10 WWE Wrestlers Who The Fans Truly Hated

2. Sergeant Slaughter

In the time that taste forgot, the early ‘90s, a decision was made to rebrand Sgt Slaughter, veteran wrestler and pretend army man, as an “Iraqi sympathiser”. With the first Gulf War looming, Slaughter decided that he preferred Iraq’s brutal regime to America, which he felt had turned soft.

Subtle this was not. Slaughter adopted an Arabic headdress, buddied up with an Iraqi general, and waged war on the U.S, stopping short at burning the flag, despite Vince McMahon’s urging. This was an uncomfortable gimmick for the real life Robert Remus, who may not have served in the military, but would certainly like people to think he did.

It was even more off putting for fans, who loathed everything about the angle. As the conflict heated up, it became increasingly distasteful. Slaughter sold the hell out of it, but no one wanted to see this.

Slaughter feuded with Hulk “Real American” Hogan, and they put it to bed at WrestleMania VII, an event moved to a smaller venue for “security concerns” (read: no tickets sold) due to the sarge’s villainy. He then quickly rediscovered his patriotism, and we never spoke of it again.