10 Wrestlers Who Were Released For Breaking Kayfabe
8. Red Bastien & Johnny Valentine
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.