1. The Sandman Is Blind
1980's most box-office successful pro-wrestling angle was in the Mid-South territory and involved the Fabulous Freebirds blinding the Junkyard Dog with their hair-removal cream. For months, the Dog was presumed legitimately blind by fans in the territory because he was not seen locally. As well, when announcers mentioned that JYD's wife had given birth to their first child, the seemingly blinded Junkyard Dog mentioned that he hadn't even seen the birth of his newborn daughter! Of course, when he returned (miraculously with vision), the box office draw was immediate, and led to a well-attended card at the Louisiana Superdome for the angle's blow-off. Similarly, in 1994, The Sandman was believed blinded after a lit cigarette was accidentally pushed into his eye by Tommy Dreamer during an "I Quit" match with Tommy Dreamer. The Sandman disappeared from TV, the streets and general public view, while in the ring, his manager Woman turned on The Sandman. In what was believed to be a shoot, The Sandman appeared at the ECW Arena claiming that due to the injury, he would be forced into retirement. Brave, yet saddened babyface Tommy Dreamer then decided to dedicate the remainder of his career to The Sandman, which was met with positive response by a crowd thinking that The Sandman was legitimately impaired. When Tommy Cairo began mocking The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer severely beat up Cairo in a match at November to Remember. Of course, when Sandman's retirement ceremony occurred during November to Remember, Sandman was threatened by his ex-manager Woman, who assaulted Sanddman's wife Lori Fullington, prompting Tommy Dreamer to make the save. Of course, once in the ring (and to the complete shock of the crowd) Sandman revealed he was never blind in the first place, and attacked Dreamer. In this case, lying to the fans made The Sandman ECW's top heel, made Tommy Dreamer into even more of a sympathetic babyface, and led to great business for the promotion.