A nefarious mastermind of the wrestling ring pulls back the curtain on his notorious legacy in the WWF. Our guest, a former villain whose antics were once booed by millions, sits down to share the gripping tale of his ascent through the ranks of one of the most enthralling industries in the world. He offers an unfiltered glimpse into the personal struggles and high-octane confrontations that come with navigating the labyrinth of professional wrestling's backstage politics.
Venture behind the scenes where the real wrestling matches take place – not on the canvas, but in the offices where careers and fates are decided. From a harrowing standoff with wrestling executives to candid revelations about alliances and rivalries, our guest recounts how strategic decisions can make or break not just a match, but an entire promotion. This journey is not just about the glory and the spotlight; it's a nuanced exploration of a wrestler's dedication to his craft, the well-being of his family, and the perennial battle between financial gain and the loyalty to the fans and promoters who are the backbone of this spectacular sport. Join us for an episode that lays bare the soul of a wrestling icon, whose acumen for the business of entertainment is as sharp as any move he ever executed in the ring.
A nefarious mastermind of the wrestling ring pulls back the curtain on his notorious legacy in the WWF. Our guest, a former villain whose antics were once booed by millions, sits down to share the gripping tale of his ascent through the ranks of one of the most enthralling industries in the world. He offers an unfiltered glimpse into the personal struggles and high-octane confrontations that come with navigating the labyrinth of professional wrestling's backstage politics.
Venture behind the scenes where the real wrestling matches take place – not on the canvas, but in the offices where careers and fates are decided. From a harrowing standoff with wrestling executives to candid revelations about alliances and rivalries, our guest recounts how strategic decisions can make or break not just a match, but an entire promotion. This journey is not just about the glory and the spotlight; it's a nuanced exploration of a wrestler's dedication to his craft, the well-being of his family, and the perennial battle between financial gain and the loyalty to the fans and promoters who are the backbone of this spectacular sport. Join us for an episode that lays bare the soul of a wrestling icon, whose acumen for the business of entertainment is as sharp as any move he ever executed in the ring.
Speaker 1:
Pop goes the weasel guy. The weasel says Pop, here it comes. Yeah, half a pound of tappany rice, half a pound of treacle. That's the way the money goes. Pop goes the weasel A friend in need, because I passed, You're going to be a successful WWF villain hated by millions. I really didn't know what they would do to me, cuz you don't know. But yeah, he lost Hogan. He lost just didn't mean that much to him here. He lost Hogan and Gene and now if he was gonna lose me, that would make Nick wouldn't have anybody. It would be a big dent, like Nick lost his opponent, main opponent, and his manager. Yeah, and Vince's waves were going up. Everything was going to become more popular every week now.
Speaker 1:
So I went to the office. Before I went to the office I made a blade, I put it in my pocket they don't know this, they may read about it and then Bernie said come on in. So I took it. Mary Allen was his sister-in-law, bernie's sister-in-law. She worked at the desk there. She was a real nice lady I don't know if she passed away or not, but a very nice lady.
Speaker 1:
And I went in the office and I kept my hands in my pockets the whole time and Ron shut the door and he turned around and he said to Greg, let's get him and throw him out the window. So we're on the 20-some floor where he had his office. So I just sat down on the couch. I said go ahead, you'll make my wife a very wealthy woman. And then they both sat down. I was just kidding. So tell me what's going on, what's happening. That's the way he called me and made me his offer, which is twice as much as you're paying me and it's to do Madison Square Garden TV and manage. And the managers in those days would only work the TVs and they go home and then they get paid for every time their men were there. So I could be home with my daughter, who was born in 78, so she was three or four years old. I had a chance to be with her and more home, no traveling twice, three times the money.
Speaker 1:
I would do the Madison Square Garden TV broadcast, oh, okay, but I wouldn't do the syndicated shows. It was all hate-reviewed then or anything. I would do the Madison MGA broadcast, msg, and then I would do the TVs, whatever had TVs, the men I managed. And he told me how much money I'd make. I said I got it. He put it away and said well, I'll give you this much. I don't know why I'd get it, but I'll give it to you.
Speaker 1:
I thought to myself I know he means well, but he's still business. I think he liked me. But I said I have to win it out for myself now. I mean, you've got the big home on Minnetonka, you've got all this land and money. I want that. Now's my chance to advance myself. And I have it.
Speaker 1:
So I said, but I will finish out my days. I said but I won't work with Brad Ringens. That's the truth. And he said why I said I just won't. And the reason I wouldn't work for Brad Ringings was because Brad was new and Vern had just started him and Vern had donated a lot of money to the Olympic Committee and Brad's an Olympian. Brad's from Minnesota, vern's from Minnesota. Now Vern probably told Brad or something, he planned on giving him the belt one day or something.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so Brad don't know me. I don't know Brad, I don't want him out there breaking my leg or breaking my neck accidentally on purpose. Yeah, oh, I see, see what I mean. Yeah, so he's the only man I wouldn't trust. I said to him. I'm not the only man I wouldn't trust, not because I thought he was dishonest. He was so green and young he might've done it not knowing, but that's not the thing to do. So I said to him I won't work with him.
Speaker 1:
I finished up my date. I thanked him a lot and now I see him. We're friends. He thanks me for finishing up my dates. He's the only guy that gave me a proper notice and finished those dates, yeah. And I thought at date we're gonna touch me and then hurt me. I was gonna take that blade and I was gonna cut the top of my head off. Then we're gonna have to. Then we go to court, yeah. Then I see, then we find OJ's shoes in his office, right Actually. And then you started. What was yesterday Was your first appearance, wwf appearance in the vet center or the garden. Yeah, it was today, okay. And then you went to the med center. Yeah, but I don't think at that time there was that. It wasn't the internet. No, I was told one. I said you beat Nick one more time. You get to keep him. Put the word in the streets.