M. Rosent sent the following report....I attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Today, in a Media and Journalism class, Dr. Tom Pritchard and a Mike Dwarkus(?) came in to speak to a group of roughly 300 students about their experience in the WWE.

Dwarkus is merely an intern in the Publications Department at WWE who got his degree at Rutgers undergrad, and has been for a year and a half. Despite describing his time spent doing "b**ch work", Mike said he had always dreamed of working for WWE in the creative end, and writing articles for the magazines of WWE, which he said he enjoyed doing thoroughly.

Pritchard obviously had more interesting tidbits to let out. Dr. Tom discussed his upbringings in Houston, Texas and how he always dreamed of being a professional wrestler. Pritchard said he got his start in 1980, and was paid $35 for his first match. He discussed how wrestlers are independent contractors and get paid on a nightly basis.

Dr. Tom signed his first WWF contract in 1993 with no guaranteed money. In 1996, after 16 years in the business, he received his first salaried contract with benefits to become a trainer for WWF. Pritchard said his first trainees were Braakus, Mark Henry, and The Rock. Pritchard described how he had to be a coach, mentor, and trainer, but also had to be business-minded. Dr.Tom went into how he was never very business-like, and how years of partying on the road caught up to him and made him enter rehab in 1996 for 15 weeks, but luckily his job was waiting when he returned, and now he realized he had to mentor others to not make his mistakes and tarnish the image of the WWF.

Pritchard then went in to discussion concerning the WWE being a soap opera and the need of WWE to realize that people know wrestling is fake, and don't want to watch it, but if the writers can come up with intriguing storylines, WWE will be able to get an audience.

Dr. Tom turns to the WWE Diva Search and begins discussion on Carmela DeCesare who will be making an appearance at a club on campus. Carmela is described by Pritchard as a real "witch" who didn't win the contest, but marketed herself so well on RAW that WWE decided to offer her a job. Tom says Carmela got more publicity from her stint in WWE Diva Search than being Playboy Playmate of the Year.

Tom went on to say that despite rough times now, Vince is a genius, and "within five years, Vince will draw crowds back with something that intrigues the public."

Pritchard then discussed why he no longer works for WWE. When Pritchard first started with WWE, Jim Ross was in charge of Talent Relations. Pritchard describes himself as very unbusiness-like - wearing sweatpants and t-shirts to work. Dr.Tom says Ross didn't care what people looked like as long as the job was done. Tom says when Johnny Ace took over, WWE became much more corporate, and Dr.Tom didn't like the changes he saw. When Ace said he didn't like the way the developmental system was running, Dr.Tom and Ace had words that resulted in Dr.Tom being fired by WWE. I got the impression here that there is no love loss for Ace from Dr.Tom. He basically said he hated him.

The most interesting thing from the speech was when Dr.Tom said Corporate America doesn't want someone to come in and be a straight shooter, but they want to hear you say what they want to hear. Is that a good thing to be teaching young college kids - to be "yes-men"? Anyway, Dr.Tom said he has nothing to do now with his recent firing and he might decide to open a school to train or educate others how to get into the business.

Overall, Dr.Tom came across as a really nice guy, though he was obviously, yet oddly, uncomfortable in front of so many kids. The crowd wasn't really knowledgeable about wrestling or Dr.Tom. He was introduced as a former Tag Team Champion, and when he asked if anyone knew who his tag team partner, the crowd stared blankly. When the speeches were over, someone asked who his partner was, and I screamed out "Jimmy Del Ray". When affirmed by Dr.Tom, the entire class looked at me as if I had three heads.

The only other question was about former Rutgers All-America Linda Miles who Dr.Tom described as someone with a major ego problem who wanted to be "Midnight" instead of "Shaniqua" and who would be in OVW until she realized the world didn't revolve around her.

All in all...can't say I have any negative comments. Interesting to hear his comments on Johnny Ace, Linda Miles, Carmella, and especially Corporate America. I would have loved to ask more informative questions, but I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of the crowd. Great job with the site!

PRITCHARD RESPONDS

Tom Pritchard sent the following to PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson this afternoon in response to a Rutgers University Lecture report sent in by M. Rosent yesterday, seeking to clarify Rosent's report. Pritchard's unedited comments read as follows:

Mike,

Professor Steve Miller sent the link of M. Rosent reporting on my lecture at Rutgers University yesterday. While I can appreciate wanting to get a "scoop", at least get the correct "scoop."

This is the third time I have spoke at Rutgers and the first time I have seen it covered on any website. I never said I "hated" anybody or that John Laurinaitis and I "had words." Nothing could be farther from the truth. The majority of the class wasn't knowledgeable about wrestling so I steered my lecture towards how I was able to survive in this business for over 25 years. I said in the real world, some people bluff their way through but without a solid foundation, they will fail miserably. Never did I say or tell the class it was OK to be "yes men."

I want to set the record straight. Obviously, M. Rosent reads the sites. I'm sure he has read about the changes and feelings that so and so has towards Laurinaitis. I have no animosity towards John Laurinaitis or anybody else at WWE! John made a decision that he felt was best for his department and the company. It was business. I understand that. I don't "hate" him.

I feel the need to set the record straight for a few reasons. The Internet gets bashed specifically for things like this being taken out of context and then being reported as gospel. It's obvious that M. Rosent heard what he wanted to hear and didn't "listen" to what was said.

I have done no less than 5 interviews since being released and have said basically the same thing. Everybody wants to know the "real reason" I was let go. M. Rosent obviously felt like he had a scoop when he heard me describe how I wore sweat pants and wasn't much of a businessman or corporate guy. But he didn't listen to the other part about how my actions were what got me fired and I didn't advocate doing what I did!

Prof. Miller and I have had spirited discussions the last couple years about the "liberal media" and the propaganda on college campuses. They've all been in good fun and humor. I would hope that the students of today who are indeed the future broadcasters and reporters will listen and report accurately. Too many times a "good story" gets in the way of the truth.

Bottom line: I talked about my life experiences and how the real world isn't always what you think it is. I was never one to talk with the "dirt sheets" or web sites. But I feel it's necessary to let everyone know what was really said at Rutgers. For the first time in my career, I have gotten calls from Dave Meltzer, Wade Keller, Gabe Sapolsky and various radio shows to talk about my departure. I have done those interviews so no one can make it up or "assume." I didn't think anyone would be that interested in why I'm no longer with WWE, but I'm finding out differently. I realize I can do all the interviews, but someone will point to "what he said at Rutgers" if it suits their needs. I don't mind if someone reports what I said. Just get it accurate.

I know a lot of people read this and other sites. You know as well as I do that if it's on the web, people think it must be true! I want you and everybody else to know the truth. Prof. Miller will be glad to back up and verify anything you might have a question about concerning my lecture yesterday.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Tom Prichard Next Page >>

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