Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 83

Opera of Sweat rofessional wrestling has Bruce and Rudd's like any imagination real in a wrestlemaniac, headlock, the 32-year-old San Diegan is loving every minute. He sits within easy shouting distance of the wrestling ring at the San Diego Sports Arena, armed with an Instamatic camera and wearing a Hulk Hogan "Hulkasized" baseball cap that looks as if it either has been put in a sleeper hold or slept on. Maybe both. "The good guys come out there," says Rudd, a thin, friendly man with a whispy blonde beard. He points first to the north entrance of the arena, then the south entrance.

"The bad guys come out there." "Stud" Tracy from Dallas enters the arena from the good corner. Emerging from the opposite corner is 242 pounds of Stories by Mark Petix Photos by Sean Haffey Times-Advocate staff County has case of Wrestlemania fever When it comes to Wrestlemania, count San Diego in. More than 10,000 San Diego County homes are expected to pay $19.95 for Sunday's cable television broadcast of Wrestlemania IV, the latest grudge match between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. In case you 1 missed Wrestlemania III, the popular Hulk lost to the Giant in a match marred by controversy. Not only was a crucial referee's call disputed, the Giant sold the championship belt to Ted DiBiase, the Million Dollar Man.

The World Wrestling Federation cried foul, and Wrestlemania IV was born. The 1 p.m. battle royale should be at least as popular as the crowd pleasing (and money making) Wrestlemania II and III. The match will be rebroadcast at 4 p.m.. Cox Cable spokesman Marty Youngman said the Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvin Hagler super fight is the only pay-forview event to attract more viewers than Wrestlemania.

He says 16,000 of the 135,000 San Diego County households capable of receiving the pay-per-view signal I bought the super fight. More than 10,000 paid for the first two versions of Wrestlemania. "It really has been amazing," Youngman said. "People just go crazy for How popular is big-time wrestling? Consider the celebrity assistants who will be on hand for Sunday's match. Baseball celebrity Bob Uecker will be the announcer, "Wheel of Fortune's" Vanna White will be time keeper and Robin Leach of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" will present the championship belt.

Gladys Knight of Pips fame will sing America the Beautiful. Lenny Fields, World Wrestling Federation promoter in the San Diego area, says television has helped create superstars out of professional wrestlers. Fans don't have to pay to see top wrestling action Sunday. Ted Turner's Superstation WTBS is offering the free cable alternative to Wrestlemania. His National Wrestling Association championships will air at the same time as Wrestlemania IV.

Turner's broadcast will feature champion Ric Flair vs. Sting, a face-painting loudmouth. And the Road Warriors tag team will keep viewing lively when it meets the Powers of Pain in a six-man Chicago Street Fight, complete with Texas barbed wire around the ring to keep the wrestlers inside. A din Fans are free to hurl abuse at professional wrestlers, and it's a big part of the fun. Only here can a pencil-necked geek car North County Magazine Thursday, March 24, 1988.