8 'Fake' Wrestling Angles That Had 'Real' Life Consequences.
By Edtrader Oct. 3rd, 2022
In professional wrestling, there are storylines and wrestling angles that help draw interest. In order to sell tickets. In some cases, these wrestling angles have had hilarious consequences, while others have had serious real-life consequences.
In professional wrestling, there are storylines and wrestling angles that help draw interest. In order to sell tickets. In some cases, these wrestling angles have had hilarious consequences, while others have had serious real-life consequences.
#8. Wise guys.
Captain Lou Albano is best known as a wrestling manager. But like most managers, he's a former wrestler. Teaming with Tony Altomare in 1961, they became a tag team that passed themselves off as mafia-wise guys. As villains, they got heat and tempered the audience. Heat generates cash.
But they also ticked off the Chicago mafia. Who sent three of their own Vito Corleone-style button pushers. Telling the two that they should lay off the gimmick. Well, they took the guy's words to heart. They packed their bags and moved on to a different promotion. All the way in Minnesota!
Captain Lou Albano is best known as a wrestling manager. But like most managers, he's a former wrestler. Teaming with Tony Altomare in 1961, they became a tag team that passed themselves off as mafia-wise guys. As villains, they got heat and tempered the audience. Heat generates cash.
But they also ticked off the Chicago mafia. Who sent three of their own Vito Corleone-style button pushers. Telling the two that they should lay off the gimmick. Well, they took the guy's words to heart. They packed their bags and moved on to a different promotion. All the way in Minnesota!
NYPOST:
In 1961, three members of the Chicago Outfit — supposedly including Tony Accardo — paid The Sicilians a visit and told them to lay off because their antics were giving the mob a bad name. They must have made their point — The Sicilians left town surreptitiously, hightailing it back to the Northeast.
In 1961, three members of the Chicago Outfit — supposedly including Tony Accardo — paid The Sicilians a visit and told them to lay off because their antics were giving the mob a bad name. They must have made their point — The Sicilians left town surreptitiously, hightailing it back to the Northeast.
#7. Andy Kaufman.
Angle: One of the first TV celebrities to embrace being in the wrestling ring was Andy Kaufman. The song and dance man told his friend that he always wanted to be a bad guy wrestler. But his friend, Bob Zmuda, said these guys would just kill him. So, he smarted off that he would fight someone smaller than him. Naturally, that would be women.
He started this journey by running this idea by the WWF. But was turned down by Vince McMahon. But found support through the Memphis wrestling promotion. And filled his dream of being a wrestler. Challenging women, as he had joked to his friend. After several tries, no woman could beat him. Because he always cheated to win. Heel wrestler, Class 101.
As a bad guy, he got heat. So, people would buy tickets to see him get his butt kicked. So, he targeted not only women but the entire Memphis population. He would call the people of Memphis dirty and brainless. He even filmed promos for TV telling people how to use soap. It was really pissing off the people. So, when the area's hero, Jerry The King Lawler got involved, things got really good.
Jerry had enough and came out to challenge Andy to a match. Andy accepted, saying Jerry was larger but that he was from Hollywood and smarter. At the match, people got their money's worth. Jerry pile-drived Andy and 'broke' his neck.
David Letterman's early years on TV has one moment that stands out. Andy and Jerry came on for an interview. Andy was selling the neck injury with a neck-brace. And the debate went on for years about whether the following events were planned or real. Andy goes on about how he could have sued Jerry. Took everything he owned, but he wasn't that kind of guy. Jerry asked with a straight face what kind of man Andy was.
Jerry proceeded to stand up and slap Andy so hard that he fell out of his chair. Andy then went into a fury about how he was now going to sue Lawler. According to Bob Zmuda, the slapping was not supposed to happen. Jerry Lawyer confirmed that everything that happened on the show was planned. David's expression through this was priceless. If he really knew what was happening, and how well he was acting like he didn't, then he deserved a freakin' EMMY and a Golden Globe.
The real-life consequence: As a result of the match, Andy pretended to have a broken neck. It was sprained, but the doctors said he would be alright. But he didn't tell his girlfriend, his parents, or his siblings that he was OK. They thought it was real. And they were really concerned that he was going to be paralyzed. He kept the front up and scarred his loved ones before he finally let them in on everything.
