Ask the Pro Wrestler!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

That’s right Dopers! Always wanted to know if it hurt getting hit in the head with a steel chair? And how do those guys make those punches look real anyway?

Are those guys really on steroids? And how much does the Undertaker REALLY get paid? Hey: whatever happened to Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka?

I’ve been in the wrestling business for several years, and even write for a website on the subject. But now, or you Dopers only, here I am . … ready to expose the secrets of Pro Wrestling ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!

Just don’t tell any of the wrestlers.

2

I don’t really have a question, but a comment:

As a kid growin’ up in the rural Southeast in the late 60s and early 70s, one of the most fun things was watching ‘rasslin’ from GA and FL, narrated by the incredible voice of the inimitable Gordon Solie.

I was really saddened to hear that, although Solie is still alive but long-retired from announcing, his voice was silenced last year as the result of a bout with throat cancer.

As I got older, I looked back and thought that he could have been a great announcer at any event he chose. He could make it sound so convinceing.

“And now Dusty Rhodes’ face has become a crimson mask.”

Did you ever meet the man?

3

Although my handle (the Ultimate Hammer) has its origins in Norse mythology, the true origin is from Johnny Valentine and his “sledge hammer” blows. I just dressed up the name.

4

Mjollir: I never met Gordon Solie but did have the privilege of seeing him accept an award at a Cauliflower Alley Banquet in New Jersey in 1998 before he had his operation. As a matter of fact, Gordon was tapped to do play by play for the “Heroes of Wrestling” PPV this past fall but cancelled because he was ill.

Gordon was one of the true greats of wrestling play by play. Crowbar in WCW recently paid tribute to him on Nitro by doing an impersonation of Solie during his interviews and as a guest color commentator, saying that the fans were going to be treated to “supl-ays” etc etc. It’s hard to find anyone who watched wrestling form the Southeast who did not know who Gordon Solie was.

5

Long time wrestling fan reporting in.

First Mullinator you rock. I loved to hate Johnny Valentine, and his brother Greg. The first live match I saw was Valentine vs Bull Curry. I was 12.

That match gave me a taste for wrestling that hasn’t died in 30 years.

Theuglytruth,

Exactly what is it that you do ? So how much do superstars like Undertake, HHH, the Rock get paid ?

I’ve met a few wrestlers IRL. Dusty Rhodes was an ass, but that maybe because my Mom said he was Ugly.

But Dirty Dick Slater was quite nice , gave me an autograph and a kiss, as did Tiger Conway Jr. and Buddy Landale. And Ricky Morton of Rock and Roll Express fame, on my 30th birthday no less.

Most I met didn’t act anything like the caracter they play in the ring. Have you found this to be true of the newer, younger group of wrestlers too ?

6

FROM: Ayesha
Theuglytruth,

-Exactly what is it that you do ?

I work occassional shows for an independent wrestling promotion on the East Coast. I have wrestled, managed, ring announced and done play by play for the past 4 years. I also write for a wrestling website and have followed the business for 20 years.

-So how much do superstars like Undertaker, HHH, the Rock get paid ?

WWF wrestlers are sub-contractors with incentive laden contracts. They in most cases pay their own travel expenses. The bigger stars get downside guarantees. For example, the Rock might have a downside guarantee form the WWF that he will not get paid less than $500,000 a year. But in 1999 he made between $2 million and $5 million. (All WWF contracts are confidential).

HHH will proabaly make over $1 million this year, my guess is in the 1.5 to 1.75 mil range.

Undertaker probably made a million a year ove rht epas few years, but has been injured as of late. My guess is he will make $500-800,000 in 2000.

WCW is different in that most of the wrestlers are paid set salaries with some incentives. Kevin Nash for example, gets paid $750,000 but his contract calls for his salary to match any wrestler except Hulk Hogan, who makes $2-3 million a year.

All the above numbers include merchandising royalties.

-I’ve met a few wrestlers IRL. Dusty Rhodes was an ass, but that maybe because my Mom said he was Ugly.

But Dirty Dick Slater was quite nice , gave me an autograph and a kiss, as did Tiger Conway Jr. and Buddy Landale. And Ricky Morton of Rock and Roll Express fame, on my 30th birthday no less.

Most I met didn’t act anything like the caracter they play in the ring. Have you found this to be true of the newer, younger group of wrestlers too ?

-Absolutely. While most gimmicks are developed from the wrestler’s personality, it is hard to find any wrestler who is like his gimmick. The Sandman/Hak might be the only example I can think of.

Based on MY IMPRESSION and STORIES I HAVE HEARD:

Nice guys: Eddy Guerrerro, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Insane Clown Posse, Sabu, New Jack, The Rock, Steve Williams, Chris Jericho

A-holes: Bret Hart, Curt Hennig, Dusty Rhodes, Jerry Lawler, Arn Anderson, Vader, Taz, Toshiaki Kawada

7

I have some questions:

Who is/was your favorite wrestler to work with, and why?

Do you have any info on the incident in which a wrestler in his first match accidently killed his opponent when the opponent landed wrong? what is his attitude now, both as show and for real?

Who are known to improvise in the ring and make new moves on the spot, who are strictly by the book?

Isn’t it ironic that nowadays WWF is emphasizing sport while WCW is emphasizing entertainment?

8

CAPACITATOR WROTE:

I have some questions:

-Who is/was your favorite wrestler to work with, and why?

I have yet to work with anyone that is in the WWF or WCW. I did work with a guy named The Masked Spy, who is a well known independent guy, who I feel will be in the WWF and WCW some day. He is a true professional. I never had any training, and he managed to make the match look watchable.

-Do you have any info on the incident in which a wrestler in his first match accidently killed his opponent when the opponent landed wrong? what is his attitude now, both as show and for real?

The wrestler was a guy in Michigan who landed on his head wrong and died of a broken neck. I believe that he had no formal training; and it was his opponent’s first match ever. I do not know the guy’s attitude, but I feel real bad for him. He has got to be shaken up.

Droz in the WWF was paralyzed waist down when DLo Brown gave him a running power bomb and Droz took the bump the wrong way. Reports I have are that DLo really has been beating himself up over this.

The WWF right now is in the process of eliminating dangerous moves where there is a chance a guy could be dumped on his head.

-Who are known to improvise in the ring and make new moves on the spot, who are strictly by the book?

Wow. It depends. Wrestlers are trained to do certain moves, and usually go over their matches in the dressing room before the show. Usually the more experienced wrestler or the heel, or bad guy, talks to the other wrestler in the ring during the match giving him instructions as to what to do next. Whenever you watch TV and see a wrestler’s lips move, that is what he is doing.

While almost every match is planned out, a true pro can read the crowd and change the match around based on their reactions. Ric Flair is a master of this art form.

-Isn’t it ironic that nowadays WWF is emphasizing sport while WCW is emphasizing entertainment?

Yes it is. Vince McMahon likes to tell this story that when Ted Turner bought WCW for $8 million in 1988, he called Vince up and said “Guess what, Vince? I’m in the 'rasslin business!” And Vince told him “That’s funny you say that, Ted. I’m in the ENTERTAINMENT business!”

That story is a total myth, by the way.