The former WWE Superstar also served in the reserves after college. This includes former and current professional wrestlers with an ex-military background. Stars And Stripes: 15 WWE Wrestlers Who Served In The Military The second reason is the main reason Orton was recast in that role, his Dishonorable Discharge. I was, basically, just infantry, you know? He would go on to become a star in his own right after teaming up with Billy Gunn and forming The New Age Outlaws. Despite the differences, these men and women mostly served their countries with honor. Nash had some success during his enlistment and worked his way up to the rank of specialist. Naval Academy in 1989 and served in the Navy Supply Corps . Before joining the wrestling business, Mr. Kennedy served as a security officer at Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. He spent a long career, fighting professional matches for more than 20 years. Along the same lines, one wrestler of a younger generation, who requested anonymity, told me that more recently, at the annual Cauliflower Alley Club convention, Slaughter gave him a similar story, one that, even as someone with family who served in the Marines, he bought. He remained the part of Vietnam war and also won the Vietnam Service Medal for his bravery and performance. It was at this time a heel known as the "Iron Sheik" emerged as the World Champion. While Hart included the account of this November 29, 1984, dinner to note that Slaughter warned him to watch your back because Vince [McMahon] is a ruthless guy, it serves a different purpose now. I walked into a caf near the Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City and saw Sergeant Slaughter sitting quietly by himself,, , which is sourced almost entirely from his contemporaneous audio diaries. Booker worked his way up from wrestling in local venues to national stardom, first with World Championship Wrestling, then WWE. He served as a member of the Philippine House of . These wrestlers served in different branches, including the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force. While most of his career was as a rough Southern brawler, WWE used his military experience as part of his gimmick with the Real Americans. All these are the details about the top 10 most popular WWE wrestlers who served in military. Raw results, Feb. 27, 2023:Becky Lynch and Lita capture WWE Womens Tag Team Titles from Damage CTRL with help from Trish Stratus, SmackDown results, Feb. 24, 2023: Sami Zayn exposes further cracks in The Bloodline by surviving vicious SmackDown attack, WWE NXT results, Feb. 28, 2023: Carmelo Hayes beats Tyler Bate in showstopping main event, Roman Reigns conquers The Beast to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion on WrestleMania Sunday, Photos: See the latest WWE action figures from Mattel, Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair rivalry history. Who Will be Highest Paid Fighter at UFC 285? Today we're counting down my picks for the Top 10 Wrestlers that have served in the military, let's get it started! Lacey Evans Lacey Evans is an outstanding professional wrestler who has had several successes in the ring. Read the Rules! Any individual in an Officer Accession Program with the rank of Cadet or Midshipman (Academy or, ROTC) is not eligible for Armed Forces Championships nor any subsequent higher-level competition.. Slaughter name from Jackie Gleasons Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter character in, that he sounded like himself and not the nervous, monosyllabic mess that he was in the. . A few current WWE Superstars have also had the same experience. #OTD in 1969 Bob Kalsu, who started nine games at right guard during his 1968 rookie season, has left the Buffalo Bills to be inducted into the Army. Former professional wrestler, actor and governor of Minnesota, Jesse "The Body" Ventura served in the Navy from 1969 to 1975 during the Vietnam War. Orton had great passion for joining the military and he struggled very hard to get into it. Slaughter dodges all questions about his armed service record for good reason., The Sun also spoke to then-USMC Captain Jay Farrar of the Public Affairs Office, who added that weve been interested in Slaughter for a couple of years, since he began using our paraphernalia, but the guy has been very elusive. Farrars office had received 50 complaints in the past year from true-blue Marines, citing Slaughters abuse of the uniform, which Farrar said mainly stemmed from when his opponents staged attacks on people wearing dress blue uniforms, whom we strongly believe were not Marines., In the fall of 1984, though, when Congress passed a law prohibiting the use of the Marine Corps emblem and insignia by civilians, it gave the Marines more leverage, and Farrars office fired off a letter demanding that Slaughter stop because his actions reflect discredit on those who have served. Farrar, for his part, did concede