Modern day wrestling fans know Sgt. Slaughter as the seldom-used nostalgia act on Raw. Slightly older wrestling fans know Sgt. Slaughter as the man who played the Commissioner of the WWF on television every week. However, there was a time when it could be argued that Sarge was the second-most popular person on the WWF roster, behind only Hulk Hogan. In 1984, Slaughter and the WWF got into a contract dispute, with one of the main points of contention being the WWF not allowing Slaughter to be involved in the G.I. Joe action figure line (Sarge had become a character in the cartoon). Sarge asked for some time off, which is generally a normal thing. Everyone asks for some time off at their jobs, but Sarge asked for six weeks of paid vacation, and when he didn't get it, he no-showed an event. All of that dissension was enough, and he was let go. It would be six years before Slaughter was back in the WWF, and when he returned, the company had him turn heel and portray an Iraqi sympathizer. He didn't like the gimmick change at all, but it was one of the conditions of his return, which he tried to set up. It's another thing that seems petty from the company, but at this point, that shouldn't surprise anyone.
Columnist/Podcaster/Director at LordsOfPain.net for nearly seven years, with nearly 2000 total columns written. Interviewed and/or involved in interviewing the likes of Tyler Black/Seth Rollins (twice), Diamond Dallas Page, Jimmy Jacobs, Christopher Daniels, Uhaa Nation and more.