The entire program actually hurt Andy's career in a lot of ways. Ladies' groups began to protest, for starters. He really became the most hated man in the country for a while. And that hurt the ticket sales of his one-man shows. Things got so hot for him that he was voted by fans to never be on Saturday Night Live again. In fact, he received so many hate mail letters that a book of them was published.
Angle: One of the first TV celebrities to embrace being in the wrestling ring was Andy Kaufman. The song and dance man told his friend that he always wanted to be a bad guy wrestler. But his friend, Bob Zmuda, said these guys would just kill him. So, he smarted off that he would fight someone smaller than him. Naturally, that would be women.
He started this journey by running this idea by the WWF. But was turned down by Vince McMahon. But found support through the Memphis wrestling promotion. And filled his dream of being a wrestler. Challenging women, as he had joked to his friend. After several tries, no woman could beat him. Because he always cheated to win. Heel wrestler, Class 101.
As a bad guy, he got heat. So, people would buy tickets to see him get his butt kicked. So, he targeted not only women but the entire Memphis population. He would call the people of Memphis dirty and brainless. He even filmed promos for TV telling people how to use soap. It was really pissing off the people. So, when the area's hero, Jerry The King Lawler got involved, things got really good.
Jerry had enough and came out to challenge Andy to a match. Andy accepted, saying Jerry was larger but that he was from Hollywood and smarter. At the match, people got their money's worth. Jerry pile-drived Andy and 'broke' his neck.
David Letterman's early years on TV has one moment that stands out. Andy and Jerry came on for an interview. Andy was selling the neck injury with a neck-brace. And the debate went on for years about whether the following events were planned or real. Andy goes on about how he could have sued Jerry. Took everything he owned, but he wasn't that kind of guy. Jerry asked with a straight face what kind of man Andy was.
Jerry proceeded to stand up and slap Andy so hard that he fell out of his chair. Andy then went into a fury about how he was now going to sue Lawler. According to Bob Zmuda, the slapping was not supposed to happen. Jerry Lawyer confirmed that everything that happened on the show was planned. David's expression through this was priceless. If he really knew what was happening, and how well he was acting like he didn't, then he deserved a freakin' EMMY and a Golden Globe.
The real-life consequence: As a result of the match, Andy pretended to have a broken neck. It was sprained, but the doctors said he would be alright. But he didn't tell his girlfriend, his parents, or his siblings that he was OK. They thought it was real. And they were really concerned that he was going to be paralyzed. He kept the front up and scarred his loved ones before he finally let them in on everything.
The entire program actually hurt Andy's career in a lot of ways. Ladies' groups began to protest, for starters. He really became the most hated man in the country for a while. And that hurt the ticket sales of his one-man shows. Things got so hot for him that he was voted by fans to never be on Saturday Night Live again. In fact, he received so many hate mail letters that a book of them was published.
#6. Middle East.
Wrestling has used America's conflicts with the Middle East numerous times to sell wrestling.
However, it usually becomes a real-life ordeal.
Wrestling has used America's conflicts with the Middle East numerous times to sell wrestling.
However, it usually becomes a real-life ordeal.
A.
Angle: 1991 America was in the throes of the Persian Gulf War. The WWF decided to have the all-American SGT. Slaughter turn on the country. Joining The Iron Sheik in supporting Sadam Hussain. Going on TV, saying he was proud of his country but not anymore. The final touch was having Slaughter burn a shirt of Hulk Hogan. Now it's on that Hulk Hogan has to kick his ass at Wrestlemania.
The real-life consequence: Slaughter gets a call from Vince McMahon and hears that his wife has been moved to a safe location. As she and Slaughter had death threats made against them. As well as against the McMahon family.
The match was to be held at the massive Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Which could have set a new wrestling attendance record. Over security issues, it was moved over to the smaller Sports Arena with a dip of 3 million dollars of what they projected to make. Basil DeVito, the WWF's senior business adviser, said that they had 17,000 pre-sold tickets. So, they could move over to the smaller venue without disappointing the fans. But that's about as many people as they could fit. So, it went from a 90-100,000 to a 17-18,000 house.
