10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (6 Sept)

7. Why Slick Pitched Akeem To One Man Gang

Akeem WWE
WWE.com

As the lyrical genius goes, "...he's a jive soul bro, and he always looks out for his friends".

OK, that's not actually it (the lyrics are, "...and you're always lyin' to your friends"), but it's been changed for this entry. On Sean Mooney's 'Prime Time' show, Slick talked at length about how the One Man Gang was transformed into faux-'African Dream' Akeem in the late-80s.

It was Slick's idea from the off. He could see that Vince McMahon was annoyed with Gang for requesting time off so he could spend more time with his young family. That was such a big no-no because the heel was programmed with Hulk Hogan, and it was deemed disrespectful of him to ask for holidays in the middle of his big push. Spotting potential disaster, Slick stepped in.

He was the one who convinced Gang that becoming a comedy character would help re-ingratiate him to McMahon, and he told Vince that it could easily net him another two-three years worth of content from the wrestler. Both agreed, and Akeem, who was also probably (definitely?) a Dusty Rhodes rib, was born.

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