7 Shocking Revelations From WrestleTalk's ‘WRESTLING UNMASKED’ | WrestleTalk - video Dailymotion

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10 Best AEW PPV Matches  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ogiBCyLF8 More wrestling news on https://wrestletalk.com/ 00:00 - Intro 00:29 - 7 02:08 - 6 03:44 - 5 05:14 - 4 06:35 - 3 08:04 - 2 09:22 - 1 7 Shocking Revelations From WrestleTalk's ‘WRESTLING UNMASKED’ | WrestleTalk #WWE #WrestleTalk #WrestlingUnmasked  Subscribe to WrestleTalk Podcasts   https://bit.ly/3pEAEIu Subscribe to partsFUNknown for lists, fantasy booking & more  https://bit.ly/32JJsCv Subscribe to NoRollsBarred  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5UQPZe-8v4_UP1uxi4Mv6A Subscribe to WrestleTalk  https://bit.ly/3gKdNK3 SUBSCRIBE TO THEM ALL! Make sure to enable ALL push notifications!  Watch the latest wrestling news: https://shorturl.at/pAIV3 Buy WrestleTalk Merch here! https://wrestleshop.com/   Follow WrestleTalk: Twitter: https://twitter.com/_WrestleTalk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrestleTalk.Official Patreon: https://goo.gl/2yuJpo WrestleTalk Podcast on iTunes: https://goo.gl/7advjX WrestleTalk Podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3uKx6HD  Written by: Pete Quinnell & Jamie Toolan Presented by: Pete Quinnell Thumbnail by: Pete Quinnell Image Sourcing by: Jason Walsh  About WrestleTalk: Welcome to the official WrestleTalk YouTube channel! WrestleTalk covers the sport of professional wrestling - including WWE TV shows (both WWE Raw & WWE SmackDown LIVE), PPVs (such as Royal Rumble, WrestleMania & SummerSlam), AEW All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, ROH, New Japan, and more. Subscribe and enable ALL notifications for the latest wrestling WWE reviews and wrestling news.  Sources used for research:

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00:00 WrestleTalk's new book, Wrestling Unmasked, is here, taking a deep dive into the sometimes

00:04 seedy, often outrageous, and nearly always controversial underbelly of professional wrestling,

00:09 drawing parallels with social and political events and exploring how they impact the business,

00:13 for better or worse.

00:14 Now, we all implore you to run out and grab your own copy today, however if you'd like

00:17 a quick Cliff Notes run through some of the truly shocking revelations from the book,

00:21 we've got you covered in this video.

00:23 So sit back, relax, and brace yourself for 7 shocking revelations from the pages of Wrestling

00:27 Unmasked.

00:28 7.

00:29 Eric Bischoff regrets his involvement in the Eugene storyline

00:33 In 2004, WWE introduced the world to the kayfabe nephew of Monday Night Raw GM Eric Bischoff,

00:39 Eugene.

00:40 Portrayed by Nick Dinsmore, who had eight years of in-ring experience for promotions

00:43 such as the USWA, NWA, and WCW, Eugene was a total repackaged job, to a degree about

00:49 as severe as you were ever likely to see as Dinsmore, upon his debut on WWE TV, was made

00:54 to portray a wrestler with some form of undefined developmental disability.

00:58 While WWE never went as far to actually officially label Eugene with a particular disability,

01:03 his behaviors such as stimming mirrored those seen in individuals on the autistic spectrum.

01:07 While Eugene had moments of triumph, like winning the World Tag Team titles with William

01:10 Regal and even competing against Triple H in a high-profile match at Summerslam 2004,

01:15 the character was often just used for comic relief, with WWE clearly looking to garner

01:19 laughs at Eugene's expense.

01:21 Eric Bischoff, reflecting on Eugene years later on his podcast in 2022, expressed regret

01:26 over his involvement, stating, "It was meant to be light-hearted, entertaining, and non-serious,"

01:30 while acknowledging the potential harm such portrayals could cause, especially to parents

01:34 with children with learning disabilities who enjoyed wrestling.

01:36 Bischoff lamented,

01:37 "What I didn't understand is that a lot of these things we did on television impacted

01:40 the audience in ways that I never would have anticipated at the time.

01:43 It bothers me a little bit that I was part of that."

01:46 Eugene's character was controversial then and now, with a whole lot of hindsight and

01:49 fresh 2023 eyes, it honestly is one of the worst inventions Vince McMahon has ever cooked

01:53 up in that warped brain of his.

01:55 Despite the argument that the Eugene character was an attempt to inspire fans with developmental

01:59 disabilities, it's quite clear his predominant purpose was comic relief, with the exploitation

02:03 of his differences to the "normal" superstars used for entertainment purposes.

02:07 6.

02:08 GLAAD Felt Betrayed by the Billy & Chuck Storyline

02:11 In late 2001, in the heat of the WCW invasion, another random tag team was formed between

02:16 ex-Alliance member Chuck Palumbo and a rather directionless Billy Gunn.

02:20 What became of this alliance, known ingeniously as "Billy & Chuck," began typically enough.

