2. Will Sasso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1xUeJnsQZY Professional wrestling has always featured the occasional involvement of celebrities from the worlds of film, television, and music. The WWFs Rock n Wrestling era of the 1980s got its name from Cyndi Lauper and MTVs involvement in storylines and promotion. WrestleMania has featured numerous musical acts throughout its history, often performing America the Beautiful. WCW also featured its fair share of celebrity participation -- particularly during the Monday Night War. But while the World Wrestling Federation used the celebrity of a star like Mike Tyson to help launch their own sports-entertainment superstars, WCW used stars like Dennis Rodman and Jay Leno for the simple purpose of attracting major news and media. Rodman and Leno both famously got involved in the ring -- a place they had no right to be. But another poor instance of celebrity involvement that is rarely discussed involved the Hitman, himself. While making an appearance on the sketch comedy show, Mad TV, there was a worked-shoot angle played out for the crowd and cameras. After supposedly harming a female cast member, Bret attacked veteran Mad TV actor -- and longtime wrestling fan -- Will Sasso. The Hitman claimed that Sasso had attempted to embarrass him during a prior appearance on the program and had no respect for Brets profession. He slapped the comedic performer in the Sharpshooter before stating, Mad TV can bite me! This incident led to an actual match, on the February 6, 1999 edition of Monday Nitro, between Will Sasso and the Hitman. Yes, another non-wrestler had a match with a veteran who deserved better, in WCW. Sasso was surprisingly decent in the encounter. He was unquestionably out of shape, but did a much more convincing job than someone like Jay Leno. The match was essentially a squash, however, as Bret pounded on the funny man, before finally putting him out of his misery with the Sharpshooter. It was an angle that served no purpose whatsoever, except to act as an attempt to garner some mainstream attention. But unlike the WWE who often use real stars to help give their stars the so-called rub, WCW seemed to use stars just to get attention, without ever knowing to do with that attention once they got it.
Douglas Scarpa
Douglas Scarpa is a freelance writer, independent filmmaker, art school graduate, and pro wrestling aficionado -- all of which mean he is in financial ruin. He has no backup plan to speak of, yet maintains his abnormally high spirits. If he had only listened to the scorn of his childhood teachers, he wouldn't be in this situation.
See more from
Douglas