Not to mention, in the ensuing years, the YouTube and podcast booms hadnt really gotten going yet at least not to the degree that it would be easy to be aware of what Slaughter has claimed about being a genuine Marine while explicitly out-of-character. Stuart Parker. Vince McMahon has also hired several former U.S. Army members over the years. Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso Purse Payouts | What Will be there share in UFC 285 Potential Bonus? Slaughter using every ounce of military experience in his gimmick to Bobby Lashley, who you might only know he served if listening to out-of-character interviews. U.S. Air Force. After that answer, the topic was mercifully brought back entirely to wrestling. Bobby Lashley even obtained a silver and gold medal in an event held by the International Military Sports Council during his third year in the army. He later became a singles competitor, chasing the Hardcore and European Titles. 8 Randy Orton. Slaughter dodges all questions about his armed service record for good reason., also spoke to then-USMC Captain Jay Farrar of the Public Affairs Office, who added that weve been interested in Slaughter for a couple of years, since he began using our paraphernalia, but the guy has been very elusive. Farrars office had received 50 complaints in the past year from true-blue Marines, citing Slaughters abuse of the uniform, which Farrar said mainly stemmed from when his opponents staged attacks on people wearing dress blue uniforms, whom we strongly believe were not Marines., story last February while doing research on Newspapers.com. Before stepping to the ring, the Sassy Southern Belle served as a military police officer in the United States Marine Corps for five years. Former professional wrestler, actor and governor of Minnesota, Jesse "The Body" Ventura served in the Navy from 1969 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. Which, of course, doesnt include him, no matter how much he says otherwise. Other celebrities who served in the military are Navy veterans actor Jason Robards, jazz great John Coltrane, rapper MC Hammer, actor Humphrey Bogart, television host Johnny Carson, actor Kirk Douglas, television host Bob Barker, actor Henry Fonda, pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura, and baseball great Yogi Berra. After his service, Montez Ford embarked on a career in professional wrestling. Specialist_Cell_4067 Additional comment actions Gary Sinise is a well-known actor who played Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump in 1993. Zeb Colter worked as a territories star named Dirty Dutch Mantel before he came to WWE and served as a manager for men like Cesaro and Jack Swagger. Slaughter, hes clearly speaking as Bob Remus and still claims to have served in the Marine Corps. Still, he is working for WWE as Senior Vice President of Live Events. He was a heavy equipment mechanic in the army, and in the UFC, he was a matchup nightmare for many guys during his prime. Before joining the promotion, Ellenberger racked up a 12-0 MMA score. Later in his career, as part of a WWE storyline, he became an Iraqi sympathizer who defeated The Ultimate Warrior for the WWE World Championship. Be the first one to comment on this story. There is no question that the 52-year-old Cleveland, Ohio product is a legit tough guy. The 29-year-old Georgia native is an intimidating presence in the ring and is known for her deadly right hand. He won the Hardcore Championship twice and the European Championship once. Part of the issue, too, is that Slaughter is an undisputed legend in pro wrestling. The 57-year-old enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through basic training. After serving in Vietnam for a year, Colter returned to the U.S. and found his calling in professional wrestling. A member of the Republican Party, Jordan is a former collegiate wrestler and college wrestling coach. Published Apr 20, 2012. Not as a character backstory, mind you, but as Bob Remus personal backstory. As the mouthpiece of The New Age Outlaws, Road DoggJesse James broke out as The Attitude Eras most boisterous degenerate. In fairness to both the WWE generally and individual staff like Powers, it seems unlikely that anyone involved in such things has any idea that Remus hasnt served, especially since the Sun article didnt involve the company and he even told other wrestlers for decades that hed served. A professional from 2001 until 2016, he has fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, the WEC, ShoMMA, HDNet Fights, and represented the Chicago Red Bears in the IFL. WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie is proclaimed to be one of the greatest managers of all time. UFC 285 Fighters Salaries | Jones vs Gane Purse Payouts | How Much Fighters Earn from PPV Money Bonuses? Before the big man became wrestling royalty, he served in the 202ndMilitary Police Company. After the troll put Slaughter on a pedestal as having always been there for the troops, the wrestler responded in very Boomer-y fashion. Knoxville, Tennessees Randy Orton began his wrestling journey back in 2000. In 2016, she made a one-off appearance on Monday Night RAW, competing against Nia Jax. Dwayne Johnson 'The Rock' did not serve in the military. Ill go into the Marine Corps, and Ill go to college when I get out. I got halfway there [and] ended up at a pro wrestling training camp on leave. A follow-up question asking if it was an easy transition for you from being a Marine to becoming a pro wrestler saw Remus avoid going further than the above implication that he may have only gone through basic training. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old returned to WWE two years later to compete in the 2018 Mae Young Classic. In NXT, he ended up forming The Forgotten Sons faction, with the gimmick as former military veterans whose country turned its back on them. Randy Orton. Slaughter would return to the WWF shortly after the traffic jam, changing his villainous ways to a good guy after about a year. Colter is a Vietnam War veteran. Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, and Hugh Casey. Rocker Ted Nugent evaded the draft in the 1960s by taking drugs and acting crazy. He served in the US Marine Corps for ten years and had 18 UFC fights. Raven doesnt get enough credit for being one of the best characters WCW had. Jessie "The Body" Ventura is a retired pro wrestler out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They made us do it, Remus answered. The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. It got a lot uglier when Norton asked him if he was messed up when you came back, with Remus saying that we never talked about it much because Vietnam vets werent viewed as returning heroes. Back in 1986, James decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corp. He is best famous for his tenure in the promotion and multiple achievements during his professional career. When he was just 17, Saturn enlisted in the United States Army and went on to attend (and graduate from) U.S. Army Ranger School. He probably did get the idea from The D.I., it just didnt remind him of his own such superior officer because he never had one. 5 Konnan. The current American politician Jesse Ventura has spent a wonderful career in professional wrestling world where he has his hands on multiple achievements. pic.twitter.com/K7IaKYn4. It was brilliant in its simplicity: After, , the evil (and genuine) Iranian Greco-Roman standout won a match, he and Slaughter, met in the aisle and started jawing at each other, , instantly turning Sarge face. The former WWE Superstar also served in the reserves after college. The third-generation Superstar holds the record for being the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in the company and he has also main evented WWE WrestleMania twice. Who Will be Highest Paid Fighter at UFC 285? 15/15 * Montez Ford. Today we're counting down my picks for the Top 10 Wrestlers that have served in the military, let's get it started! .) Not much. 7 professional athletes who also served in the military 5 Votes 4 Comments. Today we take a look at the top 5 wrestlers that served in the military. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb FAN Wrestling Forum. Blues legend Chester Arthur Burnett served in the Army for two and a half years. He has always been there for the troops, Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) January 17, 2020, FINALLY Someone Gets It FINALLY Someone Recognizes It FINALLY Someone Understands Who @_SgtSlaughter IsGod Bless You @JackPosobiecGod Bless ALL Those Who HAVEGod Bless ALL Those Who ARE Serving OUR Country& God Bless America Home of the FREE Because of the BRAVE, SGT SLAUGHTER (@_SgtSlaughter) January 17, 2020. He did his research, the wrestler added. The Viper currently competes on Monday Night RAW as a heel. Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? Ventura was a member of the United States Navy from 1969 to 1975. She spent eight years in the military and served in Afghanistan. He started his career in 1990 after signing the deal with United States Wrestling Association. A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. Slaughter, thats not me, Remus said of his TV wrestling persona. Slaughter well, Robert Remus, the man behind the wrestling gimmick never served in the military. Before starting his wrestling career, Jesse was in United States Navy Underwater Demolition Team. What Percentage Of Americans Have Served In The Military? But his wrestling career cut short due to the elbow injury he suffered in training. Orton did not adapt well to military life and left the service a year later. After serving as a Leatherneck for a year at the end of World War II, Gagne returned to the University of Minnesota and became a successful NCAA amateur wrestler before beginning his professional wrestling career in 1949 in NWA. 3 Sgt. Brandon Figueroa vs Mark Magsayo Purse Payouts | How Much Both Fighters Will Earn from PPV Fight? . on television. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. How Much Jon Jones Earn from PPV Money? He would later sign with WCW and become a founding member of the New World Order (NWO) one of the most successful factions of all time. Lacey Evans began her pro wrestling career in 2014 and she went on to sign with WWE in 2016. Sgt. A year later, she made her WWE debut on the September 5 episode of NXT. RELATED:10 Terrible Wrestling Names These WCW Stars Had To Endure. After his short stint in the military, Orton decided to continue the legacy of his father and grandfather, becoming a professional wrestler in 2000 and debuting for the Mid-Missouri Wrestling Association-Southern Illinois Conference Wrestling promotion in St. Louis. After a successful year-long run doing strong business with great matches (primarily against Bob Backlund and Pat Patterson), he moved on to Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas, another famously lucrative territory, eventually causing a massive traffic jam in Greensboro for the climactic cage match of his biggest feud in the region, with tag-team partner Don Kernodle, against Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood. I just wish I had more time to do that., And not just to the media either. Along the same lines, one wrestler of a younger generation, who requested anonymity, told me that more recently, at the annual Cauliflower Alley Club convention, Slaughter gave him a similar story, one that, even as someone with family who served in the Marines, he bought. