Sgt. Slaughter spoke to Wrestling News, the former WWE Champion talked about Vince McMahon’s early days before he became the Vince we know today. He revealed that though Vince nowadays is willing to take bumps, back then it was different.
“Vince never was able to become a wrestler, his father wanted him to be behind the microphone, so he could control things a little better.
One night we were driving in the car together and he says, ‘One thing I miss Sarge is getting in the ring.’ I asked him if he wants to get in the ring, he says yes, so I tell him to go put a mask on one night when we have a smaller event and I’ll wrestle you. So we did, and it wasn’t the funnest time of my life, but we got it done.”
Slaughter’s military character was a hit with the fans and many considered him their hero. He impressed Vince Sr. when he joined WWE, especially after confronting Vince Jr. during an impromptu promo class.
“Vince hates sneezing, he hates smoke. When I first came into the WWE, he had you do promos about wrestlers. Vince just wanted to see if you could do a promo. I met his father and he said to go out and do a promo with his son and see how it goes. Nobody had ever seen me before.
I played the marine for him, put the sunglasses on, I had my swagger stick and by the time I almost got to him I almost caused a riot. He went to say something to me and I said, ‘Shut your hole puke, who gave you permission to speak?’ It kind of stunned him a bit. I berated him and his magnificent body that he worked so hard to chisel up.
I heard through the grapevine that he spent $200 on a haircut so I took my swagger stick up and down his hair and I said, ‘Who cut your hair, Ray Charles?’
When we were all done I got my cigar and took a big puff of it, I blew it in his face and I didn’t know that he hated smoke. He started turning blue and red. I walked back to the dressing room and all the wrestlers were giggling, saying that poor guy (me) got fired before he got started.”
That moment was what gave Slaughter an opportunity to truly shine.
“In comes Vince’s father and he starts walking around me. He told me to follow him and we went into this little room. He walked around me a few more times and said, ‘Sgt. Slaughter that’s the greatest character I’ve ever seen in my life. Even my son hates you.’ He told me I needed to start right away.”
h/t to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.
