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. Corporal Kirchner was another WWE superstar who had his gimmick include plenty of references to his military career. He served as a member of the Philippine House of . in very Boomer-y fashion. His job included handlingDefense Travel System plans for his battalion. 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. . A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. Military policies should only be developed for one purpose: fighting and winning our nation's wars. He was a heavy equipment mechanic in the army, and in the UFC, he was a matchup nightmare for many guys during his prime. An injury he sustained during a game in Germany forced him to end his basketball career in 1981. Slaughter never served decades ago, even though Remus still claimed as recently as last summer that he was a real Marine. Brandon Figueroa vs Mark Magsayo Purse Payouts | How Much Both Fighters Will Earn from PPV Fight? It turns out that a major market newspaper had explicitly reported the fact that Sgt. Before pursuing a career in professional wrestling, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash was a basketball player. Got out in 74, went in in 68. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. Yet the discovery of a 35-year-old article clarifying his status has had fans asking questions recently about the foremost drill instructor in sports entertainment. The late, great Freddie Blassie had a successful career as both a wrestler and a manager. The WWE, which partners with multiple veterans organizations, refers to Slaughter as a legitimate military veteran on its website and uses him as a company ambassador at military events. I just wish I had more time to do that., And not just to the media either. While most of his career was as a rough Southern brawler, WWE used his military experience as part of his gimmick with the Real Americans. 1. Slaughter. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. Corporal Kirchner wasa paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Off Topic. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. What a pleasure it was to bring smiles to the faces of those who sacrifice so much for our freedom at the 15th annual WWE Tribute to the Troops. I walked into a caf near the Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City and saw Sergeant Slaughter sitting quietly by himself,, , which is sourced almost entirely from his contemporaneous audio diaries. I really did! Zeb Colter is so uncompromisingly vocal about his beliefs and is never afraid to say what's on his mind so much sothat hed make Rush Limbaugh ill at ease. He was an 11-time WCW Tag Team Champion, and as a solo wrestler, he . Ventura later became governor of Minnesota and has never been one to shy away from investigating a conspiracy. Military police as a SWAT officer badass #Raw pic.twitter.com/LDMKGB7DRC. During his service, he trained with some of the best wrestlers at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Following that, Mr. Kennedy signed with WWE in 2005 and he went on to capture the US Championship only a year after his debut. Vince McMahon has also hired several former U.S. Army members over the years. He then started competing on the independent circuit. After retiring from in-ring competition, Ventura became a commentator in WWE. At 6-foot-10, Detroit, Michigans Kevin Nash was one of wrestling's biggest stars in the 1990s both literally and figuratively. It was at this time a heel known as the "Iron Sheik" emerged as the World Champion. 9. Owing to her great skills, she reached the rank of Sergeant and served as a United States Marine Corps Military Police officer before getting discharged in 2014. Honorable mentions: Verne Gagne Corporal Kirchner Konnan Zeb Colter Paul Bearer Crush Steven. Blassie was also an accomplished competitor in his own right during the 1950s and 1960s. Nobodys talking about the Sgt. WWE Hall of Famer Classy Freddie Blassie is one of the greatest managers of all time who guided many legends, including The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan and even Muhammad Ali. Well, I always thought he was in the Marines! exclaimed the former member of the WWF creative team and talent relations department through laughter. Click on any of the links to read more about wrestlers who served in the military: Verne Gagne Don Leo Jonathan Buddy Rogers Baron Von Raschke Research by Tim Hornbaker All Information is public information obtained through FOIA. Please logout and login again. Ford was also enrolled in his high school's JROTC and enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation. In 2007, he won the Money in the Bank contract at WWE WrestleMania 23, earning himself a World title opportunity but he had to drop it after sustaining an injury. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. Check out his weekly wrestling history podcast, Between The Sheets, on all major podcast platforms, and subscribe to his Substack at BabyfacevHeel.com. When I leave here, Im Bob Slaughter. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb Before they became pro wrestlers, some former WWE Superstars have served in the United States military. Specialist_Cell_4067 Additional comment actions UFC Fighters Insurance | How Much UFC Pay To The Injured Fighters? Owing to his brilliance in the ring, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Reese, Rizzuto and Casey served three years in the Navy, from 1943 to '45, and saw combat in the Pacific Theater. Kennedy is one of the few fighters simultaneously to serve in the . The military-style business demeanor of Saturn could be attributed to his time serving in the U.S. Army. 