WBF paid their athletes 300k per year

[Parker]

no money is enough if you cant compete in mr olympia. thats like saying "you get this and so much money but you can never be in the olympics"

To the public a 4X Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic winner is much more prestigious than being a 4X Mr. Olympia winner. Everybody knows who Arnold is, nobody really knows or cares what a "Mr. Olympia" is...and if you tell them it's Joe Weider's contest, probably the majority of the public would go "who?"
Only a few would make the connection to Joe Weider the Supplement and equipments sales magnet.

[MCWAY]

At that rate of pay all they had to do was work 3-5 years, then retire.  Too bad the WBF only lasted for such a short time.  If it had lasted, bodybuilders would've eventually left Weider in droves and Weider's empire would've crumbled.  

The last WBF contests were a shit-show... no drugs allowed, everyone was on a high fat/no carb diet.  Everyone was fat as fuck except for Gary Strydom and Aaron Baker.  I remember Mike Quinn looked like a total shit bag.  

I wouldn't go that far. Jim Quinn looked good, as did Tony Pearson (who I think should have made the top 5, instead of David Dearth).

Here's "The Jetman".

Berry DeMey was weird. He looked fine during his routine (after getting his freak on with a softcore porn star, to celebrate his roulette winnings). But, during the posedown, he just smoothed out.

Here's "The Future" Jim Quinn from both shows.

1991

1992

[MCWAY]

no money is enough if you cant compete in mr olympia. thats like saying "you get this and so much money but you can never be in the olympics"

The WBF guys would beg to differ. Eddie Robinson said he made more in one year with the WBF than he would have made in four years in the IFBB. Of course, he placed 10th at the Olympia before he jumped ship.

Troy Zuccolotto took his WBF money and invested in wellness clinics. Now, he's making a small fortune.

There are plenty of guys who've competed in the O, who have faded into obscurity (i.e. the weight class winners at the Universe, from back in the day).

Many of those guys, particularly from the Middle East, forfeit their IFBB pro cards and go back to competing in the Universe. Winning their class (and especially the overall) gives them more fame and fortune in their home country than they'd ever get by being in the Olympia. See Hamdullah Aykutlu.

[MCWAY]

To the public a 4X Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic winner is much more prestigious than being a 4X Mr. Olympia winner. Everybody knows who Arnold is, nobody really knows or cares what a "Mr. Olympia" is...and if you tell them it's Joe Weider's contest, probably the majority of the public would go "who?"
Only a few would make the connection to Joe Weider the Supplement and equipments sales magnet.

Arnold is known more as Mr. Universe than he is as Mr. Olympia. I also recall when Frank Zane endorsed the "Torso Trak" fitness gadget. The narrator referred to him as a "3-time Mr. Universe". When his picture (in his prime) was shown, the caption of "3-time Mr. Universe" was in BIG letter; the 3-time Mr. Olympia caption was in much smaller letters.

[Mr Anabolic]

Didnt realise he was dead - he was an incredible bodybuilder in his time, so thick throughout. Saw him complete at The British Grand Prix. You never met a happier more enthusiastic guy either, he was like a built Steve Erwin! RIP Vince

Spot on about Vince.  I met him a few times back then.  He was a very humble, well spoken intelligent person too.  He always made time to talk and give advice to anyone interested.

[MCWAY]

i listened the interview on MD RADIO,mike christian said to shawn ray that WBF offered him 300k a year to join them,he then asked Joe Weider is he willing to pay him not that kind of money but a decent money,and Joe said him "you can go" so mike went and pick that 300 k for 2 years and bought a house...
said that he could believe that he is receiving 25k a month...but he could earn as a guest poser cause Joe weider didnt allow them to guest pose in any shows...so he was on 300k for 2 years!

and i heard from dave palumbo on radio show that gary strydom picked up 350k a year for 2 years from the same organization...

Here's Mike Christian just before the WBF championship in 1991.

[Stan Diego]

[MCWAY]

The best part about the WBF was not having to wait a month (or longer) in the wee hours of the morning to see bodybuilding shows (i.e. American Muscle), thanks to this program:

[cephissus]

Arnold is known more as Mr. Universe than he is as Mr. Olympia. I also recall when Frank Zane endorsed the "Torso Trak" fitness gadget. The narrator referred to him as a "3-time Mr. Universe". When his picture (in his prime) was shown, the caption of "3-time Mr. Universe" was in BIG letter; the 3-time Mr. Olympia caption was in much smaller letters.

tbh, i don't think any of these titles mean anything beyond to pretty much any lay person...  nobody knows what mr. olympia, the arnold classic, or mr. universe is.  they all just translate to "muscleman contest".

amongst bodybuilding "fans", the O is king, of course

[Schnauzer]

"At 27 years old [Vince Comerford] was paid $125K each year for the two years he participated in the WBF.  That was decent money in 1990."

He got that payday for just participating... never mind where he placed in the contest.  Compare that with what guys get today for coming in 4th or 5th place in any contest.  

$125K in 1990 adjusted for inflation would have the buying power of $227,650 in 2014

[SaintAnger]

Fuck Weider. 

If McMahon had been successful, the entire industry would have benefited to this very day.

There's only so far a bodybuilding show can be entertainment wise.  For the past several damn decades, it's been boring as shit.  I get tickets to these contests, and I don't even show up to watch!  Under Vince's rule, at least the entertainment aspect would have been optimal for what it is.

