On a recent edition of the “Under The Ring” podcast, Sgt. Slaughter recalled pitching to Vince McMahon Sr. to turn him babyface, McMahon Sr. asking his son to keep Slaughter a heel, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On pitching Vince Sr. on a babyface turn: “Vince McMahon Sr. was still running the company. He kept patting me on the back and praising me [as a heel], and I said, ‘Well, Mr. McMahon, if you think I’m such a great villain, you ought to see me as a hero.’ And he said, ‘A hero? Sgt. Slaughter a hero? Wait a minute, what are you talking about?’”
On pitching a feud with Iron Sheik: “We really never got any payback from what Ayatollah Khomeini did all those years. We never got to punch him right in the nose for all the problems that he caused with the hostage situation and the killing of the Marines at the embassy, and the Black Hawks going down.”
On Vince Sr. telling Vince Jr. not to turn him babyface: “[Sr.] turned around and said, ‘Vinnie, don’t you ever turn Sgt. Slaughter into a hero, it won’t work.’ And I hate to say it, but Mr. McMahon Sr. was wrong, because [Jr.] came to me about three weeks later and said ‘I want to do what you told my father.’”
On Vince Jr. moving on it that night: “I’m watching the monitor and I see Iron Sheik and Fred Blassie, I can read their lips, and they’re saying ‘Wrong music! They’re playing the wrong music!’ And out I came, and the place went crazy.”
In the world of professional wrestling, character turns and storylines are a crucial part of keeping fans engaged and entertained. One such memorable turn was when Sgt. Slaughter, a popular heel (villain) in the wrestling industry, pitched the idea of becoming a babyface (hero) to Vince McMahon Sr., the owner of the company at the time.
During an episode of the “Under The Ring” podcast, Sgt. Slaughter reminisced about his conversation with Vince McMahon Sr. regarding his desire to turn into a hero. McMahon Sr. had been praising Slaughter for his portrayal as a villain, but Slaughter believed he could be even more successful as a hero. He told McMahon Sr., “If you think I’m such a great villain, you ought to see me as a hero.” McMahon Sr. was taken aback by the idea and questioned Slaughter’s statement, not fully understanding how he could transition from being a hated character to a beloved one.
Slaughter also expressed his desire to have a feud with Iron Sheik, a fellow wrestler. He felt that there was unfinished business with the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini, who had caused significant problems for the United States, including the hostage situation and the killing of Marines at the embassy. Slaughter believed that he could provide some catharsis for the American people by symbolically taking revenge on Khomeini through his wrestling persona.
However, despite Slaughter’s enthusiasm for the babyface turn and feud with Iron Sheik, McMahon Sr. advised his son, Vince McMahon Jr., who was also involved in the wrestling business, against it. McMahon Sr. believed that turning Slaughter into a hero would not work. Nevertheless, three weeks later, Vince Jr. approached Slaughter and expressed his interest in pursuing the idea.
On the night of the planned turn, Slaughter watched the monitor backstage and noticed that Iron Sheik and their manager, Fred Blassie, were discussing something. Slaughter read their lips and realized they were saying, “Wrong music! They’re playing the wrong music!” Despite the unexpected glitch, Slaughter seized the moment and made his entrance. The crowd erupted with excitement, proving McMahon Sr. wrong about the potential success of Slaughter’s babyface character.
This turn marked a significant moment in Sgt. Slaughter’s career and showcased the power of a well-executed character change in professional wrestling. It demonstrated that even established villains can successfully transition into heroes, captivating the audience and creating memorable storylines.
The story of Sgt. Slaughter’s pitch to Vince McMahon Sr., his subsequent conversation with Vince McMahon Jr., and the eventual successful babyface turn serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of professional wrestling. It highlights the importance of taking risks, listening to talent, and being open to new ideas in order to keep the industry fresh and exciting for both performers and fans alike.