Bruce Prichard on Sgt. Slaughter’s Iraqi Sympathizer Gimmick

WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter is widely remembered as one of the most patriotic wrestlers in WWE history. However, this did not last long as Slaughter Western turned heel character disgusted fans in the early 90s, playing a supporter of Russia and Iraq.

This not-so-liked character of Slaughter resulted in a feud with Hulk Hogan that ultimately ended in the main event of WrestleMania VII. Finally, Hogan emerged the victor over Slaughter and won the WWE Championship. WWE executive Bruce Prichard, on one episode of “Something to Wrestle,” discussed Slaughter’s run as a bad guy, particularly how animated Slaughter was when paired with America’s foes.

Prichard also argued that the outrage that followed was the most striking for them all. “Of course there was heat man,” Prichard remembered. “And there was again, we are in unchartered territories. So, Sarge was somewhat of a sympathizer, and people didn’t like that.

That part they didn’t like.They felt that part”.

SummerSlam 1990 Backlash

Prichard was one of those on the end of this anger directed towards him in SummerSlam 1990. This was during an event where Prichard was awarded a medal for being “The Greatest American” as Slaughter was building his heel character.

Prichard, however, confessed that he did not properly comprehend how serious the Gulf War was turning out to be during that period. “Sarge was always clad in a bulletproof vest,” said Prichard. “I was asked to wear a ballistic vest.

We didn’t agree. And I just felt and admitted, and I realize this now with the gift of hindsight. ‘You know what? Our fans are sophisticated enough and well-educated to know that ‘Hey, this is entertainment’.

But then, they are never absent from any of the places. Vietnam War? Different. My brothers fought in the Vietnam War. My father was in the army for 23 years, things of that sort. But this [the Gulf War] was becoming serious in my adult life. This was a different feeling for everyone”.