02:24 However, as their alliance grew, WWE began hinting that a romantic relationship was also

02:29 blooming between the two wrestlers.

02:31 Their interactions, from matching outfits to sharing intimate locker room moments, suggested

02:34 more than just a tag team partnership.

02:36 Leaning into this, the team even introduced Rico to WWE, playing the pair's flamboyant

02:40 stylist.

02:42 The storyline took a significant turn when Chuck proposed a "commitment ceremony" to

02:45 Billy on live television, which Billy accepted amidst mixed reactions from the audience.

02:50 Surprisingly, the gay and lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, supported the storyline,

02:55 viewing it as a potential breakthrough in television representation.

02:58 Naturally, due to the angle being truly uncharted territory for WWE, it also led to mainstream

03:02 media coverage, with Billy and Chuck appearing on prominent platforms like NBC's Today Show

03:06 and being featured in major publications.

03:08 However, when it came time for the pair to commit to one another on the 12th of September

03:12 2002 edition of SmackDown, things took an unexpected turn.

03:15 As the ceremony was about to conclude, both Billy and Chuck revealed that their relationship

03:19 was merely a publicity stunt, exclaiming, "We're not gay!" to a massive pop from the

03:24 live audience, and the segment ended with both men being destroyed by three-minute warning.

03:28 GLAAD, quite rightly, felt deceived by this bait-and-switch, stating that they were misled

03:33 about the storyline's direction.

03:35 Not long thereafter, the Billy and Chuck tag team dissolved, reinforcing the notion that

03:38 pro wrestling was sadly not yet ready to embrace openly gay characters in a respectful and

03:42 genuine manner.

03:43 5.

03:44 Classy Freddy Blassie had a run-in with The Mob

03:47 In the golden era of professional wrestling, when the lines between scripted entertainment

03:50 and reality were blurred by kayfabe, wrestlers often faced real threats from passionate fans

03:54 who believed in the authenticity of in-ring rivalries and the dastardly deeds of those

03:58 heelish heels.

04:00 No greater example of this came when, following a match on June 26th, 1964 in Jersey City,

04:05 New Jersey, WWE Hall of Famer Classy Freddy Blassie had a far-too-real encounter with

04:09 Bruno Sammartino at the end of their scheduled match.

04:12 Blassie controversially defeated Sammartino with a low blow, enraging the audience.

04:16 Post-match, Blassie inadvertently entered Sammartino's dressing room, who was still

04:20 selling his injury at the time.

04:22 Sammartino, a massive star and revered by Italian-Americans across the East Coast, often

04:26 attracted influential Italians who considered themselves his protectors.

04:30 As Blassie noted in his autobiography, Listen, You Pencil-Necked Geeks!, among those were

04:34 likely mobsters, not necessarily by Sammartino's choice, but due to his fame.

04:38 Unable to break character in front of his entourage, Blassie taunted Sammartino.

04:42 This provoked Jilly Rizzo, a known associate of Frank Sinatra with alleged mob ties, to

04:46 draw a gun on Blassie.

04:48 With Blassie's life hanging in the balance, Sammartino, still in character, intervened,

04:53 expressing his desire to settle scores with Blassie in the ring.

04:56 With this act, Sammartino not only maintained kayfabe, but potentially saved Blassie's life,

05:01 highlighting the intense dedication wrestlers had to their craft and the real dangers they

05:05 often faced.

05:06 Good thing fans today don't take things too seriously nowadays, right?

05:09 The EW fans calling the police on MGF for that prom story earlier this year notwithstanding,

05:14 of course.

05:15 4.

05:16 Antonio Inoki negotiated with Saddam Hussein to secure the release of Japanese hostages

05:21 Antonio Inoki was, and still is, held to the highest reverence in Japanese pro wrestling.

05:25 However, despite all of his achievements within the sport, he was also widely celebrated for

05:29 his diplomatic endeavors outside of it.

05:32 One remarkable episode of history saw Inoki take on a role far removed from the ring,

05:36 stepping into the complex world of international diplomacy.

05:39 In the early 1990s, while Inoki was serving in Japan's House of Counsellors, he would

05:43 insanely go on an unofficial one-man diplomatic mission during the Gulf War.

05:48 At the time, over 100 Japanese citizens found themselves held hostage in Iraq under Saddam

05:53 Hussein's regime.

05:54 With tensions escalating and diplomatic channels seemingly exhausted, Inoki took it upon himself

05:58 to negotiate their release.

06:00 Leveraging his fame and the universal appeal of sports, he proposed a unique solution - a

06:04 wrestling event in Baghdad.

06:06 Saddam Hussein must have been a huge Jushin Thunder Liger fan because he agreed to the

06:10 proposition.

06:11 In exchange for staging this wrestling spectacle, the Iraqi leader would ensure the safe return

06:15 of the Japanese hostages.

06:16 True to his word, Inoki organized the event which not only served as a symbol of peace

06:20 and unity in turbulent times, but also successfully secured the release of the captives.

06:25 Inoki's incredible dedication to peace and humanity, truly showcasing the power of sports

06:29 diplomacy and proving that sometimes, wrestling can extend beyond entertainment, becoming

06:33 a platform for global change.

