While some wrestlers, such as Lacey Evans, tried to focus on a character outside of her military experience, others, including Jackson Ryker, brought the personality directly into their WWE personas. . Ventura later became governor of Minnesota and has never been one to shy away from investigating a conspiracy. The Outlaws would join the legendary stable D-Generation X and capture the WWE World Tag Team Championship 6 times. Raven doesnt get enough credit for being one of the best characters WCW had. But to the US Air Force, he was a hero. Case in point: Yes, he responded when Jim Norton of Sirius XMs Jim and Sam Show asked him if he really served in the Marine Corps last February 18th. After competing in his first match in 1986, Road Dogg made the selfless decision to put his career on hold and join the United States Marine Corps. He held a world title in both companies and main evented various PPVs. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Before Orton followed in the footsteps of his father Cowboy Bob Orton and his grandfather, Bob Orton Sr., however, The Viper enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Youve got to understand: Thats Sgt. However, his time in the military didn't work out as he was discharged due to bad conduct. Jaxson Ryker originally made his name in TNA, where he worked as Gunner and was part of Immortal, winning the TV title and tag team title before leaving for WWE NXT. While competing in Germany, however, an injury ended Nashs basketball career, and he decided to enlist in the U.S. military. . Vernon Logan, Buddy Arndt, J. Robinson, and Randy Couture served in WW2, Vietnam and during the Cold War. Later on, she joined WWE in 2016 and performed magnificently so far in her professional appearances. When my wife got home from work, I had her take a disposable camera, take some pictures of me growling, and being bad, and took em over to a wrestling office Verne Gagnes wrestling office., The article that set off the latest controversy was originally published in the March 24, 1985, issue of theBaltimore Suns Sun Magazine, which featured Slaughter on the cover. 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. During his tour, he even won a gold medal in freestyle (amateur) wrestling at an event hosted by the International Military Sports Council. He spent a long career, fighting professional matches for more than 20 years. If you know me & my preferences when it comes to wrestlers . 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. 2 Road Dogg. How many wwe wrestlers served in the military? 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. Nash was a big name in World Championship Wrestling and in WWE. Oh yeah, yeah, Ive been in one, Remus replied. Lashley had a very impressive career in MMA and he was also successful in amateur wrestling. Yes, Slaughters military credentials were legit. As a wrestler, The Hollywood Fashion Plate captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. 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. After college, Bobby Lashley followed in his father's footsteps by enlisting in the military though he continued to compete in the army's World Class Athlete Program. Corporal Kirchner was another WWE superstar who had his gimmick include plenty of references to his military career. But his wrestling career cut short due to the elbow injury he suffered in training. The 34-year-old served in Afghanistan. The Staff Sergeant booked her in a wrestling match on the show and that's where it all began. Pro wrestler Sgt. 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. 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. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Trish Adora never competed again in WWE. Lacey Evans co-main evented WWE Extreme Rules in 2019 and since that time she has challenged for a championship multiple times. Honorable mentions: Verne Gagne Corporal Kirchner Konnan Zeb Colter Paul Bearer Crush Steven. Several months after I first spotted the Sun article, wrestling historian J. Steve Hicks he uses the pen name Karl Stern online was researching Slaughters case for induction in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Bobby Lashley. UFC Fighters With Expensive Sponsorship Deals | How Much These Endorsements Help Them in their Careers? Before becoming a professional wrestler, Ford took part in other athletics, which he was successful in. Instead, he pursued a career in pro wrestling. His best came out in World Wrestling Entertainment. George Washington (1789 - 1797). Sarge invited me to join him; we talked about his family, his time in the business, his career as a real soldier he left the Army [sic] for wrestling.. Native Americans have served in the U.S. military in every major conflict for more than 200 years. However, he also has military background. Slaughter name was given to him in the Marines and that the gimmick as presented was inspired by The D.I., Norton asks him if he ever participated in any blanket parties a la the famous scene in Full Metal Jacket. WWE - Current . Road Dogg made his wrestling debut in 1986 following the path of his father Bob Armstrong who was also a wrestler. v. t. e. James Daniel Jordan (born February 17, 1964) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007. Slaughter. 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. In honor of Veterans Day, WWE.com salutes 12 Superstars from different eras who fought for their country before battling in WWE. Outside the ring, Blassie was a World War II veteran who served in U.S. Navy. The 29-year-old Georgia native is an intimidating presence in the ring and is known for her deadly right hand. Servo won a 10-round decision as Ambers watched from ringside. NXT has recently been graced with the presence of some military alumni. Wrestlers That Served in the Military. In his interview with WWE.com, he confessed that he loved being on the front line. The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. 