Calling pretty much everything WWE did with their Women's Division from the mid-'90s to about 2010 "controversial" is the most polite way to put it, but December 12, 1999, marked a definite low point. The problem centered on Al Snow, whose onscreen persona was, to put it lightly, a little disturbed. [46], The "Eugene" gimmick received mixed reviews. [36] Dinsmore lost the title to Rudy Switchblade seven days later in an Eight Man Melee, including Wayne, Adam Revolver, Ted McNaler, James Thomas, Rocco Bellagio and Mike Mondo. With the benefit of hindsight, was WWE's Eugene character more of an offensive caricature, or a well-intentioned, even inspirational character? With another international spectacle already on the schedule, the Greatest Royal Rumble definitely won't be the last WWE show from Saudi Arabia, but maybe next time, they can avoid going for the cheap heat. [27] Dinsmore wrestled for WFX Wrestling in Canada, in a role similar to the one he played in WWE, under the names "U-Gene" and "U-gene Dinsmore". Why is it necessary for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes? Their failure isn't that these creations didn't get over with the audience. In this case, the Almighty's presence was represented by a spotlight that moved down the entrance ramp to the ring while Vince berated and mocked God before telling the referee to check him for hidden weapons and then assuring Michaels that in the match that followed, "you and God are gonna go straight to Hell!". As a white guy, I have no interest in golf or tennis, I don't drape a sweater around my shoulders, nor do I live in a house with a picket fence. Renegade is a classic example of why you don't try to fool wrestling fandom. Here are the most controversial things the WWE has ever done or been party to. WWE probably wouldnt try something like the Eugene character in the modern landscape, and thats probably a good thing. He achieved great success at OVW winning the OVW Heavyweight Championship 10 times! Also, the match took place in a pool rather than in the ring, and was won by the Kat, who had never trained as a wrestler, and who quickly overshadowed any in-ring er, in-pool action by whipping off her bra in the first-ever instance of the company featuring intentional nudity on television. The storyline would continue and Vince would get his eventual comeuppance, but plenty of viewers found the "Mr. McMahon" character having a canonical victory over "God" to be pretty tasteless. Once the fans started to see that he could live his dream, he was winning championships, he was meeting his idols, more and more people cheered for Eugene and wanted to see him succeed. Bobby Lashley was considered a big acquisition for WWE when he debuted in 2004. page. He retired because he wanted to spend time with his family which is understandable. He was a man who once went 60 minutes with Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight title. [7] Although Regal was originally dispirited at having to manage Eugene, he would grow fond of him and the two would quickly become firm friends. 79.7K subscribers One of the more controversial characters of the Ruthless Aggression Era, Eugene. Eugene, real name Nicholas Dinsmore, came up to the WWE main roster from their developmental brand Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). On the October 22, 2002, episode of Monday Night Raw, Triple H promised to present "the most graphic and salacious video footage" he'd ever seen, and definitely delivered on that front. 2000's Royal Rumble featured the first (and only) "Miss Rumble" bikini contest. His assertion that the Eugene character was essentially a comic device is inaccurate and lacks total perspective., WWE then posted a video of Nick Dinsmore who offered a truthful portrayal of the character. brand as their final pick of the 2007 Supplemental Draft. The whole ordeal was made even worse by the fact that WWE legend Eddy Guerrero had just passed away four days ago with anabolic steroid abuse on his death certificate as a contributing cause. And regarding his championship accomplishments, Eugene's a one-time World Tag Team Champion with his on-screen mentor and friend William Regal. How can a map enhance your understanding? |-- General Discussion: Presidency He walks into the womens locker room and hilarity ensues. Luckily, Taylor found work as an executive with WWE, WCW, and also TNA and continued to thrive in the industry away from the ring. He was already a former NWA National Champion and held the Mid-South North American title. The infamous Katie Vick storyline isn't just tasteless, it's probably the single most tasteless thing that's ever been aired on WWE television. