Dumbest Uses Of Fictional Characters In Wrestling.
By Edtrader Oct. 6th, 2022
The following are fictional characters that were intertwined with the wrestling world. And played off as being real. Having celebrities on wrestling programs is pretty common. Like Mr. T helping sell WrestleMania to non-fans. However, he wasn't coming out as B.A. Baracus from the A-Team. Sly Stallone has been on wrestling before, but he wasn't playing Rocky. So intertwining wrestling (portraying itself as real) with celebrities works.
The following are fictional characters that were intertwined with the wrestling world. And played off as being real. Having celebrities on wrestling programs is pretty common. Like Mr. T helping sell WrestleMania to non-fans. However, he wasn't coming out as B.A. Baracus from the A-Team. Sly Stallone has been on wrestling before, but he wasn't playing Rocky. So intertwining wrestling (portraying itself as real) with celebrities works.
#7. Mr. Belding.
If you are 30–40 years old, Saved By The Bell was in your life in some shape. If you didn't watch that show, then someone in your class (if not everyone but you) or at home did. Dennis Haskins played the lovable yet easily pushed principal, Mr. Belding.
Behind the scenes Haskins is a huge wrestling fan. So, the actor has been to a show or two. He's even appeared on wrestler Zack Ryder's hit YouTube series, Z! True Long Island Story. But in April of 2016, Dennis went a bit further.
It was an 8-man tag match with the Pro Wrestling Syndicate event WrestlePro. When Dennis as Mr. Belding, entered the ring and actually competed in the match. Which to be fair, he did the powerbomb move quite proficiently.
Not to stop there, he guest managed a tag team that called themselves... wait for it... The Bayside Tigers. And what is the school and team name of Saved By The Bell? Bayside Tigers. To add to the double kicker, the wrestlers were dressed as Zack Morris and A.C. Slater. Pat Buck and Kevin Matthews had the tights, identical wigs, and everything else.
During one of the matches with the tag team, another wrestler tried talking smack to Mr. Belding. So, the bad-ass principal gave him the Stone Cold Stunner! Followed by John Cena's Can't See Me hand gesture. In another match, He power bombed a wrestler through a table.
If you are 30–40 years old, Saved By The Bell was in your life in some shape. If you didn't watch that show, then someone in your class (if not everyone but you) or at home did. Dennis Haskins played the lovable yet easily pushed principal, Mr. Belding.
Behind the scenes Haskins is a huge wrestling fan. So, the actor has been to a show or two. He's even appeared on wrestler Zack Ryder's hit YouTube series, Z! True Long Island Story. But in April of 2016, Dennis went a bit further.
It was an 8-man tag match with the Pro Wrestling Syndicate event WrestlePro. When Dennis as Mr. Belding, entered the ring and actually competed in the match. Which to be fair, he did the powerbomb move quite proficiently.
Not to stop there, he guest managed a tag team that called themselves... wait for it... The Bayside Tigers. And what is the school and team name of Saved By The Bell? Bayside Tigers. To add to the double kicker, the wrestlers were dressed as Zack Morris and A.C. Slater. Pat Buck and Kevin Matthews had the tights, identical wigs, and everything else.
During one of the matches with the tag team, another wrestler tried talking smack to Mr. Belding. So, the bad-ass principal gave him the Stone Cold Stunner! Followed by John Cena's Can't See Me hand gesture. In another match, He power bombed a wrestler through a table.
#6. Zeus.
In 1989, Hulk Hogan played Rip in the fictional wrestling movie No Holds Barred. The major villain to fight at the end was the Mighty Zeus. Played by a young Tiny Lister Jr. In the movie, Rip was your all-American good guy, a professional fighter. While Zeus was a straight-from-prison undisciplined brawler, he gained fame as he fought in bars and hot metal mills. Rip rejects Zeus' challenge for his title. So, Zeus beats his little brother and kidnaps Rip's girl. Now Rip must 'Rip-um' and defeat Zeus.
It was on an episode of Saturday Night Main Event. The Macho Man, Randy Savage, had previously been the world champion. (In real life, Hogan lost the title so he could film the movie.) But Hogan had won it back from him at Wrestlemania.
Hogan was set to defend the title in a cage match against The Big Boss Man. When his manager Slick told Hogan, I had a surprise for you. When Hogan came out, there was Zeus standing in front of the cage. Actually wearing his outfit from the final scene in the movie. Hogan walked up in disbelief when Zeus beat the living yellow out of him.
So not only is this fictional character now in real life, but he wasn't even going after the character of Rip that beat him. He was going after the actor who played him. To add another dimension, Hogan said that 'ZEUS' was hard to work with on the movie. Not the actor, but the character was hard to work with. Playing off that Zeus really was a felon street fighter hired for the movie role.
