Former Super Bowl Champion Russ Francis Tells Insane Story About Mad Dog Vachon Nearly Ripping A Cockpit Door Off A Plane Mid-Flight

This week’s episode of Bischoff on Wrestling features part one of Eric Bischoff’s two part interview series with former Super Bowl Champion, 3x Pro Bowler and WrestleMania 2 participant Russ Francis.

Some of Russ’ comments have been transcribed below.

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On Russ’ time as Verne Gagne’s pilot and a crazy story involving Mad Dog Vachon nearly ripping the cockpit door open mid-flight:

RF: The first thing I saw, before I heard anything and opened the cockpit slider which separated the cabin in the back from the cockpit in the front, was the cabin door light on the instrument panel. When that flashes on… the plane won’t stay in the air if that door opens. If it comes open. I suppose there might be a way to do it but the book says it’s impossible. So Roy Neely just grabbed the stick and put it on automatic flying and had his hands on the throttle. I slid the door open at the same time and Mad Dog Vachon was yelling. It was Uncle Dog as we called him, “Hey, Uncle Dog!” He was screaming, “WE ARE LOST IN SPACE! WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Well my brother tackled him and Dog only got the first latch, he didn’t get the second one, and I think that’s all he meant to do. If he had pulled it another click it would have gone. My brother grabbed him and the guys jumped on him on the floor and held him down. He had had a couple of cocktails, yes, and I can say that and I know he’d be smiling. 

This week’s show kicks off with Eric’s “The Business of Professional Wrestling” segment where he discusses:

  • WWE RAW’s stiff competition next Monday night against the NFL and the first Presidential debate
  • Whether or not Eric thinks pro wrestling fans are politically minded
  • Why pro wrestlers make such great politicians
  • If there was any politically motivated illuminati symbolism tied in to the NWO storyline
  • WWE’s decision not to acknowledge the WCW & WWF Crusierweight Championship lineage and declaring TJ Perkins as the first WWE Cruiserweight Champion
  • Brock Lesnar’s rematch with Randy Orton this Saturday night in Chicago
  • Why he pulled back on doing house shows in WCW early on
  • More…

Eric then presents the first part of his two part interview with Super Bowl Champion & WrestleMania 2 participant Russ Francis featuring them discussing:

  • Growing up in the wrestling business in Hawaii
  • Some of the big names that used to come through the Hawaii territory
  • Russ’ earliest memories of a young Pat Patterson
  • The tasteful way his father would promote wrestlers of different ethnicity
  • Russ’ time as the pilot for Verne Gagne and a crazy story about Mad Dog Vachon on one of the flights
  • More…

He then answers some questions from fans that were submitted on Twitter using the hashtag #BischoffOnWrestling

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