PWTorch.com reader Antohny Miletic asks:

How did you and Bradshaw get along while you were in WWE? I heard he was and is a jerk and a bully. Also, I heard he was happy to see Vince Russo go, what about you? Did he dislike you as well?

Ed Ferrara answers:

During my time in the WWF, Bradshaw was a guy I enjoyed working with. I never had any problems with him, and we got along quite well. As soon as we had left, however, he did a 180 and became one of our most outspoken, venomous "critics," which should say something about how much of a straight-shooter he is (or was). I had heard plenty of tales about his bullying tendencies, and had even seen it happen in the ring on several occasions (most notably one night when he completely stiffed Public Enemy in the ring to "test them").

The ironic part of his venom toward me in particular is that he probably wouldn't even have a job today if it wasn't for me. This isn't me putting myself over - it's a fact. Because what I'm about to describe all went down during booking sessions between only Russo, VKM and myself, this story has probably never seen light of day. I doubt if John even realizes it!

I was always a big fan of John Layfield, back to when he first came in as Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw. The old-school fanboy in me marked out for him as the second coming of Stan Hansen, from the way he worked at the time, right down to the "hook 'em horns." Problem was, he wasn't getting over the way VKM expected, and was about to be cut from the roster.

VKM gave Russo and me a short-list of talents that were about to be let go if we couldn't think of anything to do with them - and on top of that list were both Bradshaw and Ron Simmons (Farooq). Russo and I both dug Simmons, but I was pretty much the only one struggling to keep Bradshaw around. This was around the time when we were planning Taker's Ministry of Darkness, so I came up with an idea for how to re-invent Simmons and Bradshaw as The Acolytes and insert them into that mix. Needless to say, the gamble paid off - the Acolytes gimmick worked for them and they took off, eventually morphing into the A.P.A., and then on to today's JBL. But if it hadn't been for The Acolytes gimmick, Bradshaw would have been released.

So every time I would hear about some snotty comment Bradshaw would make about me, I'd have to simply shake my head and laugh, because he had no idea how close he was to unemployment back then.

Final Notes from Wade Keller:

Ed Ferrara will continue to answer reader questions in coming days and weeks, so keep the questions coming. Direct them here and be sure to put "Ask Ed" in the subject line.

Ed Ferrara has written a collection of short stories called "Dark Consequences." I highly recommend it, especially for fans of Twilight Zone and Tales from the Darkside or horror movies with a sci-fi twist. You can get info on ordering a copy from him by clicking here.

To order the Ultimate Insiders DVD featuring my interview with Ed Ferrara and Vince Russo, together for the time for an interview since their split in WCW, clicking here.

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