10 Astonishing Times Wrestlers Swore On Live TV
8. Vader
An altogether sadder entry, the WWF, stemming from resentment at his performance level, scripted Vader to ruthlessly bury himself in order to reheat the Kane character ahead of his upcoming World Title clash against Steve Austin at King Of The Ring '98.
Perhaps expecting a poor match - and with good reason, since this was a slugfest in that Kane hit Vader fairly hard, albeit with the speed of a slug - Vader took to the mic afterwards to convey the idea that his opponent was the new resident monster in the company. An injury angle may have accomplished this, perhaps in the form of a zany Attitude Era stunt, but no. Vader simply stigmatised himself as a pitiable slob loser after being dominated in a one-sided squash. Paul Bearer also wore his mask in the aftermath, but it felt unnecessary. Vader's character had already been stripped of his identity as a deadly hoss super-worker.
If this was the wake, the WWF pissed on his grave.
"I came here tonight to compete and I got my butt whipped," he said, near tears. "Look at me, I'm so big!" he said, in a self-deprecating, sad tone. "I ain't nothin' but a big piece of sh*t. A big fat piece of sh*t!"
Happily, Vader was spared the dancing gimmick cliché, embarking on a respectable All Japan run later that year.