Stossel vs. WWF was classiness all around.

Mr. Stossel interviewed the wrestler on Dec. 28 at Madison Square Garden. In a "20/20" segment that was broadcast Thursday night, Mr. Stossel attempted to show that professional wrestling was a monopoly and that bouts were, in the words of one former wrestler on the program, "predetermined."

When Mr. Stossel interviewed Mr. Schultz, the dialogue went this way:

STOSSEL: I'll ask you the standard question, you know: "I think this is fake."

SCHULTZ: You think it's fake?

At this point, he punched Mr. Stossel's right ear.

SCHULTZ: What's that? Is that fake?

At this point, he punched Mr. Stossel's left ear.

STOSSEL: What the hell's wrong with you?

SCHULTZ: That's an open-hand slap. You think it's fake? I'll fake you.

Repeated telephone calls to Vince McMahon, the president of Titan Sports, went unreturned yesterday, but Marvin Kohn, a deputy commissioner at the New York State Athletic Commission, which issues licenses for professional wrestlers, said he had been on the premises during the assault.

"I have been with the commission for 33 years," said Mr. Kohn. "In the 33 years, I have never known a wrestler to attack anyone outside the ring. I immediately suspended the wrestler, which I have the right to do."

The commission, headed by Commissioner Jose Torres, directed Mr. Schultz to come to a hearing. Mr. Kohn said the wrestler wrote a letter to the commission in which he "acknowledged that he had acted improperly and apologized both to the commission and to Mr. Stossel."

"I admit the allegations," Mr. Schultz's Jan. 23 letter to the commission read. "I intend the commission to know that I did not intend to hurt John Stossel. I apologize to the commission and to John Stossel."

Mr. Stossel said that he was unaware of the apology and would pursue his action in court, unless the aftereffects of the assault disappeared, in which case, he said, he would be "less likely to sue."

I don't mean to vouch for Stossel's character, that discussion is much less interesting than the issues he raises. But fact-checking is always so rewarding.

Although he has consistently maintained that World Wrestling Federation officials told him to hit Stossel, Schultz was fired. Many industry insiders believe that it was not because of his actions against Stossel, but rather because he [ring name: Dr. D] challenged Mr. T to a fight backstage at a WWF show at Madison Square Garden.