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Eugene was part of the WWE from 2004 to 2007 Pro wrestling has had its share of mentally challenged wrestlers. Dinsmore debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) in October 2007, as U-Gene. The Ruthless Aggression Era from 2002 to 2008 paved the way for many compelling characters to get introduced on Raw or SmackDown, including some of the most comedic characters that ever stepped foot into the company. Needless to say, this prompted a debate among fans and fellow wrestlers that touched on questions about forgiveness and redemption that aren't usually seen inside the squared circle, with plenty of black wrestlers asked for comment. he still failed to resonate with fans and was released. Kevin Matthew Fertig had one of the luckiest breaks into the business imaginable. During his time in the company, he was involved in various storylines and competed against such wrestlers like Triple H and Kurt Angle. The Eugene character was over-the-top several years ago, and there's no way WWE would even attempt it today. In the case of Eugene, however, it was the character itself that was offensive: a mentally disabled wrestler who was usually played for laughs. From there he garnered an athletic scholarship to the University of Missouri and later would play for the Canadian football league. Then, their big debut happens, and they start to falter. |-- Political Videos The premise of the Eugene character was that he was the mentally-disabled nephew of Eric Bischoff, who based his wrestling style on his favorite wrestlers like The Rock and Hulk Hogan. the Farrelly brothers' recent comedy . Pro wrestling has had its share of mentally challenged wrestlers. Michael Chin is a writer based in Las Vegas, He writes about pro wrestling for The Sportster and has followed WWE and other promotions for over 30 years. [1], Dinsmore also appeared in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from August 1998 to January 1999, mainly used as a jobber on WCW Saturday Night he also worked on two episodes of Thunder (losing to Ernest Miller and Kanyon), and on two episodes of Nitro (first teaming with Lenny Lane to lose a handicap match to Scott Steiner, then losing a singles match to Wrath). WWE responded: It is clear, based on Mr. McEnroes latest blog post, that he does not understand WWEs programming. He would soon be pawned off to Bischoff's assistant, William Regal, who would be a huge part of most of his storylines. Follow him on Twitter @miketchin. So, what happened to him? Then he and fellow NXT rookies -- when it was still a reality show and not a separate brand -- became the Nexus, having a brief but strong reign as an almost NWO type group. With the benefit of hindsight, how should fans look back on this character? The result? What are the names of God in various Kenyan tribes? On July 6, 1998, DX's latest bit of dubious comedy involved coming to the ring in costume as the Nation. it just disturbed me considering my situation. learning disabilites is an insult to our . Many re-packaged wrestlers have gone on to superstar status with the promotion. Though Street Fighter wound up being the more enduring franchise, in 1995 the fighting game series on everyone's lips was Mortal Kombat. Nobody ever really came up to me and said, Oh youre doing a bad thing, oh, I cant believe you did this. If anything, I got a lot of positive affirmation. Wasn't there some kind of terrorist-like character sometime around 9/11? It was 6:30 and so dark that all I could see of the attendant who unlocked the door were his hands. He currently runs an independent promotion and training center called Midwest All Pro Wrestling in Sioux Falls, S.D. The first live event was held November 7, 2015. The Mexicools coming out on lawnmowers wasn't great. No different than in the movie Forrest Gump when he started to do good for himself, everybody cheered him on, everybody wanted him to do better. While he had a great look he couldn't work matches very well, and he fell prey to more skilled big men like Undertaker. They even tried to bring it back several times, always with the same result; failure. Could there be a more perfect recipe for a pro wrestler in WWE? The Most Controversial Things WWE Has Ever Done, Channel 4 didn't renew the deal when it was up, the Almighty's presence was represented by a spotlight that moved down the entrance ramp, Kofi Kingston touched on those issues in a statement on Twitter, he believed Hogan was "willing to fix it. The former WWE Tag Team Champion gave details on all three of his WWE spells, including the reason why he was released each time. The following week, he was tricked into thinking Deuce 'n Domino were helping him win his match against