10 Things About WWE You Didn't Get Until You Were Older
7. These Nation Of Islam Guys Look Familiar...
The Nation of Domination was a really fresh and ground-breaking idea for a wrestling stable amidst an industry often accused of being steeped in racial prejudice. Led initially by Faarooq, the group was formed under the guiding principle that the African American members of the roster needed to band together to look out for themselves. Although this concept eventually became watered down with the addition of other wrestlers of different ethnicities like Savio Vega and, most inexplicably, Owen Hart, it was initially heavily pushed in this direction. While this may have seemed completely original amongst the younger fans, adult fans who had lived though the 60s and 70s, or really anyone who knew their American history, likely realised that the gimmick was directly inspired by the real life Nation of Islam, a religious and political organization of African Americans established in 1930. Coming to prominence in the 1960s in association with the Civil Rights movement and featuring high profile members such as Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam was responsible for a huge part of the political landscape of this era that changed American society forever. While the WWEs Nation of Domination stayed away from the religious component, it did borrow the Nation part of the title as well as much of the groups signature dress code. Presumably, when the young WWE fans started to learn more about history in high school and beyond, the context of this stable suddenly took on more significance.
I am a writer and stand-up comedian living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I didn't witness the Bret Hart screw job in person, but I did watch the Breaking Point PPV live and that was terrible it its own way. I am dangerously obsessed with professional wrestling and its surrounding culture. I am the current ring announcer for a local fed called the IWS. I got to introduce Tommy Dreamer a while back. My head almost exploded. I am a mark, and proud of it. I also co-host a podcast called Go Plug Yourself, which has featured quite a few local wrestlers and even Mick Foley. Speaking of the Mickster, I once got to be his warmup act when he was in town for comiccon. My head actually exploded that time. I've recovered... sort of.
