The next man on our list is Randy Orton who is currently active and holding an expensive contract deal with WWE under RAW brand. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb In 1998, he was enlisted to join the Marines. Though not a SEAL, Ventura served as a UDT Frogman a group that was eventually merged with the SEALs and was stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Was Road Dogg in the military? pic.twitter.com/K7IaKYn4. Perhaps most odiously, he responded in detail to infamous Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec. He attributes his discipline and work habits to the military. 3 Sgt. As a veteran, I'd like to give a huge thank you to @_SgtSlaughter for creating an amazing character that inspired millions of Americans, many of whom ended up serving. The Man in Black was once the man in fatigues. He built his strong physique during his time as a professional wrestler in the WWE. 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. He began his run with the company back in 1994, managing Jeff Jarrett. Bryant then put in a Freedom of Information Act request about Remus, quickly resulting in a letter confirming that, indeed, the wrestler never served. After serving overseas, Nash returned to the United States where he emerged as one of the top big men of his generation. Back in 1986, James decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corp. John Cena, Batista & Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton & Jeri-Show: Tribute to the Troops, Dec. 20, 2008. (FWIW: Available newspaper records dont shed any light on what Remus really did during his service other than. For those unfamiliar, the school is essentially 61-days of intense leadership training. Proudly serving on the frontlines, Cutler did two tours in Afghanistan before being honorably discharged. 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. Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso Purse Payouts | What Will be there share in UFC 285 Potential Bonus? 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. 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. The 5-foot-8 WWE star was a military police officer who served for 5 years. Who Will be Highest Paid Fighter at UFC 285? The current issue is: Remus has long given and continues to give out-of-character interviews where, despite being introduced as Sgt. Read the Rules! Bobby Lashley has had success as both a professional wrestler and a mixed martial artist. Throughout 1984, then, Slaughter was, at a minimum, as big of an attraction as Hulk Hogan, if not bigger. After all, it is just a wrestling gimmick right? James Mulva. 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. 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. Military police as a SWAT officer badass #Raw pic.twitter.com/LDMKGB7DRC. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Pacquiao has also been involved in Philippine politics throughout his athletic career. In the early-90s he wrestled for WWE under the ring name Max Moon. NEXT: 5 Wrestling Couples That Were Really Married (And 5 That Werent). Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. He served as a member of the Philippine House of . Before he became a WWE Superstar, The Body served in the U.S. Navy. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. FAN Wrestling Forum. Slaughter, thats not me, Remus said of his TV wrestling persona. RULES. Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect. Lacey Evans is a legit badass tho!! . SSG Warren Swan. After his time with the military came to an end, Jesse Ventura pursued a career as a WWE Superstar. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Bobby Lashley. . At 6-foot-10, Detroit, Michigans Kevin Nash was one of wrestling's biggest stars in the 1990s both literally and figuratively. AEW (All Elite Wrestling) (w)Rest of Wrestling. Debuting in, , he was a journeyman throughout the rest of the decade, starting under his real name before switching to other gimmicks like Bob Slaughter and the masked Super Destroyer Mark II. Wrestlers That Served in the Military. Off Topic. His job included handlingDefense Travel System plans for his battalion. He competed in many promotions throughout his career, including WCW, ECW, TNA, and WWE. Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. 15. 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. Slaughter name from Jackie Gleasons Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter character in, that he sounded like himself and not the nervous, monosyllabic mess that he was in the. Following his release, he competed in a few other promotions, including Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Evans was introduced to pro wrestling by one of her colleagues who promoted indy wrestling shows on the side. Colter is a Vietnam War veteran.Aug . . Why UFC Generate More Revenue Than Other MMA Events Or Promotions. 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. So I thought, Well, thats probably what Ill do. The third-generation pro has also headlined several pay-per-view events throughout the course of what's sure to be a Hall of Fame career. UFC Highest PPV Buys | Khabib vs McGregor Breaks All Records Generated $180m+ on PPV event day. 