Before becoming a professional wrestler, Ford took part in other athletics, which he was successful in. During his tour, he even won a gold medal in freestyle (amateur) wrestling at an event hosted by the International Military Sports Council. Government records reveal Slaughter, a.k.a. So I thought, Well, thats probably what Ill do. Which wrestler served in the military? So I went down to my locker box, pulled out my campaign cover and got my swagger stick out, he explained. The military-style business demeanor of Saturn could be attributed to his time serving in the U.S. Army. Or in the world of wrestling, a "face" - also known as a babyface, one of the good guys. Rocker Ted Nugent evaded the draft in the 1960s by taking drugs and acting crazy. Throughout 1984, then, Slaughter was, at a minimum, as big of an attraction as Hulk Hogan, if not bigger. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Mr. Kennedy currently runs a wrestling school known as The Academy. 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. He finally won the WWE Championship in 2021. . 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. He returned to the company six years later to win the Hardcore Title 27 times. The next man on our list is Randy Orton who is currently active and holding an expensive contract deal with WWE under RAW brand. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself is a supporter of the U.S. military. Official response from the Department of the Navy to if Sgt. He spent a long career, fighting professional matches for more than 20 years. Slaughter ever served in the Marines. After that answer, the topic was mercifully brought back entirely to wrestling. Three reasons why he is the best wrestler : He can wrestle with any guy : Be it The Great Khali , The Rock, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar,Rey Mysterio. Konnan has not performed in WWE, but also in Impact Wrestling, Major League Wrestling and many other promotions. After all, it is just a wrestling gimmick right? He served as an Army Airborne Ranger during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991. Several months after I first spotted the Sun article, wrestling historian J. Steve Hicks he uses the pen name Karl Stern online was researching Slaughters case for induction in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Ford served from 2008 until 2012and handled Defense Travel System plans for his battalion. Watch WrestleMania and other WWE Premium Live Events on Flow. Colter is a Vietnam War veteran.Aug . In a 2015 interview with KMEL radio, for example, the interviewer called him a genuine veteran who had military experience. Slaughter then replied, I didnt even think about using that character when he first broke into wrestling, instead having an epiphany watching 1957s Jack Webb vehicle The D.I. As Diesel, Nash was even able to capture the WWE (then WWF) Championship. Lacey Evans competed in NXT before moving to the main roster where she had her first feud with one of WWE's biggest stars, Becky Lynch, for the RAW Women's Championship. Montez Ford enrolled in his high school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and after his graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. To make things official, he later, saved Eddie Gilbert from the Sheiks antics. In honor of Veterans Day, WWE.com salutes 12 Superstars from different eras who fought for their country before battling in WWE. It was during this time that she discovered pro wrestling. John Cena is without a doubt the best WWE ever had from all the Eras. In California, he was known as "The Freeway Killer.". Slaughter never served decades ago, even though Remus still claimed as recently as last summer that he was a real Marine. 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. One of the famous name of World Wrestling Entertainment history Road Dogg is also present in the list. FAN Wrestling Forum. His father was a United States Army drill sergeant and his sister served in the United States Air Force. Professional wrestling itself is a rigorous industry to work in, as it requires a lot of training, sacrifice and endurance. Slaughter was a character separate from the real person who portrayed him, and that the real person still was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Its like Paul Newman. After Big Swole graduated from high school, she went to college. 10 Wrestlers Who Served In The Military. 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. He was a heavy equipment mechanic in the army, and in the UFC, he was a matchup nightmare for many guys during his prime. Kevin Nash during his time with the U.S. Army's 202nd Military Police Company pic.twitter.com/24sOxD8SGL. 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. Even while being interviewed by Keller, a veteran insider wrestling reporter, Slaughter stuck with his story, spinning his usual Marine yarns starting at the 24:57 mark of the podcast. Despite the differences, these men and women mostly served their countries with honor. 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. The Road Dogg Jesse James is a Hall of Famer who rose to prominence during WWEs Attitude Era. #Troops15 pic.twitter.com/JYqtnADe7c. After high school, Orton enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He served during the Vietnam War, where he reached the rank of Petty officer. WWE is a lot of things, but stupid enough to send a valor thief to military events isnt one of them. But his wrestling career cut short due to the elbow injury he suffered in training. Outside the squared circle, Blassie enrolled in the United States Navy during the Second World War and served in the Pacific Theater for over three years. George Washington (1789 - 1797). A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. 5 Konnan. Well, I always thought he was in the Marines! exclaimed the former member of the WWF creative team and talent relations department through laughter. In early 2016, a new class of WWE Performance Center recruits was announced. That said, he further committed to military service, George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, in Waterloo, Iowa. Owing to his brilliance in the ring, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. If there is any change, we will make them available here. The current issue is: Remus has long given and continues to give out-of-character interviews where, despite being introduced as Sgt. He would eventually earn the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and spent over three years in the Pacific Theater. Air Force is one of three Division I service academies with wrestling programs in the United States. Peyton Walsh prepare for. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb Prior to chasing WWE gold, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served as a drill Sergeant. Was Road Dogg in the military? He built his strong physique during his time as a professional wrestler in the WWE. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. After serving in Vietnam for a year, Colter returned to the U.S. and found his calling in professional wrestling. Government records reveal Slaughter, a.k.a. He has also appeared in various movies such as Predator and Batman & Robin. TO ALL THAT HAVE SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS,HAPPY VETERANS DAY!#VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/HEzyECYpny. Wrestling boards archives (2005-2006) Off-Topic archives (2015) Off-Topic archives (2014) Off-Topic archives (2013) After all, it, Well, yes. For those who don't have time to read, he did not. Sign up for Peacock to watch. WWEs sassy Southern belle" was recently involved in a storyline with Becky Lynch one of WWEs top stars. Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? Enter America's Drill Instructor: Sgt. , 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. The 43-year-old WWE star comes from a military background. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. As a wrestler, The Hollywood Fashion Plate captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. How Much Jon Jones Earn from PPV Money? UFC Highest PPV Buys | Khabib vs McGregor Breaks All Records Generated $180m+ on PPV event day. Before his career in WWE, Kirchner enlisted as a paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C. Its like Paul Newman. 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. Steven Cutler started his in-ring career with WWE in the NXT brand. Wrestling News and Highlights Army Defeats U.S. Air Force, 38-9, to Claim Armed Forces Men's Freestyle Title Feb. 27, 2023 - The U.S. Army won nine of 10 bouts to defeat the U.S. Air Force, 38-9. 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.. As for what hes said since things have really blown up over the last few weeks? She is currently wrestling on the independent circuit. 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. Lashley would follow in his dad's footsteps and enlist in the army. Randy Orton has also been a part of a few dominant groups in WWE such as Evolution, The Legacy, The Authority and The Wyatt Family. A year later, she made her WWE debut on the September 5 episode of NXT. UFC 285 Fighters Salaries | Jones vs Gane Purse Payouts | How Much Fighters Earn from PPV Money Bonuses? Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. These wrestlers served in different branches, including the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 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. 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. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old returned to WWE two years later to compete in the 2018 Mae Young Classic. All of that resulted in the historian expressing discomfort with voting for someone who has brazenly been impersonating a Marine, and sharing the Sun clipping a few weeks ago on the Observers message board for subscribers. 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. #OTD in 1969 Bob Kalsu, who started nine games at right guard during his 1968 rookie season, has left the Buffalo Bills to be inducted into the Army. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. However, she later decided to leave service and pursue a wrestling career. I just wish I had more time to do that., And not just to the media either. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. Well, yes. 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. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. William George Bonin was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. All these are the details about the top 10 most popular WWE wrestlers who served in military. He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan. After achieving fame in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), he served as the 38th governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. 14/15 * Corporal Kirchner. As a young man, Raven was looking for an action-packed job. Individuals formerly apart of any military branch of service. Sgt. It did not take him long to find his calling and surpass the legacies of both his father and grandfather in becoming WWEs Apex Predator. As such, in December 1984, Slaughter/Remus gave, , which would be syndicated nationwide throughout 1985 by Knight-Ridder and the Associated Press. The WWE Hall of Famer out of St. Louis, Missouri began his wrestling career all the way back in 1952. Wrestling boards archives (2005-2006) Off-Topic archives (2015) Off-Topic archives (2014) Off-Topic archives (2013) Although his father and grandfather both worked in the wrestling business, Orton chose to join the U.S. Marine Corps after his graduation. convention, Slaughter gave him a similar story, one that, even as someone with family who served in the Marines, he bought. Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. It's no surprise that some wrestlers have had other jobs outside of the ring, and some of them have even enlisted in the United States military. Former WWE Superstars Raven and Steve Cutler Before they became pro wrestlers, some former WWE Superstars have served in the United States military. After leaving the Army, Saturn decided to become a professional wrestler and trained under the tutelage of the legendary Killer Kowalski. WWE has also contracted several Army veterans to the company over the years, providing them with a platform inside the squared circle. Currently: CEO of USAA. Virginia . Photo credit: ihorror.com. The 32-year-old then received a WWE tryout in 2017. They made us do it, Remus answered. Im a pretty regular guy. Bryant then put in a Freedom of Information Act request about Remus, quickly resulting in a letter confirming that, indeed, the wrestler never served. Jesse The Body Ventura served in the U.S. Navy before embarking on a career in pro wrestling. 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 , . Serving the nation by joining military of your own country is a dream of almost every citizen. 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. 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. He attributes his discipline and work habits to the military. . 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. UFC Fighters Insurance | How Much UFC Pay To The Injured Fighters? He remained the part of Vietnam war and also won the Vietnam Service Medal for his bravery and performance. Making sure all the, uh, the grunts dont [go] AWOL on us, and keep em all in line.. John Cena, Batista & Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton & Jeri-Show: Tribute to the Troops, Dec. 20, 2008. 16 Steve McQueen Shutterstock At age 17, The King of Cool joined the United States Marine Corps. 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. Like many young men of his generation, Gagne answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. AEW (All Elite Wrestling) (w)Rest of Wrestling. Among them was Lacey Evans. 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. I like my privacy, I like to play golf and listen to music. 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. Which wrestler served in the military? 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. Former professional wrestler, actor and governor of Minnesota, Jesse "The Body" Ventura served in the Navy from 1969 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. As the mouthpiece of The New Age Outlaws, Road DoggJesse James broke out as The Attitude Eras most boisterous degenerate. He was part of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, famously known as " Buffalo Soldiers ," and part of the Louisiana Maneuvers in 1941 the largest military exercise ever held in the US. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. 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. . 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. Ford also handled Defense Travel System plans for his battalion, which he revealed in an interview. 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. (It doesnt help, though that, even then, he would make the distinction to reporters that he was a real Marine, like in a March 1981 Washington Evening Star story.) The veteran currently works as a backstage producer and writer in WWE. Jay Swingler vs Nicholai Perrett Purse Payouts | How Much Both Earn from PPV Money? WWE - Current . Hes not Butch Cassidy, that was just a role he played. Oh yeah, yeah, Ive been in one, Remus replied. is not good. This led to his recruitment into the United States Army. 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. 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. 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.
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