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79. While Hart included the account of this November 29, 1984, dinner to note that Slaughter warned him to watch your back because Vince [McMahon] is a ruthless guy, it serves a different purpose now. David Bixenspan is a freelance reporter who lives in Brooklyn. Perry Saturn is one of only a handful of wrestlers who have had success in the original ECW, WCW, and WWE. It probably wont surprise you to learn that, well, Robert Remus, the man behind the wrestling gimmick never served in the military. The veteran currently works as a backstage producer and writer in WWE. WWE CEO (and owner) Vince McMahon is an outspoken supporter of the military. He began his pro wrestling career in the 90s and he went on to win a championship in three of the biggest companies during that time. Slaughter., In fairness to both the WWE generally and individual staff like Powers, it seems unlikely that anyone involved in such things has any idea that Remus hasnt served, especially since the. 14/15 * Corporal Kirchner. Slaughter character or even Remus, frankly being a valor thief at his peak, when kayfabe was still strong, past a few mid-1980s Marines. pic.twitter.com/bIpik22dln, SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) January 14, 2020. After the troll, Slaughter on a pedestal as having always been there for the troops, the wrestler. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. Having performed as MMA fighter in Bellator and StrikeForce, Bobby Lashley started his wrestling career in 2005 and performed magnificently in the largest promotion WWE. Ford served his country from 2008 to 2012. Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. One of the famous name of World Wrestling Entertainment history Road Dogg is also present in the list. William George Bonin was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. Check out his weekly wrestling history podcast, Between The Sheets, on all major podcast platforms, and subscribe to his Substack at BabyfacevHeel.com. Naval Academy in 1989 and served in the Navy Supply Corps . Despite never serving with the armed forces, John Cena strives to support those who serve and veterans in his professional ad personal life". To further illustrate this point, its time to take a look at some high-profile wrestlers who were in the military. Tim Kennedy. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. One detail of Colters typical tirades, however, is 100 percent accurate he served in the Vietnam War. That said, he further committed to military service six months ago on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast, recorded before a live audience at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa. Perhaps most odiously, he responded in detail to infamous Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec. It was less disorienting than usual, though, because he grounded the tall tales in enough ostensible reality connecting everything to wrestling stories, e.g., getting the Sgt. As for what hes said since things have really blown up over the last few weeks? Virginia . Sign up for Peacock to watch. Last, but not least, we have Randy Orton. In 1980, though, he got his big break, heading to the WWF (now WWE) the biggest money promotion in the country, even then as the villainous Sgt. . He had a couple of unauthorized absences (UA) on his record and disobeyed an order. Thats why, he put his professional career on hold and after getting enlisted in US Navy, entered world war 2 and achieved the rank of Petty Officer. Although he never went into battle, the young corporal gained the mental and physical tenacity of a soldier and used his skills to compete in WWE, Stampede Wrestling and Japan. 15. WWE Network. He stayed in military during the years 1987 to 1993 and also performed duties during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. During his appearance on the popular pro wrestling program, "The Raging Bull" opened up about his Vietnam military service, shoots on Jim Cornette saying he didn't serve, clears up rumors claiming he was going to marry Ann or Nancy Wilson of the rock band 'Heart,' as well as his bloody fight with Invader 3 in Puerto Rico, working with the . Howlin' Wolf, circa 1970s. He finally won the WWE Championship in 2021. He attributes his discipline and work habits to the military. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. At 6-foot-10, Detroit, Michigan's Kevin Nash was one of wrestling's biggest stars in the 1990s - both literally and figuratively. The WWE Hall of Famer out of St. Louis, Missouri began his wrestling career all the way back in 1952. Stars And Stripes: 15 WWE Wrestlers Who Served In The Military The second reason is the main reason Orton was recast in that role, his Dishonorable Discharge. Following his release, he competed in a few other promotions, including Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect. Slaughter was never in the USMC. While some wrestlers, such as Lacey Evans, tried to focus on a character outside of her military experience, others, including Jackson Ryker, brought the personality directly into their WWE personas. He spent three years in uniform before joining WWE in 2005. 16 Steve McQueen Shutterstock At age 17, The King of Cool joined the United States Marine Corps. Any individual in an Officer Accession Program with the rank of Cadet or Midshipman (Academy or, ROTC) is not eligible for Armed Forces Championships nor any subsequent higher-level competition.. UFC Fighters Insurance | How Much UFC Pay To The Injured Fighters? He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan. Which wrestler served in the military? He worked a lot with a young Baron Corbin, losing almost every time before he got a chance to shine as the Forgotten Sons in 2018 with Wesley Blake and Jackson Ryker. Its like Paul Newman. After high school, Orton enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Government records reveal Slaughter, a.k.a. To the prosecutor at his trial, he was "the most arch-evil person who ever existed.". Still, the 1985 article was explicit and well-reported, and a legitimate