'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Though we are familiar with great wrestling families like the McMahons and the Harts, there are a bunch of other relatives out there in the business which often escape our eyes. For some reason or the other, the promotions have never banked these relations; maybe the bookers didn't see any money-making potential in them. But that does not make the blood bond between these superstars any less significant. So here is a look at some of the superstars whose relations have rarely been acknowledged by the promotions they have been in.
#5 Jerry Lawler is the cousin of Honky Tonk man
A majority of the wrestling fans out there would not have thought about this connection even though both men built their gimmicks around Elvis Presley. While the modern era fans know Jerry Lawler as someone who sits in commentary and drools at Paige, he is much more than that.
Jerry is considered to be a legend in the Memphis area and he achieved a lot while wrestling there. The Honky Tonk Man, on the other hand, will go down in history as the longest reigning Intercontinental champion.
Though Honky Tonk Man didn’t have a good set of wrestling moves, he kept the title with him for a whopping 64 weeks. Despite both men being successful in their own right, WWE did not try to morph the relation into a storyline.
#4 Road Warrior Animal is John Laurinaitis' brother
The Road Warriors are still considered to be a benchmark for a lot of tag teams out there. But one fact that always escapes the fans is that Animal is closely related to John Laurinaitis - the two are brothers.
Laurinaitis played the heel authority figure in WWE a few years ago in case you don’t remember and called his run the People’s Power. He is still working as a road agent backstage.
#3 Shockmaster is the uncle of Cody Rhodes
The Shockmaster is one of the more notable botched characters in wrestling history. He has a lot of horrible memories from his stay in WCW, and he did not have a successful run in WWE either.
And that makes him the least successful member of the Rhodes family. Yes, Shockmaster belongs to the family which produced the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Goldust and Cody Rhodes - he is the uncle of Cody. But since The Shockmaster character was such a disaster, people never recognize Cody as his nephew.
For the fans who are wondering why Shockmaster is seen as a laughing stock in the WWE, just go through the internet and search for the worst debuts in professional wrestling.
#2 Val Venis and Edge were in-laws
This is not a relation that still exists, but since it features two decorated names of the Attitude Era, it was hard to keep them off the list. Venis’ character was one of the more risky ones that WWE did during the era when Edge was known for his association in the TLC matches.
Back in 2001, Edge married Alanah Morley, who happens to be the sister of Venis. The marriage lasted three years before it came crashing down in 2004.
Edge then moved on to other women including the likes of Lita before settling down with former Divas Champion Beth Phoenix.
#1 Roddy Piper and Bret Hart are cousins
If you thought that the Hart family could not get any larger, add Roddy Piper to the mix.
The success attained by names such as Bret Hart, Owen Hart and Stu Hart made the Harts legendary in the wrestling circuit. Piper, on the other hand, made a name for himself as a singles superstar. He was known for his brilliant promos and feuds with other Hall of Famers which helped WWE go mainstream.
Piper was portrayed as a Scot in his run, but in reality, he is Canadian. And he is indeed the cousin of Bret Hart.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
