Not much. Before joining the wrestling business, Mr. Kennedy served as a security officer at Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. During his tenure in WWE, he win the World, Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships which made him one of the most successful star of 90s history. Please logout and login again. He also joined Army college and after showing his brilliant fighting skills in inter-college competitions, started his professional career. During his service, he trained with some of the best wrestlers at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. (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.) But to the US Air Force, he was a hero. A Highly Questionable Cultural History of Richard Geres Ass Gerbil, The Unexpectedly Sweet Story Behind Those Viral Semi-Truck Pregnancy Photos. Nov 11, 2020 happy Veterans Day Randy Orton (marines) Lacey Evans (marines) Jaxson Ryker (marines) Montez Ford (marines) Bobby Lashley (army) Konnan is a professional wrestler who was born in Santiago de Cuba. Lacey Evans Lacey Evans is an outstanding professional wrestler who has had several successes in the ring. 3 Sgt. Vera is a veteran of the US Air Force and a former UFC fighter. To make things official, he later saved Eddie Gilbert from the Sheiks antics, after which he announced, IRON SHEIK, I DECLARE WAR ON YOU! and led the fans in the Pledge of Allegiance. The 34-year-old joined Impact Wrestling last June. In a 2015 interview with KMEL radio, for example, the interviewer called him a genuine veteran who had military experience. Slaughter then replied, I didnt even think about using that character when he first broke into wrestling, instead having an epiphany watching 1957s Jack Webb vehicle The D.I. Two tours of Vietnam, yeah. 15. Oh yeah, yeah, Ive been in one, Remus replied. 30. NXT has recently been graced with the presence of some military alumni. She recently defeated Allie Katch on the September 21 episode of AEW Dark. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1997 and was a member of the wrestling team. Before becoming a professional wrestler, Ford took part in other athletics, which he was successful in. As a wrestler, The Hollywood Fashion Plate captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. After a successful year-long run doing strong business with great matches (primarily against, in the Carolinas, another famously lucrative territory, eventually, Slaughter would return to the WWF shortly after the traffic jam, changing his villainous ways to a good guy after about a year. That said, he further committed to military service, George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, in Waterloo, Iowa. What a lot of people might not know, however, is that Bobby Lashley has a military background. A post shared by (@trishadora202). After his time with the military came to an end, Jesse Ventura pursued a career as a WWE Superstar. There is no question that the 52-year-old Cleveland, Ohio product is a legit tough guy. The Viper currently competes on Monday Night RAW as a heel. His duties included arranging travel for Marines if they needed training. 10/15 Lacey Evans. 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. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The gimmick wasn't entirely new: When he first became Bob Slaughter in 1976 in the Kansas City territory, he was billed as an ex-Marine drill instructor and nicknamed "The D.I." But as Sgt. Sign up for Peacock to watch. John Cena, Batista & Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton & Jeri . on television. Trained in sports and martial arts, I have awards and ranks in boxing and wrestling. He attributes his discipline and work habits to the military. It turns out that a major market newspaper had explicitly reported the fact that Sgt. Road Dogg made his wrestling debut in 1986 following the path of his father Bob Armstrong who was also a wrestler. We may earn some commission if you were to buy something via our affiliate links, Top 10 Most Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military. The 43-year-old WWE star comes from a military background. Bryant then put in a Freedom of Information Act request about Remus, quickly resulting in. 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. Any individual in an Officer Accession Program with the rank of Cadet or Midshipman (Academy or, ROTC) is not eligible for Armed Forces Championships nor any subsequent higher-level competition.. Ventura later became governor of Minnesota and has never been one to shy away from investigating a conspiracy. 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. The Viper is definitely a future WWE Hall of Famer. WWE is a lot of things, but stupid enough to send a valor thief to military events isnt one of them. Jay Swingler vs Nicholai Perrett Purse Payouts | How Much Both Earn from PPV Money? He built his strong physique during his time as a professional wrestler in the WWE. He also described how it felt being in a combat zone. Lashley had a very impressive career in MMA and he was also successful in amateur wrestling. I really did! He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Randy Orton, the legend killer, the apex predator. Air Force is one of three Division I service academies with wrestling programs in the United States. Nonetheless, WWE released him from his contract in January 2003. . Like Mr. Armstrong, Road Dogg served in the U.S. Marine Corps, putting his wrestling career on hold. Blassie was also an accomplished competitor in his own right during the 1950s and 1960s. The 57-year-old enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through basic training. (It doesnt help, though that, even then, he would make the distinction to reporters that he was a real Marine, like in, Remus has long given and continues to give out-of-character interviews where, despite being introduced as Sgt. It did not take him long to find his calling and surpass the legacies of both his father and grandfather in becoming WWEs Apex Predator. One detail of Colters typical tirades, however, is 100 percent accurate he served in the Vietnam War. Steven Cutler served in the Marine Corps, as did Montez Ford. 4 Bobbly Lashley. Youve got to understand: Thats Sgt. Blassie joined WWE in 1964 and worked as a manager from the 70s before his official retirement in 1984. Cutler brought experience to the gimmick, as he served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company. 