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. 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. Back in 1986, James decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corp. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. pic.twitter.com/bIpik22dln, SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) January 14, 2020. Well, I always thought he was in the Marines! exclaimed the former member of the WWF creative team and talent relations department through laughter. The wrestling star ran into some legal trouble in his youth and was forced to choose between either the military or prison. Montez Ford currently competes on WWE Monday Night RAW as part of The Street Profits and as of writing, they are the reigning Tag Team Champions on the Red brand. While no, his real name is not Bob Slaughter, Remus was still making a clear distinction as early as late 1984 that Sgt. Pro wrestling wasn't the only profession he followed his father to. Wrestlers That Served in the Military. Please logout and login again. Ventura is also a politician and from 1999 to 2003, served as the governor of Minnesota. The powerhouse out of Junction City, Kansas has had plenty of good fortune during his stints with WWE. He later became a singles competitor, chasing the Hardcore and European Titles. After competing in his first match in 1986, Road Dogg made the selfless decision to put his career on hold and join the United States Marine Corps. WWEs sassy Southern belle" was recently involved in a storyline with Becky Lynch one of WWEs top stars. I was, basically, just infantry, you know? 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. The son of WWE Hall of Famer Bullet Bob Armstrong, Road Dogg has always had sports-entertainment in his blood. The Viper is definitely a future WWE Hall of Famer. Steve Culter joined WWE in 2014 after spending two years wrestling in different promotions. After Big Swole graduated from high school, she went to college. He competed in ECW and WCW for several years before joining WWE in January 2000. He spent a long career, fighting professional matches for more than 20 years. Jordan is a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, serving . However, his time in the military didn't work out as he was discharged due to bad conduct. Before stepping to the ring, the Sassy Southern Belle served as a military police officer in the United States Marine Corps for five years. Saturn enlisted in the military at the age of 17. Over the years WWEhas had an excellent relationship with the United States Armed Forces. Im a pretty regular guy. Ford joined WWE along with other Performance Center recruits in 2015 and he went on to team up with his partner Angelo Dawkins in NXT where they enjoyed a run with the NXT Tag Team Championship. Trending pages Montez Ford DT Porter Randy Orton Bobby Lashley Ashante Adonis Sgt. Off Topic. Government records reveal Slaughter, a.k.a. Kirshner worked in WWE in the '80s and worked originally as RT Reynolds until 1986 when he took on the military persona of Corporal Kirchner. Trained in sports and martial arts, I have awards and ranks in boxing and wrestling. He is a two-time ECW World Champion (after WWE bought the company), a former United States Champion, and a two-time Intercontinental Champ as well. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. 10 Wrestlers Who Served In The Military. confirming that, indeed, the wrestler never served. Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. Joe, having appeared in both the comic book and cartoon. 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. Howlin' Wolf, circa 1970s. In WWE, he is part of the Street Profits, using catchphrases like "we want the smoke" and bringing out red drink cups when they enter the arena for their matches. 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. Howlin' Wolf. Colter is a Vietnam War veteran.Aug . He served during the Vietnam War, where he reached the rank of Petty officer. WWE - Current . That seems to also be the case for many others, at least as far as why this story has, somewhat improbably, not come to a head sooner. WWE has also employed several veterans, many of whom have gone on to have outstanding careers with the organization. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Cena incorporates military dress and mannerisms into his wrestling persona, driving the rumors of his service. Blassie served in the Navy during World War II. