10 Wrestling Parodies That Became Real

1. Futurama Predicts The Future

Parody Real HBK
Fox

In the episode 'Raging Bender', aired originally on February 27, 2000, Futurama satirised professional wrestling, and more specifically, the one-note race-baiting once so prevalent in it.

It was a priceless send-up that perfectly skewered the rotten, anti-creativity at the xenophobic core of the foreign menace character that had largely disappeared from the WWF in that (mostly) golden creative period. The character was simply named 'The Foreigner', and he was hated simply because he was foreign.

"I'm not from here! I have my own customs! Look at my crazy passport!"

It was a tremendous bit; mainstream wrestling parodies tended to punch down at the fan, but this illustrated the shallow bullsh*t of the promoter of yesteryear. The problem is that the foreign menace became prevalent once again rather quickly, as WWE became in many ways a parody of itself. The Un-Americans didn't last, and was a tired midcard experiment, but WWE had the goddamn temerity to tell us that we'd turned on Muhammad Hassan and they had to turn him.

It was our fault! We inherently didn't trust the colour of his skin! Look at his crazy piano wire!

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!