By Wade Keller, Torch editor

The following is an "encore" posting of the Aug. 3, 2003 "Ask the Torch" feature...

Tim Huegel of Midland, Mich. asks: I have seen, as I am sure others have also - the horrible looking video of Sid Vicious's leg snapping after a jump from the second rope. I have, however, never seen any account of this injury published anywhere. Simple question: Real or Work?

WK: Real. It led to his retirement from wrestling.

***

Redman asks: I was disturbed to read in this week's Torch Newsletter "WWE Newswire" that Hogan was upset with the $300,000 he got for WrestleMania. For a couple hours work that is amazing. Does he realize that us "out in the real world" don't see that kind of money in several YEARS of working. He has a pretty sweet gig. and should be thankful that at his age he can still do it. Mr. Vince and fam' have a reputation of taking care of their people. He should be thankful in these uncertain times.

WK: Perhaps Hulk Hogan is thankful for the fact that he can earn $300,000 in one night. However, in his mind, there was more money to go around and Vince was keeping more of it than was fair. Hogan may have believed that some of Vince's payoff to himself (I assume also $300,000) should have gone to him instead because Vince makes millions and millions from his business in other ways, including dividends. Also, Hogan is used to making more than three times that for matches that in his mind were less prestigious and historical, both in the WWF and WCW in years past. Also, Hogan may believe in his own mind that he deserved a bigger payoff than Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, The Rock, Steve Austin, and Shawn Michaels because of his past, even though most or all of the mentioned top names got the exact same payoff as Hogan (as detailed in the latest Torch Newsletter). Hogan may not realize that Brock Lesnar had as much, if not more, to do with every PPV purchase as he did at this stage of the game. Hogan sees Brock and Angle as virtual rookies still cutting their teeth. He isn't used to be just "one of many main eventers." Hogan probably would have been happy if four others had $75,000 taken off their payoff so he could get an extra $300,000.

***

Calvin Harper asks: When Lesnar and Big Show broke the ring - was the ring rigged to fall, or was it coincidence?

WK: It was rigged to collapse. I didn't get told the specifics of how it was done, but based on my knowledge of ring construction, I figure that supporting cables that normally hold the four ringposts together were rigged to come loose at a desired time, and thus the impact of the superplex would collapse the ringposts.

***

Nestor Sanchez of Los Angeles, Calif. asks: When famous wrestlers such as The Rock, Austin, Triple H, and of course Hogan, are out in public, are they accompanied by bodyguards?

WK: Usually not. It's possible that in certain situations The Rock and Hulk Hogan have had bodyguards accompany them in Hollywood situations, but I don't know that for a fact. However, on day-to-day wrestling travel, they are not accompanied by bodyguards - unless you could the dozen or two dozen other wrestlers usually around them at most of the public places they travel through from show to show.

***

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Background on Torch editor Wade Keller: Torch editor Wade Keller founded Pro Wrestling Torch in September 1987. He has been interviewed as a wrestling expert by dozens of TV and radio stations across the country; he has also been quoted in dozens of major newspapers and magazines across the world. Media entities that have featured Keller in stories covering wrestling include National Public Radio, Fox News Channel, ESPN Magazine, the New York Post, Entertainment Weekly, the All-News Channel, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He also hosted his own weekly two hour wrestling talk show on KFAN sport radio in the '90s. Over the past 17 years Keller has also interviewed, one-on-one, wrestling's top names for in-depth "Torch Talks" and feature articles including powerbrokers such as Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Jerry Jarrett, Bill Watts, Jim Cornette, Jim Crockett, Jim Herd, Paul Heyman, Ed Ferrara, Terry Taylor, Kevin Sullivan, Jim Ross, and Vince Russo; top wrestling stars such as The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, Matt & Jeff Hardy, Rick Steamboat, Jerry Lawler, Bill Goldberg, British Bulldog, Road Warrior Hawk, Jesse Ventura, and Hulk Hogan; and legends such as Lou Thesz, Gordon Solie, Bruno Sammartino, Roy Shires, Terry Funk, and Verne Gagne.

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