"If You Break Kayfabe, You'll Be Looking For A New Career!" (Or will you?)
#PWHS #Article #Kayfabe #Blackball
March 2, 1975 - Newport News Daily Press
This entry will be brief. I have just finished correcting Final Projects and Exams for 140 students, and my eyeballs are demanding rest. I was reading a recap on the Bill Watts era. I noticed that he had an ironclad rule about breaking kayfabe: If you did-you were fired. Many old school promoters held to that standard-but did it really happen that often?
I think that the answer is a qualified "Yes". Wrestlers who broke kayfabe and then lost their jobs happened regularly in the business during the territorial era…but only if you were not a guy who drew money.
Ole Anderson wrote in his book about firing dozens of underneath guys over the years for fraternizing with fans, fellow wrestlers, or "opening the curtain" for fans who asked the right type of questions. But Anderson rarely fired anyone who was a name…at least not for long. Anderson fired Mark Lewin, Stan Hansen, Abdullah the Butcher and Buzz Sawyer-but he just as quickly hired them back within months. He fired Tommy Rich and Roddy Piper and a young Rick Martel. All but Martel were brought back to GCW again and again.
In the WWWF, Ivan Putski and Superstar Graham were often spotted before the card handing out candy to the kids-together. As a ten year old, I was given some Baby Ruth candy bars by The Superstar, while Putski was kibitzing with other kids. They were standing together. Later that night, they had a war full of "hatred" in the main event. Neither was fired.
So, the question arises: Just how sacred *was* keeping kayfabe? Some guys lived their role. Blackjack Lanza felt the need to be a heel 24/7, yet his equally "evil" manager, Bobby Heenan, was one of the most outgoing and enjoyable people to know outside of the arena-often while in the company of the snarling, nasty Lanza. Did Heenan ever get reprimanded for dropping character? I doubt it. Many wrestlers of the kayfabe era dropped the gimmick once they left the arena, so just how sacrosanct was the rule of kayfabe?
I believe, like most things that have become extinct, the entire story behind the power of kayfabe, was kayfabe itself. Professional Wrestling is after all-a profession. If a guy is making money for the promoter, *even while* breaking kayfabe outside of the arena, the promoter won't care that much. As long as the greenbacks keep coming, most promoters would be happy. True, there were some promoters who lived and died by the concept that if kayfabe were broken, the business would die a quick death. But I am of the opinion that most promoters knew that kayfabe was only as important to the business as it was to the fans themselves.
My question to you: Can you remember times or instances back in the days of kayfabe, where kayfabe was broken? If so, what were the consequences (if any)?
Thanks for reading!
I think that the answer is a qualified "Yes". Wrestlers who broke kayfabe and then lost their jobs happened regularly in the business during the territorial era…but only if you were not a guy who drew money.
Ole Anderson wrote in his book about firing dozens of underneath guys over the years for fraternizing with fans, fellow wrestlers, or "opening the curtain" for fans who asked the right type of questions. But Anderson rarely fired anyone who was a name…at least not for long. Anderson fired Mark Lewin, Stan Hansen, Abdullah the Butcher and Buzz Sawyer-but he just as quickly hired them back within months. He fired Tommy Rich and Roddy Piper and a young Rick Martel. All but Martel were brought back to GCW again and again.
In the WWWF, Ivan Putski and Superstar Graham were often spotted before the card handing out candy to the kids-together. As a ten year old, I was given some Baby Ruth candy bars by The Superstar, while Putski was kibitzing with other kids. They were standing together. Later that night, they had a war full of "hatred" in the main event. Neither was fired.
So, the question arises: Just how sacred *was* keeping kayfabe? Some guys lived their role. Blackjack Lanza felt the need to be a heel 24/7, yet his equally "evil" manager, Bobby Heenan, was one of the most outgoing and enjoyable people to know outside of the arena-often while in the company of the snarling, nasty Lanza. Did Heenan ever get reprimanded for dropping character? I doubt it. Many wrestlers of the kayfabe era dropped the gimmick once they left the arena, so just how sacrosanct was the rule of kayfabe?
I believe, like most things that have become extinct, the entire story behind the power of kayfabe, was kayfabe itself. Professional Wrestling is after all-a profession. If a guy is making money for the promoter, *even while* breaking kayfabe outside of the arena, the promoter won't care that much. As long as the greenbacks keep coming, most promoters would be happy. True, there were some promoters who lived and died by the concept that if kayfabe were broken, the business would die a quick death. But I am of the opinion that most promoters knew that kayfabe was only as important to the business as it was to the fans themselves.
My question to you: Can you remember times or instances back in the days of kayfabe, where kayfabe was broken? If so, what were the consequences (if any)?
Thanks for reading!
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
"If You Break Kayfabe, You'll Be Looking For A New Career!"
Author: Harry Grover.
Published: May 21, 2015.
Article: #90.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
"If You Break Kayfabe, You'll Be Looking For A New Career!"
Author: Harry Grover.
Published: May 21, 2015.
Article: #90.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
You can purchase Ole Anderson's book at Crowbar Press.
Other articles by Harry can be Read Here.