Then came the '90s, and the scandals. A Pennsylvania doctor admitted in federal court that he sold steroids to wrestlers, including Hogan, and to McMahon himself, who wound up with a conviction for "conspiracy to defraud the FDA." Two WWF executives and an announcer resigned after a 21-year-old man alleged he was sexually harassed while working as a ring boy. Andre the Giant died. Other stars aged. There were predictions wrestling would "disappear like Roller Derby."
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The Ultimate Grudge Match
Thirty-five million viewers. Two wrestling impresarios. One steel cage. (OK, we made that last part up.) But Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff are going toe to toe inside and outside the TV ring.
COVER STORY
For the Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday November 29, 1998 Home Edition Calendar Page 87 Calendar Desk 2 inches; 38 words Type of Material: Correction
Wrestling czar--A Nov. 15 Calendar article incorrectly reported the disposition of a New York case in which Vince McMahon, the head of the World Wrestling Federation, faced federal steroid conspiracy and possession charges. McMahon was acquitted on all counts in 1994.
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It was during this time, McMahon says, that Turner again tried to buy him out. Rebuffed, Turner "paid millions" to sign Hogan, he alleges, then stole Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, who stepped from one show to another in the very personas--as "Razor Ramon" and "Diesel"--that McMahon's show had developed. With Turner's people claiming they enticed away the wrestlers, not the characters, the "unfair competition" suit is pending.
"I do not like Ted Turner," McMahon says.
In the early days of the Monday night war, his show presented a comical "Billionaire Ted" with a corncob pipe. Turner's show, in turn, would announce the results of McMahon's taped matches, telling viewers there was no need to watch. McMahon's response: Go live whenever possible.
McMahon insists that virtually everything his rival does is copied. He sells WWF merchandise on the Home Shopping Network, they sell their stuff on QVC.
But along with the venom, McMahon says this: "As it turns out, the competition has been good for business."
Yes, indeed.
His research staff analyzed January-September ratings to show that "Monday Night Raw" was attracting more young (12-34) males during its two hours--about 1.7 million--"than ABC, CBS and NBC."
In September, Titan closed a deal to take over Debbie Reynolds' hotel-casino. "I knew instantly--that's our audience. Las Vegas is our audience!" McMahon says.
The hotel is where he hopes to base a midnight talk show. This very day, he's forwarding the outline to William Morris: a man and woman host, sexual tension, a little confrontation and NO politics, no Clinton jokes like you hear on "Leno." "Live! Live! Live! From the entertainment capital of the world . . . welcome to the 'Strip Club'!"
See, it's set on the Vegas Strip. "But 'Strip Club' is going to get the attention of males." He envisions them taking a peek and calling out, "I'll be up in a minute, honey!"
