By Wade Keller, Torch editor

Note: This is part one of a four part "Torch Talk" interview with Road Warrior Hawk from 1992. Hawk died earlier today at his new home in Florida while sleeping. The full four installments are being published at the Torch VIP website (pwtorch.com/members) today in the Torch Talk Library (which also includes interviews with Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Vince Russo, Jim Cornette, Paul Heyman, Eric Bischoff, Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, and more).

Torch Talk with Road Warrior Hawk, pt. 1
Original Headline: Why Road Warrior Hawk left the WWF
Originally Published: November 30, 1992
Torch Newsletter #203

Original Introduction

The following is the first of a multi-part "Torch Talk" series with Road Warrior Hawk, formerly a member of the Legion of Doom with Animal. The two-hour interview with Hawk, real name Mike Hegstrand, was conducted Nov. 27, 1992 by telephone. In the following part one of the "Torch Talk" series, Hawk talks about why he left the World Wrestling Federation immediately after SummerSlam '92 and what he plans to do in the future. In upcoming "Torch Talk" segments, Hawk talks in detail about the issue of steroids in pro wrestling, about his days in the AWA and NWA, what he thinks of many of the promoters he has dealt with including Vince McMahon, and more.

Keller: Let's start with the obvious question. What went into your decision to leave the World Wrestling Federation?

Hawk: The way I was being treated. The fact that I was on the road ten years, 250 days a year. And I know what I'm worth and I wasn't getting paid what I was worth. I do believe that Animal and I were and have been top proven talent - I don't mean to sound big-headed - but we're good. And you've got guys, more power to them, that make all the money, who can't wrestle a lick and I could out-interview them in a coma. So he (Ultimate Warrior) is getting paid all this money. He held Vince McMahon up for money before, I never did anything like that before. We went in and bitched about money before. And Vince made promises to me. He's very good at making promises, but he didn't keep them. And I got disgusted. Another thing is I wanted to do my own gig, which I'm doing now.

Keller: And now that you're not with the WWF you're mainly looking at Japan and Europe for work?

Hawk: Yes.

Keller: Anything in the States?

Hawk: If the money's right, I'll work for anybody.

Keller: Is there interest on WCW's part to bring you in either as a singles wrestler or to team with Kensuke Sasaki?

Hawk: I have no idea. They talked to me and said give me your Japanese schedule. But I'm not going to call them. If they want me, they can call me. I'm willing to work, but I'm not going to sign any contracts and it's going to be a nightly guarantee or I'm not coming in because I don't need them.

Keller: What was it about your stay in the WWF that you most enjoyed?

Hawk: They have a great production. They do good business. When you have a good crowd, that's good. Although business seems to be down, they still have better crowds than WCW. I like the professionalism they have, but I don't like to be lied to. I'm not a money-hungry monster in any regard, but I am in this business to make money. I do work my ass off and I expected to get paid accordingly. Vince McMahon seems to have a problem paying tag teams as much as he pays a singles wrestler. From what I understand from the marketing people, after Hogan left we were doing 23 to 24 percent of all sales. It didn't reflect in my merchandising checks. I paid my dues in this business. I didn't disrespect him. I didn't do anything wrong. So why stick it (to me)?

Keller: What were some of the promises Vince McMahon broke?

Hawk: Any promise he made as far as I'm concerned.

Keller: So you didn't find Vince McMahon to have much integrity?

Hawk: I think Vince McMahon is a very intelligent man. I don't have anything bad to say about him except I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. He's a promoter. Would you trust Don King with your child's piggy bank?

Keller: How was working for McMahon different from working for the NWA?

Hawk: It depends on whether you're talking about the NWA when Jim Crockett or Jim Herd ran it. Jim Herd don't know anything about our business. He hated guys like me and my partner from the get go because we were making five-times the money. But we bounced around the ring like superballs, not him. He's the guy that came up with the Ding Dongs. Let's get real. How can he tell me about the business. I told him, "I've been in this business before you got in and I'll be in it after you're gone." I don't know what the problem is with that organization. Vince McMahon has made his empire on wrestling. He tried the WBF and personally, nothing toward Vince, but I'm glad it bombed out because here we are working our butts off, travelling all over, we work out every day, but we weren't given guaranteed contracts. These guys were given guaranteed money to sit around and workout in a gym?

Keller: What about the difference in locker room atmosphere between WCW and WWF?

Hawk: Well, I think in WCW it was a lot less cut-throat with a lot less stooges and more camaraderie. I think there were more cliques in the WWF. When people call me - which since I've left a lot of wrestlers have because I'm a stand-up guy… I'm not bragging about myself but I tell the truth. Being a stand-up guy is what gets you heat in this business because that's a challenge to Vince McMahon. He also wanted to tame the tiger. Well, the tiger doesn't need to be tamed. There's always mind games there. The job's tough enough and we do our job well. And WCW with Crockett was very relaxed.

Keller: Was that partially because there were such strong guarantees through the final couple of years of Crockett?

Hawk: Even before the guarantees, that was the case. I'll tell you what, when I was under the guaranteed contract, that made me feel like a prisoner. We walked out of the last six months of guaranteed money which was a sizable hunk of money. We're men of principle. I don't care how much you pay me, if I ain't happy, it don't mean nothing to me.

Keller: Was money the major factor in leaving the WWF or was the grind of the schedule more important?

Hawk: It was the tons of rules and regulations. Too many for me.

Keller: For instance.

Hawk: I don't mind the drug testing, but why do I have to pee in a bottle because Vince McMahon brought it on.

Keller: What do you mean he brought it on?

McMahon: He was the one on the stand in the Zahorian trial, not me. I suffered. My reputation suffered.

