AWA

After wrapping up in Stampede, David would make his way to Verne Gagne’s territory in, based in Minnesota, the AWA. The AWA produced some of the biggest names in wresting history, and the biggest would be one who David worked with on many occasions; Hulk Hogan. Although, they were adversaries onscreen, David would reveal that he and Hogan were quite close outside of it. He remembers Hogan not having much money, early in his life, and that Schultz and his wife were incredibly hospitable to him. They would feed him and even give him a place to stay. His daughter also grew fond of the future Hulkster, as David said she “loved to hear him play his guitar.”

In turn, Hogan would turn David onto bodybuilding, as David says his physique wasn’t particularly impressive before meeting Hulk. David says at this time, Vince McMahon had been making a lot of noise in the business. At one point, Hogan took him aside and revealed that he was going to work for Vince and the WWF. The two were embroiled in a feud in AWA at the time, and Hogan suggested to Schultz that if they amplified the heat that Vince would likely take David as well. It all came down to money of course, as McMahon was offering a lot of it.

Schultz says that from then on, he and Hogan ramped it up for their rivalry. It worked and Schultz would follow Hogan into the WWF. He remembers Vince McMahon telling him that he would make nearly a quarter of a million dollars a year, but that he never actually got that promise in writing. Vince asked David to quit the AWA on the spot at a set of TV tapings. David wasn’t crazy about the idea, but did as he was asked. He says that Gagne was the best promoter he ever worked for.

David Schultz was about to head to “New York,” as they called it in the business. Thanks to an unforeseen event that ironically, involved a non-wrestler, his life and career would never be the same again. At the time though, David simply felt he was doing what was best for himself and his family. What he got was becoming a key part of one of the most sensational stories in wrestling history, that stemmed from a single word. A word that has and continues to taunt the business to this day.

WWF And The Slap Heard “Round The World”

Funny enough, Dr D was a controversial figure in WWF from the start, well before the John Stossel incident. The company has often used vignettes to introduce a character, a practice that is still used to this day, and typically to great affect. In the skits for Schultz, he was portrayed as something of a verbally abusive father and husband. It was uncomfortable, but it also reflected real life for many people. Say what you will, but it garnered a reaction when the audience became outraged by what they saw. Some even went so far as to file actual complaints against the company!

Controversy aside, the vignettes helped to establish Schultz as a despicable villain, and he vaulted to the upper card, rather quickly. Many say his character and the way it was portrayed was reticent of an early Steve Austin. Dr D was given ample TV time early on, and he was said to be the original choice for Roddy Piper’s partner at the inaugural WrestleMania. Speaking of which, there are also rumors that Schultz actually coined the term, WrestleMania, but that has never been substantiated. Everything seemed to be on an upward trajectory, until that fateful day in December of 1984.

It was just after Christmas, and the popular news show, 20/20 was set to do a piece on pro wrestling. John Stossel was known as being somewhat incendiary, and even confrontational in his approach. Between Schultz and Vince McMahon, only the former has ever shared his side of the story. David claims that Vince had approached him in the locker room, in full view and listening range of other wrestlers. He says that Vince instructed him to “light up” the reporter who was doing a story on the company. David took that to mean only one thing and agreed to his employer’s request.

Apparently, what we see in the clip is only the second part of the actual interview. Schultz says the cameraman had asked him a few questions, before handing it over to Stossel. He said the cameraman was initially polite, but later made a crack at David’s expense. Thus, David says he was already annoyed by the time the cameras were rolling, hence his comment about “this Punk holding the camera.” This does help substantiate David’s story, as why he insulted the cameraman seems out of context, until you consider Schultz was already upset with him.

The tone of John Stossel’s and David Schultz’s brief but powerful encounter is acrimonious from the start. Stossel starts by asking, “Is this a good business?” Dr D responds by saying “Yeah it’s a good business, or I wouldn’t be in it.” “Why is it a good business,” Stossel replies. “Because only the tough survive, that’s why you ain’t in it, and that’s why this punk holdin’ the camera ain’t in it,” Shultz says, before quickly adding, “is that all you got?” John Stossel then says “I’m gonna ask you the standard question,” “the standard question,” Schultz caustically retorts. Stossel then contradicts himself by EXCLAIMING, not asking, “I think it’s fake!”

The rest is history as they say, but to be precise, it wasn’t actually “the slap heard around the world,” but two slaps. David Schultz slaps Stossel once, who gets back up, and then proceeds to slap Stossel a second time, with even more force. The second slap is particularly violent, and Stossel scurries off in a huff of shock. David points out how Mr. Fuji is in full view, and never does anything to intervene. He cites this as proof that McMahon had asked him to do what he did, because Fuji knew it was coming, as he was in the dressing room during the conversation.

Aftermath

David says he was initially scheduled to go on much later that night, but Vince informed him that Stossel wanted to press charges. He told Schultz that he would now be opening the show, and to leave the building immediately after. David said that Vince told him he would take care of everything, and not to worry. After all, this was the same Vince McMahon who allegedly got Jimmy Snuka out of a much, much more serious charge. David would continue to go on about his typical schedule, until Vince approached him backstage.

Immediately after the incident, Schultz did a tour of Japan, in order to allow things to “cool down,”. During this time, John Stossel had officially filed a lawsuit against the WWF. Vince was feeling the pressure, and would approach Schultz backstage. He requested that Schultz sign a sworn statement that he acted independently when he struck Stossel, absolving the company of any blame. David refused, and essentially sealed his fate as a result. Funny enough, it would be the man who would have been opposite Schultz in the ring, had David actually been involved in the inaugural WrestleMania main event, that led to his termination.

Mr. T was backstage at an event, and conflicting reports have David Schultz either physically intimidating or assaulting him. David completely denies this, but nevertheless, he was fired on the spot by Chief Jay Strongbow. Hulk Hogan would be the one to accuse David of striking Mr. T, and as a result, the friendship between Hogan and Schultz was irreparably damaged. Of course, Hogan would have a similar incident with Richard Belzer that also resulted in a lawsuit, but did not suffer the same consequences as Dr D.

Life After Wrestling

David would stay in the wrestling business for about another year, working independent dates. However, Vince McMahon was making a concerted effort to blacklist David from the industry, making it extremely difficult for him to find consistent work. Much like wrestling, David would just sort of find himself working as a bounty hunter, after a suggestion from an acquaintance. It was a natural fit for the former pro wrestler, and David embraced the job by readily pursuing some of the most dangerous fugitives around the world.

One of his most notable cases, was when he rescued two young girls who had been abducted. The girls were being subjected to unspeakable conditions, and David would find them, apprehend their kidnapper, and return the girls to safety. David’s work as a bounty hunter would see him travel just as much as he had during his time in wrestling. It’s only fitting that a man who many said was the ultimate victim of injustice in his previous endeavor, to find himself becoming a purveyor of justice in his following one. To quote David’s friend and protégé, Bret Hart, once more, “all I can say is that there was never a wrestler, anywhere, who didn’t see David as a defender of our profession.”