Welcome dedicated wrestling fans! I have a few things I would like to address this week. Recently, former WWF referee Billy Silverman conducted an interview where he basically slammed the WWF. His comments about possible hazing and mistreatment of new WWF employees has seemed to raise a few eyebrows in the wrestling world. Of course, that is just his side of the story, but he made some pretty severe accusations regarding backstage conduct.

Silverman claims that certain WWF employees go overboard by ‘initiating’ new WWF employees. One of the people accused is Bradshaw. He accuses Bradshaw of being the leader of these hazes and claims he threatened him with physical violence. Basically, he says that Bradshaw is very mean person. I don’t know that I believe that. I think maybe Bradshaw can be a very intimidating person when he wants to be, but I don’t necessarily believe he is a bad person. It’s hard for me to form an accurate opinion since I do not know Bradshaw very well, but from what I have heard about the man in the past, he seems to be good hearted.

According to Silverman, certain individuals bound and gagged a half naked Charles Robinson, another WWF referee, and wheeled him out on a cart for the whole WWF crew to laugh at. I think bounding and gagging any individual for no reason at all is a funny way of showing your love and appreciation for someone, unless you are a sex dominatrix. It is widely known that fraternity groups have their “initiations” that they put their new members through before they can join their group. If some of the WWF crew wants to “initiate” new members into the WWF, I see no harm in it as long as there is no severe physical or mental harm done. Do you think it may be possible that Mr. Silverman is just a little over sensitive and took things a little too personal?

There have also been rumors going around that past newly hired members to the WWF were also ‘hazed’. According to an anonymous source, a newly hired member was hogged tied while taking a shower in the locker room, soaked in baby oil, and threatened to be rapped by the participants of the hazing. Now, I have to admit that experience would not be too much fun for the victim, but I hardly doubt that the participants of this hazing were actually serious. Now I could be wrong and these threats could have been very serious, but I don’t think anyone should be judged until both sides of the story have been heard. It’s possible that these ‘victims’ could be after a large amount of money from a lawsuit or they could simply be out for justice for the wrong doings that were displayed upon them.

The whole point of this column is to make the readers understand that these accusations that are floating around cannot be considered until both parties have spoken. These accusations could be true and very severe, or they could be completely misunderstood and blown way out of proportion. I just do not think it is fair to assume anything without hearing the story from all the parties involved. I’m not trying to take anything away from this issue or call anyone a liar. I am just trying to approach this with an open mind. Pro wrestling is a passion that burns deep within me as well as many other fans and the wrestlers themselves. When someone comes out with accusations such as these, it’s almost like accusing a close family member or friend of the same actions. It bothers you that much and causes pain and worry to flow through your mind worse than a “Chair Shot to the Cranium”. Let’s wait and see what the WWF has to say about these events and keep and open mind. We may not hear from the WWF about this because it is too ridiculous to even comment on, or we may hear their side of the story. Only time will tell.