From: ljr3721@usl.edu (Richard Lenis J)
Subject: WWF on Geraldo
Organization: University of Southwestern Louisiana
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 05:18:48 GMT

OK, I know someone has already posted about this, but I had it all typed out
so I will post anyway.  If you're sick of hearing about Vince and the sex
scandals, hit 'n' now...


The following is partial transcript of 'Geraldo' from Monday, April 13, 1992.
The topic was 'sex scandals' and among the guests were Murray Hodgson and
Rita, both former employees of the WWF.  I didn't get Rita's last name
(they may not have given it; I missed the first few minutes), but she's the 
former female referee.

--- begin ---

Rita:  	   I saw Vince in the hall, I asked him if I could speak with him. He
        told me at that point that he was really busy, but after the matches
        to follow him to a restaurant, a greek diner a few miles up the road.
        And I did.  I got to the diner, Vince was there.  His limo driver,
        four or five camera men, other people, and myself were sitting at a
        big round table.  They were talking, they were gonna put on a show
        that week, what they were gonna cut, a lot of technical things that
        I really didn't know anything about.  When it seemed as though they
        were done talking, I brought up my career with Vince and asked what
        was gonna happen here.  And Vince just kinda looked at me, put his
        finger up to his mouth and kinda did a... you know, hush hush.  So,
        of course I did.  Vince is...he's it.  He makes you or breaks you.

     	   A few minutes later,  I went into the lady's room.  When I came
        out of the corridor of the lady's room, Vince was standing there.
        (He) told me that he definitely wanted to talk to me about my
        career, said that he definitely neglected doing something with me at
        this point, and that he wanted me to follow him because he didn't
        want to talk there at the diner.  There were quite a few people from
        the federation there.  It made sense.  I can understand that.  We
        left there, I followed Vince over to a Denny's in the parking lot.
        I got out of my car, walked to the front of the car, Vince's driver
        got out and opened the door and I thought Vince was gonna get out.
        But instead, Vince said, "No, Rita, come in here.  We just sat in
        the diner for a couple of hours, I really don't want coffee, we'll
        just sit and talk here."  We're sitting in a parking lot, I mean, I
        didn't think much of it.  I got in the limo with him.

           We got into the limo, Vince started talking about magazines,
        t-shirts, wrestling dolls, we don't have a referee doll at this
        point, a female would be great, on and on, and again starts to talk
        about a half a million dollar a year  contract.  Next thing I know
        Vince McMahon is unzipping his pants.

        [pause]

           I was pretty shocked at that point, you know, we're talking
        profession here and suddenly he wants more than just profession.
        Vince continued to, you know, if you want a half a million dollar
        contract, you're gonna have to satisfy me, and this is the way things
        have to go.  Vince grabbed my hand, kept trying to put my hand on him.
        I was scared.  At the end, my wrist was all purple, black and blue.
        Things just didn't...he just...[pause]...He just didn't stop!  This
        man just didn't stop, you know, a half a million dollar a year
        contract, how's your daughter gonna go to college?  Of course, she
        doesn't *have* to go to college, you know, you can keep going the way
        you are now.

        I left a $30,000 a year job on Vince McMahon's word.  He knew that.

Geraldo:   What is your allegation, Rita? State it.

Rita  :    My allegation right now is sexual harassment. [pause] I was forced
        into oral sex with Vince McMahon.  When I couldn't complete his
        desires, he got really angry, started ripping off my jeans, pulled
        me on top of him, and told me, again, if I wanted a half a million
        dollar a year contract, I had to satisfy him.  He could make me or
        break me, and if I didn't satisfy him I was blackballed.  That was
        it.  I was done.

           When Vince was all said and done, Vince just sat back and said...
        at one point, when I first met Vince, let me back up here just a
        little bit.  The very first time I met Vince, I was told that if I
        had sexual relationships with anyone in the federation, I was done.
        My career was done.  I was engaged, I had no problem with that.  When
        Vince was said and done, Vince looked at me and said, "Do you
        remember what I told you about having sexual relationships with
        anyone?  Well, you just did."  And he just sat back and had this big
        smile and this big grin and just started laughing at me.


Geraldo :  We'll get much deeper into Rita's allegations and talk with Murray
        about his harassment.  Breifly, Murray, why don't you say what one
        World Wrestling Federation official said when he saw you for the
        first time after you had been hired?

Murray :   He approached me at the TV taping and asked me what I taste like.
        I was somewhat offended by it and knew exactly what he wanted and
        told him that he had the wrong guy and he candidly told me that if
        I wanted to keep my job, that was the way it was going to be.  I
        turned him down.  Two weeks later, I was fired.

--- end ---

        Later in the show, an audience member asked why they had waited so
long to come forward (The incident with Rita and Vince took place on July
15, 1986). Rita explained that in the wrestling business, 'nobody talks'.  
She also said that no one would have believed her at the time, and that her 
attorney said that since she had no proof, it was her word against Vince's.  
Murray said that Vince had offered him money to keep quiet.  He didn't
disclose an amount, but Geraldo said that he heard it was $160,000.

        By the way, this is my first post to this group.  I have been reading
quietly for about 5 months and have really enjoyed it, especially since this
is the only contact I have with other non-mark wrestling fans.  You probably
won't hear from me often, but I'll be reading.  Keep up the good work!
-- 
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                 | Joey Richard      email: ljr3721@usl.edu |
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