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Interview
Al Burke - ("UniversalWrestlingFederation.net" - 07/30/2006)
Tell me how you first came to meet Herb Abrams. When did you first work for him? I know you worked a 1993 television taping in Minot, ND as Mr. Outrageous, and the 1994 "Blackjack Brawl" card in Las Vegas, NV as Dr. Feelgood.
Burke: I met with Herb Abrams in his Malibu office in March 1993 where I was hired to work in that office and wrestle on future shows. Minot was the first time wrestling for the UWF.
Were you associated with the company when they planned to relaunch just prior to Herb's death in 1996?
Burke: Yes.
How did you come to possess the UWF tape library and Tag Team Championship belt? Do you have any other UWF memorabilia?
Burke: Herb left for New York in December 1994 to take care of his sick mother, leaving me in charge of all west coast operations. In a letter dated January 2, 1995, Herb Abrams gave me full control of the UWF in his absence. I don’t think Herb realized he would never return. A letter dated November 19, 1995 gave me the rights to use the UWF Tag Belt for charities and in my acting career for which I am “depicting or portraying a wrestler.” As far as memorabilia, I have some old photos of Herb, Herb’s Popeye collection, some T-shirts, posters and flyers from Blackjack Brawl which I also helped promote.
Do you have an episode guide of the weekly series "Fury Hour", or know exactly how many episodes of the show were produced? Todd Okerlund told me there is roughly 60 hours of footage, including the "Beach Brawl" pay-per-view and "Blackjack Brawl" special.
Burke: I have given Todd Okerlund all the footage of UWF in NTSC format. No episode guide for Fury Hour. My library inventory shows 69 episodes of Fury Hour, but Mr. Abrams had remixed some of the same episodes to increase the size of the UWF library. That is one of the many games that Herb Abrams was famous for.
Besides licensing the tape library through Classic Wrestling, what else do you plan on doing with the UWF footage? Any chance of a DVD compilation?
Burke: That is something Todd and I have yet to decide, but we have been talking about it. At this time no. Maybe in a couple of years it will go to DVD in the stores.
Have any other parties shown interest in buying the tape library?
Burke: Some negotiations are ongoing.
Do you keep track of foreign licensing of UWF footage? I've seen several DVD compilations appear in recent years (Germany and Australia) that feature UWF footage. Are those authorized by you? Zoogz Rift told me that in his travels with Herb Abrams in 1993-1994, they sold distribution rights to several foreign companies.
Burke: Todd Okerlund and I have discussed that and none of those were authorized by me. Zoogz went to Malaysia with Herb while I ran the office with Marty Cohen at the time.One more foreign deal was made after the trip to Malaysia by Herb and myself. Zoogz left the UWF for many reasons including money owed to him before the trip to Las Vegas. I was then promoted to second in command upon the resignation of Zoogz. FYI – The MGM Grand was also owed money (lots of money) by Herb. That is another story for “The Life and Times of Herb Abrams!”.
What are your most distinct memories of Herb Abrams and your time working for his promotion?
Burke: Hawaii with Herb, a hooker and Steve Williams before Herb’s death. Tour of Israel with Herb – I don’t know how we made it out of that country alive.
I recently watched "Blackjack Brawl" and there was a man named Carlo Gianelli doing play-by-play on the live broadcast. Do you know who he was?
Burke: I don’t know where Herb came up with this guy.
I've read that the checks Mick Foley and Missy Hyatt received for their work at "Blackjack Brawl" later bounced. Were you paid for your work that night?
Burke: I was finally paid for that night, but it took 6 months to get it. I think the only reason I was paid is because I was working so closely with Herb and knew MANY secrets.
How would you like the UWF promotion to be remembered?
Burke: Herb Abrams was a character to say the least. The UWF should be remembered for all of the craziness that Herb brought to the promotion. The UWF could have been so much more if it wasn’t for the drug problems of Herb Abrams. Now, I am making sure that all deals are fair, reasonable and always above board with Todd Okerlund and anyone that works with myself and the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF).