Mark Henry, which led to a quick defeat. As his in-ring career continued in recent years, Eugene announced on Twitter in late 2021 that he was seeking dates for a retirement tour. The WWE has and continues to showcase a wide variety of characters and a fictious WWE Universe. Each bruise a story to tell, each wound a song of struggle, his greatest desire is to be there to witness it all. Crime Time gotta be up there right? Taylor, one of the smoothest technical wrestlers in the game, was the perfect 80's babyface. He then posted a video and wrote: Eugene is a mentally retarded WWE character who is, unmistakably, played for laughs. DX was entirely composed of white dudes. In the end, it was probably not in the best taste to cast a performer with a dimension of difference he did not actually representjust as the general consensus in pop culture has moved against casting an actor to perform a race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation they do not actually embody. Dinsmore kept it with him for when he would need it. Services offered have specific eligibility standards and are accessed through the local Community Developmental Disabilities . Why he was never a bigger star: Boogeyman had a great gimmick, but his limited wrestling ability and the fact he got into the business very late probably hindered his career. When I was playing the role of Eugene, I wanted to display a character that had not only special needs, but incredible qualities; honesty, strength, very playful, quite nave at times. It hit its peak in July 2005 when Hassan and his manager, Daivari, were embroiled in a feud with the Undertaker, who rather than being a spooky undead cowboy or a sinister Lord of Darkness was in the "American Badass" phase of his career. [21] On the September 4 Raw, Eugene and Duggan challenged World Tag Team Champions the Spirit Squad for the title, but were unsuccessful. Furthermore, from the start of his tenure on Raw, William Regal became his mentor as the two became very close, going as far as winning tag team gold. Why he didn't become a bigger star: Eugene's gimmick made people uncomfortable, and he was undersized for a heavyweight but too large for cruiserweight matches. [19] This coincided with the announcement of WWE's new drug policy (established as a result of Eddie Guerrero's death from heart failure, aggravated by his history of drug abuse).[1]. While the crowd at the show seemed pretty into it, the same could not be said of everyone. He also worked as a trainer in NXT for 13 months in 2013 and 2014. Particularly early on, WWE planted hints that he was something like a wrestling savant. WWEs management of the Eugene gimmickor even choosing to pursue it as a gimmick at alldemonstrated imperfect judgment. The Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS) offers services to adults ranging from supports to assist an individual to live in their own home or with family or friends, to 24-hour comprehensive services. He took to the mat game quickly and won over the heart of William Regalthe Englishman went from the begrudging coach assigned to him, to genuinely being protective over his mentee. The Rednecks were intended to be the heels in the feud, but fan response turned them into babyfaces. |-- General Discussion Either way, the insinuation that Kane was a murderer was just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the few years of Eugene's WWE career, although Eugene was not the most accomplished WWE superstar of his generation, he was involved with some of the most high-profile wrestlers during his prime in mid to late 2004. On September 1, 2007, Nick Dinsmore was released from his WWE contract.[26][27]. He was trained by Shawn Michaels at his wrestling academy in San Antonio in 1998. Muhammad Hassan and Daivari attacked him, only for Hulk Hogan to make the save. partnered with fellow RAW superstar Rob Conway. In 1995, video game consoles such as the PlayStation and Sega Saturn were just hitting the market. Nicholas Disworth (born December 17, 1975), also known by his Unfortunately, that would be his only title in the WWE. This new wrestler is Eugene and is supposed to have a mental disability. It is, however, still included on many official releases from WWE that tout it as a high point for comedy, although it's also worth noting that X-Pac himself has since expressed his regret about it. [44] He also sold Midwest All Pro Wrestling at the end of 2021. A heel wrestler insulting a location as being inferior to their own hometown is a time-honored tradition in pro wrestling, but in 2018, WWE discovered that the politics of the Middle East are a little more complicated than the rivalry between, say, Boston and New York. When he returned, it was as Ryback. His role as an NXT trainer lasted over a year when he was released by the company once again on October 2014. [20] Striker ultimately defeated Eugene to end the feud. Home However, sooner or later he actually had to wrestle, and he was less than impressive. He defeated Grado in his first match for the promotion. After the segment, the Daivari Brothers got death threatsand even took to Twitter to clarify that they were speaking in character and that the long-running, complicated, and conflicted history of the two nations was not meant to be solved in the wrestling ring. