling Observer a very educational source not only on steroids in pro wrestling but on steroids in general.
Name withheld by request
What WCW is doing is wrong. When they show clips of former WCW wrestlers in the WWF doing jobs, that is one thing. But to jump on the train that is about to run over Hulk Hogan when they are guilty of the same thing is wrong. It's b.s. Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, Tom Zenk, and by your own calculations, 50 percent of WCW wrestlers are on the juice. For WCW to parade these guys in front of my kids as examples when they are drug users is a scam. What they are doing now, in my opinion, is 100 times worse than anything Hogan did. The PSA's are just as dishonest and irresponsible as Hogan's appearance on Arsenio Hall. If you, in your position of importance in this business, don't address the scam being pulled by WCW then you too are part of the problem. Hogan is going to take the rap for all of wrestling and for the 80 to 90 percent of the guys who have been using the juice regularly for years. Whether steroids are morally wrong or not is not an issue here. What is wrong is WCW taking advantage of the misfortune of one individual.
Name withheld by request
DM: Both the aforementioned letters are from part-time pro wrestlers. I'm not thrilled by WCW having Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat and Brian Pillman do the PSA's that have been airing in the manner they have run either. I'm not sure if it's quite as bad as Hogan in one sense because none of the three, to the best of my knowledge, has ever publicly denied using steroids. But telling someone to say "No" without honestly talking about your own past if you've used the same very drug is hypocritical. I know Pillman has publicly admitted use of steroids and has suffered health problems from them. I don't know what Anderson or Steamboat have said, if anything, on the subject. By doing the PSA's, whatever use of steroids they may have done in private does become open to the public and if they claim to have never used and have used, they are no better than Hogan. I agree with you that anyone who does a "Just say no" to drugs clip really should at least come clean with their own background rather than be like the photos of so many urging kids to "Just say No" if they aren't willing to practice what they preach.
Just finished reading the Los Angeles Times article on 3/12. Hurray! Finally a major media outlet focused an important story on the steroid problem in pro wrestling, and on column one on the front page in one of the largest circulated newspapers in the country. Hats off to everyone involved in the story. Let's get this sport which we all love so much cleaned up from drugs once and for all.
John Hoven
San Dimas, California
PHIL DONAHUE SHOW It's a crime that the steroid and drug abuse and these other sordid activities happened in the WWF. I really like to believe people, but it was obvious by his facial expressions that Vince McMahon was being dishonest on the show and he never really tried to clear the air. Many lives have suffered because of both his ignorance (if that's the case) or his apathy. Maybe he feels that making money is the only important thing in life. I hope he handles these problems promptly and honestly as soon as possible because he is not just ruining his livelihood and that of many of his employees.
Steve Franklin
Millburn, New Jersey
As for the Donahue show, I think Vince McMahon presented himself very well. If anything, Barry Orton, Superstar Graham and Bruno Sammartino hurt themselves slightly because they never reported any sexual abuse to the authorities claiming they would have been blackballed and run out of the business. While this may be true, any sexual abuse of minors has to be reported no matter what the consequences. As for McMahon not knowing about any of this, that's ridiculous. But if he would admit he knew about it and did nothing, his company would be out of business by the end of the week. As long as he runs a clean company from this point forward, the WWF will survive and the entire industry will be the better for it because of all the publicity.
Mark Cassel
Milford, Connecticut
DM: From a legal standpoint, sexual abuse can also involve heterosexual sexual encounters with women under 18-years-old. If every case of that involving wrestlers was reported, half the wrestlers would be blackballed for speaking out and the other half would be in jail.
LARRY KING After watching Vince McMahon on Larry King it became perfectly obvious why he's simply unable to clean up his act. The first time I met Vince was in 1959 at my father's law offices. He tried to convince me that pro wrestling was a shoot even though I told him that already knew who was giving the time cues at the Sunnyside Gardens television tapings on Tuesday nights in New York. He was only about 12 years old at the time. The same age as I was. As long as he thinks there is one fan left that is either dumb enough or young enough left to pull a work, he will remain the same. He's clearly pathological.