The Macho Man offered to team up with Zeus if he wanted to take on Hogan. Zeus wanted to get even for his loss in the movie. Once again, it was the character of Rip that beat him. Not the living and breathing Hulk Hogan.
Hogan didn't have a little brother to beat up. But his best friend (as wrestlers and in actual life), Brutus Beefcake, was chosen. So just like in the movie, Zeus bear-hugged Beefcake until Hogan came out. Freeing Beefcake, and the match was set for Summer Slam Macho and Zeus vs. Hulk and Brutus.
It was no surprise that Zeus lost this match too. Zeus went on to four other high-profile matches. His record was 0-5.
In 1989, Hulk Hogan played Rip in the fictional wrestling movie No Holds Barred. The major villain to fight at the end was the Mighty Zeus. Played by a young Tiny Lister Jr. In the movie, Rip was your all-American good guy, a professional fighter. While Zeus was a straight-from-prison undisciplined brawler, he gained fame as he fought in bars and hot metal mills. Rip rejects Zeus' challenge for his title. So, Zeus beats his little brother and kidnaps Rip's girl. Now Rip must 'Rip-um' and defeat Zeus.
It was on an episode of Saturday Night Main Event. The Macho Man, Randy Savage, had previously been the world champion. (In real life, Hogan lost the title so he could film the movie.) But Hogan had won it back from him at Wrestlemania.
Hogan was set to defend the title in a cage match against The Big Boss Man. When his manager Slick told Hogan, I had a surprise for you. When Hogan came out, there was Zeus standing in front of the cage. Actually wearing his outfit from the final scene in the movie. Hogan walked up in disbelief when Zeus beat the living yellow out of him.
So not only is this fictional character now in real life, but he wasn't even going after the character of Rip that beat him. He was going after the actor who played him. To add another dimension, Hogan said that 'ZEUS' was hard to work with on the movie. Not the actor, but the character was hard to work with. Playing off that Zeus really was a felon street fighter hired for the movie role.
The Macho Man offered to team up with Zeus if he wanted to take on Hogan. Zeus wanted to get even for his loss in the movie. Once again, it was the character of Rip that beat him. Not the living and breathing Hulk Hogan.
Hogan didn't have a little brother to beat up. But his best friend (as wrestlers and in actual life), Brutus Beefcake, was chosen. So just like in the movie, Zeus bear-hugged Beefcake until Hogan came out. Freeing Beefcake, and the match was set for Summer Slam Macho and Zeus vs. Hulk and Brutus.
It was no surprise that Zeus lost this match too. Zeus went on to four other high-profile matches. His record was 0-5.
#5. Ninja Turtles.
In the late 80s and early 90s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand was as strong as anything. These fictional characters were toys, movies, cartoons, clothes, bedding—you name it. Brian Hilderbrand, in the mid-late 90s, was most known as WCW's top referee. However, he moonlighted as a wrestler previously.
1992 Smokey Mountain Wrestling had just started and didn't have much of a cash flow. So, they couldn't afford to completely buy the name. But out of nowhere came a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
It was a match against Jeff Gaylord when Brian came out in a greed suit with the headband, elbow/knee pads, shell, and head of a ninja turtle. Couldn't legally call it a ninja turtle, but this thing was billed as Kowabunga from 'The Sewer'.
You'd think this would be a one-time fluke... no. Kowabunga did S.M.W. shows, but also went on to other promotions like the United States Wrestling Association. TMNT were so popular in Japan that G4 wrestling did the same thing and had (a different person under the suit) their own Kowabunga.
In the late 80s and early 90s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand was as strong as anything. These fictional characters were toys, movies, cartoons, clothes, bedding—you name it. Brian Hilderbrand, in the mid-late 90s, was most known as WCW's top referee. However, he moonlighted as a wrestler previously.
1992 Smokey Mountain Wrestling had just started and didn't have much of a cash flow. So, they couldn't afford to completely buy the name. But out of nowhere came a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
It was a match against Jeff Gaylord when Brian came out in a greed suit with the headband, elbow/knee pads, shell, and head of a ninja turtle. Couldn't legally call it a ninja turtle, but this thing was billed as Kowabunga from 'The Sewer'.
You'd think this would be a one-time fluke... no. Kowabunga did S.M.W. shows, but also went on to other promotions like the United States Wrestling Association. TMNT were so popular in Japan that G4 wrestling did the same thing and had (a different person under the suit) their own Kowabunga.
#4. Baywatch.