10. 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. 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. Ford served his country from 2008 to 2012. Perry Saturn is one of only a handful of wrestlers who have had success in the original ECW, WCW, and WWE. Outside of wrestling, Randy Orton has also starred in two action movies; 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded and The Condemned 2. Even while being interviewed by Keller, a veteran insider wrestling reporter, Slaughter stuck with his story, spinning his usual Marine yarns starting at the 24:57 mark of the podcast. The former WWE Superstar also served in the reserves after college. After leaving service, she started wrestling. Before embarking on a career in sports-entertainment, Kevin Nash was an accomplished NCAA basketball player and also played in Europe. 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 . 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., Along the same lines, one wrestler of a younger generation, who requested anonymity, told me that more recently, at the annual. 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. After serving as a Leatherneck for a year at the end of World War II, Gagne returned to the University of Minnesota and became a successful NCAA amateur wrestler before beginning his professional wrestling career in 1949 in NWA. Among them was Lacey Evans. Wrestler Military Information There was a lot of patriotism that came from the boxing ring,. James Mulva. Servo won a 10-round decision as Ambers watched from ringside. He competed in many promotions throughout his career, including WCW, ECW, TNA, and WWE. Vernon Logan: Logan won individual NCAA titles for Oklahoma State in 1940 and 1942 at 155 pounds. Slaughter. Steven Cutler is a formidable contender in WWE NXT, having previously faced off against the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin. Thats why, he put his professional career on hold and after getting enlisted in US Navy, entered world war 2 and achieved the rank of Petty Officer. WWE Network. During the the Attitude Era, the groups were popular yet controversial. So I thought, Well, thats probably what Ill do. Other celebrities who served in the military are Navy veterans actor Jason Robards, jazz great John Coltrane, rapper MC Hammer, actor Humphrey Bogart, television host Johnny Carson, actor Kirk Douglas, television host Bob Barker, actor Henry Fonda, pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura, and baseball great Yogi Berra. Before stepping to the ring, the Sassy Southern Belle served as a military police officer in the United States Marine Corps for five years. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. Besides the normal cadets, many known wrestlers of history also remained the part of their respective countries forces before starting their career or even after taking the retirement. Remus may have, at least briefly, had regrets after that one. Following that, Mr. Kennedy signed with WWE in 2005 and he went on to capture the US Championship only a year after his debut. What did the guy do? Norton followed up. RULES. Swole lost the match. He was a member of the Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War in the 20th century and was stationed in the Philippines. And no. Enlisting at age 17 and serving for four years, Saturn pushed himself to the limit to become an elite U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. Individuals formerly apart of any military branch of service. What Percentage Of Americans Have Served In The Military? 10 Wrestlers Who Served In The Military. I am Shamil (Sean) Jabrayilov was born in the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation on 10/02/1984. Be the first one to comment on this story. Like many young men of his generation, Gagne answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. 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. All of which misses the point. While no, his real name is not Bob Slaughter, Remus was still making a clear distinction as early as late 1984 that Sgt. 3.55K. 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. Ill go into the Marine Corps, and Ill go to college when I get out. I got halfway there [and] ended up at a pro wrestling training camp on leave. A follow-up question asking if it was an easy transition for you from being a Marine to becoming a pro wrestler saw Remus avoid going further than the above implication that he may have only gone through basic training. 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. Last, but not least, we have Randy Orton. Debuting in December 1973, 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. Cutler served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company from 2007 to 2011. Aug 31, 2019 259 Dislike Save My Master 1.25M subscribers All 13+ WWE Wrestlers Who Served In The Military [HD] Have you recognized that a lot of our WWE superstar actually started their career. Zeb Colter, more commonly famous for the ring name of Dutch Mantel is an American retired professional wrestler who started his career in 1972. The WWE Hall of Famer out of St. Louis, Missouri began his wrestling career all the way back in 1952. Wrestling boards archives (2005-2006) Off-Topic archives (2015) Off-Topic archives (2014) Off-Topic archives (2013) Still he is signed with Impact where he is a member of the creative team. Or in the world of wrestling, a "face" - also known as a babyface, one of the good guys. 