10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week
7. Typhoon Left WWF Due To Family Tragedy
Once known as 'Tugboat', Fred Ottman will also forever go down in wrestling folklore as the unfortunate soul who played 'The Shockmaster' in WCW. Long before he slipped through a phony brick wall wearing a Stormtrooper helmet, Ottman also portrayed 'Typhoon'. Teaming with Earthquake as 'The Natural Disasters', the man would hold the WWF Tag-Team Titles.
In 1993, the unit had turned from heel to babyface, but their appeal had lessened. With that in mind, Ottman was still interested in remaining with the WWF. One personal incident would change all of that in an instant. Running his own business on the side away from the ring, Ottman was horrified to learn that his brother in law had been shot and killed. Suddenly, the big man's heart wasn't in it, and he elected to step away from the ring.
Of course, it wouldn't be long before 'The Shockmaster' turned up on WCW television, but it wouldn't quite lead to the big main event run the man wanted. After his infamous trip and debut, Ottman's character was played more for laughs than as a serious force. Who knows what might have happened to his career had he stayed with the WWF.