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. Perhaps the most decorated American wrestler was Brooklyn native Paul Boesch, who left wrestling to enlist in the Army, where he earned a Purple Heart, Silver Star and cluster, Bronze Star and cluster, and French Croix de Guerre for actions at the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest while serving with the 121st Infantry Regiment. They made us do it, Remus answered. But in 1985, Slaughter was mostly understood to be pretending to be a Marine strictly as a wrestling gimmick. Not as a character backstory, mind you, but as, with multiple veterans organizations, refers to Slaughter as a, on its website and uses him as a company ambassador at military events. The Sheik is arguably one of wrestling's greatest villains ever - and every great villain needs a hero. That last link is the most explicit, using his real name and putting him in a Veterans Day 2018 listicle of wrestlers who otherwise legitimately served. While Didingers statement that his subject was an actual veteran is made in passing (The 34-year-old Marine Corps veteran was dressed in slacks and a wind-breaker) and doesnt quote Remus/Slaughter, the wrestler would continue to claim until as recently as a few months ago that he was a genuine veteran, decades after he had started talking about the wrestling business in more surface-honest terms. He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan. Slaughter name was given to him in the Marines and that the gimmick as presented was inspired by The D.I., Norton asks him if he ever participated in any blanket parties a la the famous scene in Full Metal Jacket. 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. But his wrestling career cut short due to the elbow injury he suffered in training. 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. Top 10 Most Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military Content Summary Top 10 Most Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military 1 - Bobby Lashley 2 - Randy Orton 3 - Road Dogg 4 - Konnan 5 - Kevin Nash 6 - Freddie Blassie 7 - Lacey Evans 8 - Zeb Colter 9 - Perry Saturn 10 - Jesse Ventura 1 - Bobby Lashley While Gary Sinise never served in the military, his support of the troops is well-documented and impressive. AEW (All Elite Wrestling) (w)Rest of Wrestling. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. Longtime wrestling performer Jim Cornette, who worked with Slaughter in the WWF, also expressed shock over Remus non-service on his podcast last week when answering a listener question about the controversy. What Percentage Of Americans Have Served In The Military? All of which misses the point. Slaughter was also a member of G.I. 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. He was in the service during the Vietnam War but never saw combat during the conflict. But mostly yes. WWE CEO (and owner) Vince McMahon is an outspoken supporter of the military. Currently, he is signed under Raw brand and pocketing ludicrous base salary as per contract. 13/15 * Jaxson Ryker. But to the US Air Force, he was a hero. Despite never serving with the armed forces, John Cena strives to support those who serve and veterans in his professional ad personal life". He was known for coming to the ring in his military fatigues and finishing his opponents with his signature move, the Cobra Clutch. The Viper currently competes on Monday Night RAW as a heel. 16 Steve McQueen Shutterstock At age 17, The King of Cool joined the United States Marine Corps. Perry has completed his bachelors degree from U.S. Army Ranger School and has served in the United States Army Rangers. Like many young men of his generation, Gagne answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. During that process, he came across not just the, article but also Remus more recent claims to have genuinely served. Not everyone has the quality to wrestler with any weight category and then put up worth watching. He competed in many promotions throughout his career, including WCW, ECW, TNA, and WWE. Lacey Evans is a legit badass tho!! Regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Pacquiao has also been involved in Philippine politics throughout his athletic career. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1997 and was a member of the wrestling team. 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. She spent eight years in the military and served in Afghanistan. His conduct eventually led to his premature dismissal. Published Apr 20, 2012. 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. Nonetheless, fans might not know about a few other former WWE Superstars who have also joined the military. 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 in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1991 and, nationally, on Comedy Centrals The Colbert Report in 2008. After all, it is just a wrestling gimmick right? RELATED:Every Version Of Bobby Lashley, Ranked From Worst To Best. In California, he was known as "The Freeway Killer.". Some controversy caused WWE to drop the gimmick, but Ryker returned in 2021 as a lackey for Elias before movingback into singles action and relying on his military past again. During the 1980s, Corporal Kirchner displayed pride in his service and competed in WWE, including a memorable victory against Nikolai Volkoff in a Flag Match at WrestleMania 2. Wrestlers who served in the military. He had little success during his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment, but went on to make a name for himself in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and was an even bigger star in Mexico. However, during his college days, he decided to give another action-packed job a try. During that period he served as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team. Blassie was also an accomplished competitor in his own right during the 1950s and 1960s. (It doesnt help, though that, even then, he would make the distinction to reporters that he was a real Marine, like