I could have sworn that CELL-TECH and NITRO-TECH were a creatine cocktail supplement and a slightly amped-up protein powder, respectively

I don't recall Shawn Ray being on welfare, when he was single. If I'm not mistaken, on Battle for the Olympia: 2000, Ray has a rather good-sized house. And, wasn't that a red Ferarri (Diablo VT) he drove from his garage to the gym?

ESPN did show bodybuilding back in the early-to-mid 90s, mainly on a TV show, called American Muscle. However, most of the time, the show aired during the ungodly hours of the morning (2 or 3 a.m.). The highlights came mainly from amateur shows from the NPC. Occasionally, they would show footage from other organizations like NABBA and ANBC.  It would also show highlights of pro shows from the IFBB (and, in 1991 and 1992, it covered the two WBF Championships).

American Muscle, an hour-long show, aired once a month, with re-runs airing during the months, called The Best of American Muscle (truncated to 30 minutes). Sometimes, bodybuilding contests would air after the show. But again, those were mainly NPC shows (the Nationals, USA, etc.), severly edited for time constraints, to be broadcasted for an hour.

ESPN would air the Mr. Olympia (or at least, a chopped-up version of the contest) as well. I recorded the 1991 and 1993 Olympias, when they aired. I lost the 1991 tape but still have the 1993 Olympia.

Unfortunately, all the contests came on TV, several months after they occured. The last broadcast of American Muscle I taped was in 1995. It featured all of the Fitness America pageant winners, training footage from then-Arnold Classic champion, Mike Francois. The show was hosted by Troy Zuccolotto. That episode also announced the death of Don "the Ripper" Ross.

I lost that one, too. The ones I know I still have are from:

1991 - Covering the North American Championship (won by Ray McNeil), the Southern States (won by Jorge Betancourt), the MuscleMania series (winners: Mike Francois, Nick Silette, the late Sal Princiotta, Ted Lopes, and Dennis Newman), and arm-training footage with Kevin Levrone. Host: Trent Mitchell

1992 - Covering the NPC Kentucky Derby, Fitness America winner Sherry Goggins-Giradina, shoulder training with Mike Matarazzo, overall training tips with Kevin Levrone, More Fitness America information. Host: Trent Mitchell

1994 - Covering San Jose Pro Invitational (won by Kevin Levrone), Jan Tana Classic (won by Denise Rutkowski), Highlights of Fitness America pageant competitors and their successes, "Homemade Muscle" segment, Champion Nutrition Seminar with Mike Francois, shoulder training with Dennis Newman (shot shortly befoe he won the USA). Host - Denise Paglia

The episodes I lost may be at my mother's house back in my hometown.  

One that I tried back in 1999, that worked well was Nortesten. It let me train for much longer and recuperate faster.

I've heard something similar, from (you guessed it), "The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior"


It's a strange dichotomy, the former wrestling superstars once they leave the mainstream. Some of them go on speaking tours to talk about the evils of our business. Or they get religious. I don't think Warrior has gotten on the religious kick, yet. But, I hear he does do some speaking. I wouldn't mind attending one of his lectures. It would be interesting to see, at this stage of my life, if I can understand what he's talking about. - Jim Ross
 
It surprises me that he's speaking at colleges. Jesse Ventura, that doesn't surprise me; The Ultimate Warrior, that DOES surprise me - "Mean" Gene Okerlund

Come again? I said that Pearl was well in his 70s and, from what I know, alive and well, which is usually NOT the hallmark of a anabolics abuser. And, my initial post asked the question as to why people find it so difficult to believe that some folks (including Pearl) got good result with a small amount of steroids.

Dude, try reading and comprehending, before you make comments about others needing therapy. The context of my statement was a reply to claims of Warrior wanting to be out of the business, that business being pro wrestling.

If one wants to be out of pro wrestling altogether, you simply resign and stay away from wrestling. You don't open a wrestling school; you don't get fired for violating company policy, specifically not showing up at arenas where you've been advertised. You don't sue to use your wrestling character name (after you've legally changed your name to that character) to make a living. And, you don't, if getting away from wrestling were your top priority, sign with the rival company of your former employer (WCW).

