10 Wrestlers Who Were Released For Breaking Kayfabe

8. Red Bastien & Johnny Valentine

Matt Hardy Fired
WWE Network

It's not disrespectful to suggest that one must take any old Mike Graham shoot with a pinch of salt. The guy had a tendency to over-exaggerate for style points or shock value - for proof, check out this clip of his interview with 'Kayfabe Commentaries'. In fairness, a lot of ex-wrestlers do that, especially traditionalists.

Graham told Sean Oliver that his father Eddie once caught wind of Red Bastien and Johnny Valentine having a BBQ over at Red's house in the early-70s. That didn't sit well with the promoter, because Bastien and Valentine were selling out cards as natural rivals for his regional business in Florida.

Disgusted and keen to send a message, Eddie called Red's house and told both he and Valentine that they were goners.

The pair had been scheduled for a show that night, but their match never happened. Graham fired both on the spot for breaking kayfabe and partying when they were supposed to tear one another apart. He was worried that fans might see them together.

In this post: 
Matt Hardy
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.