10 Wrestlers Who Took Kayfabe WAY Too Seriously

During a 1984 episode of ABC's 20/20, famed TV host John Stossel questioned the legitimacy of professional wrestling. The problem was he questioned it in front of a fully in kayfabe David Schultz. Enraged by the audacity of being asked whether or not his craft was a work, Schultz slapped Stossel silly on camera. Both stiff shots from Schultz sent the reporter to the ground.

The quick beating unsurprisingly garnered widespread controversy and coverage, with the Nashville-born grappler quickly coming under fire.

Suspended from the ring by the New York State Athletic Commission for his actions, Schultz was quick to apologise. However, it was simply not enough in the court of public opinion, with Stossel complaining of hearing damage and nagging pains two months after the incident. Schultz was later cut completely from the promotion after a rumoured altercation with Mr. T. Interestingly, Dr. D has denied the validity of the story, claiming he merely had a word with the Rocky III star. Regardless, police were purportedly called in and Schultz was later dropped from the promotion, having simply caused too many troublesome incidents.

Curiously, Schultz has since claimed that his decision to stay in character and rough Stossel up came from none other than Vince McMahon himself. While the validity of his claims is debatable, it does confirm that it was indeed the attempted preservation of kayfabe - right at a time when the business was starting to get seriously exposed - that led to the Stossel blow up.