Medium: Anime
Title: Karate Master
Bio: Tam Rice was a no-nonsense wrestler, who was really more of a boxer. He hated karate and was responsible for ending anime Rikidozan’s U.S. undefeated streak.
Signature Move: The Scorpion Punch.
Tag: Pop Culture
Karate Master
Karate Master
1973 – 1974
Karate Master was an anime series that aired in Japan about… karate. It also depicted American wrestlers and wrestling fans as xenophobic hate mongers. I have no idea whether or not this was supposed to be aimed at kids or adults at the time it came out, but the adult me definitely appreciated it more than 10-year-old me ever would have.
Charmed
“Wrestling with Demons”
Season 3, Episode 12
2/01/2001
Proving why The Undertaker has been so successful for all these years, comes another show dealing with the occult that somehow manages to work in pro wrestling as part of the plot. Side note: “Wrestling with Demons” should’ve been the title of the Jake “The Snake” Roberts documentary.
The Mad Bull
Medium: Film
Title: Mad Bull
Bio: Mad Bull was a heel in an era where everybody treated heels like pieces of shit, both inside and outside the ring. It affected his love life and his relationship with his son. He made it his mission to prove to the world that he was a decent guy, and that the top babyface, Jack Braden, was a dick in real life.
Signature Move: Turning face.
Baywatch
“Bash at the Beach”
Season 6, Episode 15
2/19/1996
Some people stand in the darkness. Afraid to step into the light. Some people need to help somebody, when the edge of surrender’s in sight. When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside, you gotta take a stand it don’t help to hide. I am a real American. Forever and always, I’m always here.
Just as I was able to seamlessly mash up “Real American” and “I’m Always Here”, so were the producers of Baywatch who brought together two of the most popular, half naked, blondes of the 90’s.
Macho Moments in Pop Culture
It’s been five years since the wrestling world lost the “Macho Man” Randy Savage. But while today most wrestling sites will celebrate his in-ring career highlights, let’s not forget that the world of pop culture also lost the Macho Man. Whether he’s still being remembered by Tumblrs showcasing him beating pop culture’s greatest bad asses, or in video games which contain a Macho Man-esque alternate outfit, or a modified dragon, it’s time we celebrate Randy Savage’s greatest contributions to pop culture. Mandatory “Oh yeah!” here.Kyle’s Wrestling T-Shirts on Maron
Season four of IFC’s Maron premieres tomorrow, and since I haven’t gotten around to reviewing the episode that features “MMA fighter” CM Punk and Colt Cabana, I figured I’d just list the ten best wrestling t-shirts that Marc’s assistant, Kyle, has worn over the past three seasons. By the way, is actor Josh Brener an actual wrestling fan? Has he been spotted at PWG shows? Can he start sporting wrestling tees on Silicon Valley, as well? Anyway…
The Masked Mabels
Medium:Â Television
Title:Â Mama’s FamilyÂ
Bio: The Masked Mabels were once the most dominant tag team in the women’s wrestling division. Despite their size and years of wrestling experience, they were easily defeated by a wrestling grannie on the biggest show in the history of Raytown.
Signature Move:Â Jobbing to an older lady who has never wrestled.
Game of Thrones Wrestling Characters
With season six of Game of Thrones premiering this Sunday, I figured I’d do a non “Game of Thrones Characters and their WWE Soulmates” list that Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard already did, and was then done by WhatCulture a year later. There are more connections between WWE and Game of Thrones than just hypothetical soulmates. Like Samoa Joe voicing The Beast in the video game version. Or the fact that the actor who played The Mountain, Hafthór JúlÃus Björnsson, showed up at an NXT show and… well, that’s all that happened.
But what about those crazy wrestling gimmicks that would actually fit within the Games of Thrones universe? Spoiler alert: A lot of these guys would fit in perfectly with the wildlings.
The Green Bastard
Medium: Television
Title: Trailer Park Boys
Bio: The Green Bastard roams the Sunnyvale Trailer Park looking to take on all comers. As long as they take off their shirts. Has only had one professional backyard wrestling bout, Â which was a tag team match that saw him on the losing end due to a disqualification.
Signature Move: Hammerin’ people.
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