10 Most Shocking Wrestling Betrayals
9. Sgt Slaughter Turns His Coat
Many stars of the WWE have run with patriotic gimmicks through the years to varying levels of success. One of the most all-American characters to have ever hit the squared circle was Sgt. Slaughter, an '80s fan favourite best known for his grisly feud with Pat Patterson. Slaughter’s schtick was so all-American that he was even offered the chance to do public service announcements for the G.I. Joe cartoon series.
During Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, Vince McMahon decided a cheap heat angle would work wonders for their ratings. Slaughter was brought back and rebooted as a staunch supporter of Saddam Hussein. Destroying the US flag and turning on the country he’d once been so proud to represent, Slaughter soon nabbed the WWF Championship.
Slaughter’s heel turn and the subsequent angles drew a great deal of negative press at the time. The hope had been for such controversy to spike up buy rates heading into WrestleMania VII but it was not to be. Many fans were disgusted by the angle and disappointed that a title rematch between Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior was now off the cards. Nonetheless, the betrayal was completely unexpected and one that shocked and deeply upset fans everywhere.