Pro Wrestling’s Hidden Footprint in Pop Culture
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Pro wrestling has been around for decades, and like many long-standing forms of entertainment, it has consistently found its way into pop culture. From subtle nods to full-on cameos, wrestling’s influence has extended far beyond the ring.
Over the years, professional wrestling has been referenced in countless ways across television, animation, and beyond. While it would take years to cover them all, this article highlights a few standout examples of wrestling’s lasting impact on pop culture.
Married… with Children
The producers of Married… with Children were huge pro wrestling fans. The last names of the two most important families (Bundy & Rhoades) were named after King Kong Bundy and Dusty Rhodes.
There’s also the fact King Kong Bundy appeared in two episodes of the show as well. He first did it in Season 2 as Peggy’s Uncle Irwin, and on Season 10 as himself.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the best animated shows Nickelodeon has ever produced, and has a very interesting pro wrestling cameos. The character The Boulder was inspired by The Rock, and even talks in The Rock’s now classic third-person style. Even better, Mick Foley is the person that voiced The Boulder in the four episodes the character appears.
Originally, the production team wanted to have The Rock voice The Boulder. However, they weren’t able to get him for the role. Instead, they got a worthy replacement in Foley.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
The popular card game Yu-Gi-Oh! features several nods to pro wrestling. From Joey Wheeler’s iconic face meme, which was inspired by an expression Antonio Inoki made during a match, to multiple archetypes within the game that draw heavily from wrestling themes, the influence is clear.
Two archetypes in particular stand out: Dinowrestlers and Goukis, both of which are heavily inspired by professional wrestling in their designs. A special mention goes to Destiny HERO Dynatag, whose name and design pay tribute to the legendary British pro wrestler Dynamite Kid.
Other References
A very popular reference or cameo we’ve seen is that of Bret Hart applying his sharpshooter in the opening credits of the popular show Malcolm in the Middle.
Even shows in Spain have paid a small tribute to wrestling, like the one seen in the show La que se avecina with the character of Amador Rivas wearing the winged eagle WWF Championship in his alter ego of Capitan Salami.
Tell us what your favorite pro wrestling references in pop culture are below!
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