Vince McMahon is the man who took old regional wrestling and turned it into a global syndicated phenomenon, but his entry into the world of flex wasn’t very successful. 35 years on from the inaugural World Bodybuilding Federation Championships, we look at five facts that range from brilliant to downright embarrassing.
While McMahon has become a controversial figure, currently dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace, the 90s was the decade when the WWE boss wanted to take the formula that had worked so well in the larger-than-life world of grappling and take over the world of bodybuilding in the same flashy format. But while the initial buzz around McMahon’s World Bodybuilding Federation showed promise, the project came to fruition after just two shows. Here are some of the highlights of its rise and fall.
Vince McMahon used the Olympia to announce his rival project
In the same way that McMahon heavily promoted pro-wrestling and dominated the mat market, the WWE owner intended to take on the IFBB’s Joe and Ben Weeder and create his own bodybuilding federation without worrying about hurting anyone’s feelings.
The first shots in Chicago, during the twenty-sixth Mr. Olympia, when McMahon, a bodybuilding fan, signed a big money contract with Tom Platz, an icon of the 80s, for consulting and talent scouting. The duo used the Olympic event as a way to announce their project and get free publicity from the countless media members in attendance, ruffling Vader’s feathers in the process.
McMahon’s bodybuilding takeover at the Olympia became completely surreal when a group of beautiful women were brought to the event and then paraded around wearing belts emblazoned with the WBF logo. By creating a supplement line and a bodybuilding lifestyle magazine to help promote the World Bodybuilding Federation as well, McMahon had clearly showed his desire to rule the world of bodybuilding.
Vince McMahon lured bodybuilders to the WBF with big money deals
While bodybuilders typically get paid to win or place in competitive shows, they can also earn extra money from magazine distribution and endorsement deals, but McMahon used a different method to fill his initial federation with the best talent possible. The WBF offered the famous bodybuilders guaranteed, long-term contracts, said to be in excess of $400,000 per year, (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bodybuilding_Federation) So muscle athletes like Gary Strydom, who had previously won IFBB competitions and competed in the Mr. Olympia, soon joined the team. Other notable bodybuilders, including Mike Christian, Aaron Baker, Barry DeMay and Jim Quinn, also jumped on board. Interestingly, WBF athletes often got better deals than WWE Superstars, receiving premium perks like better class travel and hotel accommodations, leaving critics to wonder how this investment could be sustained. Of course it wasn’t, but the WBF Championship was first shown on June 15, 1991, almost 35 years ago this week, and Gary Strydom won.
Lou Ferrinho was the most surprising signing in the WBF
Lou Ferrigno was the obvious prize for McMahon to hunt as he wanted to promote a second show, as the “Iron Pump” and “Incredible Hulk” star was a huge main draw and was a “Vader boy” in the 1970s. Ironically, Ferrigno went even greener after signing a two-year 900,000 deal with the WBF.
Despite appearing in WBF promotional material prior to the WBF’s second title show, Ferrigno never stood on stage for the company. This appears to stem from the fact that McMahon, who was already fighting a major steroid-related case against the WWE, announced that drug testing would also be introduced to the WBF. Soon after, Ferrigno dropped out and took a ton of momentum away from McMahon’s muscle project.
WBF’s development was halted by drug testing
McMahon’s decision to drug test his athletes took place when Ferrigno jumped on board and guest replaced Vader. This forced the WBF to scramble for a replacement, and this came in the form of WCW pro wrestler Lex Luger, who had a massive body but lacked the mainstream media power that Ferrigno offered. To make matters worse, Luger was involved in a motorcycle accident a few days after the show, breaking his arm and once again destroying the company’s potential.
WBF went from “Flex” to “Flop”.
Just two years after McMahon’s first Chicago stint at the Olympia, there was no goodwill toward the WBF. Due to the drug-testing policy, critics noted the less-than-impressive physique, and despite the show’s frantic efforts to make the routines part pose, part rock concert, the format never clicked with fans.
The WBF Championship show in 1992 drew only 3,000 pay-per-view buyers and thus the decision liquidation of the group that arrived on June 15, 1992when McMahon called the Weeder brothers personally and informed them that he was leaving the bodybuilding business.
At the 1993 IFBB Night of Champions event, Dorian Yates took to the stage dressed as a preacher surrounded by the WBF’s trademark tombstones, while former WBF bodybuilders returned to the IFBB with their promotion.
McMahon is believed to have lost more than $15 million on his bodybuilding excursion, leaving him to pursue established sports such as football instead. But that is a completely different story.
