10 Bizarro Commercials Featuring Wrestlers
Are you buying what they're selling, or just confused? Featuring Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, and more...
Advertisements are the necessary evil that allows us to consume media for free (or at least at a reduced cost). While today faceless programmers have found ways for us to bypass this, and even the hosts themselves allow users to skip commercials, there is plenty of creativity to be found in the output of advertisement agencies. Advertising is corporate art with the financial incentives laid out for all to see, yet, it is still art.
The world of wrestling melds well with the principles of advertisement. They share an emphasis on making bold statements that are vivid, impactful, and focused on drawing eyes to the screen. Wresting and advertisement, when combined, make for a fruitful partnership.
When wrestling superstars hit the big time they make good money, yet, who could resist a day clowning around on a commercial set for a handsome payday? Yet, when the niche world of professional wrestling meets the mainstream, the results are often extremely bizarre in content.
The common adage dictates that "all publicity is good publicity," however, the following situations really stretch this sage advice to its limits...
10. Chris Jericho – Taco Bell
Chris Jericho for Taco Bell is admittedly a great advertisement, both because of and in spite of its oddity. It begins like the cliche charity advertisements that pull at our heartstrings like a slot machine lever, expecting cash to be forthcoming.
Jericho for his part is perfect in the satire. Dressed in Mr. Rogers mundanity and accompanied by slightly stirring string music, 'The Ayatollah of Rock'n'Rolla' addresses an “epidemic “that is affecting young Canadians, known as “the munchies.” Along with Taco Bell, Jericho is said to be committed to fighting "this hunger."
When we get right down to it, the whole enterprise is simply to hawk a $3.99 taco meal deal. It admittedly came with a Taco Bell exclusive large WWF poster, meaning wrestling fanatics were more likely to support the fight against the munchies than any real charity.
Poking fun at charities could've went wrong for both Jericho and Taco Bell, yet, the bizarreness pushed the satirical humour to a point of parody that is hard to get mad at. To take inspiration from Jericho's own words, the partnership was an novel idea from good creative.