Ep 3
- We are somehow not in the steroid trials, but instead back in 1985 talking about Wendi Richter.
- Vince "remembers" she didn't want to job the title and since he owns the damn thing, he controls it.
- So Vince knew he had to do something. So he got the match in the ring (They don't cover that Moolah wasn't even her scheduled opponent) and the ref calls a tainted 3 count despite Richter kicking out.
- They don't bother breaking down the actual story of Wendi asking to be paid like the star she had become.
- Now onto the steroid trials:
- Hogan swerved the prosecutors and backed Vince's version that he never told anyone to roid up or sold roids to his crew.
- Meltz said the evidence was never there to convict Vince. Being a bad person alone isn't enough to be guilty.
- Vince is accused of jury tampering and bribing witnesses.
- Business is in the shitter. Luger fails as a top guy so the Kliq and Bret Hart move into top slots.
- Hogan and Macho jump to WCW. Nitro is formed. Luger shows up from the WWF 24 hours after his last WWF shot.
- Vince talks about not having talent contracted past hand shakes. His got guys over and Turner bought them up. This is all well and good as a true statement, BUT Hogan was already off doing TV shows for a year before he joined WCW, Vince could have kept Macho but chose to bench him after 1992 and Luger was in a fail state with the WWF (IIRC the plan was to put him with newcomer HHH so he could put HHH over)
- I was warned that this episode was a slog to get through and so far that is true. It is just ANOTHER recap of the Monday Night Wars.
- Bruce and Vince whine that WCW was throwing digs at them. Somebody show Vince the tape from 1984 where they use TV time on TNT to mock the AWA for Vince signing Mad Dog Vachon, Gary DeRusha, etc. from Verne. He even had Hogan talk about it.
- We see a video of Ted Turner watching the Billionaire Ted skits and laughing "That's sah-posed to be the Hulkster!" Very sharp Mr. Turner.
- Bruce talks about how he figured out that Hall and Nash were leaving the WWF because they refused to be part of the Billionaire Ted skits. Did any talent appear in them? I don't remember anything but Larry Fling, Huckster, Nacho Man, and Ted with other actors.
- Shawn tells Vince he wants to make a big deal out of Hall and Nash leaving at the end of their last show. Vince approves "The Curtain Call". Taker and Bret let us know that this was some bullshit.
- Taker talks about how he kept kayfabe. This includes a clip of Bret, Goldust etc are playing a WWF arcade game. Taker looks away with an eye roll as if to say "Neeeeerrrds!"
- HHH and Shawn excuse kayfabe as antiquated. HHH, who wasn't over a lick anyway, but had nice hair and the right best friend, ended up having to do some jobs to appease the locker room despite Vince approving of it.
- Meanwhile, the NWO makes WCW hotter than ever.
- Bischoff says Vince cried like a bitch about the talent losses. Meltzer backs him up about how Vince paid JYD, Piper, Hogan and on and on in 1984 to leave their promotions.
- They ask Vince about how this can be different. Vince says "Turner did it to hurt me, I did it for business" Vince's brain spins wildly at this point. Vince then indicates he didn't really take it personal, but played it up on TV and in the media as a way to swing PR in his favor.
- Hogan turns heel. Vince says he never wanted to turn Hogan heel. Hulk was always supposed to be the ultimate good guy.
- Vince was offended that Hogan would attack him as part of his heel NWO schtick.
- Eric points out that Vince would always talk about Ted Turner regarding the WCW/WWF wars instead of Bischoff in order for Vince to play babyface to the Billionaire.
- Bret signs with the WWF to a 20 year contract. Vince says he regretted signing the deal right away. "Just make new stars Vince!" He tells Bret he can't afford Hart's contract about a year after signing it....but he didn't take the World title off Hart before he broke the deal off, leading to a bad situation.
- Hart "Shawn was a prick at this time" Shawn would make shoot comments on RAW. Vince was fine with it as it made for good TV.
- HHH takes credit for the idea to screw Bret over instead of doing the planned PPV finish.
- Shawn spent more time with Vince than his own father, so he says he was loyal to Vince to the end and would do whatever Vince asked. (Gee, all those titles he lost without being in the ring must have been something different.... not to mention fucking up Vince's planned WMania 13 main event. FUCK SHAWN MICHAELS)
- Bruce says the finish of Bret vs Shawn was going to be a big brawl with the faction involved.
- Hart was leery of a screw job, and was ready to shoot on Shawn if HBK pulled any BS. Shawn locks him in a sharpshooter and Vince fucks Bret.
- We see a clip of Bruce in Gorilla backstage screaming "OH SHIT" at the finish.
- Bret breaks monitors and spits in Vince's face.
- Blink and you miss it but you can catch Shamrock and Rick Rude waiting for Bret to make sure nobody pulled any shit past the curtain.
- Taker was pissed. It's not said here but I believe Taker told Vince he had to go to Bret's locker room.
- Bret and Vince tie up in the locker room and Bret blasted him in the face. Vince says he thinks he was concussed.
- Vince has no regrets about any of it.
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