Daily News from New York, New York • 314

I OwwjjgMUMtWWlC Lwm-JII i 1 iii V' "r-r -Ji -Jl n. Lu By PAN WASSERMAN 1 SiXKMl to Tha News QN 1987, HULK HOGAN bodyslammed 416-pound Andre the Giant before 93,000 screaming fans at the Pontiac Silverdome during Wrestlemania V. It was a clinic in cutting-edge marketing that grossed $18 million from pay-per-view, gate revenues and merchandising. It was the apex of popularity and profitability for the World Wrestling Federation, the best of times for Hogan and the fulfillment of everything promoter Vince McMahon had advertised. Today, the empire shows cracks, and 1994 will determine whether it survives.

-4 if. i 3 (it 77 York venue and the star- A ring roles of McMahohaJ Hogan promises a higher- profile than the 1991 Harris! burg, physician jbrjGgorge Zahog ian. Zahorian was convicted mid-1991; andL sentenced i0 Febuary 1992, to three in prison. McMahon said the eui-fenti indictment tries "to makeinre responsible for what the- tor did." The current indictmefltd claims McMahon distribute steroids to a WWF performer, identified in jM-ports as Hogan, on several oci casions between March--19388 and October 1989. mo-l The indictment is specffifcW in only one instance.

It alleges1 that, xm Oct. 24, funds were used by McMahon" to possess steroids with the intent to distribute them. -'jj Grand jury recordsob-1 tained by The News Zahorian case reveal a thre4 -At 4- McMahon, 47, an avid bodybuilder, has earned lavish praise for his creative genius and take-no-prisioners business style in building his multimedia empire. However, his methods and stewardship have earned him many critics and enemies. "McMahon didn't take wrestling from the smalltown, smoke-filled arenas and bring it to the big-city stadiums like people in the media like to say," former WWF champ Bruno Sammartino told The News.

ago, we sold out the big eity stadiums every time we appeared. Now, they have trouble filling up Madison Square Garden more than twice a year. "He has hurt the industry. And now, with this steroid case, he is about to kill it completely." On Nov. 24, McMahon pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his alleged possession with intent to distribute steroids.

'He'was arraigned in Union1' dale before U.S. District Court Judge Jacob Mischler and freed on $250,000 bond. The four-count indictment also names Titan Sports as a defendant If convicted, McMahon could face eight years" in prison. Additionally, both he and Titan could face maximum fines of $500,000. Hogan, the WWF's biggest star through its glory years in the '80s, was the alleged recipient of illegal steroids and may appear as a government witness.

Hogan; no longer with the WWF, has parlayed a movie career into a starring and executive producer role in the upcoming television se- ries, "Thunder and Parav -which is set toair locally on Ch. 9 The Second Round The WWF remains one of two major players in.tjie pro wrestling industry', along with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling. But this new steroid trial with its Damaging, yet still unprov-en allegations of steroid distribution, sexual harassment and homosexual solicitation of minors have rocked the organization, which brings its showcase 1994 event Wrestlemania to the Garden on March 20. The organization, which already has survived one steroid trial, is faced with another criminal trial involving alleged steroid distribution. Federal authorities investigating the WWF fqr two years have a May 2 trial date.

The proceedings could include a courtroom confrontation between Hogan and McMahon the WWF's chief executive officer the potential imprisonment of McMahon and possible seizure and confiscation of WWF headquarters in Stamford. The much-publicized steroid indictment of McMahon was clearly a setback for the WWF, but, the organization appears to have weathered the storm involving sexual abuse of minors. After an extensive 18-month probe, prosecutors have failed to bring Indictments against former WWF employes based on the sexual exploitation allegations. Federal investigators interviewed numerous witnesses including one who settled and later re filed a civil suit during their probe. In addition, a grand jury heard testimony regarding potential violations of the Mann Act federal laws prohibiting sexual exploitation of minors.

At least two minors employed by the WWF told authorities they were sexually molested by WWF employes'while traveling to and from various events, across state lines. Prosecutors will neither confirm nor deny the exis- WJFset. to defend its belts in a ksvj fTCEIUli Gf courtroom bouts. tence of the Mann Act investigation. However, sources close to the investigation insist the feds have closed the probe and no indictments will be handed down.

A $100 Million Bout Wrestlemania which sold out in two days, and the May trial will be two of the most important chapters WWF his-. tory. Titan Sports, the WWF's parent corporation, is "healthy and thriving," said Jerry McDevitt, an attorney representing the organization in the steroid case. Estimates of Titan's profitability vary widely, but it is generally believed McMahon's enterprise generates more than $100 million annually. It peaked at $150 million in 1989 from a combination of commercial, cable and pay-per-view TV, gate receipts from 1,000 live events a year, and a licensing and merchandising empire that rivals that of any major professional" sports league.

3 X3 (S.