World Bodybuilding Federation
Encyclopedia
The World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF) was a bodybuilding
organization founded in 1990 by Vince McMahon
that lasted until 1992. It was a subsidiary of Titan Sports which owned and operated the World Wrestling Federation
.
created the WBF as competition to the long established International Federation of BodyBuilders
(IFBB).
In 1990, McMahon initially denied that he was starting a bodybuilding organization, instead stressing that he was only starting a magazine called Bodybuilding Lifestyles. He hired famed bodybuilding personality Tom Platz
to oversee the publication.
The magazine secured a booth at the IFBB Mr. Olympia
contest held on September 15, 1990 in Chicago
. At the conclusion of that competition, the booth handed out press releases announcing the WBF's formation. The press release stated that the WBF would "revamp professional bodybuilding with dramatic new events and the richest prize money in the history of the sport." It also mentioned that Tom Platz would be Director of Talent Development for the organization.
's Plaza Hotel
that the WBF had signed thirteen competitors, many IFBB regulars, to long-term contracts: Aaron Baker
, Mike Christian, Vince Comerford, David Dearth, Berry DeMey, Johnnie Morant
, Danny Padilla
, Tony Pearson
, Jim Quinn
, Mike Quinn
, Eddie Robinson, Gary Strydom
, and Troy Zuccolotto. They were dubbed the "WBF BodyStars."
The first competition aired June 15, 1991 live on pay-per-view from Atlantic City, New Jersey
. Regis Philbin
was brought in to co-host the event with McMahon and Bobby Heenan
. The show was met with mixed reviews: critics noted that the WBF's attempt at developing characters for each BodyStar went against Vince McMahon's initial promise to keep professional wrestling away from bodybuilding. To promote the show, both the WBF BodyStars and the WWF
Superstars appeared on a series of Family Feud
episodes.
, to bring him in as a competitor. He was billed as "The Legend" Lou Ferrigno, and a contender for Gary Strydom's WBF Championship. As the appearance date approached, McMahon and Ferrigno couldn't reach a final agreement and the appearance was scrapped.
The June 13, 1992 competition was broadcast live on pay-per-view
from Long Beach, California
. Professional wrestler Lex Luger
was scheduled to participate on this show as a guest performer but was involved in a motorcycle
accident prior to the event. He was instead interviewed via satellite
during the live pay-per-view broadcast.
Vince McMahon called the owners of IFBB, on July 15, 1992 and announced that the WBF was disbanding. "The situation is very bad," he was quoted as saying.
. Matt Lauer
was advertised as the show's host prior to its première, but he never made an appearance. Instead, it was co-hosted by Vince McMahon, Cameo Kneuer, and Lex Luger
. The show followed the training lifestyles of the bodybuilders, featured a variety of skits and humorous quips, and offered general bodybuilding and health-related advice.
The program changed its title to BodyStars in late 1992 after the WBF had disbanded. At that point, the program was primarily used to promote McMahon's ICOPRO line of bodybuilding supplements. Having lost much of its appeal, the show was soon taken off the air.
The commercial slogan for ICOPRO was "You've Gotta Want It!"
WBF BodyStars and WWF Superstars helped promote the product; the "ICOPRO" banner can be seen on footage of WWF events from 1993 through 1995.
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
organization founded in 1990 by Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
that lasted until 1992. It was a subsidiary of Titan Sports which owned and operated the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
.
Creation
Vince McMahonVince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
created the WBF as competition to the long established International Federation of BodyBuilders
International Federation of BodyBuilders
The International Federation of BodyBuilders is a competitive bodybuilding organization founded in 1946 by brothers Ben and Joe Weider and is the highest level of competitive bodybuilding in the world. Currently, the IFBB consists of seven different sub-divisions for different competitors ,...
(IFBB).
In 1990, McMahon initially denied that he was starting a bodybuilding organization, instead stressing that he was only starting a magazine called Bodybuilding Lifestyles. He hired famed bodybuilding personality Tom Platz
Tom Platz
Thomas Steven Platz is a retired professional bodybuilder. His nicknames are "The Golden Eagle" and "Quadzilla"....
to oversee the publication.
The magazine secured a booth at the IFBB Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
contest held on September 15, 1990 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. At the conclusion of that competition, the booth handed out press releases announcing the WBF's formation. The press release stated that the WBF would "revamp professional bodybuilding with dramatic new events and the richest prize money in the history of the sport." It also mentioned that Tom Platz would be Director of Talent Development for the organization.
1991
McMahon announced at the company's unveiling on January 30, 1991 in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Plaza Hotel
Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 20-story luxury hotel with a height of and length of that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza...
that the WBF had signed thirteen competitors, many IFBB regulars, to long-term contracts: Aaron Baker
Aaron Baker
Aaron Eli Baker was an English colonial agent of the Honourable East India Company, holding Presidency positions in Bantam and Madras in the 1640s and 1650s. Baker made a fortune in the East India trade.-Madras period:...