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. There is no question that the 52-year-old Cleveland, Ohio product is a legit tough guy. However, she later decided to leave service and pursue a wrestling career. Reese, most known for his support of . Owing to her great skills, she reached the rank of Sergeant and served as a United States Marine Corps Military Police officer before getting discharged in 2014. Cutler is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Perhaps the most decorated American wrestler was Brooklyn native Paul Boesch, who left wrestling to enlist in the Army, where he earned a Purple Heart, Silver Star and cluster, Bronze Star and cluster, and French Croix de Guerre for actions at the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest while serving with the 121st Infantry Regiment. He is a certified graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and he was also a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. While he had a noteworthy career as an in-ring competitor, he is arguably best to remember for his work as a commentator for WWE in the 1980s. Slaughter would return to the WWF shortly after the traffic jam, changing his villainous ways to a good guy after about a year. Wrestling boards archives (2005-2006) Off-Topic archives (2015) Off-Topic archives (2014) Off-Topic archives (2013) 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. 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. Slaughter well, Robert Remus, the man behind the wrestling gimmick never served in the military. He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan. The 57-year-old enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through basic training. After retiring from in-ring competition, Ventura became a commentator in WWE. Lacey Evans enlisted when she was 19 years old, and she went on to serve on the Marine Corps SWAT team. Remus may have, at least briefly, had regrets after that one. His father was a United States Army drill sergeant and his sister served in the United States Air Force. Today we take a look at the top 5 wrestlers that served in the military. Updated on August 10, 2021, by Shawn S. Lealos: WWE has continued to push its connection with the military, including adding several instances of promoting the soldiers and veterans into storylines that emphasize their military careers. Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. Trained in sports and martial arts, I have awards and ranks in boxing and wrestling. article didnt involve the company and he even told other wrestlers for decades that hed served. 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. 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. Stationed in the Pacific Theater for more than three years, Blassie won the 7th Naval District Championship for boxing and wrestling while serving. 8 8 0 Randy Ortonthat is one name the military records should delete. Is kayfabe still kayfabe when the lie bleeds over into the wrestlers personal life? He opted to join the United States Navy and even served on one of the ships that were bombed in Beruit, back in 1983. WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley has a long list of accomplishments outside the wrestling business. The former fire truck mechanic officially joined AEW in December 2019. But in 1985, Slaughter was mostly understood to be pretending to be a Marine strictly as a wrestling gimmick. Joe, having appeared in both the comic book and cartoon. You may be interested in While Gary Sinise never served in the military, his support of the troops is well-documented and impressive. I support the United States Marine Corps. Before pursuing a career in professional wrestling, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash was a basketball player. He stayed in military during the years 1987 to 1993 and also performed duties during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Randy Orton. Who woulda thought? Former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley, for example, joined the army after graduating from college, following in his father's footsteps. The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. The Forgotten Sons' gimmick was that they were veterans who came back home and society overlooked them. My idea of a perfect evening is to cook a steak, build a fire and relax. confirming that, indeed, the wrestler never served. Outside of wrestling, Randy Orton has also starred in two action movies; 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded and The Condemned 2. Lacey Evans is a legit badass tho!! After high school, Orton enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Preparing himself to become a CIA agent, Raven joined the University of Delaware to study criminal justice. The Road Dogg Jesse James is a Hall of Famer who rose to prominence during WWEs Attitude Era. Gary Sinise is a well-known actor who played Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump in 1993. Wrestlers who served in the military. During the the Attitude Era, the groups were popular yet controversial. During that process, he came across not just the, article but also Remus more recent claims to have genuinely served. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Currently: CEO of USAA. He served as an Army Airborne Ranger during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991. What Percentage Of Americans Have Served In The Military? When I leave here, Im Bob Slaughter. {2}{B} Enchantment Aura Curse // Creature Leech Horror Enchant player As this permanent transforms into Curse of Leeches, attach it to a player. So I thought, Well, thats probably what Ill do. convention, Slaughter gave him a similar story, one that, even as someone with family who served in the Marines, he bought. Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, and Hugh Casey. Evans served on the Marine Corps SWAT team, a unit similar to that of civilian SWAT teams. Goldberg is one of the most popular figures of the late 1990s/early 2000s professional wrestling boom. During that process, he came across not just the Sun article but also Remus more recent claims to have genuinely served. After that answer, the topic was mercifully brought back entirely to wrestling. As for what hes said since things have really blown up over the last few weeks? Nonetheless, fans might not know about a few other former WWE Superstars who have also joined the military. She is currently wrestling on the independent circuit. The gimmick wasnt 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. For those unfamiliar, the school is essentially 61-days of intense leadership training. He also joined Army college and after showing his brilliant fighting skills in inter-college competitions, started his professional career. Will Vin Sant Leave You Jacked or Scammed? Official response from the Department of the Navy to if Sgt. Remus may have, at least briefly, had regrets after that one. Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. (FWIW: Available newspaper records dont shed any light on what Remus really did during his service other than getting married.) Former WWE Superstars Raven and Steve Cutler Before they became pro wrestlers, some former WWE Superstars have served in the United States military. Hes not, , that was just a role he played. (Slaughter and his representatives refused to comment at the time.). However, the former WWE champ had a rough go of it in the military. He served in the US Marine Corps for ten years and had 18 UFC fights. How Much Jon Jones Earn from PPV Money? While no, his real name is not Bob Slaughter, Remus was still making a clear distinction as early as late 1984 that Sgt. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb UFC Ring Girls OnlyFans Accounts | How Much They Earn From Subscriptions? My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. Bryant then put in a Freedom of Information Act request about Remus, quickly resulting in. Got out in 74, went in in 68. 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. Randy Orton, the legend killer, the apex predator. Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.) The military-style business demeanor of Saturn could be attributed to his time serving in the U.S. Army. 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. . Read the Rules! He was in the service during the Vietnam War but never saw combat during the conflict. A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. 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. She was in the Marines. Im a pretty regular guy. The gimmick wasnt entirely new: When he first became Bob Slaughter in 1976 in the Kansas City territory, he was. The former WCW Tag Team Champion spent only two years in WWE. Corporal Kirchner wasa paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. . After leaving service, she started wrestling. Nov 11, 2020 happy Veterans Day Randy Orton (marines) Lacey Evans (marines) Jaxson Ryker (marines) Montez Ford (marines) Bobby Lashley (army) Be the first one to comment on this story. 10 Wrestlers Who Served In The Military - YouTube 0:00 / 3:19 10 Wrestlers Who Served In The Military Top10Wrestling 224K subscribers Subscribe 3.3M views 6 years ago Hello and welcome to the. Not much. He began his pro wrestling career in the 90s and he went on to win a championship in three of the biggest companies during that time. I found this: "Also, John Cena incorporates military dress and mannerisms into his wrestling persona, driving the rumors of his service. Slaughter never served decades ago, even though Remus still claimed as recently as last summer that he was a real Marine. It was brilliant in its simplicity: After, , the evil (and genuine) Iranian Greco-Roman standout won a match, he and Slaughter, met in the aisle and started jawing at each other, , instantly turning Sarge face. Specialist_Cell_4067 Additional comment actions While most of his career was as a rough Southern brawler, WWE used his military experience as part of his gimmick with the Real Americans. Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso Purse Payouts | What Will be there share in UFC 285 Potential Bonus? He then started competing on the independent circuit. By way of his choice of retweets and who he chooses to send positive vibes to when he responds to tweets, hes been stumping for the bad faith and/or uninformed take that he was just playing his gimmick like any other old-school wrestler. After all, it, Well, yes. 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. Some controversy caused WWE to drop the gimmick, but Ryker returned in 2021 as a lackey for Elias before movingback into singles action and relying on his military past again. She spent eight years in the military and served in Afghanistan. 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. Bobby Lashley made his initial WWE debut in 2005 and his overall tenure in the company saw him becoming the ECW World Champion, United States Champion and Intercontinental Champion. As such, in December 1984, Slaughter/Remus gave an interview to Ray Didinger of the Philadelphia Daily News, which would be syndicated nationwide throughout 1985 by Knight-Ridder and the Associated Press. 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. The Viper currently competes on Monday Night RAW as a heel. However, before he showed up in professional wrestling, Colter was a member of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division. 4 Bobbly Lashley. Slaughter.. 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. Got out in 74, went in in 68. The wrestling star ran into some legal trouble in his youth and was forced to choose between either the military or prison. Before his WWE career, Montez Ford was part of his high school's JROTC program and when he graduated, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After serving overseas, the former WWE Champion returned to the US and got into pro wrestling. UFC Highest PPV Buys | Khabib vs McGregor Breaks All Records Generated $180m+ on PPV event day. Ford served his country from 2008 to 2012. Following that, Mr. Kennedy signed with WWE in 2005 and he went on to capture the US Championship only a year after his debut. Joe action figure in the late '80s when he became a spokesman for the brand and did voice-over work . Mini Bio (1) William Scott Goldberg , better commonly known as Goldberg, is an American professional wrestler, actor, and former American football player. However, Zeb Colter has also joined the United States Army after completing his college degree. The youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history, Orton accomplished more before he was 25 than most Superstars do in their entire careers. Steven Cutler started his in-ring career with WWE in the NXT brand. Jesse Ventura (born James George Janos; July 15, 1951) is an American politician, actor, and retired professional wrestler. 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. AEW (All Elite Wrestling) (w)Rest of Wrestling. In honor of Veterans Day, we decided to salute 13 wrestlers from different decades who fought for their country before battling inside a WWE ring.