World Bodybuilding Federation

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.

History

Creation

Vince McMahon created the WBF [ [http://www.wrestlecrap.com/oldinductions.html The World Bodybuilding Federation: Vince McMahon's first real attempt to branch out beyond the wrestling ring ends miserably as wrestling fans don't want to watch bodybuilders, even if they do act like wrestlers.] ] 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.

1991

McMahon announced at the company's unveiling on January 30 1991 in New York'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, NJ and 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. Regis Philbin was brought in to co-host the event with McMahon and Bobby Heenan.

It was announced in a private meeting with BodyStars that because Vince McMahon was under federal suspicion for steroid distribution, the second competition would have to be drug-free. Former television personality and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno had just signed with the WBF and immediately left the company upon hearing this news.

1992

Many BodyStars were unable to get their bodies clean before the June 1992 competition in Long Beach, California that aired live on pay-per-view. It resulted in the physiques of several competitors appearing less than acceptable. This damaged McMahon's reputation in the eyes of the bodybuilding community. Professional wrestler Lex Luger was scheduled to compete 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.

Champions

*1991 - Gary Strydom
*1992 - Gary Strydom

Results

WBF Championship - 1991

:June 15, 1991 from the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey

*1. Gary Strydom
*2. Mike Christian
*3. Berry DeMey
*4. Jim Quinn
*5. Eddie Robinson

WBF Championship - 1992

:June 1992 from Long Beach, California

*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 Network. 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.

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.

External links

* [http://pwchronicle.blogspot.com/2005/12/history-definitive-history-of-wbf.html The Pro Wrestling Chronicle's Definitive History Of The WBF]
* [http://bodybuilding1.org/World%20Bodybuilding%20Federation.htm The Rise And Fall Of The World Bodybuilding Federation]