10 Terrifying Wrestling Moments That Still Scare Adults

7. The Gangstas Do Not Give A F*CK In Smoky Mountain Wrestling

Ultimate Warrior Halloween
WWE

Such an awesome, dangerous energy radiated from the Gangstas in Smoky Mountain Wrestling.

An old-timey territory in philosophy far more than content, this was all positively futuristic. What an inspired pairing of act and promotion. SMW was the white picket fence. The Gangstas were the unwanted force that knew they weren't the evil. The fence obscured the real evil. This collision created a throbbing, ever-present friction engineered with a genius carny impulse. This was heat so palpable it was almost too assured.

The footage remains shocking to watch back now. Even though you know the animosity never did spill over from the bleachers to the ring, it still somehow threatens to. Everything is charged. New Jack knows that some of these people were predisposed to disliking him, and he dialled up that latent tension to prove it and inform his character.

Performance informed perception, and perception informed performance.

It all felt inexorable. New Jack would show his cheekbone to the braying front row with a grin, and the punch - and the riot - still seems moments away.

"Violence to you is a figure-four. Violence to me is taking a can of gas, pouring it on you, and setting it on fire!"

New Jack was the gasoline.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!