In 1995, Baywatch was one of the top shows of the year. One that showed the lives of the beach patrol that also fights crime from time to time. Wrestling sells itself as real, but one time these 'real' characters crossed over into a 'fake' TV show.
In one episode, C.J. saves the life of Hulk Hogan.
He tells the crew that he and Randy Savage were in town to stop the Venice Boys Youth Center from being closed down. And that Ric Flair, Vader, and Kevin Sullivan were the ones trying to shut it down.
Which at WCW, that's who the good and bad guys were. Flair then challenges Hogan to a match for control of the center. The ending match actually took the footage from the WCW Bash At the Beach PPV of July 1995. However, the episode didn't air until February 1996. Also, Vader was already wrestling in the WWF by that point.
Kevin Sullivan was not just a wrestler, but he was part of the WCW office at this point. He said that the Baywatch crew didn't like them very much. David Hasselhoff refused to even be in scenes with the wrestlers.
In 1995, Baywatch was one of the top shows of the year. One that showed the lives of the beach patrol that also fights crime from time to time. Wrestling sells itself as real, but one time these 'real' characters crossed over into a 'fake' TV show.
In one episode, C.J. saves the life of Hulk Hogan.
He tells the crew that he and Randy Savage were in town to stop the Venice Boys Youth Center from being closed down. And that Ric Flair, Vader, and Kevin Sullivan were the ones trying to shut it down.
Which at WCW, that's who the good and bad guys were. Flair then challenges Hogan to a match for control of the center. The ending match actually took the footage from the WCW Bash At the Beach PPV of July 1995. However, the episode didn't air until February 1996. Also, Vader was already wrestling in the WWF by that point.
Kevin Sullivan was not just a wrestler, but he was part of the WCW office at this point. He said that the Baywatch crew didn't like them very much. David Hasselhoff refused to even be in scenes with the wrestlers.
3. Battle Dome.
Battle Dome was a short-lived American Gladiators-type show. They had different games, and their athletes would even fight in competition. However, it wasn't played as being real as wrestling does. During one of their episodes, WCW wrestlers such as Rick Steiner attacked their crew. They retaliated by heckling wrestlers on a November 16th, 2000 episode of WCW Nitro.
Steiner, Ernest Miller, and Buff Bagwell came to the aid of DDP when the Battle Dome guys attacked him. This set up a series of matches between the Battle Dome and WCW wrestlers. One of those Battle Dome guys was T. Money. The future 'Are We There Yet' and The Expendables television and movie series.
Battle Dome was a short-lived American Gladiators-type show. They had different games, and their athletes would even fight in competition. However, it wasn't played as being real as wrestling does. During one of their episodes, WCW wrestlers such as Rick Steiner attacked their crew. They retaliated by heckling wrestlers on a November 16th, 2000 episode of WCW Nitro.
Steiner, Ernest Miller, and Buff Bagwell came to the aid of DDP when the Battle Dome guys attacked him. This set up a series of matches between the Battle Dome and WCW wrestlers. One of those Battle Dome guys was T. Money. The future 'Are We There Yet' and The Expendables television and movie series.
It went back and forth between episodes of the two shows. However, what they were fighting over was never really told. Steiner just showed up and started the fight. The WCW titles or the Battle Dome championship were never up for grabs.
But behind the scenes, it was even more of a disaster. Battle Dome was aired on the UPN network for most of the United States. UPN is part of the Viacom Corporation, which is in high business with the WWF. WWF's Smackdown program aired on UPN at that time. WCW was the competition for one of Viacom's biggest business partners in the WWF. Stone Cold Steve Austin, or the Rock, wasn't appearing on Atlanta Braves games. Within a month, the WCW vs. Battle Dome angle just disappeared from TV. No ending or reason why. There was never even a mention of this ever again.
But behind the scenes, it was even more of a disaster. Battle Dome was aired on the UPN network for most of the United States. UPN is part of the Viacom Corporation, which is in high business with the WWF. WWF's Smackdown program aired on UPN at that time. WCW was the competition for one of Viacom's biggest business partners in the WWF. Stone Cold Steve Austin, or the Rock, wasn't appearing on Atlanta Braves games. Within a month, the WCW vs. Battle Dome angle just disappeared from TV. No ending or reason why. There was never even a mention of this ever again.
2. Pee-Wee Herman.
Back in 2009, the WWE started to do this series of Monday Night Raws with a special guest host. ZZ Top were themselves on their turn. As were Ozzy Osbourne, Jesse Ventura (Blaine from Predator didn't show up), and everyone else. Except for one.
Pee Wee Herman hosted the November 1st, 2010, edition of Raw. The biggest mainstream exposure the character has gotten since its actor got touchy in a porno movie theater. Paul Ruben was promoting the upcoming Pee Wee Herman on Broadway return. So, as all the other actors (Seth Green, Jeremy Piven, Dennis Miller, etc). who guest hosted, he could have appeared as himself. And still could have promoted the new show.
