Bill Apter Tells Story Of Frmr NY Commissioner Reprimanding Him Over Women’s Wrestling Question

Legendary pro wrestling journalist Bill Apter has just released the above video via the 1Wrestling YouTube channel.

In it he discusses some of the hot pro wrestling news stories at the moment.

We have included some transcribed highlights from Bill below. You can listen to his full comments in the embedded player at the top of this post.

(Note: If you use WrestleZone’s transcription elsewhere please credit us, thanks!)

Related: Bill Apter Discusses Origins Of ‘The Apter Mags’, Wrestlers On The Covers, A Crazy Muhammad Ali Story, More

On Stephanie McMahon’s announcement about the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match:

BA: Totally equal. This is incredible. Just a few weeks ago the WWE was able to have their very first women’s pro wrestling match in the middle east. It was banned. It was not permitted. WWE was able to change that. These woman, these fighting athletes, they are so spectacular in the ring and have become such great role models.

I’m gonna go back now to the early part of my career in the 1970s. There was a WWWF show at the Garden and Vince McMahon Sr. was of course the promoter along with the President of the WWWF Willie Gilzenberg. They ran great shows but there were no women and no masked wrestlers. Both women and masked wrestlers were banned from competing in New York state. I remember I would go out through the players’ entrance on the ground floor and you would take an elevator up to the 5th floor where there was the main arena and the dressing rooms.

On one occasion, in probably mid-1971, I remember being in the elevator and it was crowded. My father was with me, he used to always come to the matches with me. I go in and my back is towards the front of the elevator. Right in front of me at the back of the elevator, staring right at me, is the head of the New York State Athletic Commission, Commissioner Dooley. The elevator is packed and I am just lightheartedly saying, “hi,” to everybody. I see him and he says, “Hi Mr. Reporter-Man, how are you doing?” I said out of curiosity, “Why aren’t the women allowed to wrestle in New York state?” As the elevator opened he said, “If you want to keep your job Mr. Reporter-Man you won’t ask such stupid questions.” All of his cronies laughed as we all got out of the elevator. They all looked back at me like I was stupid. It really grated me. I had seen such great wrestlers like The Fabulous Moolah.

On the Wrestle Kingdom 12 “No DQ” match between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho:

BA: I’ve got such fight fever for the Chris Jericho vs Kenny Omega fight. It’s been announced that this will be a “No Disqualification” match and I just have such a buzz for this. New Japan has a new English website and you need to check that out.