https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/vocnation/episodes/2019-10-09T20_45_02-07_00
Highlights..
| |
| On getting started on AWA TV: “Gene was still there but all of the interviews were market specific. There were days where you’d do 50 to 60 interviews working in something local so it gave the appearance that it was being taped in that city. (Because of the workload) they were looking for someone to be Gene’s backup. I worked in the office for a few weeks, then the plan was for me to start doing interviews for the small markets while Gene did the larger markets. We were working together and all of the sudden Gene (gave his notice) and said he was going to the WWF and suddenly I was the guy.” On backstage reaction to Gene Okerlund leaving: “They weren’t happy about it. They certainly weren’t happy when Hulk (Hogan) left, and Hulk and Gene were good friends and they really had something good going together. It didn’t come as a huge surprise, but to say that Verne and Greg weren’t thrilled with it would be an understatement.” On Verne and Greg Gagne being difficult to work with: “Blackjack Mulligan was in the territory teaming with Blackjack Lanza. Blackjack Mulligan didn’t like they way he was being treated, left for lunch and never came back. Looking back, they probably would wish they treated some of the people that worked there a little better, especially since they were facing a hostile takeover (from the WWF).”
On why Hulk Hogan jumped to the WWF: “In those days, Verne had the attitude that the talent wasn’t entitled to any percentage of the merchandise. He took the stance that without the AWA, these guys wouldn’t be anything. That was a big factor in Hulk leaving. He thought that he should be getting a big percentage of the merchandise sales, and Vern was not willing to do that. Vince was more than happy to do that.”
On the AWA’s reaction to the original Wrestlemania: “They could see the talent pool that Vince was building, and while his father honored the unwritten tool of territories, Vince Jr. was trying to go national. No one could have imagined what it was going to become. From Verne’s standpoint, he didn’t think a closed circuit in New York would have any traction in Denver, Salt Lake, or San Francisco. (Vince) pioneered bringing music and celebrities to tie into wrestling. It was those things that gave non wrestling fans a curiosity to want to see what it was all about. At that time, wresting wasn’t mainstream.” |