that going further, like prosecuting Remus, might not be worth it given the nature of the Slaughter character. Enlisting at age 17 and serving for four years, Saturn pushed himself to the limit to become an elite U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. Other celebrities who served in the military are Navy veterans actor Jason Robards, jazz great John Coltrane, rapper MC Hammer, actor Humphrey Bogart, television host Johnny Carson, actor Kirk Douglas, television host Bob Barker, actor Henry Fonda, pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura, and baseball great Yogi Berra. A fellow marine, who was a promoter on the side, booked her in a match on an indy show and the rest is history. Blues legend Chester Arthur Burnett served in the Army for two and a half years. Nobodys talking about the Sgt. It was brilliant in its simplicity: After, , the evil (and genuine) Iranian Greco-Roman standout won a match, he and Slaughter, met in the aisle and started jawing at each other, , instantly turning Sarge face. After high school, Orton enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Military experience: Graduated from the U.S. Last, but not least, we have Randy Orton. A year later, she made her WWE debut on the September 5 episode of NXT. That last link is the most explicit, using his real name and putting him in a Veterans Day 2018 listicle of wrestlers who otherwise legitimately served. During his tour, he even won a gold medal in freestyle (amateur) wrestling at an event hosted by the International Military Sports Council. While Didingers statement that his subject was an actual veteran is made in passing (The 34-year-old Marine Corps veteran was dressed in slacks and a wind-breaker) and doesnt quote Remus/Slaughter, the wrestler would continue to claim until as recently as a few months ago that he was a genuine veteran, decades after he had started talking about the wrestling business in more surface-honest terms. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. How many wwe wrestlers served in the military? A disappointingly large number of comments on the topic of Remus military service have examined the topic as shallowly as possible, with The Undertaker isnt really dead, either kind of responses. As for what hes said since things have really blown up over the last few weeks? His duties included arranging travel for Marines if they needed training. However, most fans today remember him as a WWE (then WWF) manager in the 1980s representing stars like The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. Outside the squared circle, Blassie enrolled in the United States Navy during the Second World War and served in the Pacific Theater for over three years. Like many young men of his generation, Gagne answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. UFC Referees Salaries | Herb Dean Highest Paid MMA Official With $500k Salary, Most Expensive UFC Fighters Contracts Deals. I walked into a caf near the Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City and saw Sergeant Slaughter sitting quietly by himself, Bret Hart wrote in his memoir, Hitman, which is sourced almost entirely from his contemporaneous audio diaries. Read the Rules! After the troll put Slaughter on a pedestal as having always been there for the troops, the wrestler responded in very Boomer-y fashion. Lacey Evans has only been wrestling since 2014 and is already headlining pay-per-views. He is still signed with promotion on Legends contract. From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. Evans served on the Marine Corps SWAT team, a unit similar to that of civilian SWAT teams. Part of the issue, too, is that Slaughter is an undisputed legend in pro wrestling. This has been true throughout the years, from Sgt. Well, yes. UFC Ring Girls OnlyFans Accounts | How Much They Earn From Subscriptions? The youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history, Orton accomplished more before he was 25 than most Superstars do in their entire careers. Corporal Kirchner wasa paratrooper with the elite 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. RELATED:10 WWE Champions With The Least Matches In The Company. Longtime wrestling performer Jim Cornette, who worked with Slaughter in the WWF, also expressed shock over Remus non-service on his podcast last week when answering a listener question about the controversy. Got out in 74, went in in 68. You may be interested in Before joining the promotion, Ellenberger racked up a 12-0 MMA score. He is a two-time ECW World Champion (after WWE bought the company), a former United States Champion, and a two-time Intercontinental Champ as well. After all, it is just a wrestling gimmick right? RELATED:Jaxson Ryker's Babyface Character On WWE RAW Is One Of The Worst In Years. However, he also has military background. FAN Wrestling Forum. However, very few wrestling fans know that he was also a platoon sergeant in