Television's 10 Best "Wrestling Episodes"

This may in fact be the earliest example of a pro wrestling-themed sitcom episode; it aired all the way back in 1964. It's an odd choice for a plot, really, since wrestling had all but disappeared from the major networks following the wrestling boom of the mid-1950’s. Anyway, when a wrestling promoter hears about the prodigious strength of Frankensteinian family man Herman Munster, he sticks the big guy under a hood as the Masked Maniac. But the soft-hearted giant always takes pity on his outclassed opponents and winds up throwing the match, much to the distress of his manager.

Even back in the early 60’s, enough people knew about the performance aspect of wrestling to make it the punchline of many of the episode’s jokes. Herman’s wrestling training, for example, comes from a textbook called “Method Wrestling”, and managers and promoters are seen scheming to get certain guys over. Interestingly, one of Herman’s opponents is the legendary Gene LeBell, an auspicious cameo if there ever was one. None of the other opponents are anyone I knew, but one of them kind of looked like John Rhys-Davies.

Immortal Dialogue: “Awww, ya gotta let me win. They repossessed my sister’s banjo, she’s gonna get kicked out of the Boston Symphony!”