He won the Hardcore Championship twice and the European Championship once. He is probably best remembered as a member of Ravens Flock in WCW and for his storyline in WWE where he fell in love with a mop named Moppy. Perry Saturn kicked off his wrestling career in 1991. Jay Swingler vs Nicholai Perrett Purse Payouts | How Much Both Earn from PPV Money? Orton then decided to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a professional wrestler. 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. Nobodys talking about the Sgt. 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. Slaughter was also a member of G.I. But to the US Air Force, he was a hero. Please logout and login again. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Vera is a veteran of the US Air Force and a former UFC fighter. Booker worked his way up from wrestling in local venues to national stardom, first with World Championship Wrestling, then WWE. Well, I always thought he was in the Marines! exclaimed the former member of the WWF creative team and talent relations department through laughter. Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. . The late wrestler Freddie Blassie has won the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship during his professional career. Slaughter, hes clearly speaking as Bob Remus and still claims to have served in the Marine Corps. Instead, he pursued a career in pro wrestling. The 34-year-old served in Afghanistan. Bobby Lashley is an American professional wrestler and a mixed martial artist. After graduating from high school, wrote, Kevin Powers, young Robert Remus joined the United States Marine Corps where he earned the moniker Sgt. My idea of a perfect evening is to cook a steak, build a fire and relax. Before making it to the wrestling business, almost every WWE Superstar earned a living by working ordinary jobs. Not everyone has the quality to wrestler with any weight category and then put up worth watching. In 2016, she made a one-off appearance on Monday Night RAW, competing against Nia Jax. Kevin Nash has earned massive success during his wrestling career. WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie is proclaimed to be one of the greatest managers of all time. Official response from the Department of the Navy to if Sgt. The current American politician Jesse Ventura has spent a wonderful career in professional wrestling world where he has his hands on multiple achievements. Ventura graduated from the physically and mentally demanding Basic Underwater Demolition School or BUD/S one of the elements of Navy SEAL training. Despite the differences, these men and women mostly served their countries with honor. (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. Few current WWE Superstars have. He is still signed with promotion on Legends contract. This led to his recruitment into the United States Army. Watch every Premium Live Event and get unlimited access to WWE's premium content - available to you anywhere, anytime, on any device. Ventura was a member of the United States Navy from 1969 to 1975. Making sure all the, uh, the grunts dont [go] AWOL on us, and keep em all in line.. The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. Steven Cutler is a formidable contender in WWE NXT, having previously faced off against the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin. Im a pretty regular guy. His father was a former US Army Drill Sergeant. 8 William Bonin. Steve Culter joined WWE in 2014 after spending two years wrestling in different promotions. Military policies should only be developed for one purpose: fighting and winning our nation's wars. Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane Salaries | Purse Payouts | How Much They Earn from Potential Bonus at UFC 285? Orton did not adapt well to military life and left the service a year later. . I found it interesting, but I didnt think much of it since the extent of Slaughters claims werent at the forefront of my mind. 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. Because during the same short New York media tour to promote WrestleMania-related events that would hit the city several weeks later, he danced around military-related questions in a Fox News interview published eight days after he was on Jim and Sam. Today we're counting down my picks for the Top 10 Wrestlers that have served in the military, let's get it started! WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself is a supporter of the U.S. military. I was, basically, just infantry, you know? Lacey Evans co-main evented WWE Extreme Rules in 2019 and since that time she has challenged for a championship multiple times. Case in point: Yes, he responded when Jim Norton of Sirius XMs, him if he really served in the Marine Corps last February 18th. Vernon Logan, Buddy Arndt, J. Robinson, and Randy Couture served in WW2, Vietnam and during the Cold War. 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. The others are the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. If you know me & my preferences when it comes to wrestlers . One detail of Colters typical tirades, however, is 100 percent accurate he served in the Vietnam War. The gimmick wasn't 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. 10. Before embarking on a career in sports-entertainment, Kevin Nash was an accomplished NCAA basketball player and also played in Europe. Military police as a SWAT officer badass #Raw pic.twitter.com/LDMKGB7DRC. 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. However, before he showed up in professional wrestling, Colter was a member of theU.S. Armys 25th Infantry Division. Still, he is working for WWE as Senior Vice President of Live Events. Wrestling boards archives (2005-2006) Off-Topic archives (2015) Off-Topic archives (2014) Off-Topic archives (2013) But mostly yes. Joe, having appeared in both the comic book and cartoon. UFC Highest PPV Buys | Khabib vs McGregor Breaks All Records Generated $180m+ on PPV event day. UFC Referees Salaries | Herb Dean Highest Paid MMA Official With $500k Salary, Most Expensive UFC Fighters Contracts Deals. 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. All of which misses the point. 113 Votes 42 Comments. He spent three years in uniform before joining WWE in 2005. Raven later decided to ditch his dreams of becoming a CIA agent. Randy Orton, the legend killer, the apex predator. How Much Jon Jones Earn from PPV Money? Having made his debut in World Wrestling Federation (now called WWE) in 1992, Konnan started his professional wrestling career. Part of the issue, too, is that Slaughter is an undisputed legend in pro wrestling. He is a certified graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and he was also a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. 10. The Viper is regarded as one of the best heels in the business and he is one of the most decorated champions in WWE history. article didnt involve the company and he even told other wrestlers for decades that hed served. He was a member of the Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War in the 20th century and was stationed in the Philippines. The son of WWE Hall of Famer Bullet Bob Armstrong, Road Dogg has always had sports-entertainment in his blood. Specialist_Cell_4067 Additional comment actions I really did! 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. 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. During that process, he came across not just the Sun article but also Remus more recent claims to have genuinely served. Longtime wrestling reporter, clipping and set off a firestorm of internet discussion and wrestling news website articles. I walked into a caf near the Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City and saw Sergeant Slaughter sitting quietly by himself, Bret Hart wrote in his memoir, Hitman, which is sourced almost entirely from his contemporaneous audio diaries. All of that resulted in the historian expressing discomfort with voting for someone who has brazenly been impersonating a Marine, and sharing the, s message board for subscribers. Randy Orton. The next man on our list is Randy Orton who is currently active and holding an expensive contract deal with WWE under RAW brand. Naval Academy in 1989 and served in the Navy Supply Corps . 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. In early 2016, a new class of WWE Performance Center recruits was announced. 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. The veteran currently works as a backstage producer and writer in WWE. 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. Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (MID) #94 Illustrated by . Raw results, Feb. 27, 2023:Becky Lynch and Lita capture WWE Womens Tag Team Titles from Damage CTRL with help from Trish Stratus, SmackDown results, Feb. 24, 2023: Sami Zayn exposes further cracks in The Bloodline by surviving vicious SmackDown attack, WWE NXT results, Feb. 28, 2023: Carmelo Hayes beats Tyler Bate in showstopping main event, Roman Reigns conquers The Beast to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion on WrestleMania Sunday, Photos: See the latest WWE action figures from Mattel, Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair rivalry history. Stay tuned for more information! Before he became a WWE Superstar, The Body served in the U.S. Navy. Servo fought Jenkins on Feb. 17, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For those unfamiliar, the school is essentially 61-days of intense leadership training. Freddie Blassie also achieved success as an in-ring competitor. Cutler brought experience to the gimmick, as he served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company. Slaughter name from Jackie Gleasons Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter character in Soldier in the Rain that he sounded like himself and not the nervous, monosyllabic mess that he was in the Jim and Sam interview. A year later, she made her WWE debut on the September 5 episode of NXT. Perry has completed his bachelors degree from U.S. Army Ranger School and has served in the United States Army Rangers. The D.I. But as Sgt. 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. 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. The 34-year-old joined Impact Wrestling last June. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Still he is signed with Impact where he is a member of the creative team. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Venuta would later enter the world of politics and become the governor of his home state, Minnesota. Nonetheless, WWE released him from his contract in January 2003. However, Zeb Colter has also joined the United States Army after completing his college degree. This has been true throughout the years, from Sgt. However, he also has military background. Goldberg is one of the most popular figures of the late 1990s/early 2000s professional wrestling boom. These wrestlers served in different branches, including the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force. pic.twitter.com/bIpik22dln, SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) January 14, 2020. 4 Bobbly Lashley. But they were probably so far removed from each other that you never thought of them together. 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. 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. Lacey Evans is a legit badass tho!! A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. 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. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. 8 8 0 Randy Ortonthat is one name the military records should delete. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. TO ALL THAT HAVE SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS,HAPPY VETERANS DAY!#VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/HEzyECYpny. 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. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb I hope you and your families enjoyed @WWE doing what we do best. . He chose first options and remained the part of US Navy and discharged later on in 1984. A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. Prior to chasing WWE gold, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served as a drill Sergeant. WWE NXT fans know that Montez Ford is an incredibly gifted athlete. She was in the Marines. 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. The Sassy Southern Belle also competed in the first women's match in Saudi Arabia when she collided with the Natalya at WWE Crown Jewel in 2019. He did his research, the wrestler added. His duties included arranging travel for Marines if they needed training. As we noted, the former WWE champion did not serve in the army. Joe action figure in the late '80s when he became a spokesman for the brand and did voice-over work . 