veteran-turned-pro-wrestler, Jesse Ventura, would later state the truth about Slaughter, article, wrestling historian J. Steve Hicks , . Lacey Evans, the Lady of NXT, also served in the Marine Corps. Despite being in the industry for a few years, she has already featured in the pay-per-views. He was a member of the Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War in the 20th century and was stationed in the Philippines. Slaughter character or even Remus, frankly being a valor thief at his peak, when kayfabe was still strong, past a few mid-1980s Marines. Steven Cutler started his in-ring career with WWE in the NXT brand. RELATED:Jaxson Ryker's Babyface Character On WWE RAW Is One Of The Worst In Years. Your login session has expired. The son of WWE Hall of Famer Bullet Bob Armstrong, Road Dogg has always had sports-entertainment in his blood. After a successful year-long run doing strong business with great matches (primarily against, in the Carolinas, another famously lucrative territory, eventually, Slaughter would return to the WWF shortly after the traffic jam, changing his villainous ways to a good guy after about a year. Marine Corps wrestler who served on Okinawa will compete in Tokyo Olympics By Seth Robson May 5, 2021 U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. In his interview with WWE.com, he confessed that he loved being on the front line. The gimmick wasnt entirely new: When he first became Bob Slaughter in 1976 in the Kansas City territory, he was billed as an ex-Marine drill instructor and nicknamed The D.I. But as Sgt. Official response from the Department of the Navy to if Sgt. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. At 6-foot-10, Detroit, Michigans Kevin Nash was one of wrestling's biggest stars in the 1990s both literally and figuratively. Best Topics In fact, every year the company holds its annual Tribute to the Troops, in an effort to show appreciation for the fighting men and women who serve. To make things official, he later, saved Eddie Gilbert from the Sheiks antics. After leaving the Army, Saturn decided to become a professional wrestler and trained under the tutelage of the legendary Killer Kowalski. Off Topic. Zeb Colter, more commonly famous for the ring name of Dutch Mantel is an American retired professional wrestler who started his career in 1972. Venuta would later enter the world of politics and become the governor of his home state, Minnesota. Cutler served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company from 2007 to 2011. . Every year, the company holds an event called Tribute to the Troops to honor and entertain the dedicated personnel in the United States Armed Forces. But very few become able to get into the defense as it requires a lot of skills and strong stamina alongside with high morale to tackle the difficulties. Wrestler Military Information In the 1990s, Perry Saturn won championships in the three major sports-entertainment organizations WWE, WCW and ECW. Blassie was also an accomplished competitor in his own right during the 1950s and 1960s. Vince McMahon has also hired several former U.S. Army members over the years. Before they became pro wrestlers, some former WWE Superstars have served in the United States military. All of which misses the point. 3.55K. After serving a tour of duty, the former Intercontinental Champion made his return to sports-entertainment, competing in WCW and Smokey Mountain Wrestling before joining WWE. My idea of a perfect evening is to cook a steak, build a fire and relax. UFC Ring Girls OnlyFans Accounts | How Much They Earn From Subscriptions? Longtime wrestling reporter Steve Bryant of SoCalUncensored.com saw the post, tweeted the Sun clipping and set off a firestorm of internet discussion and wrestling news website articles. He began his run with the company back in 1994, managing Jeff Jarrett. FINALLY Someone Gets It FINALLY Someone Recognizes It FINALLY Someone Understands Who @_SgtSlaughter Is, he wrote, adding God Bless You @JackPosobiec and the same message for all who have served the country. Remus may have, at least briefly, had regrets after that one. Youve got to understand: Thats Sgt. If various rock 'n' roll memoirs are to be believed, nearly every American musical group . I thought he had been a Marine before he was a wrestler., Over the last few years, though, Remus has made matters worse by pushing more and more egregious claims. Well, yes. , who worked with Slaughter in the WWF, also, over Remus non-service on his podcast last week when answering a listener question about the controversy. He also described how it felt being in a combat zone. Trish Adora never competed again in WWE. Slaughter dodges all questions about his armed service record for good reason., The Sun also spoke to then-USMC Captain Jay Farrar of the Public Affairs Office, who added that weve been interested in Slaughter for a couple of years, since he began using our paraphernalia, but the guy has been very elusive. Farrars office had received 50 complaints in the past year from true-blue Marines, citing Slaughters abuse of the uniform, which Farrar said mainly stemmed from when his opponents staged attacks on people wearing dress blue uniforms, whom we strongly believe were not Marines., In the fall of 1984, though, when Congress passed a law prohibiting the use of the Marine Corps emblem and insignia by civilians, it gave the Marines more leverage, and Farrars office fired off a letter demanding that Slaughter stop because his actions reflect discredit on those who have served. Farrar, for his part, did concede that going further, like prosecuting Remus, might not be worth it given the nature of the Slaughter character. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. Making sure all the, uh, the grunts dont [go] AWOL on us, and keep em all in line., After Remus claimed that the Sgt. 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