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. I just wish I had more time to do that., And not just to the media either. He had a couple of unauthorized absences (UA) on his record and disobeyed an order. . His job included handlingDefense Travel System plans for his battalion. If you know me & my preferences when it comes to wrestlers . Government records reveal Slaughter, a.k.a. Stars And Stripes: 15 WWE Wrestlers Who Served In The Military The second reason is the main reason Orton was recast in that role, his Dishonorable Discharge. I hope you and your families enjoyed @WWE doing what we do best. Having performed as MMA fighter in Bellator and StrikeForce, Bobby Lashley started his wrestling career in 2005 and performed magnificently in the largest promotion 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. Which wrestler served in the military? 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. Joe action figure in the late '80s when he became a spokesman for the brand and did voice-over work . After high school, Orton enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Currently, he is signed under Raw brand and pocketing ludicrous base salary as per contract. Nonetheless, fans might not know about a few other former WWE Superstars who have also joined the military. Be the first one to comment on this story. Big Swole worked as a Fire Truck Mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. Kirshner worked in WWE in the '80s and worked originally as RT Reynolds until 1986 when he took on the military persona of Corporal Kirchner. My idea of a perfect evening is to cook a steak, build a fire and relax. Lashley is a two-time winner of the 'Extreme Championship Wrestling,' and a one-time winner of the 'WWE United States Championship.'. 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. 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. Wrestling boards archives (2005-2006) Off-Topic archives (2015) Off-Topic archives (2014) Off-Topic archives (2013) During that process, he came across not just the, article but also Remus more recent claims to have genuinely served. 1. Having won WWF European Championship and WWF Hardcore Championship, Perry Saturn is also present in the list for his services in United States military. AEW (All Elite Wrestling) (w)Rest of Wrestling. (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. Got out in 74, went in in 68. 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. Ventura was a member of the United States Navy from 1969 to 1975. After graduating from high school, wrote, Kevin Powers, young Robert Remus joined the United States Marine Corps where he earned the moniker Sgt. Mr. Kennedy currently runs a wrestling school known as The Academy. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. Professional wrestling itself is a rigorous industry to work in, as it requires a lot of training, sacrifice and endurance. After his service, Montez Ford embarked on a career in professional wrestling. 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. Nash had some success during his enlistment and worked his way up to the rank of specialist. That seems to also be the case for many others, at least as far as why this story has, somewhat improbably, not come to a head sooner. I found this: "Also, John Cena incorporates military dress and mannerisms into his wrestling persona, driving the rumors of his service. UFC Referees Salaries | Herb Dean Highest Paid MMA Official With $500k Salary, Most Expensive UFC Fighters Contracts Deals. 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. Part of the issue, too, is that Slaughter is an undisputed legend in pro wrestling. Trending pages Montez Ford DT Porter Randy Orton Bobby Lashley Ashante Adonis Sgt. As such, in December 1984, Slaughter/Remus gave, , which would be syndicated nationwide throughout 1985 by Knight-Ridder and the Associated Press. Slaughter never served decades ago, even though Remus still claimed as recently as last summer that he was a real Marine. Still, the 1985 article was explicit and well-reported, and a legitimate veteran-turned-pro-wrestler, Jesse Ventura, would later state the truth about Slaughter, article, wrestling historian J. Steve Hicks , . Lacey Evans is a legit badass tho!! Still, he is working for WWE as Senior Vice President of Live Events. 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. Lacey Evans enlisted when she was 19 years old, and she went on to serve on the Marine Corps SWAT team. Military experience: Served in the U.S. Air Force for nearly ten years, flying combat missions during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 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. Evans was introduced to pro wrestling by one of her colleagues who promoted indy wrestling shows on the side. The wrestling star ran into some legal trouble in his youth and was forced to choose between either the military or prison. He managed many legendary wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, The Iron Sheik and even boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Outside the ring, Blassie was a World War II veteran who served in U.S. Navy. The current issue is: Remus has long given and continues to give out-of-character interviews where, despite being introduced as Sgt. The Man in Black was once the man in fatigues. She is currently wrestling on the independent circuit. Despite never serving with the armed forces, John Cena strives to support those who serve and veterans in his professional ad personal life". It probably wont surprise you to learn that Sgt. School meal programs struggle to serve growing number of students in need as food prices climb 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. In 2007, he won the Money in the Bank contract at WWE WrestleMania 23, earning himself a World title opportunity but he had to drop it after sustaining an injury. Not much. After leaving the Army, Saturn decided to become a professional wrestler and trained