Bob Barnett
Attorney at Law
Santa Monica, California
After seeing Vince McMahon on Larry King Friday night, here are my impressions. McMahon came off as belligerent, dishonest and well-scripted. I could tell from his face that the situation was taking a major toll on him. Bruno Sammartino came off as angry and having a personal axe to grind. He made a good case, but was overwhelmed by his hatred for McMahon. Vince knew this and played off it well. Barry Orton came off as completely honest but kind of got lost because Larry King was trying to walk all over him. I think Sammartino wasn't the best choice to counter McMahon since his main issue is steroids as opposed to sex scandals and because he dislikes McMahon so much that it drives him away from his intentions. Obviously Vince knew that and probably welcomed the interview because of it.
Matt Creamer
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
I just caught Vince McMahon's attempt at damage control on Larry King Live in regards to the Patterson and Garvin story. McMahon's performance was shameless and embarrassing. King was completely out of touch with the subject. One suspects McMahon either doesn't realize the gravity of the situation he's now in or has grossly underestimated it.
John Williams
Pasadena, California
Vince McMahon's appearance on Larry King reminded me of a rat trapped in a corner. He was confrontational, evasive and obviously desperate the entire show. He never allowed either Sammartino or Orton to complete a sentence. First he denied that anyone used steroids in the WWF, then he denied knowledge of steroid use, then he reminded Bruno that his son David had used them. If Larry King knew anything about the situation, he's realize how important Pat Patterson was to the organization and he wouldn't have taken Vince's side.
Vic Stanley
Lafayette, Indiana
PEOPLE MAGAZINE
Regarding the Hulk Hogan article in the 3/16 issue of People Magazine, I never realized just how little the mainstream populace really understands about the steroid issue. Case in point. My mother read the article and no doubt expected me to be surprised that Hogan had used steroids. I've watched a few PPV events with my mother. She knows all the characters and I'd say her knowledge of wrestling is equivalent to any fan that attends three or four house shows a year. Nonetheless, I never realized that I've never mentioned steroids use among wrestlers to her nor did I ever mention the steroid issue as it relates to Hulk Hogan to her. I assumed that anyone watching wrestling would know that so many of the physiques, like Hogan's are chemically enhanced. But she never even considered it until reading the magazine because nobody had ever brought it up to her. Hopefully with more of this mainstream media publicity and nation-wide coverage, the whole issue will explode and the business will become juice-free.
Paul Dizadji
Oak Lawn, Illinois
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT
Caught the Entertainment Tonight piece on 3/12 on the WWF sex scandal. They interviewed Vince McMahon who called what has been going on as "locker room horseplay." Welcome back to Earth, Vince. I believe things will become a lot worse before they get better. After a decade of being media darlings thanks to Hulk Hogan, the press has suddenly realized that they've been had and the WWF is going to have hell to pay. As a local TV and radio broadcaster, I know about media types. They are very cynical. When someone is caught in a lie, and lying is second nature to Vince, nobody can bury you faster than the mainstream media. The WWF made a major error in having Hogan lie on the Arsenio Hall show. The sex scandal makes two major scandals in a one year time period. I with the WWF all the best of luck because they are going to need it.
Bob Ivy
Starkville, Mississippi
GRAHAM
I happened to see a copy of your 1/10 Newsletter and read the very interesting interview you did with Wayne Coleman. Whatever may be the accuracy of the rest of his recollections, as near as I can tell he was not, as he claims, the 1961 Teenage Mr. America unless he was going by the name Steve Boyer or John Piscareta at the time. Nor was Frank Zane a holder of that title. The Teenage Mr. America title was then, and has always been, an official title of the AAU and its legal property.
When I served as the author/editor for the new edition of the national AAU physique rulebook in 1987, I had available to me the list of previous winners of the various AAU titles from the earlier 1977 rulebook and part of my work was to update it to the most recent year. Since there were no gaps in the record for the historical period in question, I don't know how to explain Graham's claim. I suspect his competitive bodybuilding exploits have been somehow enhanced in his memory, a tendency that has been noted among a number of other former competitive bodybuilders. In fact, retroactive exaggeration about titles won is very common in the bodybuilding field.