Weider's people had NO IDEA how to entertain or invest in talent and people.

[MCWAY]

tbh, i don't think any of these titles mean anything beyond to pretty much any lay person...  nobody knows what mr. olympia, the arnold classic, or mr. universe is.  they all just translate to "muscleman contest".

amongst bodybuilding "fans", the O is king, of course

The Universe does. That automatically says you're the best bodybuilder on the planet (or were at one time).

The Olympia is king now among bodybuilding fans. But, the Universe (particularly NABBA's version) was the top title well into the 70s. Sergio Oliva, despite his 3 Mr. O wins, went to NABBA to win the Universe. He (and others) lost to Bill Pearl.

[Never1AShow]

I was always a fan of the nicknames, like The Toast of the Town, Gary Strydom.  Major Guns, Eddie Robinson.

Seriously, nicknames were an awful idea. 

[MCWAY]

I was always a fan of the nicknames, like The Toast of the Town, Gary Strydom.  Major Guns, Eddie Robinson.

Seriously, nicknames were an awful idea. 

A handful of guys had nicknames in the IFBB (Mighty Mike Quinn, "The Flexing Dutchman" Berry DeMey, "The Iron Warrior" Mike Christian). The WBF just went overboard and gave such names to all the guys.

Tony Pearson was "The Jetman" because of his wide back (even though it's well documented that he hates flying). Aaron Baker couldn't do the Batman bit for obvious reason. So, instead of being the Dark Knight, Baker became the Dark Angel. Eddie Robinson's gimmick was based on those military gear photoshoots he did in 1990.

[njflex]

A handful of guys had nicknames in the IFBB (Mighty Mike Quinn, "The Flexing Dutchman" Berry DeMey, "The Iron Warrior" Mike Christian). The WBF just went overboard and gave such names to all the guys.

Tony Pearson was "The Jetman" because of his wide back (even though it's well documented that he hates flying). Aaron Baker couldn't do the Batman bit for obvious reason. So, instead of being the Dark Knight, Baker became the Dark Angel. Eddie Robinson's gimmick was based on those military gear photoshoots he did in 1990.

THE 'EXECUTIONER'LOL...

[Ronnie Rep]

Fuck Weider. 

If McMahon had been successful, the entire industry would have benefited to this very day.

There's only so far a bodybuilding show can be entertainment wise.  For the past several damn decades, it's been boring as shit.  I get tickets to these contests, and I don't even show up to watch!  Under Vince's rule, at least the entertainment aspect would have been optimal for what it is.

Weider's people had NO IDEA how to entertain or invest in talent and people.

Agreed. What totally destroyed the WBF was the Dr. George Zahorian trial. Vince distanced himself from bodybuilding after that. If not for the steroid trial, things may have been very different in Pro Bodybuilding.

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

Fuck Weider. 

If McMahon had been successful, the entire industry would have benefited to this very day.

There's only so far a bodybuilding show can be entertainment wise.  For the past several damn decades, it's been boring as shit.  I get tickets to these contests, and I don't even show up to watch!  Under Vince's rule, at least the entertainment aspect would have been optimal for what it is.

Weider's people had NO IDEA how to entertain or invest in talent and people.

Weider was highly lucky that the WBF started right when the WWE was being investigated for steroid and drug use by wrestlers

[Hulkotron]

The article written by Peter McGough on it - an excellent article detailing the rise and fall of the WBF.

http://www.getbig.com/articles/faq-wbf.htm


It took about 18 months and 15 million in losses for the federation to go away.  Yes, they paid a lot to their athletes, but it came and went quickly.

He seems very angry about the whole situation.

[MCWAY]

He seems very angry about the whole situation.

McGough is engaging in revisionist history. He pretends that the WBF simply fizzled out, due to the IFBB's superiority. But when Lou Ferrigno signed with the WBF, the Weider crew was scared and he knows it.

Lou bailed when the WBF started drug testing (the attempt to replace him with Lex Luger is another issue altogether).

[SaintAnger]

The facts are no one in the Weider organization made an inroad to investing in their most prized commodity:  the bodybuilders.

It took outsiders, like Vince McMahon and Steve Blechman, to break the mold for appearance & endorsement contracts, and publishing contracts for the guys.

[MCWAY]

The facts are no one in the Weider organization made an inroad to investing in their most prized commodity:  the bodybuilders.

It took outsiders, like Vince McMahon and Steve Blechman, to break the mold for appearance & endorsement contracts, and publishing contracts for the guys.

I don't consider Blechman an outsider. He was involved in bodybuilding for years, when he and his family owned Twinlab. Prior to the WBF, the Weider's main feud was with Twinlab. MD vs. Flex, especially when MD went through what I call its identity crisis, changing to MDFH and ANMD (Muscular-Development-Fitness-Health and All-Natural-Muscular-Development, respectively).

[MCWAY]

I don't consider Blechman an outsider. He was involved in bodybuilding for years, when he and his family owned Twinlab. Prior to the WBF, the Weider's main feud was with Twinlab. MD vs. Flex, especially when MD went through what I call its identity crisis, changing to MDFH and ANMD (Muscular-Development-Fitness-Health and All-Natural-Muscular-Development, respectively).

After 2001, Blechman sold his stock in Twinlab and bought MD. Then steroids (and the sperm-swallowing habits of certain pseudo-fitness girls) were celebrated.