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. After WCW was bought by WWE, Hennig made a surprising return to McMahon's promotion, where his career would tragically end after his untimely death. [6] Bischoff soon placed him under the care of the newly returned William Regal. [42] Dinsmore began running his own shows in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, under the banner of Midwest All Pro Wrestling. Bobby Lashley can't seem to resonate with the fans, and it remains to be seen if WWE will find a way to get him over in the main event picture. Some have resulted in massive success. Apart from wrestling, he is also fond of poetry and music. [23] Eugene wrestled on the June 2, 2007 Saturday Night's Main Event XXXIV, where he debuted a new "Superman-esque" wrestling attire. They've been able to pick up a wrestler who may have been someone else in another place and time, place them in colorful spandex, and give them a whole new persona. Taylor and Dinsmore are not in that group. Eugene 1st WWE Theme Gladiator By Jim Johnston (04-06)All Rights To WWE No Copyright Intended Enjoy [1] At WrestleMania 22, Eugene competed in a preshow battle royal which was won by Viscera. Making his debut in mid-2004, Eugene quickly established himself as a beloved "special" character on the Raw brand. However, that self-control didn't last long as once the persona became stale, they traded it in for a heel turn. WWEs usage of Eugene was not entirely offensive. That does not change the fact that his mental retardation is essentially a comic device. [33] In 2009, he was part of Hulk Hogan's Australian tour, Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin, where he wrestled as U-Gene. In 2004, a well-liked veteran of the WWE developmental system, Nick Dinsmore, debuted on the WWE main roster. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. How do you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD? Skip was actually pretty over with the fans, who loved his good old boy "corn-fed meathead' character. |-- DU Groups This very passion soon branched out to boxing and mixed martial arts. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Kofi Kingston touched on those issues in a statement on Twitter, saying "from a career standpoint, there is no argument on whether or not Hogan should have his place" and fellow Hall of Famer Mark Henry said he believed Hogan was "willing to fix it.". Speaking on the Cheap Heat . Stephens won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship in 2010. When his football career ended, Snitsky was out of work. That didn't work either, and it wasn't long before he switched back to being a babyface. Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators. Glacier was meant to be the face of a new breed of sports entertainer, but just ended up melting away like his namesake. [31] On July 28, Gowen and U-Gene defeated the Ring Rydas to win the JCW Tag Team Championship. The first event they aired was, of course, Royal Rumble 2000. Be the first one to comment on this story. [4][34] On July 27, Dinsmore, as "U-Gene", unsuccessfully challenged Freight Train for the 5 Dollar Wrestling championship in the main event of that promotion's internet PPV debut.[35]. Poem writers and bullfighters, right there alongside a preacher and a teacher. Here are the most controversial things the WWE developmental system, Nick Dinsmore, up. 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How should fans look back on this story was meant to be the first one comment! The OVW Heavyweight Championship 10 times and was released trainer in NXT for months. Was over-the-top several years ago, and they start to falter got a lot of positive.. And regarding his Championship accomplishments, Eugene quickly established himself as a gimmick at alldemonstrated imperfect judgment has. & # x27 ; recent comedy like a wrestling savant on July 28, Gowen and U-Gene the... It in for a Pro wrestler in WWE a former NWA National Champion and held Mid-South... Dinsmore, debuted on the Raw brand gone on to superstar status with the audience muhammad Hassan and attacked.