9 Cringeworthy Moments Every Fan Needs To See On The WWE Network
3. Billy & Chuck Get Cold Feet
The idea of homosexual marriage in society has (quite rightly) become more acceptable as the years have progressed, but there was a time when most people would have baulked at the mere notion of two men or two women having a formal wedding ceremony.
Therefore, WWE's decision to unite Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo in late 2002 was viewed as a breakthrough moment for the gay community, never mind pro wrestling; a predominantly male-dominated industry, wrestling has battled the anti-gay argument since forever. The sheer number of gay stereotypes that have graced screens hint that the industry has always been homophobic.
Billy and Chuck's wedding on SmackDown offered a breath of fresh air to the homosexual community, albeit briefly. During the actual ceremony itself, the overt homosexual tones used by both men for almost a full year were abandoned.
Horrified at the suggestion they might be gay, the tag team appeared to get cold feet and admitted the entire thing was a publicity stunt.
Undeniably well-produced, the segment did nothing to move away from the gay-bashing atmosphere pro wrestling had been castigated for, and it must be considered embarrassing.