Jon Reiger
Editor, AAU Official Physique Manual
Southgate, Kentucky
DM: According to the February 1962 edition of Strength and Health Magazine, Wayne Coleman won the sectional Teenage Mr. America contest held in San Francisco in 1961. While the AAU owned exclusive legal rights to the name, other promoters had apparently done contests using the name, similar to the various world heavyweight champions in pro wrestling (the AAU physique committee rival NPC, which is affiliated with the Weider's IFBB, promoted its own Mr. America contest for years but for legal reasons had to change the name to the American Bodybuilding Championships) so for legal purposes, Graham may have never won the official Teenage Mr. America although he did win a contest with that name. Graham said he remembered the contest as being the AAU version. The AAU records list an Eastern and Midwestern sectional winner for 1961 but not a Western sectional which a contest in San Francisco surely would be.
WWF
I should have known Vince McMahon would get the last word. When they replayed the ending of the Rumble on the FOX show, a new soundtrack had been dubbed in which had the fans in Albany booing Sid and chanting "Hogan! Hogan!." This may seem minor but I'm really sick of them redoing reality. It's isn't enough for McMahon to pretend past WWF champions like Bob Backlund, Bruno Sammartino and Billy Graham no longer exist or to pretend that long-time stars entering the WWF are rookies, now he's retroactively deciding who was cheered and booed at a PPV card just three weeks ago.
Tim Whitehead
Johnson City, Tennessee
Thanks for finally explaining in the Observer what Basil DeVito's job is. The WWF Vice President in charge of misleading press releases and covering up embarrassing situations has an easy out in explaining the sudden resignations of Terry Garvin and Pat Patterson. Basil can simply say the incidents were part of the WWF program of providing wholesome family entertainment and of course, providing a positive example for the youth of America.
Jim Thompson
Detroit News
I found it ironic about reading your piece on cocaine and Hulk Hogan and bringing up Tully Blanchard's situation and then hearing about Marty Janetty being fired by the WWF for cocaine. So now Janetty will find himself wrestling in high school gyms in Peoria so Vince McMahon can front as a serious person when it comes to drugs. I believe Vince is using Janetty as bait to clear his name for a little while. But when the story comes back, who will be the next victim? You've already said in the Observer that you were a competitive bodybuilder years ago and you emulated Billy Graham. Did you ever take steroids? You seen to know a lot more about the stuff than other journalists covering the subject and it's important to let your readers know. With steroids in sports making big waves, GQ did an interesting story in this month's issue and brought up Lyle Alzado and Arnold Schwarzeneggar but didn't bring up wrestling.
Vinnie Carolan
Stoughton, Massachusetts
DM: Janetty was suspended due to an arrest, not the result of a test. I'm pretty sure it would have happened the same way had their been no steroid stories swirling over their head (although one can point out how Bobby Heenan wasn't suspended or punished over a drug arrest as evidence that it wouldn't, but it was also marijuana rather than cocaine although Jim Duggan was suspended for marijuana and driving to a town with the guy he was feuding with). The irony of him negotiating with WCW and similarities with Tully Blanchard and how that all turned out does have a tendency to make one suspicious. To say I emulated Billy Graham would be taking things much farther than they really were although I did have photos of him decorating my garage when I started weight training. I never used steroids because I wasn't single-minded enough toward any goals in life that steroids would help me achieve. But I can't fault those who made a different choice if they were determined to be the best in their sport and the powers that be in the sport either looked the other way (which basically means encouraged it in any sport in which they give you a competitive advantage) or outright encouraged it. It is the system and the society that is to blame. The system looks the other way or hides from the reality of the problem, encourages cover-ups, hypocrisy and dishonesty going so far as to lying in medical textbooks and educating our nations physicians to lies about steroids. This caused a chasm to develop with the medical profession and societal pressure from the media and others who don't understand the first thing about the subject on one side and the athletes who are competing at a high level and a society and media that worships the winners and forgets about second place on the other.