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. But his wrestling career cut short due to the elbow injury he suffered in training. Zeb Colter, more commonly famous for the ring name of Dutch Mantel is an American retired professional wrestler who started his career in 1972. 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. The WWE Hall of Famer out of St. Louis, Missouri began his wrestling career all the way back in 1952. Currently: CEO of USAA. How Much Jon Jones Earn Per Fight? Slaughter would return to the WWF shortly after the traffic jam, changing his villainous ways to a good guy after about a year. He served during the Vietnam War, where he reached the rank of Petty officer. Lashley had a very impressive career in MMA and he was also successful in amateur wrestling. Slaughter character or even Remus, frankly being a valor thief at his peak, when kayfabe was still strong, past a few mid-1980s Marines. Despite never serving with the armed forces, John Cena strives to support those who serve and veterans in his professional ad personal life". Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? He started his career in 1990 after signing the deal with United States Wrestling Association. . Trending pages Montez Ford DT Porter Randy Orton Bobby Lashley Ashante Adonis Sgt. Before starting his wrestling career, Jesse was in United States Navy Underwater Demolition Team. 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. Hes not Butch Cassidy, that was just a role he played. The 57-year-old had two short stints in WWE. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Jessie The Body Ventura is a retired pro wrestler out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the tender age of 18, Johnny Cash (pictured here with Bob Dylan) joined the Air Force, serving in Texas and Germany before receiving an honorable discharge after four years of service in 1954. Sgt. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as a member of D-Generation X. Perry Saturn is among the few wrestlers who competed in WCW, ECW, WWE and TNA. You may be interested in Today we're counting down my picks for the Top 10 Wrestlers that have served in the military, let's get it started! 3 Sgt. Adora is a United States Army veteran. This includes former and current professional wrestlers with an ex-military background. 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. In, , 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, So I went down to my locker box, pulled out my, out, he explained. Top Hat Gaming Man - twitch.tv/tophatgamingmanlive, calling occupants of interporkatery sweats. Today we take a look at the top 5 wrestlers that served in the military. 5. 7 Freddie Blassie. 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. Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. The Forgotten Sons' gimmick was that they were veterans who came back home and society overlooked them. He held a world title in both companies and main evented various PPVs. Hes not, , that was just a role he played. Marine Corps wrestler who served on Okinawa will compete in Tokyo Olympics By Seth Robson May 5, 2021 U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. A post shared by (@trishadora202). Slaughter was never in the USMC. And no. Before embarking on a career in professional wrestling by wandering along the roads of U.S. Route 190 and long before he started pushing his cultural views on the WWE Universe Colter served as a member of the U.S. Armys 25th Infantry Division. He built his strong physique during his time as a professional wrestler in the WWE. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. 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. pic.twitter.com/2XLPE1YFvl, SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) January 9, 2020. During college times, Nash was a skillful basketball player and later on, he worked hard to get into Military Police Company in Germany where he reached the rank of specialist before turning pro in professional wrestling. Nash had some success during his enlistment and worked his way up to the rank of specialist. Slaughter Iron Sheik Jesse Ventura All items (62) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other A Afa UFC Fighters With Expensive Sponsorship Deals | How Much These Endorsements Help Them in their Careers? After his service, Montez Ford embarked on a career in professional wrestling. Currently, he is signed under Raw brand and pocketing ludicrous base salary as per contract. RULES. I just wish I had more time to do that.. Kennedy is one of the few fighters simultaneously to serve in the . Blassie was also an accomplished competitor in his own right during the 1950s and 1960s. Not as a character backstory, mind you, but as Bob Remus personal backstory. He also joined Army college and after showing his brilliant fighting skills in inter-college competitions, started his professional career. To make things official, he later, saved Eddie Gilbert from the Sheiks antics. Lacey Evans, the Lady of NXT, also served in the Marine Corps. After all, it, Well, yes. George Washington (1789 - 1797). 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. Former WWE Superstar Raven has also served in the United States military. 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. FAN Wrestling Forum. Before joining the wrestling business, Mr. Kennedy served as a security officer at Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. #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. SSG Warren Swan. All four have unique stories of their service that came before, after and even in between their time at Oklahoma State. #Troops15 pic.twitter.com/JYqtnADe7c. I really did! Reese, most known for his support of . However, his best work in WWF or WWE is as a manager in 1980s. After Big Swole graduated from high school, she went to college. 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. Bobby has military background as his father was a drill sergeant in United Stated Army. He also described how it felt being in a combat zone. There's no doubt that Lacey Evans will one day reach the top of the mountain in WWE by capturing her first Championship. However, Randy faced premature dismissal due to disobeying an order and multiple absents during the training session. Corporal Kirchner wasa paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.