But no, Pee Wee had to do it. The guest host had the powers of a general manager. Meaning they could make matches and set the rules. So now we have this sixty-year-old with an eight-year-old mind telling fans what they should see for the evening.
Yet they wonder why their TV ratings have dropped each year since 2002.
Back in 2009, the WWE started to do this series of Monday Night Raws with a special guest host. ZZ Top were themselves on their turn. As were Ozzy Osbourne, Jesse Ventura (Blaine from Predator didn't show up), and everyone else. Except for one.
Pee Wee Herman hosted the November 1st, 2010, edition of Raw. The biggest mainstream exposure the character has gotten since its actor got touchy in a porno movie theater. Paul Ruben was promoting the upcoming Pee Wee Herman on Broadway return. So, as all the other actors (Seth Green, Jeremy Piven, Dennis Miller, etc). who guest hosted, he could have appeared as himself. And still could have promoted the new show.
But no, Pee Wee had to do it. The guest host had the powers of a general manager. Meaning they could make matches and set the rules. So now we have this sixty-year-old with an eight-year-old mind telling fans what they should see for the evening.
Yet they wonder why their TV ratings have dropped each year since 2002.
#1. Glacier.
For one season, Mortal Kombat: The Series ran on TBS. It was hard to keep coming up with attention-grabbing storylines. But for WCW, it was seen as a chance to get their product in front of more viewers. So why not bring one of the Mortal Combat characters into WCW?
Subzero was the ice-flinging, cold-hearted Mortal Kombat fighter. Not wanting to pay for the name Subzero, it was changed to Glacier. But everything else was hinted at. And real-life martial artist Raymond M. Lloyd played it as being Subzero.
It was said his helmet was four hundred years old, and his history was the same as that of Subzero. Given heavy promotion prior to his first appearance.
While actually karate fighting instead of wrestling. Which looked odd when he competed against other wrestlers that didn't use karate. Subzero had one ice blue eye, so Glacier had a contact lens made. He even used the looks and motions that Subzero used before finishing moves.
If you look at the martial arts career of Raymond Lloyd, he at least had the chops to pull it off. But in the production lights, lasers, glitter, and dry ice, he came off looking more like Arnold as Mr. Freeze.
The ratings for this character never pulled through strongly. But he hung around for two years. Things morphed into a character that was winning and looked like it was going to be a star. Into a jabber (wrestling term equivalent to a movie extra) that lost every match.
Out of all the WCW original (or not-so-original) characters, Glacier is the one that can still be used outside of the WWE. That now owns all WCW properties. If WCW had tried to copyright it, they would have had to explain to Mortal Kombat owners why one of their characters was used without permission.
The clip below is Glacier vs. Bret Maverick!!! Not really, but vs. The Gambler. Which we all know is a parody from the TV show (and movie) With the Grandest of Glacier's Entrances!
For one season, Mortal Kombat: The Series ran on TBS. It was hard to keep coming up with attention-grabbing storylines. But for WCW, it was seen as a chance to get their product in front of more viewers. So why not bring one of the Mortal Combat characters into WCW?
Subzero was the ice-flinging, cold-hearted Mortal Kombat fighter. Not wanting to pay for the name Subzero, it was changed to Glacier. But everything else was hinted at. And real-life martial artist Raymond M. Lloyd played it as being Subzero.
It was said his helmet was four hundred years old, and his history was the same as that of Subzero. Given heavy promotion prior to his first appearance.
While actually karate fighting instead of wrestling. Which looked odd when he competed against other wrestlers that didn't use karate. Subzero had one ice blue eye, so Glacier had a contact lens made. He even used the looks and motions that Subzero used before finishing moves.
If you look at the martial arts career of Raymond Lloyd, he at least had the chops to pull it off. But in the production lights, lasers, glitter, and dry ice, he came off looking more like Arnold as Mr. Freeze.
The ratings for this character never pulled through strongly. But he hung around for two years. Things morphed into a character that was winning and looked like it was going to be a star. Into a jabber (wrestling term equivalent to a movie extra) that lost every match.
Out of all the WCW original (or not-so-original) characters, Glacier is the one that can still be used outside of the WWE. That now owns all WCW properties. If WCW had tried to copyright it, they would have had to explain to Mortal Kombat owners why one of their characters was used without permission.
The clip below is Glacier vs. Bret Maverick!!! Not really, but vs. The Gambler. Which we all know is a parody from the TV show (and movie) With the Grandest of Glacier's Entrances!