10 Wrestling Gimmicks Based On LIES!
3. Sgt Slaughter
Covered in extensive detail as the news broke recently, Sgt Slaughter's allegedly stolen valour may be one of the most unique skeletons to emerge from an old wrestler's closet, particularly considering how integral the former WWE Champion's supposed past was to his in-ring persona.
Slaughter debuted the military gimmick within years of his 1978 debut, the dined out on an undefined background in the services as his profile increased thanks to his time between the ropes as well as a lucrative deal with the G.I Joe: A Real American Hero television/toy line.
It's never been in the mandatory remit of a wrestler to have a background rooted in 100% truth (and in reality, this would rarely be the case), but Slaughter's introduction into the industry almost certainly came with the caveat that he protect it (and himself) at all costs. A career well-lived doing just that went relatively unnoticed until the kayfabe-smashing confirmation came down from various sources to definitively debunk the character's raison d'etre.