in, Remus has long given and continues to give out-of-character interviews where, despite being introduced as Sgt. Nonetheless, WWE released him from his contract in January 2003. FAN Wrestling Forum. SSG Warren Swan. Which wrestler served in the military? . Kevin Nash during his time with the U.S. Army's 202nd Military Police Company pic.twitter.com/24sOxD8SGL. Slaughter schooled other fighters in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (today's World Wrestling Entertainment or WWE) as the ultimate drill instructor for decades, and his image even graced a G.I. 15. In 2016, she made a one-off appearance on Monday Night RAW, competing against Nia Jax. 4 Bobbly Lashley. The 57-year-old enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through basic training. What a lot of people might not know, however, is that Bobby Lashley has a military background. 5. Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? After that answer, the topic was mercifully brought back entirely to wrestling. Tim Kennedy. Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect. Slaughter character or even Remus, frankly being a valor thief at his peak, when kayfabe was still strong, past a few mid-1980s Marines. Enlisting at age 17 and serving for four years, Saturn pushed himself to the limit to become an elite U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. There were some bad experiences, things I did [that] I never really would have done unless I was ordered to do it, he added, seemingly suggesting that he had regret and/or PTSD from committing war crimes or something close to it. The youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history, Orton accomplished more before he was 25 than most Superstars do in their entire careers. 3 Sgt. To make things official, he later saved Eddie Gilbert from the Sheiks antics, after which he announced, IRON SHEIK, I DECLARE WAR ON YOU! and led the fans in the Pledge of Allegiance. He was a member of the Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War in the 20th century and was stationed in the Philippines. All four have unique stories of their service that came before, after and even in between their time at Oklahoma State. 30. #Troops15 pic.twitter.com/JYqtnADe7c. 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. When I leave here, Im Bob Slaughter. 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 and personal life. 6 Kevin Nash. Oh yeah, yeah, Ive been in one, Remus replied. At 19 years of age, Evans joined the United States Marine Corp. Read the Rules! The 5-foot-8 WWE star was a military police officer who served for 5 years. Jaxson Ryker originally made his name in TNA, where he worked as Gunner and was part of Immortal, winning the TV title and tag team title before leaving for WWE NXT. Discharged after the war in 1946 as a Petty Officer Second Class, the WWE Hall of Famer initially began his wrestling career as Sailor Freddie Blassie before he became The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Bryant then put in a Freedom of Information Act request about Remus, quickly resulting in a letter confirming that, indeed, the wrestler never served. Cutler is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. When co-host Sam Roberts asked Remus how long he was out of the Marines when he started wrestling, the result was another halted answer: After he was on leave for six months, Remus claimed. 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. Is kayfabe still kayfabe when the lie bleeds over into the wrestlers personal life? The Road Dogg Jesse James is a Hall of Famer who rose to prominence during WWEs Attitude Era. Jessie The Body Ventura is a retired pro wrestler out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. So I went down to my locker box, pulled out my campaign cover and got my swagger stick out, he explained. Hes not, , that was just a role he played. After his service, Montez Ford embarked on a career in professional wrestling. There's no doubt that Lacey Evans will one day reach the top of the mountain in WWE by capturing her first Championship. Updated on August 10, 2021, by Shawn S. Lealos: WWE has continued to push its connection with the military, including adding several instances of promoting the soldiers and veterans into storylines that emphasize their military careers. Be the first one to comment on this story. A post shared by (@trishadora202). (FWIW: Available newspaper records dont shed any light on what Remus really did during his service other than. During the the Attitude Era, the groups were popular yet controversial. 3.55K. In other words: Maybe you heard that Slaughter wasnt a genuine Marine at one point, and you heard him giving an out-of-character interview where he claimed real military service. Former professional wrestler, actor and governor of Minnesota, Jesse "The Body" Ventura served in the Navy from 1969 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. Although his father and grandfather both worked in the wrestling business, Orton chose to join the U.S. Marine Corps after his graduation. Slaughter was never in the USMC. John Cena, Batista & Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton & Jeri . Steven Cutler is a formidable contender in WWE NXT, having previously faced off against the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin.
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