10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (July 28)

3. D'Lo Brown Thought The Chest Protector Gimmick Would Ruin Him

D'Lo Brown
Wiki

For D'Lo Brown, the mere idea of donning a chest protecting vest on WWF television seemed like the end of the world. Believing his peers in the locker room would laugh if he wore the gimmicked body-protector, Brown wasn't high on the idea when Jim Ross sat down beside him at catering to reveal it.

During an interview with the Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast, D'Lo said he didn't let on to Ross that he wasn't keen, but that he planned to get away from the chest protector as soon as humanly possible. Ironically, it would go on to become one of the best gimmicks of D'Lo's career and gave him identity on the packed roster.

That was JR's plan all along. Looking to mimic what Iron Mike Sharpe had done with his forearm, Ross planned for Brown to fake an injury and use it to stand out. Apparently suffering a torn pectoral muscle in a match against Dan Severn, D'Lo used the vest to win matches and add extra oomph to his Frog Splash finisher.

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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.