10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Sept 24)
5. The Zeb Colter Character Was Inspired By Gran Torino
These days, Dutch Mantel is more likely to hear himself referred to as Zeb Colter. Having been involved in the industry since 1972, Mantel had decades of experience before debuting the character on WWE screens in 2013. As a heel manager, Colter had one purpose, and that was to get Jack Swagger over.
It was Triple H who called Mantel about auditioning for the role, and the old pro decided to seek some unique inspiration for his prospective new guise. In the 2008 film Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood plays a retired war veteran who isn't entirely receptive to immigration or the idea that North America is being 'polluted'.
Talking with Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard, Mantel said that he drew inspiration directly from Eastwood's Walk Kowalski character. Then, when it came time to cut a short promo in front of Vince McMahon during an audition, he spewed out lines he felt Kowalski might have used if he was talking about Mexican people and keeping America pure.
This was deemed perfect by those in charge, including McMahon, and Mantel bagged the gig to play Zeb Colter.