Keller: What was it like being in the WWF during the Zahorian controversy with the New York Post stories on Pat Patterson?

Hawk: Pat Patterson, I don't have a bad thing to say about him. I got along with him fine. His name was always brought up because of his sexual preferences. Well, Elton John is great at what he does and nobody ever questions that.

Keller: If Patterson abused his power - be it through sexual harassment of women or men - did he deserve to be held accountable?

Hawk: All I heard is what was in the media and the papers. Everybody knows that he is gay, which I have no problem with. It certainly was obvious to him that I'm heterosexual and I'm not the kind of guy you want to go asking them kind of questions to. I had no problem with him. I also respect Vince McMahon. He's the most successful promoter.

Keller: Speaking of the scandals in general, what do you think about steroids being illegal in the first place?

Hawk: I think them testing is good a thing because it's gotten to this point that everybody is equal. That is the strongest, most rigorously tested company, period.

Keller: How did the usage of steroids change from when you were first there to when you left?

Hawk: Well, they ceased. There was no getting around it. But it's for the better.

Keller: You're in favor of the level playing field that ideally will be the result of vigorous testing?

Hawk: If someone's going to be tested, it should be everybody, but I don't necessarily know that that was a fact. Vince has his favorites and he treats other people differently. A hard thing for me to understand - I have nothing personally against the Ultimate Warrior - he stood up Vince at SummerSlam last year for money right before he was supposed to go out to the ring. He used my lawyer, so I know the whole situation. Okay. Call me biased, I'm not a braggart, but I could wrestle circles around that guy. In anybody's field, knowing you're better and more capable of your job than a guy who's not as capable or not as professional getting paid more (is frustrating).

Keller: Would you rather have been promoted differently, either as a team with Animal or as a singles wrestler? Should you personally have had a more prominent role?

Hawk: Yes, by far. Listen, it's always been with us, "Aw, these guys, we don't have to push them because they're so over." I always looked at it like this - and me and Animal have talked about this - we're very fortunate in this business, but you don't just end up at the top. If the door is opened, you either walk through it or it gets slammed in your face. Well, we ran through it and we were consistent. And we did more as a tag team than any other tag team has ever done. It's one thing to get to the top, it's another thing to stay there. I gauge what your value is by the response you get by the crowd. Another thing is also, if you're one of Vince McMahon's own creations or babies, it's a different story for you. We weren't his babies. I told him many times there were other things I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to commentate. Heenan, Ventura, and Gorilla are the best. I could blow their doors off. If I sound like a braggart, that's too bad, but I'm confident with myself. I mean, if I wasn't, I wouldn't be a professional in my eyes. I don't think a lot of people were used right.

Keller: What went into the decision for you and Animal not to stick together?

Hawk: Well, Animal didn't know I was going to quit. It was something I talked about a long time. I subtly let him know about it. I let him know it was time to stop talking and start walking. He said, "I stand to make more money here." I told him, "Let's see if you can," but it must've went right over his head. Nobody knew (I was leaving).

Keller: You called the WWF offices the day after SummerSlam to let Vince McMahon know you were gone.

Hawk: I called the day I knew Vince got back to the office.

Keller: What was his reaction when you told him.

Hawk: I didn't talk to him. I talked to his secretary. I told 'em the truth, "Due to mental stress and physical duress, I've had it." There's other things to life. I can work doing what I'm doing now, make a very comfortable living, get treated like a human being, have my expenses paid for, have the promotion be appreciative, and get some pride back in my work.

Keller: Did you see you and Animal growing apart, not as a tag team, but as friends over the last couple of years?

Hawk: No. I just saw that I wanted to do my own thing.

Keller: Have you been in contact with Animal since you quit?

Hawk: Some, but not much.

Keller: Do you see yourself possibly teaming with him again?

Hawk: Well, I don't know what he's doing. I've heard some stories. I've heard other people say he is going to become an agent for Vince which I find hard to believe. I don't think he's done any wrestling. I heard because of a tailbone injury he was going to collect Lloyd's of London. I have no idea what his disability is but I heard that and I had already cut my deal for Japan and he's calling me and trying to negotiate a deal with me in Japan, so I'm mixed up on that.

Keller: How much longer do you want to be in the wrestling business?

Hawk: I tell you what, I feel now controlling my own schedule working for the Japanese who I respect and who are honorable, there's no aggravation or bull. The promotion are my friends. I feel as excited about it as when I did about the second year in the business when I got a grasp and knew what I was doing in this business… I deal with Masa Saito and Brad Rheingans.

Keller: Do you ever get tired of the recognition factor? Do you ever wish you could go to the mall and not be inundated with autograph seekers and people recognizing you?

Hawk: First of all, I have a different philosophy than a lot of guys. And no it doesn't bother me. I see a lot of guys who are rude to people who ask for autographs. I'm the opposite. The reason for that is not to be a goody two shoes, it's because if people aren't coming up to you to shake your hand or ask for an autograph, that means you're not very good at what you do. It's a compliment when they do. They're your bread and butter and that's just part of the territory. I've met a lot of professional athletes, entertainers who didn't have the same philosophy I do. I think mine is right. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's morally right. If I see somebody, I don't care if it's Frank Sinatra or somebody else, and they're rude in that type of situation, I'll be the first one to tell them that I think they're a piece of shit as a human being.

Keller: What do you see yourself doing in 20 or 25 years?

Hawk: I don't see myself wrestling.

Keller: What are your other interests outside of wrestling?

Hawk: Acting. Voice-over business, which I'm working on now, but it's very tough to crack into. I find it very easy to do radio, very easy. If none of that pays off, I see myself doing charity and good things for people. It makes me feel good. I've been involved in that a lot in the past and it has been important to me.

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