Today In Wrestling History 7/6: Goldberg Wins WCW Title, Canadian Stampede, McMahon Trial Day 2

* 21 years ago in 1994, Vince McMahon's criminal trial for charges of steroid distribution and conspiracy to distribute continued with opening arguments and the first batch of prosecution witnesses in federal court in the Eastern District of New York (venue established in large part by the pharmacies that were used being on Long Island). Before we move forward, let's briefly go over the charges, because it's a bit confusing.

The first count of the indictment alleged that McMahon conspired with Dr. George Zahorian (the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission doctor who was convicted in 1991 on the same charges) to defraud the United States, essentially by introducing steroids into the market in ways they shouldn't have been used or distributed. Zahorian had been hired as the doctor for WWF events by the commission for his entire tenure, but they changed the rules in 1989 to make it that the promotion would hire the doctor. The WWF did plan to Zahorian but rescinded the offer before his first show under the new rules. This became important later.

The other two counts alleged that McMahon possessed steroids with intent to distribute them to Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea on two occasions in 1989. This pertained to them splitting the steroids as friends, but legally, there's no distinction. There were also other, more problematic issues you'll hear about later on.

After the prosecutor (Sean O'Shea) and defense attorneys (Jerry McDevitt and Laura Brevetti) laid out their cases in opening statements, it was time for the witnesses:

** Randy Colley, best known as Moondog Rex and the original Smash in Demolition, was up first. Zahorian wouldn't do a history, just ask what they wanted after taking each wrestler's blood pressure as they lined up one after the other. WWF road agents would tell wrestlers to see Zahorian "if you looked like you were worn out." When the WWF stopped taping TV in Pennsylvania every three weeks in 1984, Zahorian would fill larger orders at the shows he was assigned to, and Colley would order steroids from Zahorian when he wasn't working in the WWF. Did he see Zahorian as a doctor? "[laughs] If I was really sick, I'd go find someone else." Vince McMahon and WWF road agents never asked him to do steroids.

** Tom Zenk was next, testifying under a subpoena that forced him to miss part of a tour for All Japan Pro Wrestling. While road agent Jack Lanza told him Zahorian had "anything" he wanted, Zenk never bought steroids from Zahorian because his own doctor in Minneapolis was his supplier. A high school that hosted a C-level house show once complained about wrestlers having left needles lying around. He said that he left the WWF on bad terms in 1987, as he left for AJPW after taking issue over his pay, but when the WWF demanded a percentage of his earnings for a return on their "investment," he threatened to call the New York Times and talk about steroid abuse in the WWF. He had called the McMahons' home at 2:00 a.m. three weeks before the trial for reasons that weren't explained, and while he said he didn't do steroids in WCW, he started again when his contract expired several weeks earlier.

** Terry "The Warlord" Szopinski was the next witness, Used steroids a few years pre-WWF. Bret Hart's famous blackboard drawings often featured a wrestler leaning over with needles sticking out of his butt. Referee turned road agent Dave Hebner told him he could get steroids and pills from Zahorian. Didn't buy from Zahorian because his prices were too high. He gained 110 pounds on steroids and didn't drop any weight when he stopped. Harvey Whippleman was caught taking a steroid test for Sid Justice before the "eye witness" rule for testers was put in place, and the jury was instructed to disregard that remark.

** Tully Blanchard was the last witness of the day. When he signed in 1988, McMahon told him cocaine was banned but other drugs were acceptable. He was already using steroids and said use in "the NWA" (presumably referring to Jim Crockett Promotions) was pretty close to that of the WWF. He heard about Zahorian years before he set foot in the WWF.

Tomorrow: Dr. George Zahorian testifies.

* 18 years ago in 1997, the WWF ran the In Your House: Canadian Stampede pay-per-view live from the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The show, regarded as one of the very best in company history, was built around Bret Hart returning from knee surgery in his hometown as part of a ten man tag match where the Hart Foundation defeated Team USA of Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, and the Road Warriors. The crowd was among the hottest in WWF history, and the probable highlight of the show is the individual entrances for each member of Hart Foundation: Brian Pillman comes out first, gets the biggest pop of his career, and it only gets bigger and bigger from there until the roof was blown off the building for Bret's entrance.

With just four matches in a two hour slot, everything got plenty of time, which meant that Mankind vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley, The Undertaker vs. Vader, and even The Great Sasuke vs. TAKA Michinoku were served well. Every match was at least very good, the crowd was into everything, and the main event is an amazing spectacle that also happens to have great wrestling. Well worth checking out in WWE Network.

* 17 years ago in 1998, WCW ran a live Monday Nitro at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The crowd of 41,412 fans was the highest in WCW's history, The show is best known for featuring Goldberg's WCW World Heavyweight Championship win over Hulk Hogan (after beating Scott Hall earlier in the show to get the shot), as well it should be, because it was one of the last great moments in company history. The match also features what is by far Bobby Heenan's best moment on commentary as a babyface by default in the NWO era. But there's a bit of a funny story behind how the match got booked.

WCW was still hugely successful in 1998, thanks in large part to Goldberg. He caught fire and deserves most of the credit for the crowd, as the bulk of the tickets were sold before the Hogan match was announced and he was the undefeated hometown hero on the rise. That match came about because Hogan, knowing Turner Broadcasting executives would be there for the biggest show in company history, would think he drew the crowd if he was in the main event. At first, it was going to be a non-title dark match, but that changed before long.