41 Most Disgusting Promotional Tactics In Wrestling History RANKED

27. 2007 - TNA Mimics The Real-Life Paralysis Of A Wrestler

Total Non-Stop Action does not feature heavily on this list, despite frequently indulging in vile misogyny and homophobia. Why?

WWE’s desperate pursuit of edgy drivel was more likely to grab headlines. They were by a huge distance the biggest (and most talked-about) show in town. Also, for a very long time, Vince Russo booked TNA. His material, while rancid, was expected. He was effectively handed an informal Lifetime Achievement Award by disgusted fans years and years prior.

On February 19, 2007, Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones - an American footballer - was involved in a shocking incident at Minxx, a Las Vegas strip club. Alongside rapper Nelly, and Richard Rich, he performed a stunt in which he “made it rain”. Hundreds of one dollar bills were thrown into the air, falling onto the stage. The promoter of the club made the dancers clear up the mess. He wasn’t going to make the superstars do it. The issue is that an apoplectic Jones believed he saw one of the dancers take some of the money. He then smashed her head against the stage. It somehow got worse; a man the club owner claimed was a member of Jones’ entourage fired a gun into the crowd. One of the bullets struck a former pro wrestler, Tommy Urbanski, who was left paralysed from the waist down.

That very year, Pacman agreed a deal with the company - but in true LOLTNA fashion, he was prevented from doing anything but run away and perform leapfrogs by the Tennessee Titans. They, for reasons that should have been blindingly obvious to anybody with a brain - ruling TNA management out - didn’t want to risk an injury to a key asset.

To capitalise on the notoriety, Jones “made it rain” during his ring entrance. Since Jones couldn’t do a thing, TNA upset people for quite literally no reason.