Tom Platz announced the WBF during the closing ceremonies of the International Federation of BodyBuilding (IFBB) Mr. Olympia competition in September 1990, which he and McMahon had attended as representatives of an accompanying magazine.

Amid a steroid scandal impacting the WWF, the WBF introduced drug testing in March 1992—which resulted in many of the competitors being relatively out-of-shape during the ensuing competition.

Attempts to have bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno (who left the organization shortly after the drug testing policy was implemented) and former WCW wrestler Lex Luger (who was injured in a motorcycling accident) participate in the event also did not come to fruition.

[1] While rumors emerged that McMahon was also planning to establish a competitor to the long-established International Federation of BodyBuilding (IFBB), the WWF initially denied the reports.

During the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) in 1989, The Ultimate Warrior competed in a "Super Posedown" against Rick Rude, which was judged by the audience.

[3][4][5] Bodybuilding Lifestyles purchased a booth at the IFBB's Mr. Olympia competition on September 15, 1990, in Chicago, where Platz and McMahon made appearances and signed autographs.

[6][3] A group of models with Bodybuilding Lifestyles sashes entered the auditorium to distribute a WBF pamphlet to the stunned audience,[1][3] while contract offers were slipped under the doors of the competitors' hotel rooms.

[6] A press release issued by the WBF stated that it would "revamp professional bodybuilding with dramatic new events and the richest prize money in the history of the sport."

Members of its roster were promoted as "WBF BodyStars" (in a similar fashion to the WWF marketing its performers as "Superstars"), given ring names such as Tony "The Jet Man" Pearson, and had entrance videos during competitions which showcased their kayfabe persona.

It was co-hosted by Regis Philbin and WWF manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, with guest appearances by Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage.

[1] The PPV was met with mixed reviews: some critics praised its high production values and emphasis on the competitors' personalities, but felt that its use of sports entertainment gimmicks drew too many comparisons to wrestling.

[9][10][11] In a bid to boost mainstream interest in its competitions, the WBF announced in August 1991 that it would sign bodybuilder and The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno.

[12][3] In an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Ferrigno stated that he was attracted to the WBF for his return to competitive bodybuilding because it had the "strictest drug testing in all of professional sports.

This was despite the fact that many of the participants would fail drug tests in the weeks leading up to the event, resulting in fines and six-week suspensions that reduced morale.

[1] The 1992 WBF Championship was co-hosted by Platz, McMahon, and Heenan, with WWF ring announcer "Mean" Gene Okerlund joining them as the emcee.

[8] Luger was injured in a motorcycle accident prior to the event, resulting in him being interviewed from a hospital bed during the PPV rather than making an on-stage appearance.