The “Magnificent” Don Muraco is the latest guest to appear on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast, and they covered a large variety of topics in their conversation with him. At least a few of those have to do with current events in the wrestling business. Some of the highlights include:
His thoughts on Hulk Hogan’s post-coital racist rant going public:
Honestly, I was never a part of his clique so I don’t have a dog in the fight. I was never a part of his clique with the guys they used to fawn around him and kiss his ass for work and for bookings and for places on the card. He always seemed though to be one of the guys, kind of. Even though he wasn’t because he was “The Hulk”. He had the TV, the NBC, the movies and everyone coming after him. I never did see or saw him as a racist or a bigot or anything. He got caught. It was stupid for a guy that spends that much time talking publicly like we are talking now for a person that spends that much time being taped it was dumb and pretty insensitive. I don’t know if he was secretly being taped or what the story is but still with all the political correctness and stuff going down now you have to watch your p’s and q’s all the time.
Was he aware of the issues between Jimmy Snuka and Nancy Argentino at the time?
I was right there around it the whole time. It was the week after we shot the thing where he tore all my clothes off and I hit him with the microphone. The same night, it was the oddest coincidence. That same night Eddie Gilbert had run his brand new Lincoln Town-car off the back end of a semi-truck and got drug down the freeway and he called me in the middle of the night and that’s how I ended up crossing over with all of the State Troopers and everything else and that’s how I got involved but I could see my whole future going down the drain there for a while.
Has he talked to Snuka lately?
I was talking to him on the phone until he started having his medical issues. I haven’t spoken to him in a while. His wife wanted me to see him when I’m up in New Jersey and she wanted me to say hello to him and kind of perk up his spirits.
Where does he stand on the wrestlers suing WWE for negligence in treating concussions:
I would have to be more for the personal responsibility. Although we were getting run really hard. I don’t know, but I guess I would follow (Dan) Spivey where you have to take responsibility for yourself. I just saw a tape of Led Zeppelin doing Stairway to Heaven and Jimmy Page and the four of them and I think the girl from Heart was doing it too and they are all still surviving. So if Led Zeppelin is still going then a lot of wrestlers should be. I think though I have to agree with Danny Spivey and you have to take personal responsibility for yourself when it comes to addiction and taking care of your bread. We are all afforded the opportunity to make money and when you lose it and you are knocked off your high horse you want to blame somebody else.
In the full interview, Muraco talks about working for both Vince McMahons, his run with Hogan, “Fuji Vice” on Tuesday Night Titans, and more.