The only thing that McMahon lost was exclusive rights to the Ultimate Warrior character. He can still use the Ultimate Warrior character, without paying Warrior one thin dime. (How do you think he made The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD?). Conversely, Warrior can use the character without giving WWE any compensation.

I don't consider Ferrigno as being in his prime at age 25, considering he was much bigger and more defined at age 41 when he competed at the 1993 Olympia. He was listed at 315. At the 1975 Olympia, he was 268.

Taxes, legal fees (after brushes with the law), an extravagant lifestyle, and alimony/child support payments can wipe the millions away rather quickly. Plus, many multi-million dollar contracts only add up if the contract is completely fulfilled. If Luger got canned before that, he doesn't get the rest of the money.

One of Luger's biggest professional blunders occured in 1994. He was slated to win the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania X. But, shortly before the big event, Luger (while drunk) spilled the beans to reporters that he was winning the title. When the WWF brass heard about it, they quickly changed the plans and had Bret Hart (who, along with Luger, was the "co-winner" of the Royal Rumble, the match that determines who gets a title shot at WrestleMania; Luger and Hart were the last two men and they eliminated each other at the same time) win the championship, despite losing to his brother, Owen, earlier at WrestleMania.

It ain't that hard to squander millions of dollars in America.

I did. Luger's actions cost him his marriage and damaged the relationship with his kids (which he may or may not have fixed or reconciled). And, we know about the tragedy involving Miss Elizabeth.

Steve "Brooklyn Brawler" Lombardi said something to that effect in The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD:

"I don't think Warrior had the love for the wrestling industry. I think he had love for the fame; I think he had the love for the money; I think he had love for bodybuilding. But, I'm not quite sure if he had the love for the WWE"

As stated earlier, if he wanted out of the business, he could have simply resigned (and given some notice). The Ultimate Warrior got fired THREE times by WWE for holding the company up for money before SummerSlam, failing a drug test, and not appearing where he was advertised.

Then, there's the little matter of the now-defunct Warrior University, the wrestling school he opened in Phoenix, Arizona. That doesn't sound like someone who wanted out of the business to me.

On top of all of that, he changed his name from Jim Helwig to "Warrior"; If you worked for McDonalds and wanted to get away from that company and the fast-food industry, you don't get fired for violating company policy, legally change your name to "Quarter Pounder" or "Big Mac", and sue to be able to use the assumed name to make money for yourself.

It's not simply of Pearl not being dead. Again, where are the health problems with Pearl? How has he suffered, due to alleged drug abuse?

As I said about Lee Priest, who has been forthcoming with his use of anabolics, you always those folk who swear he's injecting everything under the sun, in ridiculously high doses, since he first lifted a concrete weight, and before the first sip of a protein shake hit his lips.

Not to mention, Darrem Charles has lived in Florida for years; so it's likely that he is a U.S. citizen.

And, it appears that Warrior hasn't lost his touch. He was supposed to appear on "Hannity and Colmes" tonight, joining a foresnic expert, another investigator, and Debra Marshall, former wife of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. But, due to an "unforseen technical difficulty", he didn't appear on the show.

Imagine that: The Ultimate Warrior, not appearing where advertised. Now, H & C know how McMahon felt.

It wasn't about Arnold Schwarzenegger, either, except for the reference to the contest named after him.

And, my initial full statement was, "When you find a white bodybuilder that has won eight Olympias or FOUR Arnold Classic titles, let us know.

I believe I said something to the tune of "When you find a white bodybuilder that has won EIGHT Olympias...." . Last time I checked, seven isn't equal to eight.

Says who? Only someone interested in bodybuilding. The average person, looking for a trainer to help them get in shape or "tone up", could care less how big around a trainer's arm is. As long as he's somewhat lean and muscular and has some sort of credentials, he'll fit the bill.


You assume that all (or most) bodybuilders are actually interested in getting someone else in shape. Wheeler may not be one of those guys. Plus, without the certification, and a steady stream of paying clientele, a personal trainer is little more than a maid in a weight room. For some reason, I don't think Flex wants to polish the mirrors, wipe the sweat of the benches, or put the dumbbells back on the rack and the plates on the weight tree.

When you find a white bodybuilder that has won eight Olympias or four Arnold Classic titles, let us know.

Then all he had to do was resign, not fail to show up, when he was advertised at WWF events. That's unprofessional, no matter how much you slice it. And what could have possibly come up in the three or four months, in which he wrestled in 1996, that would make him want to leave?