06:35 3.

06:36 The FBI Investigated NWA on Suspicion of Cartel Practices

06:40 Established in 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA, was the most influential wrestling

06:45 organization in North America for quite some time, housing a collective of independent

06:50 wrestling promoters who collaborated to ensure mutual success.

06:53 One curious aspect of this agreed collaboration was the decision to have a singular world

06:58 heavyweight champion to represent the organization, with this champion traveling between territories,

07:03 winning the title, and drawing large crowds.

07:05 This system allowed promoters to maintain control over their respective regions without

07:09 fear of external competition, ensuring that the top talent and biggest draws were shared

07:13 among its members.

07:14 However, such a collaborative approach raised eyebrows, not just from those competing in

07:19 the wrestling space, but amazingly, from the FBI, due to suspicions of it operating in

07:24 a cartel-like manner.

07:26 The FBI began its investigation of the NWA in the late 1950s, with the primary concern

07:31 being that the NWA might be violating antitrust laws by monopolizing the professional wrestling

07:36 market, restricting competition, and potentially engaging in price fixing.

07:40 Documents released years later revealed the extent of the FBI's investigation into the

07:44 NWA's operations.

07:45 While the investigation was thorough, it eventually concluded without any significant legal action

07:50 against the NWA.

07:51 The organization continued its operations, and its influence can still be felt in today's

07:55 wrestling industry, namely by Vince McMahon, who only went and took the whole "monopolizing

08:00 thing" to the next level with WWE just a few decades later.

08:03 2.

08:04 In 2021, a UK wrestler was jailed for deliberately harming his opponent

08:10 In 2021, the UK wrestling scene made news headlines when a wrestler known as Jay Knox

08:14 was sentenced to almost two years in jail for intentionally harming his opponent during

08:19 a match, a severe case of what is known commonly as "stiffing," delivering moves with more

08:23 force than necessary, leading to real injuries.

08:26 To quote WWE's legendary "Don't Try This At Home" video package, "Yes, this is entertainment,

08:31 but the hazards are real."

08:32 However, despite wrestling being primarily about squaring off with another foe, these

08:35 hazards should never be the person standing opposite to you, with an unspoken trust between

08:39 performers paramount to ensure each other's safety.

08:42 The incident in question saw Knox deliberately go off-script and use excessive force on his

08:46 opponent, trainee wrestler Rob Wilson, causing genuine harm to his opponent when he kicked

08:50 him full force in the face.

08:52 This caused Wilson's face to "explode," being less a case of stiffing and more full-blown

08:58 assault.

08:59 Thusly, this was less an issue to be handled in the locker room or in a grudge rematch

09:02 like a typical storyline, and more in an actual courtroom.

09:05 Knox was found guilty and sentenced to 21 months in jail, highlighting the seriousness

09:10 of the offense, a stark reminder of the responsibilities performers have towards each other's safety,

09:15 and how actions inside the ring can have real-world legal consequences if they cross the line

09:19 from entertainment to actual bodily harm.

09:22 And number one, WWE made the bold move of running the first large-scale public event

09:28 post-9/11.

09:29 In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, the United States was enveloped

09:34 in a cloud of grief, shock, and uncertainty.

09:36 As the nation grappled with the enormity of the terrorist attacks, many public events

09:40 were canceled or postponed.

09:42 However, just two days after the attacks on September 13th, World Wrestling Entertainment

09:46 made a bold decision to hold its weekly SmackDown show, making it the first significant public

09:51 gathering in the U.S. post-9/11.

09:54 Vince McMahon opened the show with a heartfelt speech, emphasizing the resilience and strength

09:58 of the American spirit, in a moment that is perhaps one of WWE's most important.

10:02 He stated that by going on with the show, WWE aimed to send a message that fear would

10:06 not dictate the American way of life.

10:09 The evening was not just about wrestling, it was a display of unity, patriotism, and

10:13 defiance against terror.

10:14 However, despite the decision to hold SmackDown as normal being celebrated by some for providing

10:18 a much-needed distraction and a sense of normalcy during those trying times, not everyone was

10:23 on board with it, as some others felt it was too soon for such an event.

10:26 Yet, as we've learned in the past, Vince has always had a "show must go on" mentality,

10:30 no matter how dire the circumstances.

10:32 Nonetheless, the arena was filled with fans, and the atmosphere was charged with emotion.

10:37 Wrestlers and audience members alike waved American flags, and the national anthem was

10:40 sung with fervor by Lillian Garcia.

10:43 In retrospect, WWE's SmackDown episode post-9/11 stands as a testament to the entertainment

10:47 industry's role in healing and uniting communities during challenging times.

10:51 It showcased the power of collective resilience and the determination to move forward, even

10:55 in the face of adversity.

10:56 Let's just forget about those Stephanie McMahon comments, shall we?

10:59 And that's our list!

11:00 Make sure to pick up your copy of Wrestling Unmasked, the link is in the description,

11:04 and we will see you next week for some more content.

7 Shocking Revelations From WrestleTalk's ‘WRESTLING UNMASKED’ | WrestleTalk

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