Rumble He Drew '14': 1996 How Was He Cursed?: Many of you are now thinking the exact same thing... "WHO?!?", and that's for good reason. "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert was a legend in the business, having a very successful career all over the country, from ECW to the NWA and just about everywhere in between. His younger brother, Doug, on the other hand, wasn't quite as known. Doug did have his own small amount of success in the United States Wrestling Association and Global Wrestling Federation, among other places, but nothing put him on the map nationally, let alone globally. When he came out in the #14 spot in the 1996 Rumble (far right of the above image, giving what for to Savio Vega), a collective "WHO?!?" could be heard all over the world. This was at a time when surprise entrants in the Rumble weren't quite the norm like they are today, and back then, it was usually someone like Mil Mascaras, Genichiro Tenryu, Carlos Colon, etc, used to drum up some excitement for the event in other countries. It really didn't make a whole lot of sense to have someone like Doug Gilbert taking up a coveted spot, but his time would be short. He would be eliminated in about three minutes, and this would be his entire time with the comany. No follow-up appearances... nothing. Gilbert would go on to become more famous (infamous?) for an unscripted shoot interview he cut for Power Pro Wrestling in 1999. In the promo, Gilbert would mention that Brian Christopher (aka Grandmaster Sexay) was only where he was in the business because his father is Jerry Lawler (Gilbert was feuding with Christopher at the time). He then said that company promoter Randy Hales couldn't cut his mic off right now because he was too busy smoking crack in the control room. He finally mentioned the fact that Jerry Lawler "raped a 13-year-old girl", which Lawler was actually facing charges for, until the girl recanted her story. Gilbert was fired immediately, but it would become his career's defining moment.
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.
