The WWF has given us so much.
Every time I watch The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, which is pretty regularly since I OWN IT, I fall in love with the spectacle that is professional wrestling. After last night’s recent viewing, I thought it would be nice to:
- remind you of your love for the classic WWF,
- reassure you that you are not alone in your ongoing obsession
- or possibly introduce you (nerds) to the wonderful world that was the classic WWF during the mid-80s and early 90s…
First, it must be understood that the Federation had no concept of political correctness and pretty much aired nativist propaganda aimed at young boys. The ethnic, racial, and national identities of wrestlers were grossly exaggerated through costumes and referenced by “punny” names.
Even in depictions of white American wrestlers we see a trend towards adopting and exaggerating regional stereotypes ranging from the southern preacher to the Brooklynite. At least there were several types of southerners for the white American male to choose from. This leads me to acknowledge the WWF’s commitment to promoting diverse representations of white American male identity.
While many wrestlers reinforced and reflected traditional male standards of physicality, machismo, and sexual prowess as well as an American obsession with wealth and preoccupation with materialism…
..some actually served as positive male role models who had college degrees, badges, served our country, and were skilled tradesmen.
…the WWF also depicted characters with identities that countered traditional ideas of white American maleness.
Some wrestlers were in touch with their creative, artistic sides:
Some loved and cared for animals:
Finally, and most testament to their support of diverse male gender roles, the WWF accepted and nurtured alternative communities that challenged the male-heterosexual norm. No one can deny that a robust community of leathermen blossomed and thrived in the ring during the classic WWF years.
More WarriorL
Come down to the shop libby, we’ve got tons of this stuff on the cheap
July 8, 2008 at 2:41 pmSo many places to go with this. Two days ago was the 23rd anniversary of Tito Santana (El Matador above) winning the Intercontinental title from Greg “The Hammer” Valentine in a steel cage at the Baltimore Arena back when you had to go to the events to pray for a once a year title change. And yes - I was there.
Ultimate Warrior is having his first match in forever very soon (or possibly just happened) in Spain which is currently wrestling crazy. I believe the opponent is Orlando Jordan who was fired by WWE because his bisexuality became an issue with an odd male traveling companion (possibly very young?) All wonderful none the less.
Dusty Rhodes had to wear that polka dot outfit as punishment from McMahon when he came hat in hand after years of spurning him. Vince had actually named Ted Dibiase’s male servant/slave Virgil as a slight at Rhodes as that is his real first name.
Bad News Brown (formerly Allen but he wouldn’t license his real name) got his WWF run by selling them the “Ultimate Warrior” copyright as he had been referred to as such forever from his judo champion days and they wanted to keep it on Jim Helwig who you see roiding out here.
I always like Akeem better when he was the monster biker The One Man Gang and Papa Shango when he later became the big pimpin’ Godfather.
I love this shit (obviously!) Thanks Libby.
July 8, 2008 at 2:56 pmIran? seriously? racist much?
it’s all about the Macho Man, Randy Savage and the Undertaker
this stuff is almost as hilarious as porn
July 8, 2008 at 2:56 pmMan - how could I forget - Steve Lombardi “The Brooklyn Brawler” is also Kim Chee in the pic with Kamala. He always had a job as he was the boyfriend of top brass (and hall of fame wrestler) Pat Patterson. Chief Jay is Italian and wrestled as such for decades. Demolition Smash was the russian Krusher Khruschev and Ax was the Masked Superstar for years.
And Ravishing Rick Rude was… well.. ravishing.
(How can you go wrong with an airbrushed portrait of yourself on your crotch?)
July 8, 2008 at 3:02 pmI second the Razor Ramon comment — preferably a picture from when the 1, 2, 3 Kid pulled the big upset over him.
I also used to love the Bret “The Hitman” Hart/Shaun Michaels rivalry. And really, can anyone’s theme song ever beat Shaun Michaels? The dude actually walked out to: “I’m just a sexy boy, sexy booooooy! I’m not your boy toy, boy tooooooy!”
I met the Ultimate Warrior a few years back. He doesn’t have face paint anymore, but he still talks really loud like he’s in the ring. It was pretty awesome.
July 8, 2008 at 3:15 pmdick the bruiser, youngsters. dick the bruiser. and let’s not forget king kong BRODY (before bundy).
July 8, 2008 at 3:16 pmLily, how is the Iron Shiek racist? Are you just being overly sensitive?
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri: born March 15, 1943 in Tehran.
July 8, 2008 at 3:16 pmSeriously Rick Rude was quite ravishing.
July 8, 2008 at 3:45 pmI just read the Bruiser Brody book by Matisiak and his widow and was super disappointed. Very little about his actual exploits and almost nothing about his murder.
My favorite Brody moment was when he completely no sold to Lex Luger in a steel cage in Florida when Luger was just a year or two into the biz and Luger freaked out and actually climbed the cage and ran to the dressing room and out the door and took off. Brody was a serious bad ass.
July 8, 2008 at 4:05 pmsorry i had no idea
didn’t wiki first
but his garb is more Arab at first glance that Persian
more Muslim than Zororastrian
hence my assumption
his name Hossein is Arabic
but Khosrow is one of the ancient Persian kings
(who my father is incidentally named after)
Ali again Arab name
Vaziri: sounds Persian
furthermore Sheik is an Arab title, not Persian
while my assumptions weren’t without valid bases
i stand corrected
Chris Burns, are you perchance related to Hacksaw Jim Duggan? I see a resemblance.
July 8, 2008 at 4:38 pm..of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka? He was my all-time favorite!
July 8, 2008 at 4:41 pmNo Bob Backlund?
No Tony Guerrera and Rick Martel (Intercontental Tag Team Champs)?
No Superfly Snuka?
:(
I love Hacksaw Jim Duggan because he loves America and he loves Kickin’ Ass!
July 8, 2008 at 4:47 pmRowdy Roddy Piper is sponsoring Karaoke at sticky rice tonight…
he wants to feel the noise.
July 8, 2008 at 5:06 pmCan we plz have a WWF-themed party? We can play Hulk and Macho Man songz. PLZ.
July 8, 2008 at 5:19 pmUm Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff anybody???
July 8, 2008 at 5:32 pm
lol at Cale - love the pandas! ;-)
July 8, 2008 at 6:33 pmOh christ, my new pillow talk:
“This freak of nature is just beginning to swell, and when I get big enough, there ain’t gonna be room for anybody but ME (and all the warriors.)”
What, no George “The Animal” Steele? No Killer Bees?
No “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling”?!?!
Holy shit, Ultimate Warrior today:
And the Ultimate Comeback Vid! It keeps getting better!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZYIPfcbXfA
Our boy is back on the juice, kicking ass and taking names under god.
July 8, 2008 at 7:28 pmI can’t believe nobody mentioned Junkyard Dog!!!
my favorite.
And, of fucking course, Andre the Giant.
http://www.drunkard.com/issues/10_06/10_06_andre_giant.html
July 9, 2008 at 2:40 amwhat is the big fat curly haired sailors name? love him
July 9, 2008 at 2:34 pmhis name is tugboat
July 9, 2008 at 2:40 pmIt’s still real to me, damn it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI&feature=related
favorite post of the summer thus far…yeah, I guess that’s kinda sad.
July 9, 2008 at 6:06 pmhttp://www.joesportsfan.com/column.php?postid=2027
July 14, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Seriuosly? No Razor Ramon? Or Mr. Perfect or Lex Luther! You’re slackin’!
July 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm