Wrestlers and Comic Avoid Legal Brawl

A long-awaited legal grappling match that was to pit comic Richard Belzer against wrestlers Hulk Hogan and Mr. T never made it into the ring; the combatants settled out of court at the last moment.

Norman Roy Grutman, Belzer’s lawyer, revealed today that the $5-million case--involving an encounter on a cable TV show that left the comedian unconscious--was settled “in the last hour of the last working day of the year. I have not signed any papers, but we have exchanged faxes.”

And what exactly was the settlement? “It includes a covenant of confidentiality which indicates that when asked by the media, I am to say that ‘The case has been settled to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.’ ”

The high-profile lawyer sounded a lot like a child who had lost a favorite Christmas toy. “I’m not happy about it,” he admitted.

Indeed, a lot of wrestling fans, lovers of comedy, court buffs and devotees of the bizarre were looking forward to seeing Hogan, the 307-pound World Wrestling Federation champ, take on Belzer, 150 pounds dripping wet.

Jury selection had been scheduled to begin today.

The suit stems from the appearance of Hogan and Mr. T on “Hot Properties,” a cable program hosted by Belzer, in 1985. The two were promoting an upcoming “Wrestlemania” tag-team bout.

Belzer had submitted a three-page laundry list of injuries allegedly inflicted by Hogan--everything from nine stitches to the head to “trauma to the skull and neck” to “severe humiliation.”

“We see the suit as a publicity ploy, pure and simple,” said WWF attorney Ted Dinsmoor, before the settlement. “He asked the Hulkster to demonstrate a wrestling move, and he was accidentally injured.”

Said Dinsmoor: “He wants to get his name in the news. People don’t go to court over a couple of stitches and Tylenol for a headache. This guy’s a joke.”