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. After that answer, the topic was mercifully brought back entirely to wrestling. Today we take a look at the top 5 wrestlers that served in the military. The WWE Hall of Famer out of St. Louis, Missouri began his wrestling career all the way back in 1952. Before stepping inside a WWE ring a few years ago, Big Swole served in the United States military. 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. Military experience: Served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly ten years, flying combat missions during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Who woulda thought? Zeb Colter, more commonly famous for the ring name of Dutch Mantel is an American retired professional wrestler who started his career in 1972. 9. 14/15 * Corporal Kirchner. Servo fought Jenkins on Feb. 17, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She spent eight years in the military and served in Afghanistan. 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. No, John Cena has never been a member of the military, but he does strive in both his personal and professional life to Was John Cena actually in the army? David Bixenspan is a freelance reporter who lives in Brooklyn. Lacey Evans Lacey Evans is an outstanding professional wrestler who has had several successes in the ring. Case in point: Yes, he responded when Jim Norton of Sirius XMs, him if he really served in the Marine Corps last February 18th. , it just didnt remind him of his own such superior officer because he never had one. 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. Making sure all the, uh, the grunts dont [go] AWOL on us, and keep em all in line.. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. 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. Not much. 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. Ventura is also a politician and from 1999 to 2003, served as the governor of Minnesota. He was in the service during the Vietnam War but never saw combat during the conflict. 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. 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. The late, great Freddie Blassie had a successful career as both a wrestler and a manager. Blassie served in the Navy during World War II. . Before starting his career in 1982, he was charged with drug selling and given options to serve in Navy or sent to prison. 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. 16 Steve McQueen Shutterstock At age 17, The King of Cool joined the United States Marine Corps. After he was discharged from the Navy in 1946, Freddie Blassie returned to the ring and attained more success. I was, basically, just infantry, you know? 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. Today we're counting down my picks for the Top 10 Wrestlers that have served in the military, let's get it started! I like my privacy, I like to play golf and listen to music. Still, he is working for WWE as Senior Vice President of Live Events. 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. But they were probably so far removed from each other that you never thought of them together. His father was a United States Army drill sergeant and his sister served in the United States Air Force. If there is any change, we will make them available here. Slaughter was never in the USMC. Naval Academy in 1989 and served in the Navy Supply Corps . The Road Dogg Jesse James is a Hall of Famer who rose to prominence during WWEs Attitude Era. Government records reveal Slaughter, a.k.a. is not good. (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.) Gary Sinise is a well-known actor who played Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump in 1993. 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. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. 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. He is still signed with promotion on Legends contract. As a wrestler, The Hollywood Fashion Plate captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. After graduating from high school, wrote digital content producer Kevin Powers, young Robert Remus joined the United States Marine Corps where he earned the moniker Sgt. Professional wrestling itself is a rigorous industry to work in, as it requires a lot of training, sacrifice and endurance. .) 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. 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. Individuals formerly apart of any military branch of service. Freddie loved his country more than his personal profits. The powerhouse out of Junction City, Kansas has had plenty of good fortune during his stints with WWE. Nonetheless, WWE released him from his contract in January 2003. (FWIW: Available newspaper records dont shed any light on what Remus really did during his service other than getting married.) 