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Marty Garner, also known as Cham-Pain, recently recalled how WWE did not show his fans' signs in the crowd during a live television show.
Garner wrestled for WWE between 1994 and 1998 before making a further four appearances for the company between 2006 and 2008. He gained traction online in the mid-2000s after writing a blog about his time in the wrestling industry. His popularity led fans to take "Hire Cham-Pain" signs to some WWE events.
On the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Garner said Matt Hardy once told him to watch a show after spotting signs in the arena. When he switched the television on, the former WWE star noticed that the signs had been blurred out:
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"There were people actually going to the shows at WWE holding up signs that said Hire Cham-Pain," Garner stated. "One night, Matt called me. He said, 'Dude, you gotta look on TV tonight. They got your signs in the audience. Two or three signs that say Hire Cham-Pain.' I said, 'No way.' I turned the TV on and they blurred them out where you couldn't read them. WWE blurred my signs out." [38:52 – 39:12]
Garner sent his blog to wrestling newsletters after being advised to do so by Matt Hardy. Within a week, he received 100,000 visitors on the site. His story was also given a four-page spread in a UK wrestling magazine.
WWE legend The Undertaker wanted Marty Garner to succeed
The online campaign became so big that Garner once saw "Hire Cham-Pain" written all over someone's car. He was also told by Matt Hardy that the phrase often appeared on signs at autograph sessions.
On one occasion, Hall of Famer The Undertaker asked Hardy why a Garner fan brought a sign to a show:
"They were in England after that and 'Taker gets on the bus with all the boys," Garner recalled. "And 'Taker looks around and goes, 'Did anybody see that six-foot-long Hire Cham-Pain sign out there in the crowd tonight?' He looked at Matt Hardy and said, 'Isn't that Marty Garner, Matt?' He goes, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'What is that about?' and Matt told him. He said, 'Well, tell him I hope he gets on, man. That's awesome.'" [39:33 – 39:56]
According to Garner, former talent relations executive John Laurinaitis called him after receiving 300 to 500 emails per day from his fans. Laurinaitis was allegedly furious and threatened to have him arrested if he ever showed up at an event.
Do you have any memories of Marty Garner's "Hire Cham-Pain" campaign? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please credit the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.
