March 16, 1992
- The first 7 pages of this issue are all one big story, regarding all the controversy surrounding WWF, so I'll try to sum it up in a few bullet points:
- The negative impact from all the scandals facing WWF (steroids, the sex scandal, etc.) could be damaging to the business as a whole if sponsors begin pulling out. In America, advertisers pretty much see WWF as the only real ballgame in town and if they aren't willing to advertise with WWF, chances are, they'll probably steer clear of the wrestling industry entirely, which has WCW and GWF rightfully worried.
- Billy Jack Haynes did a couple of interviews and shared a story saying that he was called in by Pat Patterson for a try-out match. Haynes drove across the country for it, only to be told when he arrived that it was apparently a rib and that Vince McMahon wasn't interested. After causing a scene and almost attacking Vince and Patterson, he drove 1700 miles back home, crying the whole way. "It broke me," Haynes said.
- Haynes also talks about steroids. Same as always, everyone's on them, he's injected Hogan before, you have to do steroids to have any shot of moving up, pain pills and other drug usage is rampant in the company, how guys cheat tests, etc. On the sex scandal allegations, he mentions an exec (who's name Dave redacts) stuck a finger in his ass when he was getting out of the shower.
- After doing the interviews, Haynes claims that his father received 2 threatening phone calls, one of which said, "If your son doesn't back off, he'll be six feet under." McMahon's version of the story is that Haynes showed up to a show without warning, looking for work, which Haynes denies.
- On the sex scandal, Geraldo Rivera's show is working on a segment on a former underage ring boy (now 20) who claims he was sexually molested by someone in WWF. Barry Orton, who first made the allegations public, is being interviewed for it as well (we'll get to the whole Geraldo thing in a few more weeks).
- Meanwhile, former WBF television announcer Murray Hodgson filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, claiming he was fired shortly after refusing sexual advances from Pat Patterson.
- Regarding the resignations of Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin, most people within the industry don't buy the official story that they willingly resigned. In fact, most think that Patterson especially is still secretly working with the company.
- Meanwhile, ring announcer Mel Phillips has been suspended in relation to this story, amidst rumors that he was involved in sexually harassing and possibly molesting underage ring boys as well.
- Vince McMahon's latest tactic seems to be vaguely admitting that the company has made mistakes, and promising to fix them. In statements to Dave, he has even admitted now that the Gulf War angle might have been over the line. He has also said that he believes all the current bad publicity coming at the same time is a conspiracy between Ted Turner (WCW) and Ben Weider (IFBB) working together with Billy Graham. Obviously, Dave says, this isn't true and the simple fact is that McMahon has run a dirty operation for many years and the chickens are finally coming home to roost.
- Wrestlemania has sold about 30,000 tickets, which means they're going to fall far short of the 72,500 capacity, but they should be able to cut the arena down and arrange things so that it looks fairly full. Also, the show has been trimmed down to about 3 hours, because "McMahon felt previous Wrestlemanias simply had dragged on too long." Tell that to the 8 hour long Wrestlemanias of today.
- WM8 will also be the last shows for both Hogan and Piper, at least for awhile. Hogan is taking time off and may not ever return. Piper is leaving to pursue acting full time, but may still stick around as an on-air character. Legion of Doom seem to have gotten things straightened out and should be back after Mania.
- After an Atlanta Hawks basketball game last week, The Fabulous Freebirds did a 30-minute, 7-song concert at the Omni. It was actually pretty well received, because the backing band was so good.
- In WCW, Terry Gordy and Steve Williams debuted as a tag team. Kevin Sullivan was also there and is expected to work with Cactus Jack soon.
- Johnny B. Badd's contract issues have been worked out and he has re-signed. Missy Hyatt hasn't re-signed yet but it's just a formality at this point.
- Dusty Rhodes' interview segment Bull Drop Inn is expected to return soon, although it won't be weekly anymore.
- Eric Bischoff is apparently trying to get a game show hosting job. Dave hopes he gets it and gets gone from WCW because "he's just so annoying to watch on television."
- WCW head Kip Frey has begun awarding bonuses for hardest workers and best matches on big events. For Superbrawl, he gave $2500 each to Brian Pillman, Jushin Liger, Rick Rude, and Ricky Steamboat. Speaking of, there's talk of making Liger and Pillman a tag team.
- Jesse Ventura is in danger of losing his Minneosta Vikings announcing gig due to his WCW job. Vikings radio officials are unhappy with his wrestling association. "If that's the profession he chose, it doesn't coincide with our Vikings broadcasts. We have no interest in working with him if he's full time with WCW," the radio station's general manager said. Ventura is said to be unhappy about it, but if forced to choose, has made it clear he will stick with wrestling.
- Everyone is raving about an interview Ric Flair did this past week on Superstars for the upcoming WM match with Randy Savage. But in WWF's typical perfectionist way, it was actually the 17th take of that interview.
- Looks like a Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels feud is in the works, after the most recent TV tapings saw Shawn and Sherri cost Bret a match against the Mountie
- Hulk Hogan's time off this summer will be to film a movie called Rough Guys (that title was later changed to Rough Stuff and then finally changed again to.....Mr. Nanny).