As a pro-USA babyface in mid-1980s WWE, Sgt. Slaughter became a huge star - not only did he feud with The Iron Sheik, but the famous G.I. Joe TV series and toy line took an interest in using his character as part of their fictional universe. A dispute with WWE over the G.I. Joe deal led Slaughter to leave the company for the AWA, which allowed him to become a part of G.I. Joe and made him a household name. When the AWA folded, though, Slaughter headed back to WWE. This time, Vince McMahon wanted to do something different with the patriot. With tensions between the U.S. and Saddam Hussein-led Iraq growing, Slaughter was turned heel and painted as an Iraqi sympathizer. He began running down the United States in promos, adopting traditional "Arabian" wrestling stereotypes, and referring to Hussein as a personal friend. Before long, Slaughter would score the greatest victory of his career and become WWE Champion. Slaughter's title reign was brief - as was his heel run - and ultimately didn't do much for business, as the company was forced to move WrestleMania VII (with the turncoat WWE Champion in the main event) to a smaller venue. Still, it was the only world title run of Slaughter's career, and it benefited him, if nobody else.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