Angle: 1991 America was in the throes of the Persian Gulf War. The WWF decided to have the all-American SGT. Slaughter turn on the country. Joining The Iron Sheik in supporting Sadam Hussain. Going on TV, saying he was proud of his country but not anymore. The final touch was having Slaughter burn a shirt of Hulk Hogan. Now it's on that Hulk Hogan has to kick his ass at Wrestlemania.
The real-life consequence: Slaughter gets a call from Vince McMahon and hears that his wife has been moved to a safe location. As she and Slaughter had death threats made against them. As well as against the McMahon family.
The match was to be held at the massive Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Which could have set a new wrestling attendance record. Over security issues, it was moved over to the smaller Sports Arena with a dip of 3 million dollars of what they projected to make. Basil DeVito, the WWF's senior business adviser, said that they had 17,000 pre-sold tickets. So, they could move over to the smaller venue without disappointing the fans. But that's about as many people as they could fit. So, it went from a 90-100,000 to a 17-18,000 house.
B.
Angle: Now it's the year 2005, and 9/11 is starting to calm down in American minds. Until the WWE reaffirmed the pain with the characters of Muhammed Hassan and Khosrow Daivari. Hassan is actually Italian, while Daivari is American-born, but of Middle Eastern descent. Part of their storyline had been blaming Americans for not allowing them to be stars because of the 9/11 stigma.
Undertaker was the hot hero now and was the focus. In a Smackdown taping, Undertaker beats Daivari. But some guys dressed like suicide bombers came down and attacked him. To nail the coffin (pun, yes), some piano wire was used to simulate how you could behead the Undertaker.
The real-life consequence: Two hours before the tape was to air in Europe, the British capital was under heavy bomb attacks. So, it was decided to edit out the ending of the Undertaker match. But the unedited match was broadcast in the U.S. on UPN. The New York Post was the first media outlet to speak out against the segment. Which viewers did as well, and this got back to UPN.
UPN didn't want these characters on the show. Which the WWE complied with, but, did the next best (worse) thing. They had an attorney who represented the two on air. This didn't sit well at all.
Angle: Now it's the year 2005, and 9/11 is starting to calm down in American minds. Until the WWE reaffirmed the pain with the characters of Muhammed Hassan and Khosrow Daivari. Hassan is actually Italian, while Daivari is American-born, but of Middle Eastern descent. Part of their storyline had been blaming Americans for not allowing them to be stars because of the 9/11 stigma.
Undertaker was the hot hero now and was the focus. In a Smackdown taping, Undertaker beats Daivari. But some guys dressed like suicide bombers came down and attacked him. To nail the coffin (pun, yes), some piano wire was used to simulate how you could behead the Undertaker.
The real-life consequence: Two hours before the tape was to air in Europe, the British capital was under heavy bomb attacks. So, it was decided to edit out the ending of the Undertaker match. But the unedited match was broadcast in the U.S. on UPN. The New York Post was the first media outlet to speak out against the segment. Which viewers did as well, and this got back to UPN.
UPN didn't want these characters on the show. Which the WWE complied with, but, did the next best (worse) thing. They had an attorney who represented the two on air. This didn't sit well at all.
#5. Randy Orton is not a hero.
Angle: One thing that the WWE (and most wrestling companies) have used a lot is outside of wrestling media appearances. Whether it be SNL, Johnny Carson, Jimmy Kimmel, or even movies. The Marine franchise played a huge part in making John Cena an outright star. When it came time to film Part 3, Randy Orton was picked. As a push to increase his popularity. But also because he had been in the Marines himself.
The real-life consequence: U.S. Marines were about to storm the WWE headquarters! Randy's former unitmate, CPL. Mike Vinn found out about him being cast. And said that, whether wrestling is fake or not, he should not be playing a heroic marine. That he is an outright disgrace to the uniform.
As Randy was court-martialed and imprisoned for disobeying a direct order and for going AWOL twice. Other marines joined in, and it caught WWE's attention. After reviewing his military record, he was removed from the film role. The last thing you want to do is pi*s off the U.S. Marines!
Angle: One thing that the WWE (and most wrestling companies) have used a lot is outside of wrestling media appearances. Whether it be SNL, Johnny Carson, Jimmy Kimmel, or even movies. The Marine franchise played a huge part in making John Cena an outright star. When it came time to film Part 3, Randy Orton was picked. As a push to increase his popularity. But also because he had been in the Marines himself.
