The figure four on finances: headlocks and powerbombs or stocks and bonds, the WWE's money man keeps an eye on the bottom line - Interview: Bradshaw - John Layfield - Interview

Wrestling Digest, Dec, 2003 by Chris Yandek

THE VOICE OF WWE, JIM ROSS recently wrote a cookbook, and WWE legend Mick Foley just penned his first novel. Not to be outdone by his literary cohorts, current WWE star Bradshaw is in the midst of a book tour of his own in support of his new financial advice book, which is cheekily titled "Have More Money Now."

Bradshaw (real name: John Layfield) keeps a sharp eye on Wall Street. He has a keen understanding of the markets and has appeared on top TV business shows on CNBC and MSNBC.

The 6'6", 290-pound Bradshaw, made his pro wrestling debut in 1992. Before entering the ring, Bradshaw was a standout on the gridiron, earning All-America honors as an offensive tackle at Abilene Christian. A training camp invitee of the Oakland Raiders, Bradshaw played a season for the San Antonio Texans of the World League American Football (now NFL Europe), before hanging up his helmet.

So even as the former WWE tag-team, hardcore, and European champ tries to add some more rifles to his impressive resume, he's also championing a new cause-making the often beguiling world of business easier for the general public to understand.

We sat down with Bradshaw recently to discuss his personal finance book the out-look for shares of WWE, and his opinion of his boss, Vince McMahon.

WRESTLING DIGEST: Why did yon decide to write "Have More Money Now:. A Common Sense Approach to Financial Management" and can you give us a quick summary of the book?

BRADSHAW: I thought there was a market for it. I have read so many financial books that are so boring or ones you need a calculator or accounting degree to read, and I realized that there is a market for people to have a common-sense approach to financial management for 401Ks and to find out everything out there that is available to them. It's just an easier read. They can sit down and understand and not have to do a lot of thinking--they won't simply get lost in a bash of numbers.

WD: As a businessman and stock expert yourself, why do you think WWE revenue and earnings have declined each year for the last three years?

BRADSHAW: I think it has a lot to do with the economy. I think that most live events have a few people that are just so fantastic anywhere they go. Bruce Springsteen can probably sell at the Meadowlands in New Jersey 365 days a year, but most other live entertainment events are simply down. I think September llth had a huge effect. You have a couple of wars and you have had this recession. I think we are coming out of it, and I think that is due to a variety of factors within our company. The Rock has gone off to do movies; Steve Austin has had some injuries; the Undertaker has had some injuries; and Triple H has had some injuries. Those are our four most marketable stars, and it takes a little while to build some stars up. Now most of those guys are back, and I think you will see our business and revenue pick up in the next few quarters and years.

WD: Where did the idea come from for you to jump to "Smackdown" from "Raw" and reunite the APA one more time with Faarooq, before he went into semi-retirement?

BRADSHAW: As far as Faarooq, he did go into retirement for a little while. I thought that the APA still had legs left, and fortunately the WWE creative team thought so as well. Faarooq was already on "Smackdown" so either he had to jump to "Raw" or I had to jump to "Smackdown." We already have one tough, beer-drinking Texan on "Raw," so it just made a natural thing for me to jump to WWE "Smackdown".

WD: On May 25, 1999, you and Faarooq, wrestling as the Acolytes, defeated Kane and X-Pac on "Raw" to become the WWE tag-team champs for the first of three times. What are your thoughts looking back on winning the tag-team championship for the first time?

BRADSHAW: It was unbelievable It was a culmination of what we wanted to do for a long time, and to be out there with Ron Simmons [Faarooq], who is one of the greatest wrestling stars of all time, was just a fabulous feeling. And every other time we won the belts it was the same way. It is kind of like a reward for hard work, and I felt really proud that we had done it. I was looking forward, at the time, to representing those belts in the way that champions do.

WD: What are your thoughts on Vince McMahon as a wrestling promoter?

BRADSHAW: Oh man ... It's the same as Warren Buffet as an investor. He is the absolute best. There is nobody better than Vince McMahon. P.T. Barnum couldn't carry his suitcase for him. Vince McMahon is probably the best promoter that has ever lived.

WD: Finally, what are your thoughts on "Raw" creative head Brian Gerwitz and the job he did while you were there?

BRADSHAW: I think he has done a good job. Brian started before the roster split, and now we have the roster split and it has been a tough time. I think Brian has done an admirable job. It is a tough thing to sit with no reruns and to write a show new each week. That is a very tough thing. Brian has been there a long time, and just by the fact of his tenure, it shows he has done a very good job, or else he wouldn't still be there.