10 Shocking WWE Angles That Crossed The Line
4. Iraqi Sympathisers
When Sgt Slaughter turned his back on the USA during the height of the Gulf War in 1991, the WWF knew they were treading on thin ice.
At a time when American soldiers were legitimately risking their lives for their country in Operation Desert Storm, Sgt Slaughter was professing his admiration for Saddam Hussein on WWF TV. Slaughter even went as far as to claim Saddam had sent him personalised wrestling boots, adding fuel to an already raging fire. With General Adnan at his side, they even burned a Hogan poster and t-shirt on TV, symbolically burning the ideals of America with it.
The USA vs. Iraq dynamic was so close to the mark, it practically obliterated it and Slaughter received genuine death threats during this period. His family were also fearful for their lives, while Slaughter himself was said to have worn a bullet proof vest at times throughout this period.
It was heavy stuff for 1991 and the angle actually acted as deterrent for many fans, who understandably deemed it in bad taste. As a result, ticket sales were drastically down for WrestleMania VII and, coupled with growing safety concerns, the planned venue of the LA Memorial Coliseum - capable of housing 100k fans - was switched to the much smaller LA Sports Arena.