Digest

This podcast episode of "Something to Wrestle with" dives deep into the career of Sergeant Slaughter, a professional wrestler known for his military persona and his patriotic babyface character. The hosts, Conrad Thompson and Bruce Pritchard, discuss Slaughter's early career, his popularity, and his transition from a babyface to a heel. They explore his involvement with the GI Joe franchise, the financial dispute that led to his departure from the WWF, and his return in 1990. The hosts analyze the controversial storyline involving Slaughter's sympathy for Saddam Hussein, the backlash from fans and the media, and the impact of the storyline on the WWF's image. They also discuss the decision to turn Slaughter heel, the real-life impact of his heel turn, and the financial motivations behind his decision to join the WWF. The episode covers the decision to move WrestleMania 7 due to security concerns following the Gulf War, the controversy surrounding Slaughter's comments about the Gulf War, and the legacy of his career in wrestling. The hosts provide insights into the business decisions behind Slaughter's career, the challenges of navigating a sensitive political climate, and the impact of real-world events on professional wrestling storylines.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Rise and Fall of Sergeant Slaughter

This episode delves into the career of Sergeant Slaughter, exploring his early success, his controversial heel turn, and the impact of his wrestling persona on pop culture. The hosts discuss his early career, his popularity, and his transition from a babyface to a heel.

00:00:30

Sergeant Slaughter's Early Career and GI Joe

The hosts discuss Slaughter's early career, his popularity, and his involvement with the GI Joe franchise. They explore the natural fit between Slaughter and GI Joe, the impact of the action figure on children, and the financial dispute that led to Slaughter's departure from the WWF.

00:01:18

The Return of Sergeant Slaughter and the Heel Turn

The hosts discuss Slaughter's return to the WWF in 1990, the reasons behind his return, the challenges of reintroducing him to a new generation of fans, and the decision to turn him heel.

00:19:15

The Controversial Saddam Hussein Angle

The conversation turns to the controversial storyline involving Slaughter's sympathy for Saddam Hussein. The hosts discuss the backlash from fans and the media, the challenges of navigating a sensitive political climate, and the impact of the storyline on the WWF's image.

00:27:17

The Impact of the Gulf War on the Storyline

The hosts discuss the impact of the Gulf War on the WWF's storyline involving Slaughter and Saddam Hussein. They explore the fear and uncertainty felt by the American public, the challenges of navigating a real-world event within a fictional narrative, and the potential for backlash from the government.

00:30:50

The Real-Life Impact of Slaughter's Heel Turn

This chapter explores the real-life impact of Slaughter's heel turn in 1991, particularly the concerns of his family and the threats they received. It also discusses the pressure Slaughter faced from various directions and how he embraced the role of a hated heel.

00:35:21

The Business Decisions Behind Slaughter's Career

This chapter delves into the financial motivations behind Slaughter's decision to join the WWF. It reveals that he was offered a significant salary increase, which was a major factor in his decision. The chapter also addresses the WWF's response to Dave Meltzer's article about Slaughter's USO tour.

00:43:15

The Decision to Move WrestleMania 7

This chapter discusses the decision to move WrestleMania 7 from the Los Angeles Coliseum to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The chapter explains that the decision was made due to security concerns following the outbreak of the Gulf War.

00:50:57

The Controversy Surrounding Slaughter's Comments

This chapter examines the controversy surrounding Slaughter's comments about the Gulf War. The chapter discusses the WWF's response to the controversy, including an apology and the decision to air different versions of the show in different markets.

01:00:44

Sergeant Slaughter's WrestleMania 7 Main Event

This chapter discusses Slaughter's WrestleMania 7 main event against Hulk Hogan. The chapter explores the significance of the event and the legacy of Slaughter's career.

01:10:13

Sergeant Slaughter's Turn to Babyface

This chapter discusses Slaughter's turn to babyface in the fall of 1992. The chapter explains that this was always the plan and that Slaughter was intended to become a bigger babyface than ever before.

01:13:56

Sergeant Slaughter's Post-Wrestling Career

This chapter discusses Slaughter's post-wrestling career, including his appearances on WWF Mania and his role as vice president of the WWF. The chapter also explores his brief stint in the AWF and his eventual return to the WWF as commissioner.

01:23:40

Sergeant Slaughter's Legacy

This chapter discusses Slaughter's legacy in wrestling. The chapter highlights his impact on the business and his ability to portray both heel and babyface characters effectively.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the financial dispute that led to Sergeant Slaughter's departure from the WWF?

  Sergeant Slaughter wanted to continue his GI Joe franchise and monetize it independently, while Vince McMahon wanted him to focus on the WWF and felt that any GI Joe ventures should go through the WWF.

• How did the WWF attempt to reintroduce Sergeant Slaughter to a new generation of fans?

  They leveraged his popularity from the GI Joe franchise, hoping that younger fans who knew him from the action figure line would be drawn to his wrestling persona.

• Why did the WWF decide to turn Sergeant Slaughter heel?

  They felt that his heel persona, particularly his sympathy for Saddam Hussein, would generate a strong reaction from the audience and create a compelling storyline.

• What were the challenges of establishing Sergeant Slaughter as a heel?

  The audience was initially resistant to accepting him as a heel, as he was so strongly associated with his patriotic babyface character. Additionally, his antagonist, Nikolai Volkov, was not a strong enough opponent to generate excitement for Slaughter's heel turn.

• How did the Gulf War impact the WWF's storyline involving Sergeant Slaughter and Saddam Hussein?

  The real-world events of the Gulf War made the storyline feel insensitive and out of touch, leading to backlash from fans and the media. The WWF was criticized for exploiting a sensitive political situation for entertainment purposes.

• What was the WWF's response to the backlash from the Gulf War storyline?

  They continued with the storyline, believing that it would ultimately generate interest and draw viewers. They also attempted to mitigate the negative press by emphasizing the entertainment value of the storyline and distancing themselves from any real-world political implications.

• What was the WWF's decision-making process regarding the controversial storyline?

  Vince McMahon, known for his strong vision and his willingness to take risks, ultimately decided to continue with the storyline despite the backlash. He believed that the storyline would be successful in the long run, even if it generated controversy in the short term.

• What were the real-life consequences of Sergeant Slaughter's heel turn?

  Slaughter's heel turn led to real-life threats against his family, forcing them to live under 24-hour security. His father also expressed concern about the negative impact the turn could have on his son's image.

• What was the financial motivation behind Slaughter's decision to join the WWF?

  Slaughter was offered a significant salary increase to join the WWF, which was a major factor in his decision. The WWF was willing to pay him more than he was making with GI Joe, making it a lucrative opportunity.

Show Notes