Wrestling Observer Rewinder

March 09, 1992

WWF's VP in charge of talent Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin have resigned from the WWF amidst a sex scandal that could threaten the very future of the company. Patterson and Garvin have been accused of sexual misconduct by 2 former underage ring attendants, an ex-front office employee, and most recently, former wrestler Barry Orton. The New York Post picked up the story, which led to Patterson and Garvin apparently choosing to willingly resign from the company so it wouldn't reflect badly on the WWF (suuuuure they did). Vince McMahon has denied all the allegations against both Patterson and Garvin. However, with more and more mainstream outlets picking up this story, along with the ongoing steroid controversy, and the upcoming ABC 20/20 episode, it's a critical period for the WWF. The loss of Pat Patterson in particular is a huge blow, as he is Vince's 2nd-in-command in the company. It's expected that J.J. Dillon will fill the void for now.
The story ran in the NY Post on Wednesday (by Phil Mushnick, of course) was 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.
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 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.
From here, Dave goes on to speculate just how damaging this whole thing could be. If it was a major organization like the NFL or NBA, and all of this was coming out at once, it would be devastating. But since it's just wrestling, there's a good chance the mainstream media will ignore it because the media always treats wrestling as if it's beneath them. But even still, it puts the WWF's endorsements and toy deals in major jeopardy and if the heat ends up getting hot enough to cost them any television deals, it would be crippling, not just to the WWF but perhaps the entire industry.
Vince McMahon also admitted that Hogan wasn't completely truthful during the Arsenio Hall Show interview and said he was devastated that Hogan lied. He also defended his steroid policy, saying it was far better than the Olympics of NFL's policies.
The steroid testing has now begun in the WBF as well, and it already has caused chaos. Lou Ferrigno's contract with WBF was terminated this week. Ferrigno is still claiming he's with WBF and is only taking time off for a hand injury, but in reality, his contract was terminated when he refused to submit to the new WBF steroid testing. Vince McMahon admitted that losing Ferrigno is a major blow to the company and he expects Ferrigno to end up signing with the IFBB.
Yet even more 1991 year end award results:
SuperBrawl II is in the books. The preliminary buyrate numbers already look disappointing, but it was a pretty good show. As expected, Sting won the world title from Lex Luger, who is leaving. And Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman was a match of the year candidate, which is even more amazing because Liger has busted ribs and Pillman was legitimately working against doctor's orders with a back injury. Also, while giving his match-by-match review, Dave notes that Marcus Bagwell "looked really gay" and that Luger was bulked up bigger than he's ever been and is clearly on the juice and headed to Vince's WBF.
Regarding the Legion of Doom and Hawk's suspension, Vince McMahon had a meeting with Animal, who reportedly wants to stay with the company, but Hawk has been wanting out for awhile. Both men want to keep the team together, however, so the whole thing is still up in the air.
In USWA, Eric Embry's valet, a woman named CJ, has left the promotion, claiming Embry sexually harassed her (his career would be over soon enough anyway).
Over in GWF, a wrestler named Jeff Gaylord came looking for work, but was told they had the next 4 weeks of TV booked so they wouldn't be able to bring him in before then. This led to a backstage argument between Gaylord and GWF booker Eddie Gilbert that left both men bruised and bloody. As a result, Joe Pedicino has decided Gaylord will never work for GWF.
Johnny B. Badd is in the middle of a contract dispute with WCW and that's why he didn't work SuperBrawl. Some sources say Badd asked for more money while Badd has claimed he wants better injury benefits in the event he gets hurt.
Del Wilkes (The Patriot) and Brian Adams (as Crush) are heading to WWF. Well, one of those was true.
Paul Roma makes his boxing debut next week. He's lost a lot of weight, which he attributes to getting off steroids, which he says were a necessary evil for working in WWF. He also said he signed a deal with WWF allowing him to keep his "Glory" nickname in exchange for not giving WWF any negative publicity. Despite that, he called his time in WWF "six years of hell."
Demolition Ax (Bill Eadie) filed a lawsuit against WWF and Vince McMahon for a share of profits because he claims he came up with the Demolition tag team persona. Ax's lawyers have spoken with many of WWF's top stars like Earthquake, Jake Roberts, Bossman, Duggan, Savage, and more.