Pro wrestling isn’t the most politically correct sport. If anything, they often try to push the button to sell tickets. Often times it work. But as you’ll see, sometimes it didn’t. Here are just a few examples of racially motivated gimmicks.
Muhammed Hassan One of the most popular and controversial gimmicks to come down the pike in a while has been Muhammed Hassan. Hassan was Italian, but he played a very convincing Middle Easterner. Hassan would come to the ring and talk about Middle Eastern affairs and how he was unfairly treated as a terrorists. Of course, Hassan was a heel and had to play up that maybe he WAS a terrorist. It was a very thin line that the WWE walked. UPN affiliates threatened not to carry Smackdown if Hassan wasn’t removed from the show. A week later, The Undertaker got rid of the wrestling terrorist.
The Orient Express As everybody is aware, all Oriental peoples are ninjas and they know karate. At least that’s what Vince McMahon would have you believe. Tanaka and Sato were a popular 80s tag team managed by Mr. Fuji. Fuji was also Oriental and a dastardly evil manager. The two men beat their opponents with chops and kicks, very rarely relying on actual wrestling moves. The tag team never achieved much success and were usually used as jobbers to the stars.
Nation Of Domination and Disciples of Apocalypse In 1998, the World Wrestling Federation ushered in the attitude era. Along with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Triple H came the “Nation of Domination.” Initially cast as a black supremacists, the Panther-like group targeted another racially motivated gimmick. Their rivals were a skinhead biker gang called the “Disciples of Apocalypse.” The two factions often tussled with each other on episodes of Monday Night Raw. As an interesting fact, future superstar The Rock got his start with the “Nation of Domination.”
El Matador Tito Santana Tito Santana was a beloved 80s WWF wrestler. The crowds always enjoyed seeing the Mexican born Tito Santana, and he was such a good hand in the ring, he was given a run as both Tag Team and Intercontinental Champion. But in 1991, the creative team decided to give the popular Santana a face lift. Enter the Mexican matador. Tito Santana was given a red cape and a studded matador suit to wear to the ring. He looked ridiculous. The gimmick didn’t last long. Tito Santana remains one of the most under whelming legends to make an appearance on todays WWE television.
Saba Simba Mr. USA Tony Atlas was one of the most popular wrestlers in the late 70s and early 80s. He even held the WWF tag team championship with Rocky Johnson. In the early 90s, Atlas fell on hard times and desperately needed a job. So he called up Vince McMahon, who offered him Saba Simba. As if that wasn’t enough a slap in the face, McMahon dressed the former champion in traditional African dress and had him wear a large African mask to the ring. Atlas portrayed Saba Simba for less than a year before he was released.
Irwin R Schyster One of the best things to happen to Mike Rotunda was the invention of Irwin R. Schyster, whose initials were I.R.S. Mike Rotunda played the Jewish tax auditor in the WWF in early 90s. Although the WWF never mentioned IRS’s heritage, the fact that his last was Schyster makes it obvious. WWF did nothing to help the racial stereotype that all Jewish people are cheap and money grubbers.
Men On A Mission “Say yo baby, yo baby, yo.” That was the catchphrase of the African-American tag team Men On A Mission. Consisting of three black overweight men, Men On A Mission was the WWF’s answer for The Fat Boys. Except it was about five years too late and the three black men dressed like circus clowns. I would have loved to see the awkwardness that would have occurred if these men went walking through the ghetto dressed in their large purple parachute pants and blonde mohawk.
Virgil Although wrestler Mike Jones was billed as being the bodyguard of the Million Dollar Man, many viewed him more as a servant. The African American wrestler followed Ted Dibiase around, carried his bags, and was subservient to the wrestler. In fact, Virgil was always portrayed as being weaker than Dibiase. What bodyguard is weaker than the man he is protecting? Virgil was a veiled attempt at keeping the black man down.
Harlem Heat Before Booker T was a World Heavyweight Champion, he was part of a tag team with Stevie Ray. Initially, the two large men were dressed in orange jump suits and led to the ring in shackles. They were also managed by a rich white southerner. A few months after their debut as slaves, WCW smartened up and got rid of their rich white owner and let Booker T and Stevie Ray be themselves. This led them to becoming one of the most popular tag teams in the late 90s.
Cryme Tyme Cryme Tyme went right where Men On A Mission went wrong. Except, it still perpetuated the stereotype that all black men were streets thugs. The two partners often spent their time rapping about money and showing off their grills. The tag team didn’t last very long, and both men were eventually fired from the company.