The real-life consequence: U.S. Marines were about to storm the WWE headquarters! Randy's former unitmate, CPL. Mike Vinn found out about him being cast. And said that, whether wrestling is fake or not, he should not be playing a heroic marine. That he is an outright disgrace to the uniform.
As Randy was court-martialed and imprisoned for disobeying a direct order and for going AWOL twice. Other marines joined in, and it caught WWE's attention. After reviewing his military record, he was removed from the film role. The last thing you want to do is pi*s off the U.S. Marines!
#4. Love & Marriage.
With stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock leaving for Hollywood, the WWF (E) was looking for the next big star. Triple H, as the leader for DX, was the next in line to be the main man. And it was decided that to draw heat, he would secretly ruin the marriage of the boss's daughter. This would have the employee vs. boss feud that made Stone Cold such a star against Vince McMahon.
Stephanie McMahon had started to work behind the scenes, and she agreed to the angle. Leading to her character being drunk and marrying HHH via drive-through wedding chapel. Later, the storyline evolved into Stephanie joining HHH in overthrowing her dad's authority. This meant that to sell the angle, Stephanie and HHH had to be seen together in public and on camera.
Three Vince McMahon granddaughters! These two had not known each other all that much when they started this gimmick. But they developed a friendship, and before you knew it, they were making out in the dark corners of whatever venue they were in. They had a secret love affair at first, but Vince found out. While talking over the running order of a RAW episode, Vince asked HHH when he was going to talk to him about you and Stephanie. HHH wasn't ready for that conversation. He choked back a few breaths and told him Well, I guess now".
In October of 2003, Paul Levesque (HHH) and Stephanie McMahon became Mr. and Mrs. Levesque. And has since given birth to three granddaughters for Vinnie Mac. Now the two have gained power within the company as executives. And Vince has been slowly succeeding power as he's now in his 70s. So not only did a real-life wedding come about, but the storyline of them overthrowing Vince is coming true as well.
With stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock leaving for Hollywood, the WWF (E) was looking for the next big star. Triple H, as the leader for DX, was the next in line to be the main man. And it was decided that to draw heat, he would secretly ruin the marriage of the boss's daughter. This would have the employee vs. boss feud that made Stone Cold such a star against Vince McMahon.
Stephanie McMahon had started to work behind the scenes, and she agreed to the angle. Leading to her character being drunk and marrying HHH via drive-through wedding chapel. Later, the storyline evolved into Stephanie joining HHH in overthrowing her dad's authority. This meant that to sell the angle, Stephanie and HHH had to be seen together in public and on camera.
Three Vince McMahon granddaughters! These two had not known each other all that much when they started this gimmick. But they developed a friendship, and before you knew it, they were making out in the dark corners of whatever venue they were in. They had a secret love affair at first, but Vince found out. While talking over the running order of a RAW episode, Vince asked HHH when he was going to talk to him about you and Stephanie. HHH wasn't ready for that conversation. He choked back a few breaths and told him Well, I guess now".
In October of 2003, Paul Levesque (HHH) and Stephanie McMahon became Mr. and Mrs. Levesque. And has since given birth to three granddaughters for Vinnie Mac. Now the two have gained power within the company as executives. And Vince has been slowly succeeding power as he's now in his 70s. So not only did a real-life wedding come about, but the storyline of them overthrowing Vince is coming true as well.
#3. Roddy Piper's Podcast Blues.
Angle: Roddy Piper (RIP) and his podcast is one of the funniest things you could ever hear. In July 2015, Will Sasso was his guest when it was decided that he would use his wrestling impersonations. Calling Hacksaw Jim Duggan as Stone Cold Steve Austin, he went on to claim that Hacksaw had stolen the 2x4 gimmick from him. And it just kept going on about how Hacksaw was nothing but a gimmick thief.
The real-life consequence: Hacksaw got a little pi*sed off and said that he beat Steve Austin so bad when they were in WCW that he had to shave his head and change his name. It was revealed that it was all a joke, and Hacksaw joined in on the laughter.
The real-life consequence: Hacksaw got a little pi*sed off and said that he beat Steve Austin so bad when they were in WCW that he had to shave his head and change his name. It was revealed that it was all a joke, and Hacksaw joined in on the laughter.
Those Darn Outsiders
A.
Angle : 1996 Eric Bischoff hired both Kevin Nash and Scott Hall from the WWF. Needing more national star power for WCW's flagship show, Nitro. They came in dressed differently than their previous characters, Diesel and Razor Roman. But they talked and walked like those characters. Scott Hall was even chewing on a toothpick. That is because Scott had been playing this Scarface-type character for years. He had a toothpick gimmick long his WWF run.
The real-life consequence: But Vince McMahon saw that they were referring to the WWF. And with the way they were acting, it was infringing on the characters that he owned. So, he sued WCW's parent company, Turner Entertainment. The suit was eventually settled a few years later. But it was one of the many things that put a lot of pressure on WCW's Eric Bischoff. And was a piece to the downfall of WCW overall.
Angle : 1996 Eric Bischoff hired both Kevin Nash and Scott Hall from the WWF. Needing more national star power for WCW's flagship show, Nitro. They came in dressed differently than their previous characters, Diesel and Razor Roman. But they talked and walked like those characters. Scott Hall was even chewing on a toothpick. That is because Scott had been playing this Scarface-type character for years. He had a toothpick gimmick long his WWF run.
The real-life consequence: But Vince McMahon saw that they were referring to the WWF. And with the way they were acting, it was infringing on the characters that he owned. So, he sued WCW's parent company, Turner Entertainment. The suit was eventually settled a few years later. But it was one of the many things that put a lot of pressure on WCW's Eric Bischoff. And was a piece to the downfall of WCW overall.
B.
Angle: A few months later, WWF announced on RAW that Razor Ramon and Diesel would be on the program.
The real-life consequence: RAW was taped a week ahead, and the officials of WCW, though OMG Nash and Hall are going back to work for WWF. Somehow, Hall and Nash had somehow resigned with the WWF.
So, they offered Nash and Hall a large addition to their contract. But as the TV moment came, two other wrestlers came on RAW dressed and acting like the Razor and Diesel characters. Nash and Hall still got their money. So this was a stupid mistake for WCW but also a real-life addition to the two's bank accounts!
Angle: A few months later, WWF announced on RAW that Razor Ramon and Diesel would be on the program.
The real-life consequence: RAW was taped a week ahead, and the officials of WCW, though OMG Nash and Hall are going back to work for WWF. Somehow, Hall and Nash had somehow resigned with the WWF.
So, they offered Nash and Hall a large addition to their contract. But as the TV moment came, two other wrestlers came on RAW dressed and acting like the Razor and Diesel characters. Nash and Hall still got their money. So this was a stupid mistake for WCW but also a real-life addition to the two's bank accounts!
#1. Changed viewership.
Angle: January 3rd, 1998, WCW had, for two years, ruled over the WWF in TV ratings. Like they could do no wrong as everything just worked. The moment that single-handedly changed the tide, making the WCW fall back to second, was Eric Bischoff's bad decision. He decided the announcers would announce what the RAW programming would be. As NITRO was live while RAW was taped. That Mankind would be winning the WWF world title. Eric was trying to up WCW by downplaying the boring programming of the WWF.
The real-life consequence: Wrestling fans picked up their TV remotes and changed the channel in a mass exodus. At that moment, in a flash, the viewership rating for WCW dropped. And WWF gained all of those estimated 600,000 viewers. The WCW would never regain the ratings it lost that night. And in TV, more ratings equals more they can charge advertisers for TV time. So, it cost the company not only money but has been pointed out as the beginning of what closed that company.
Angle: January 3rd, 1998, WCW had, for two years, ruled over the WWF in TV ratings. Like they could do no wrong as everything just worked. The moment that single-handedly changed the tide, making the WCW fall back to second, was Eric Bischoff's bad decision. He decided the announcers would announce what the RAW programming would be. As NITRO was live while RAW was taped. That Mankind would be winning the WWF world title. Eric was trying to up WCW by downplaying the boring programming of the WWF.
The real-life consequence: Wrestling fans picked up their TV remotes and changed the channel in a mass exodus. At that moment, in a flash, the viewership rating for WCW dropped. And WWF gained all of those estimated 600,000 viewers. The WCW would never regain the ratings it lost that night. And in TV, more ratings equals more they can charge advertisers for TV time. So, it cost the company not only money but has been pointed out as the beginning of what closed that company.