command of thirty-three Marines in US Army Marine Corps. He is best famous for his tenure in the promotion and multiple achievements during his professional career. Orton would eventually be discharged, which is why there was so much pushback over him playing a Marine. Slaughter Iron Sheik Jesse Ventura All items (62) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other A Afa Cutler served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company from 2007 to 2011. For those who don't have time to read, he did not. Top 10 Most Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military Content Summary Top 10 Most Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military 1 - Bobby Lashley 2 - Randy Orton 3 - Road Dogg 4 - Konnan 5 - Kevin Nash 6 - Freddie Blassie 7 - Lacey Evans 8 - Zeb Colter 9 - Perry Saturn 10 - Jesse Ventura 1 - Bobby Lashley pic.twitter.com/K7IaKYn4. Which, of course, doesnt include him, no matter how much he says otherwise. Aug 31, 2019 259 Dislike Save My Master 1.25M subscribers All 13+ WWE Wrestlers Who Served In The Military [HD] Have you recognized that a lot of our WWE superstar actually started their career. So I went down to my locker box, pulled out my campaign cover and got my swagger stick out, he explained. Slaughter. After retiring from in-ring competition, Ventura became a commentator in WWE. I like my privacy, I like to play golf and listen to music. Virginia . Saturn enlisted in the military at the age of 17. Slaughter name from Jackie Gleasons Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter character in Soldier in the Rain that he sounded like himself and not the nervous, monosyllabic mess that he was in the Jim and Sam interview. He started his career in 1990 after signing the deal with United States Wrestling Association. Hes not Butch Cassidy, that was just a role he played. Not as a character backstory, mind you, but as, with multiple veterans organizations, refers to Slaughter as a, on its website and uses him as a company ambassador at military events. My idea of a perfect evening is to cook a steak, build a fire and relax. Currently: CEO of USAA. is not good. It probably wont surprise you to learn that Sgt. As we noted, the former WWE champion did not serve in the army. Before they became pro wrestlers, some former WWE Superstars have served in the United States military. I first noticed the Sun story last February while doing research on Newspapers.com. 5. 8 8 0 Randy Ortonthat is one name the military records should delete. From militia leaders, to colonels, to generals and more, here are 31 presidents that served in the military before they rose to lead it as commander-in-chief. In early 2016, a new class of WWE Performance Center recruits was announced. The current American politician Jesse Ventura has spent a wonderful career in professional wrestling world where he has his hands on multiple achievements. , after which he announced, IRON SHEIK, I DECLARE WAR ON YOU! and led the fans in the Pledge of Allegiance. 10/15 Lacey Evans. Here are the complete details about the top 10 most popular WWE wrestlers who served in military. Reese, most known for his support of . In NXT, he ended up forming The Forgotten Sons faction, with the gimmick as former military veterans whose country turned its back on them. The third-generation pro has also headlined several pay-per-view events throughout the course of what's sure to be a Hall of Fame career. confirming that, indeed, the wrestler never served. pic.twitter.com/2XLPE1YFvl, SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) January 9, 2020. RELATED:Every Version Of Bobby Lashley, Ranked From Worst To Best. Despite never serving with the armed forces, John Cena strives to support those who serve and veterans in his professional and personal life. WWE is a lot of things, but stupid enough to send a valor thief to military events isnt one of them. His father was a former US Army Drill Sergeant. Making sure all the, uh, the grunts dont [go] AWOL on us, and keep em all in line., After Remus claimed that the Sgt. Bobby Lashley. Let's take a look at the ten Superstars who served in the military before or after joining WWE. WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie is one of the greatest managers of all time who guided many legends, including The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan and even Muhammad Ali. Wrestle Newz Published on Nov 11, 2018 at 5:00 AM by Joe Lisnow Share Tweet Pin It Share Email Print Image Credit: Provided via WWE.com The 57-year-old had two short stints in WWE. Slaughter. He is probably best remembered as a member of Ravens Flock in WCW and for his storyline in WWE where he fell in love with a mop named Moppy. After his time with the military came to an end, Jesse Ventura pursued a career as a WWE Superstar. 