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. A few wrestlers, however, had duties and responsibilities that exceeded the rest. #Troops15 pic.twitter.com/JYqtnADe7c. He worked a lot with a young Baron Corbin, losing almost every time before he got a chance to shine as the Forgotten Sons in 2018 with Wesley Blake and Jackson Ryker. Gary Sinise has 40 years invested in his career as an actor, and his advocacy for service members is as long. George Washington (1789 - 1797). Or in the world of wrestling, a "face" - also known as a babyface, one of the good guys. He will serve in Vietnam where he will be killed on July 21, 1970, one of two NFL players to be killed in Vietnam pic.twitter.com/xUILWIOsZV Ventura later became governor of Minnesota and has never been one to shy away from investigating a conspiracy. I first noticed the Sun story last February while doing research on Newspapers.com. Is kayfabe still kayfabe when the lie bleeds over into the wrestlers personal life? The Staff Sergeant booked her in a wrestling match on the show and that's where it all began. Lashley would follow in his dad's footsteps and enlist in the army. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. on television. 8 Randy Orton. Remus may have, at least briefly, had regrets after that one. Native Americans have served in the U.S. military in every major conflict for more than 200 years. Oh yeah, yeah, Ive been in one, Remus replied. WWE is a lot of things, but stupid enough to send a valor thief to military events isnt one of them. Not to mention, in the ensuing years, the YouTube and podcast booms hadnt really gotten going yet at least not to the degree that it would be easy to be aware of what Slaughter has claimed about being a genuine Marine while explicitly out-of-character. To make things official, he later, saved Eddie Gilbert from the Sheiks antics. While competing in Germany, however, an injury ended Nashs basketball career, and he decided to enlist in the U.S. military. 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. (Slaughter and his representatives refused to comment at the time.). During his appearance on the popular pro wrestling program, "The Raging Bull" opened up about his Vietnam military service, shoots on Jim Cornette saying he didn't serve, clears up rumors claiming he was going to marry Ann or Nancy Wilson of the rock band 'Heart,' as well as his bloody fight with Invader 3 in Puerto Rico, working with the . TO ALL THAT HAVE SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS,HAPPY VETERANS DAY!#VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/HEzyECYpny. During the the Attitude Era, the groups were popular yet controversial. U.S. Air Force. As the mouthpiece of The New Age Outlaws, Road DoggJesse James broke out as The Attitude Eras most boisterous degenerate. I found it interesting, but I didnt think much of it since the extent of Slaughters claims werent at the forefront of my mind. I like my privacy, I like to play golf and listen to music. WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie is proclaimed to be one of the greatest managers of all time. 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. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. He chose first options and remained the part of US Navy and discharged later on in 1984. Virginia . Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. Orton would eventually be discharged, which is why there was so much pushback over him playing a Marine. 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. Got out in 74, went in in 68. NXT has recently been graced with the presence of some military alumni. These days, the 55-year-old works for Major League Wrestling and appeared in 2021 for AEW. Ford was also enrolled in his high school's JROTC and enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane Salaries | Purse Payouts | How Much They Earn from Potential Bonus at UFC 285? Robert Remus, never served time in the U.S. Marine Corps, though he claims to have been a drill instructor from 1966 to 1973, wrote Michael Davis and Mike Klinganman. 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. Nov 11, 2020 happy Veterans Day Randy Orton (marines) Lacey Evans (marines) Jaxson Ryker (marines) Montez Ford (marines) Bobby Lashley (army) Trained in sports and martial arts, I have awards and ranks in boxing and wrestling. Lacey Evans. Later in his career, as part of a WWE storyline, he became an Iraqi sympathizer who defeated The Ultimate Warrior for the WWE World Championship. Before his career in WWE, Kirchner enlisted as a paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C. Big Sexy joined the 202nd Military Police Company and was stationed at a NATO facility. The 34-year-old joined Impact Wrestling last June. A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. 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. While its fine that he portrays a character that was a Marine, him doing non-kayfabe interviews claiming to serve 2 tours in Vietnam, that he was a drill instructor, etc. Here are some of the wrestlers that served in the military. Youve got to understand: Thats Sgt. At Anson High School in North Carolina, Ford holds several records in the 200-meter, 400-meter and 4x4 relay racesand was named 2007 Athlete of the Year. Slaughter name was given to him in the Marines and that the gimmick as presented was inspired by, , Norton asks him if he ever participated in any blanket parties a la. What Percentage Of Americans Have Served In The Military? The 57-year-old had two short stints in WWE. 