7. Hillbilly Jim
Another incident of pure kayfabe that paid off. It was the early 80s and there was this particular fan who appeared in many arenas. The wrestlers took note of him and he was known as ‘Big Jim’ for his towering stature. This led him to become a guest at Piper’s Pit and Piper offered to train him. Here’s how kayfabe worked. Seeing his passion, the fans and wrestlers alike wanted him to succeed and there was a babyface named Hulk Hogan who wanted to train him and then there was the heel named Roddy Rowdy Piper who wanted to take him under his wings. ‘Big Jim’ to the audience’s delight chose Hogan.
Then WWE began airing these short teasers showing Hogan training Jim. And then began his journey in the World Wrestling Federation.
6. Beth Phoenix
One of the most memorable feud in the women’s division belongs to the one between Mickie James and Trish Stratus. The lovelorn fan and the star. The feud took an ugly turn and James soon took away the Women’s Championship from Stratus in the best women’s match at Wrestlemania. Their rematch at Backlash led to Stratus getting her shoulder dislocated. Soon, James was the wrecking force of the division and Trish couldn’t save the day for the other divas with one arm. One fine night, a woman came from the audience and attacked James relentlessly.
This woman was Beth Phoenix, who alleged that James had ruined her life. Thus began another chapter in the women’s division and seeds for another memorable feud were sown.
The Glamazon was here.
5. Zach Gowen
Remember the one legged wrestler WWE introduced in 2003 who went on to feud with Lesnar and McMahon? His name was Zach Gowen and he came through the crowd.
Do you also remember Captain America where Hulk Hogan was clearly the man behind the mask? Well, he was the guy who Gowen ran in the ring to help.
Hogan was attacked by Piper and his protege Sean O ‘Haire in the process of being unmasked. Gowen came to the rescue by attacking the attackers with an American Flag. One thing led to another and soon, his prosthetic leg was ‘accidently’ pulled off.
That brought things to a standstill and gave rise to what was going to be a theme for many nights to come.
4. Finlay
Before Sheamus became The Celtic Warrior and proclaimed that he’s a fighter from Ireland, there was this guy who made the word ‘fight’ symbolic with the Irish.
Finlay’s catchphrase is still memorable. ‘My name is Finlay and I love to fight’
Before all of this, he was introduced as a planted fan on WCW in 1996. This interference was purely based out of cultural differences. Finlay introduced himself, after the attack, as The Belfast Bruiser. He’d attacked an English wrestler whom we all know as William Regal.
Wrestling almost always has a politically inspired storyline and this one was taken straight out of Britain and Northern Ireland’s history books.