, Mike Christian, Vince Comerford, David Dearth, Berry DeMey, Johnnie Morant
Johnnie Morant
Johnnie Morant, Jr. is a Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, Danny Padilla
Danny Padilla
Dennis "Danny" Padilla is an American bodybuilder nicknamed "The Giant Killer" because of his short stature and amazing ability to defeat much taller competitors.-Early life:...
, Tony Pearson
Tony Pearson
Anthony John Grayhurst Pearson is a former English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Somerset between 1961 and 1963....
, Jim Quinn
Jim Quinn
Jim Quinn is an American radio talk show host based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His program, The War Room with Quinn and Rose, is aired on 12 stations across the U.S. and is also heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 166 from 6–9 a.m...
, Mike Quinn
Mike Quinn
Michael Patrick Quinn is a former professional gridiron football quarterback. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1997 and was also a member of the Rhein Fire, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Montreal Alouettes...
, Eddie Robinson, Gary Strydom
Gary Strydom
Gary Strydom is an American IFBB professionalbodybuilder. He is notable as being the only person to win a Championship title under Vince McMahon's now defunct World Bodybuilding Federation. After the fall of the WBF Strydom decided to take a long break from competing in the mid 1990s...
, and Troy Zuccolotto. They were dubbed the "WBF BodyStars."
The first competition aired June 15, 1991 live on pay-per-view from Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
was brought in to co-host the event with McMahon and Bobby Heenan
Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
. The show was met with mixed reviews: critics noted that the WBF's attempt at developing characters for each BodyStar went against Vince McMahon's initial promise to keep professional wrestling away from bodybuilding. To promote the show, both the WBF BodyStars and the WWF
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
Superstars appeared on a series of Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
episodes.
1992
McMahon made a deal with Lou FerrignoLou Ferrigno
Louis Jude "Lou" Ferrigno is an American actor, fitness trainer/consultant, and retired professional bodybuilder. As a bodybuilder, Ferrigno won an IFBB Mr. America title and two consecutive IFBB Mr. Universe titles, and appeared in the bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron...
, to bring him in as a competitor. He was billed as "The Legend" Lou Ferrigno, and a contender for Gary Strydom's WBF Championship. As the appearance date approached, McMahon and Ferrigno couldn't reach a final agreement and the appearance was scrapped.
The June 13, 1992 competition was broadcast live on pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
from Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Professional wrestler Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
was scheduled to participate on this show as a guest performer but was involved in a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
accident prior to the event. He was instead interviewed via satellite
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
during the live pay-per-view broadcast.
Vince McMahon called the owners of IFBB, on July 15, 1992 and announced that the WBF was disbanding. "The situation is very bad," he was quoted as saying.
WBF Championship - 1991
- June 15, 1991 from the Taj MahalTrump Taj Mahal Casino ResortThe Trump Taj Mahal is located at 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States, in the casino area along the shore. The casino is one of two owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts...
in Atlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
- 1. Gary Strydom
- 2. Mike Christian
- 3. Berry DeMey
- 4. Mike Quinn
- 5. Eddie Robinson
WBF Championship - 1992
- June 13, 1992 from Long Beach Convention and Entertainment CenterLong Beach Convention and Entertainment CenterThe Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center is a convention center located in Long Beach, California. It was built on the site of the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium beginning in 1962. The primary venues of the complex include:-Long Beach Arena:...
in Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
- 1. Gary Strydom
- 2. Jim Quinn
- 3. Aaron Baker
- 4. David Dearth
- 5. Berry Demey
Home video
Both the 1991 and 1992 WBF Championship events were released by Coliseum Video.WBF BodyStars
WBF BodyStars was a weekly television program that aired weekends in 1992 on USA NetworkUSA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer
Matthew Todd "Matt" Lauer . is an American television journalist best known as the host of NBC's The Today Show since 1997. He was previously a news anchor in New York and a local talk-show host in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence and Richmond...
was advertised as the show's host prior to its première, but he never made an appearance. Instead, it was co-hosted by Vince McMahon, Cameo Kneuer, and Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
. The show followed the training lifestyles of the bodybuilders, featured a variety of skits and humorous quips, and offered general bodybuilding and health-related advice.
The program changed its title to BodyStars in late 1992 after the WBF had disbanded. At that point, the program was primarily used to promote McMahon's ICOPRO line of bodybuilding supplements. Having lost much of its appeal, the show was soon taken off the air.
ICOPRO
ICOPRO (Integrated Conditioning Program) was a line of bodybuilding supplements marketed by Vince McMahon from 1992 through 1995.The commercial slogan for ICOPRO was "You've Gotta Want It!"
WBF BodyStars and WWF Superstars helped promote the product; the "ICOPRO" banner can be seen on footage of WWF events from 1993 through 1995.