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. This has been true throughout the years, from Sgt. Slaughter. {2}{B} Enchantment Aura Curse // Creature Leech Horror Enchant player As this permanent transforms into Curse of Leeches, attach it to a player. He is regarded as the inventor of the . WWE - Current . He started his career in 1990 after signing the deal with United States Wrestling Association. Not everyone has the quality to wrestler with any weight category and then put up worth watching. Rocker Ted Nugent evaded the draft in the 1960s by taking drugs and acting crazy. If you know me & my preferences when it comes to wrestlers . Raven doesnt get enough credit for being one of the best characters WCW had. 4 Bobbly Lashley. 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. Big Daddy Cool then decided to enlist in the 202nd Military Police Company and was stationed at a secure North Atlantic Treaty Organization facility where he served for two years. 8 8 0 Randy Ortonthat is one name the military records should delete. It turns out that a major market newspaper had explicitly reported the fact that Sgt. A rising star in NXT and an imposing figure, Evans served in the U.S. Marine Corps before pursuing her career in WWE. 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. 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. Slaughter would return to the WWF shortly after the traffic jam, changing his villainous ways to a good guy after about a year. 113 Votes 42 Comments. Adora went head-to-head with Kairi Sane but came up short. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. 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. 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. After Big Swole graduated from high school, she went to college. Before pursuing a career in professional wrestling, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash was a basketball player. I support the United States Marine Corps. There's no doubt that Lacey Evans will one day reach the top of the mountain in WWE by capturing her first Championship. You might find some affiliate links on our website which are part of advertisement on this website. Watch WrestleMania and other WWE Premium Live Events on Flow. After the troll, Slaughter on a pedestal as having always been there for the troops, the wrestler. He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan. Lacey Evans enlisted when she was 19 years old, and she went on to serve on the Marine Corps SWAT team. Your login session has expired. The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. RELATED:10 Terrible Wrestling Names These WCW Stars Had To Endure. WWE NXT fans know that Montez Ford is an incredibly gifted athlete. His best came out in World Wrestling Entertainment. Randy is a Third generation superstar which will most certainly be in the hall of fame sooner or later but what a few people could maybe not know is that Randy . Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. However, WWE released him from his contract last February. I just wish I had more time to do that.. 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 Slaughter never served decades ago, even though Remus still claimed as recently as last summer that he was a real Marine. His first WWE run lasted for nearly a year between 1993 and 1994. Stationed in the Pacific Theater for more than three years, Blassie won the 7th Naval District Championship for boxing and wrestling while serving. He then started competing on the independent circuit. After leaving service, she started wrestling. 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. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. 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. Steven Cutler served in the Marine Corps, as did Montez Ford. All of which misses the point. Longtime wrestling reporter, clipping and set off a firestorm of internet discussion and wrestling news website articles. 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. In 2016, she made a one-off appearance on Monday Night RAW, competing against Nia Jax. Along the same lines, one wrestler of a younger generation, who requested anonymity, told me that more recently, at the annual Cauliflower Alley Club convention, Slaughter gave him a similar story, one that, even as someone with family who served in the Marines, he bought. The former WWE Superstar also served in the reserves after college. Still he is signed with Impact where he is a member of the creative team. Preparing himself to become a CIA agent, Raven joined the University of Delaware to study criminal justice. Read the Rules! Its like Paul Newman. Slaughter never served decades ago, even though Remus still claimed as recently as last summer that he was a real Marine. Kirchner ended up winning a Flag Match against Nikolai Volkoff at WrestleMania 2. 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. However, the former WWE champ had a rough go of it in the military. All four have unique stories of their service that came before, after and even in between their time at Oklahoma State. Robert Remus, never served time in the U.S. Marine Corps, though he claims to have been a drill instructor from 1966 to 1973, wrote Michael Davis and Mike Klinganman. Bobby Lashley is an American professional wrestler and a mixed martial artist. I found it interesting, but I didnt think much of it since the extent of Slaughters claims werent at the forefront of my mind.