(3/15/05) - RVD, Bodyslam contests, Adrian Adonis, Jim Duggan & Raven
On Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 2:03 AM EST Do not send ASK WV related questions to webmaster@wrestleview.com (that's for everything else BUT ASK WV). Send all ASK WV related questions to:
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The following questions were answered by Paul Nemer:
How did RVD get started in the wrestling business? And what company did he start in?
RVD was a kickboxer at first, which helped him in becoming a wrestler. During Rob's teen years, he met the Original Sheik, Ed Farhat, who trained him and basically got him into wrestling. RVD was working small independent shows, then got a big break in the USWA. His first match is said to be against Sabu.
I remember a bodyslam contest with Yokozuna, where Lex Luger bodyslammed him. My question is, has there been any other WWF bodyslam contests?
Not in the same way Yokozuna's contest was presented. There was a "bodyslam" match/contest between Andre the Giant and Big John Studd at WrestleMania I. Andre won by slamming him. Viscera and Mark Henry battled on RAW in a bodyslam match in 1999, where Viscera won. I'm not sure if I am forgetting any.
When Raven was in the WWE, he came to the ring with some lady who wore rather tight jeans and made fox ears with her fingers. Who was that?
That was Terri Runnels. Many remember Terri from managing her ex-husband, Goldust.
Why was Adrian Adonis changed into a homosexual character? Was it a punishment or did Vince feel the need to to just change Adrian's character?
No punishment. Adrian Adonis was a very charismatic and feared individual. Many wrestling promoters liked Adonis because he was good at what he did in terms of characters given to him. Regardless of what type of character was thrown his way, he would take the ball and run with it. Vinny Mac felt that Adrian would handle that gay character well. Adonis was then known as "Adorable Adrian Adonis".
Why did Jim Duggan leave the WWF?
When I last spoke to Duggan, I had asked him on how his WCW jump came about, and here is what he had to say: "I was offered a no cut contract for more money.That's why everybody made the jump. Before Turner got involved in those contracts, if you didn't work, you didn't get paid. That's why Hogan left, Macho Man left, I left, Jimmy Hart left, Beefcake left, we all left at the same time because Turner decided he wanted to be the big dog in wrestling. He offered all the top guys contracts, of course we're all family men - business... so we made the move down to WCW."