OO Column: Circa by Denny Burkholder (Pro Wrestling News, Analysis, and Commentary... WWF, WCW, ECW, The Rock, Steve Austin, RVD, Undertaker, Triple H)

CIRCA
EXCLUSIVE!
Interview with the "F"
May 10, 2002

by Denny Burkholder
Exclusive to OnlineOnslaught.com

Early this week, an icon was released from his highly
visible spot in pro wrestling's largest promotion. It was the
end of an era.

As of Monday, May 6, 2002, The World Wrestling
Federation became World Wrestling Entertainment. With
that transition, Federation - better known to fans and
friends alike as "F" - was unceremoniously ousted from
the company he'd worked for since its inception in 1963.

I caught up with The F last night, and had the privilege of
conducting the first major interview with him since his
release. The first major interview with him ever, actually.
Here is that conversation.

DENNY BURKHOLDER: It's been a few days since you
were replaced with Entertainment [E] by what used to be
known as the WWF. Has it sunk in yet?

THE F: I saw it coming. Ever since those bird-watching
bitches at the World Wildlife Fund started suing people, the
writing was on the wall. Guys started whispering in the
locker room. The boys would be all cool to my face. But as
soon as I walked away, it was always "F this" and "F that." I
knew something was up. I just didn't want to believe it.

DB: It seemed pretty harsh. They cut Scott Hall and Curt
Hennig this week, too. But for you, they actually made a
"Get the F Out" T-shirt to celebrate your exit. How do you
react to that?

F: I think it's bullshit, and I think it's going to bite WWE in
the ass. I believe in karma. What goes around comes
around in this business. Vince McMahon dropped Hall for
getting sloppy drunk, and he dropped Hennig for picking
on his precious protégé [Brock] Lesnar. I was in that
company for 39 years without a single day off. 39 damn
years! Did I ever chop off a man's mullet? Did I ever drink
myself into a stupor while on tour? Did I ever abuse
painkillers, or steroids, or speak out of turn? Hell no. I was
the model employee. Vince McMahon, Sr. hired me in
1963. He was a good man. A decent man. His son has no
respect for the old guard.

DB: Many people would disagree with that, since he's
giving guys like Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker plenty of
room at the top. They're both veterans.

F: [laughs] You call that "old guard?" Those guys are pups,
and besides, they were Junior's boys all along. I'm talking
about guys from my era. Whatever happened to Bruno
Sammartino, anyway? Junior drove him out of the WWF,
that's what. Where is George Steele these days? Where
has Pedro Morales been? I'll tell you what happened. The
same thing that happened to me. Vince Jr. will change his
product to the point where the true professionals can't take
it anymore. Some of them leave out of disgust, like Bruno.
Some are forced out, like I was. I bet he invites me back in
a few years for some condescending joke of a match, like
a gimmick battle royal. Something that allows him to point
and laugh at the old guys that made him millions of
dollars, but can't pay the bills anymore. Screw that. If I ever
go back there, it'll be to sucker-punch McMahon in the junk.
And maybe to beat the crap out of that talentless wannabe
"E."

DB: Does Vince own the rights to your character?

F: Yes, he does. I had no choice but to let him copyright the
"F" name and likeness after "Wide" got released back in
1979. Business was kind of rough back then. Bruno was
winding down his career, and Bobby Backlund wasn't
drawing as well as we'd hoped. We knew there were going
to be changes in the WWWF [World Wide Wrestling
Federation] and they'd be trimming the roster to cut costs. I
was close to getting fired back then. They had to cut one of
us. Everyone thought they would get rid of me, and call
themselves "World Wide Wrestling." As it turned out, they
cut "Wide," and we became The World Wrestling
Federation. In exchange for keeping my job, I allowed
Vince to copyright my character. He owns it.

DB: So will you be allowed to call yourself "F" any longer?

F: My name is Federation, which they can't take away from
me. The "F" issue might end up in court. I'm considering a
lawsuit to win the rights to my character. Until then, I'll be
using the gimmick unless they stop me. Worst-case
scenario, I'll call myself Apostrophe F ['F], or Lowercase F
[f]. There are ways around it.

DB: Where do you go from here?

F: I am accepting indy bookings. I am also in talks with
Jerry Jarrett, who is interested in bringing my name
recognition to the NWA-Total Nonstop Action. Hopefully, the
"NWA-TNA featuring former WWF Superstar F" will be
coming to a gymnasium near you.

DB: Anything booked yet?

F: Yeah. The "Get F'ed Up!" indy tour begins next week in
Sheboygan, where I'm "Special ReFeree" of the grudge
match between Road Dogg and Tough Enough's Josh. I'll
be signing autographs with Cousin Luke at the Sandusky
Flea Market the week after. And I just started negotiating
with the WWA for a color commentary spot on their next
pay-per-view.

DB: I am sure plenty of fans will turn out to see the
legendary F.

F: I hope so. I am also trying to track down my old buddy
Wide. I want to team up with him again and maybe start a
wrestling company like we used to have, old school. The
Wide Federation. Maybe get Jimmy Snuka and King Kong
Bundy involved. But that's still on the drawing board.

DB: Any closing thoughts for the fans?

F: Yes, I'd like to thank those of you who refuse to stop
calling the WWF by its traditional name. That means a lot
to me. And to all the losers out there buying "Get the 'F' Out"
T-shirts: I'll see you in hell. You too, E.

DB: Thanks for your time, and good luck with everything, F.

F: F yourself.

E-MAIL DENNY
BROWSE THE CIRCA ARCHIVES

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