"Wanting out of the business" means leaving professional wrestling ALTOGETHER, not getting fired from one company and joining another (much less his former employer's top rival) two years later.

Furthermore, Warrior couldn't initially use his now-legal name in WCW, which explains the lawsuit he filed shortly getting canned for the third time. And there's the aspect that, perhaps, WCW didn't have a need for Warrior......until mid/late '98, when WWE started beating WCW in the ratings again.

What's so hard to believe about guys getting results by using small doses of anabolics?

Lee Priest touched on this issue in his interviews in MuscleMag. No matter how honest he is about his anabolics use, Priest always get those people who think that he took every thing but the kitchen sink, in ungodly doses, from the moment he first hoisted a barbell (with plastic-covered cement plates).

What health problems has Pearl incurred, due to his so-called steroid abuse? He well into his seventies, alive and kicking, last time I checked. That doesn't sound like the mark of a drug abuser to me.

Did you not see that he went to WCW in 1998?

Eric Bischoff tried to renegotiate with Warrior, regarding his future in WCW, off the heels of what Bischoff deemed as one of the worst matches of all time, Warrior's rematch with Hulk Hogan at WCW's Halloween Havoc .(all hyped up by the one match that made the Ultimate Warrior's career: The battle with Hogan at Wrestlemaina VI, in which he defeat the Hulkster, fair and square, for the WWF Championship....while still holding the Intercontinental Championship).

Simply put, Warrior asked for too much money, when his in-ring performance didn't justify it: a two-year layoff, followed by an abysmal performance at Halloween Havoc. His track record with WWE certainly didn't help matters. When Warrior's contract expired, Bischoff didn't renew, despite his expressed desire to keep him long-term (which he emphasized, to refute the claim that Warrior was only brought to WCW for Hogan to avenge his loss at Wrestlemania VI).

You don't go back to a wrestling federation twice (and get fired twice), going to a rival federation two years later, if you want out of the business. Then, there's the little matter of WCW folding in 2001, for signing guys like Warrior, former WWE superstars who were paid big bucks (for their one-time stardom in WWE) but gave pitiful performances in the ring with WCW.

Once McMahon bought WCW, any chance for a 5th comeback for the Ultimate Warrior, pretty much went south.

More like epic silliness on your part.

I already stated that Priest did better on the pro circuit (placings wise) than Long, which would explain why Long had to not do guest appearances for Prolab, like Priest, but also had his desk job as a sales manager to make his $100,000 salary.

McMahon states that, as a promoter, it is his responsibilty to present what he has advertised. So, if the marquee or the program has the Ultimate Warrior on it, then barring some unforseen emergency of which he (or some other WWE official) is notified in advance, McMahon expects the Ultimate Warrior to be there, face-painted, arms covered with tassels, running to the ring, shaking the ropes, and clotheslining his opponent silly.

Notwithstanding what happened in the much publicized tragedy last week, Chris Benoit told WWE officials that his wife and son were ill, before the Vengance pay-per-view. WWE let him go home and explained to the audience that Benoit would not be on the card due to his family being ill.

Had The Ultimate Warrior given somebody some notice, instead of simply no-showing, McMahon wouldn't have canned him in 1996, even if Warrior's relationship with his father was as bleak as McMahon claimed it was.

The storylines are done within the context that such actions are manifested IN THE RING (or at least, in the wrestling arena). In WWE, you can hit your boss with a chair, call him names, and still collect a paycheck. Do that outside the wrestling world, and you get fired (and/or jailed and sued). The fans, by and large, know that.

As for your last statement, that's a bit iffy, to say the least. How many football players get fined for cheating on their wives? How many basketball players get suspended for being drunk? And, until Congress figuratively grabbed them by the ears and made them do it, how many officials of baseball condemned and called for an end to steroid use, especially when the sport was brought out of its major league slump by certain sluggers, now accused of going the way of the needle?

After seeing on the news that milk prices could reach $5 a gallon in a couple of months, I'm going to Sam's Club and GNC to load up on some of that "old stock". Where's my Gold Card!!!?  

I just saw a couple of boxes of ON's Whey Meal for $38 each at GNC (just over $30 with the discount).