under the tutelage of the legendary Killer Kowalski. Stars And Stripes: 15 WWE Wrestlers Who Served In The Military, 10 WWE Champions With The Least Matches In The Company, Jaxson Ryker's Babyface Character On WWE RAW Is One Of The Worst In Years, 10 Terrible Wrestling Names These WCW Stars Had To Endure, The 10 Most Influential Wrestling Families Of All-Time, Every Version Of Bobby Lashley, Ranked From Worst To Best, Venuta would later enter the world of politics, 5 Wrestling Couples That Were Really Married (And 5 That Werent). All of which misses the point. The late, great Freddie Blassie had a successful career as both a wrestler and a manager. A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. Slaughter dodges all questions about his armed service record for good reason., also spoke to then-USMC Captain Jay Farrar of the Public Affairs Office, who added that weve been interested in Slaughter for a couple of years, since he began using our paraphernalia, but the guy has been very elusive. Farrars office had received 50 complaints in the past year from true-blue Marines, citing Slaughters abuse of the uniform, which Farrar said mainly stemmed from when his opponents staged attacks on people wearing dress blue uniforms, whom we strongly believe were not Marines., story last February while doing research on Newspapers.com. Peyton Walsh prepare for. Slaughter, hes clearly speaking as Bob Remus and still claims to have served in the Marine Corps. He served in the US Marine Corps for ten years and had 18 UFC fights. Freddie loved his country more than his personal profits. Serving the nation by joining military of your own country is a dream of almost every citizen. , who worked with Slaughter in the WWF, also, over Remus non-service on his podcast last week when answering a listener question about the controversy. Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? He held a world title in both companies and main evented various PPVs. convention, Slaughter gave him a similar story, one that, even as someone with family who served in the Marines, he bought. In California, he was known as "The Freeway Killer.". Gary Sinise is a well-known actor who played Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump in 1993. This has been true throughout the years, from Sgt. For those unfamiliar, the school is essentially 61-days of intense leadership training. His conduct eventually led to his premature dismissal. When he was just 17, Saturn enlisted in the United States Army and went on to attend (and graduate from) U.S. Army Ranger School. Making sure all the, uh, the grunts dont [go] AWOL on us, and keep em all in line., After Remus claimed that the Sgt. 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. Howlin' Wolf, circa 1970s. 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. How many wwe wrestlers served in the military? Slaughter was never in the USMC. Goldberg is one of the most popular figures of the late 1990s/early 2000s professional wrestling boom. To the prosecutor at his trial, he was "the most arch-evil person who ever existed.". However, Zeb Colter has also joined the United States Army after completing his college degree. Blues legend Chester Arthur Burnett served in the Army for two and a half years. Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? The now 60-year-old originally got his big break in WWE using the ring name Diesel. He remained the part of Vietnam war and also won the Vietnam Service Medal for his bravery and performance. It was during this time that she discovered pro wrestling. Trish Adora kicked off her wrestling career in 2016 after training at the Team 3D Academy, under WWE Hall of Famers The Dudley Boyz. How Much Jon Jones Earn Per Fight? The 5-foot-8 WWE star was a military police officer who served for 5 years. But mostly yes. He served as an Army Airborne Ranger during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991. Its like Paul Newman. 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. Read the Rules! 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. During his tour, he even won a gold medal in freestyle (amateur) wrestling at an event hosted by the International Military Sports Council. And not just to the media either. The D.I. But as Sgt. Owing to his brilliance in the ring, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. WWE Hall of Famers Kevin Nash and Freddie Blassie are two examples of wrestlers who have served in the military before becoming pro wrestlers. But in 1985, Slaughter was mostly understood to be pretending to be a Marine strictly as a wrestling gimmick. A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. After his release from WWE, he joined TNA (now IMPACT Wrestling) and competed as Mr. Anderson where he won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. The son of WWE Hall of Famer Bullet Bob Armstrong, Road Dogg has always had sports-entertainment in his blood. 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 WWEs sassy Southern belle" was recently involved in a storyline with Becky Lynch one of WWEs top stars. His first WWE run lasted for nearly a year between 1993 and 1994. Cutler spent nearly seven years in WWE, where he became part of the Forgotten Sons stable. I found it interesting, but I didnt think much of it since the extent of Slaughters claims werent at the forefront of my mind. 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. RELATED: The 10 Most Influential Wrestling Families Of All-Time. Bobby Lashley even obtained a silver and gold medal in an event held by the International Military Sports Council during his third year in the army. He is regarded as the inventor of the . After achieving fame in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), he served as the 38th governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. 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. 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. Will there be PPV Share Money For him in UFC?