15. Blassie was also an accomplished competitor in his own right during the 1950s and 1960s. 13/15 * Jaxson Ryker. Not much. Your login session has expired. Jaxson Ryker originally made his name in TNA, where he worked as Gunner and was part of Immortal, winning the TV title and tag team title before leaving for WWE NXT. Few current WWE Superstars have. He later became a singles competitor, chasing the Hardcore and European Titles. His first WWE run lasted for nearly a year between 1993 and 1994. The 32-year-old then received a WWE tryout in 2017. Discharged after the war in 1946 as a Petty Officer Second Class, the WWE Hall of Famer initially began his wrestling career as Sailor Freddie Blassie before he became The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling. There's no doubt that Lacey Evans will one day reach the top of the mountain in WWE by capturing her first Championship. Before he became a WWE Superstar, The Body served in the U.S. Navy. Lacey Evans enlisted when she was 19 years old, and she went on to serve on the Marine Corps SWAT team. Currently, he is signed under Raw brand and pocketing ludicrous base salary as per contract. Zeb Colter, more commonly famous for the ring name of Dutch Mantel is an American retired professional wrestler who started his career in 1972. Since that time, he was gone on the become one of professional wrestlings biggest attractions. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. Slaughter is a wrestling star who rose to prominence in the 1980s. Steven Cutler served in the Marine Corps, as did Montez Ford. The 34-year-old served in Afghanistan. Slaughter, thats not me, Remus said of his TV wrestling persona. When he was just 17, Saturn enlisted in the United States Army and went on to attend (and graduate from) U.S. Army Ranger School. Goldberg is one of the most popular figures of the late 1990s/early 2000s professional wrestling boom. Air Force is one of three Division I service academies with wrestling programs in the United States. He began his run with the company back in 1994, managing Jeff Jarrett. Nobodys talking about the Sgt. Freddie Blassie also achieved success as an in-ring competitor. It was less disorienting than usual, though, because he grounded the tall tales in enough ostensible reality connecting everything to wrestling stories, e.g., getting the Sgt. Adora is a United States Army veteran. One detail of Colters typical tirades, however, is 100 percent accurate he served in the Vietnam War. Bryant then put in a Freedom of Information Act request about Remus, quickly resulting in. David Bixenspan is a freelance reporter who lives in Brooklyn. How Much Jon Jones Earn Per Fight? The Man in Black was once the man in fatigues. These days, the 55-year-old works for Major League Wrestling and appeared in 2021 for AEW. Ventura served in active combat as part of . During that period he served as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1997 and was a member of the wrestling team. It might seem hard to believe from a character with a gimmick like Montez Ford, but he was a former member of the U.S. military. What a pleasure it was to bring smiles to the faces of those who sacrifice so much for our freedom at the 15th annual WWE Tribute to the Troops. In other words: Maybe you heard that Slaughter wasnt a genuine Marine at one point, and you heard him giving an out-of-character interview where he claimed real military service. Before stepping inside a WWE ring a few years ago, Big Swole served in the United States military. Servo won a 10-round decision as Ambers watched from ringside. Ford joined WWE along with other Performance Center recruits in 2015 and he went on to team up with his partner Angelo Dawkins in NXT where they enjoyed a run with the NXT Tag Team Championship. A post shared by (@trishadora202). A rising star in NXT and an imposing figure, Evans served in the U.S. Marine Corps before pursuing her career in WWE. . At the tender age of 18, Johnny Cash (pictured here with Bob Dylan) joined the Air Force, serving in Texas and Germany before receiving an honorable discharge after four years of service in 1954. Currently performing under the SmackDown brand in WWE, Lacey Evans is the only female wrestler to be the part of this list as she served in military back in the year in 2009. He had little success during his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment, but went on to make a name for himself in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and was an even bigger star in Mexico. Will Vin Sant Leave You Jacked or Scammed? I just wish I had more time to do that., And not just to the media either. Back in 1986, James decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corp. All of which misses the point. But very few become able to get into the defense as it requires a lot of skills and strong stamina alongside with high morale to tackle the difficulties. Slaughter, he perfected the act, becoming one of the biggest stars and top villains in the business almost overnight. Lashley had a very impressive career in MMA and he was also successful in amateur wrestling. As a wrestler, The Hollywood Fashion Plate captured the prestigious NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. In the 1990s, Perry Saturn won championships in the three major sports-entertainment organizations WWE, WCW and ECW. He enlisted from 2007 to 2011 and did two tours of Afghanistan. As Diesel, Nash was even able to capture the WWE (then WWF) Championship. While he had a noteworthy career as an in-ring competitor, he is arguably best to remember for his work as a commentator for WWE in the 1980s. Like Mr. Armstrong, Road Dogg served in the U.S. Marine Corps, putting his wrestling career on hold. After his short stint in the military, Orton decided to continue the legacy of his father and grandfather, becoming a professional wrestler in 2000 and debuting for the Mid-Missouri Wrestling Association-Southern Illinois Conference Wrestling promotion in St. Louis. Because during the same short New York media tour to promote WrestleMania-related events that would hit the city several weeks later, he danced around military-related questions in a Fox News interview published eight days after he was on Jim and Sam. Daybound (If a player casts no spells during their own turn, it becomes night next turn.) Zeb Colter is so uncompromisingly vocal about his beliefs and is never afraid to say what's on his mind so much sothat hed make Rush Limbaugh ill at ease. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. . Pro wrestler Sgt. A professional from 2001 until 2016, he has fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, the WEC, ShoMMA, HDNet Fights, and represented the Chicago Red Bears in the IFL. Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso Purse Payouts | What Will be there share in UFC 285 Potential Bonus? WWE has also contracted several Army veterans to the company over the years, providing them with a platform inside the squared circle. Among them was Lacey Evans. Big Swole worked as a Fire Truck Mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. Did any WWE wrestlers serve in the military? That is, to show that Slaughter was even lying to his fellow wrestlers about serving. Bobby Lashley is an American professional wrestler and a mixed martial artist. Will there be PPV Share Money For him in UFC? Was Road Dogg in the military? Konnan has not performed in WWE, but also in Impact Wrestling, Major League Wrestling and many other promotions. In 1980, though, he got his big break, heading to the WWF (now WWE) the biggest money promotion in the country, even then as the villainous Sgt. Nevertheless, the 32-year-old returned to WWE two years later to compete in the 2018 Mae Young Classic. Wrestling News and Highlights Army Defeats U.S. Air Force, 38-9, to Claim Armed Forces Men's Freestyle Title Feb. 27, 2023 - The U.S. Army won nine of 10 bouts to defeat the U.S. Air Force, 38-9. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself is a supporter of the U.S. military. Though not a SEAL, Ventura served as a UDT Frogman a group that was eventually merged with the SEALs and was stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Jesse The Body Ventura served in the U.S. Navy before embarking on a career in pro wrestling. Please logout and login again. He is regarded as the inventor of the . Enter America's Drill Instructor: Sgt. All of which misses the point. 14/15 * Corporal Kirchner. Stay tuned for more information! (FWIW: Available newspaper records dont shed any light on what Remus really did during his service other than getting married.) Few current WWE Superstars have served in the United States military in the past two decades. The others are the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy. Saturn teamed up in his last match with former WWE Superstar Raven to defeat Brady Pierce and Mad Man Pondo in a Raven's Rules Tag Team Match at RPW Lights Out. AEW (All Elite Wrestling) (w)Rest of Wrestling. After his release from WWE, he joined TNA (now IMPACT Wrestling) and competed as Mr. Anderson where he won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Or in the world of wrestling, a "face" - also known as a babyface, one of the good guys. Bobby Lashley has had success as both a professional wrestler and a mixed martial artist. During that process, he came across not just the Sun article but also Remus more recent claims to have genuinely served. When I leave here, Im Bob Slaughter. John Cena, Batista & Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton & Jeri . Oh yeah, yeah, Ive been in one, Remus replied. He returned to the company six years later to win the Hardcore Title 27 times. Bobby Lashley made his initial WWE debut in 2005 and his overall tenure in the company saw him becoming the ECW World Champion, United States Champion and Intercontinental Champion. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. He then started competing on the independent circuit. Hes not, , that was just a role he played. WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie is proclaimed to be one of the greatest managers of all time. A Highly Questionable Cultural History of Richard Geres Ass Gerbil, The Unexpectedly Sweet Story Behind Those Viral Semi-Truck Pregnancy Photos. Official response from the Department of the Navy to if Sgt. 1. We may earn some commission if you were to buy something via our affiliate links, Top 10 Most Popular WWE Wrestlers Who Served In Military. The 43-year-old WWE star comes from a military background. After that answer, the topic was mercifully brought back entirely to wrestling. on television. That last link is the most explicit, using his real name and putting him in a Veterans Day 2018 listicle of wrestlers who otherwise legitimately served. In fairness to both the WWE generally and individual staff like Powers, it seems unlikely that anyone involved in such things has any idea that Remus hasnt served, especially since the Sun article didnt involve the company and he even told other wrestlers for decades that hed served. Trending pages Montez Ford DT Porter Randy Orton Bobby Lashley Ashante Adonis Sgt. The Best Apps/Websites to Watch MF & DAZN X Series 005 Live Online | 5 March 2023, Comparison of BKFC, UFC, Bellator & PFL Fighters Payouts | UFC Currently Stands As Richest Promotion for Fighters Based PPV Contracts, Top UFC Women Fighters With Highest Fan Following On TikTok | How Much They Earn For Posting Video On Their Accounts. Former WWE Superstars Raven and Steve Cutler Before they became pro wrestlers, some former WWE Superstars have served in the United States military. And no. Lashley would follow in his dad's footsteps and enlist in the army. Perry Saturn enlisted in the United States Army when he was 17 years old and he served for four years. (Slaughter and his representatives refused to comment at the time.). After leaving service, she started wrestling. Colter served in Vietnam for a year before he came back home and started his wrestling career. A few wrestlers, however, had duties and responsibilities that exceeded the rest. Slaughter.. Jessie The Body Ventura is a retired pro wrestler out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, she later decided to leave service and pursue a wrestling career. 7 professional athletes who also served in the military 5 Votes 4 Comments. Orton then decided to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a professional wrestler. The son of WWE Hall of Famer Bullet Bob Armstrong, Road Dogg has always had sports-entertainment in his blood. Although he never went into battle, the young corporal gained the mental and physical tenacity of a soldier and used his skills to compete in WWE, Stampede Wrestling and Japan. This came up on the WON board, but I'll post here too. Lacey Evans, the Lady of NXT, also served in the Marine Corps. The WWE Hall of Famer was a 10-time AWA World Championship and trained many former WWE Champions, including The Iron Sheik and Ric Flair. My father suggested maybe I want to join the Corps, join the military service and maybe do college later, Remus told Fox. The Viper currently competes on Monday Night RAW as a heel. He served during the Vietnam War, where he reached the rank of Petty officer. The 54-year-old has not competed since 2013. Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, and Hugh Casey. Sgt. RELATED: The 10 Most Influential Wrestling Families Of All-Time. . Big Daddy Cool then decided to enlist in the 202nd Military Police Company and was stationed at a secure North Atlantic Treaty Organization facility where he served for two years. I support the United States Marine Corps. I found it interesting, but I didnt think much of it since the extent of Slaughters claims werent at the forefront of my mind. Lacey Evans co-main evented WWE Extreme Rules in 2019 and since that time she has challenged for a championship multiple times. Besides the normal cadets, many known wrestlers of history also remained the part of their respective countries forces before starting their career or even after taking the retirement. . Best Topics William George Bonin was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. Still, the 1985 article was explicit and well-reported, and a legitimate veteran-turned-pro-wrestler, Jesse Ventura, would later state the truth about Slaughter in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1991 and, nationally, on Comedy Centrals The Colbert Report in 2008. Before embarking on a career in professional wrestling by wandering along the roads of U.S. Route 190 and long before he started pushing his cultural views on the WWE Universe Colter served as a member of the U.S. Armys 25th Infantry Division. U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Underwater Demolition Team during the Vietnam War in the 20th century and was stationed in the Philippines.