Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Ah yes, the glamourous lives of professional wrestlers. The fame, the fortune….errr maybe not so much. For the majority of wrestlers, as is still the case mostly today…pro wrestling doesn’t exactly pay the bills. Most need a “real job” to supplement their passionate hobby. That was especially true back in the day.
It was not uncommon to see a pro wrestler pop up on television as a contestant for a game show. What better way to make some quick cash…than appear on a game show? Now, I am not talking about wrestlers showing up for scheduled celebrity guest appearances on shows. Although there is one entry in the piece that concerns that. This is more about wrestlers acting like regular people just trying to win some big bucks on their own.
Nick Bockwinkel on The Hollywood Squares (1968)
The future AWA world champion appeared on the NBC prime time game show in 1968. Bockwinkel was already a full time wrestler with over 13 years experience before that appearance as a contestant. He won among other things…a new car, a kitchen set and $1,300.
Ox Baker on the Price is Right (1981)
Douglas Baker…Come on Down! You’re the next contestant on the Price is Right!. At one time, Ox Baker was considered one of the most dangerous and deadly pro wrestlers in the business. In 1981, however, Ox became the soft spoken Douglas when face to face with the imposing game show host…the legendary Bob Barker. Ox wound up winning an oven range, wicker furniture and a stereo. He did not make it to the Showcase Showdown.
Brian Kendrick on the Price is Right (2011)
The Brian Kendrick was also a contestant on the Price is Right game show…this time hosted by Drew Carey in 2011. At the time, Kendrick was a member of the TNA roster. According to Kendrick, he went to the show on his own without notifying TNA management. He got called up to the front, where Kendrick won his bid on a popcorn machine…but did not win his game.
Fabulous Moolah on To Tell the Truth
Fabulous Moolah was on the game show To Tell the Truth. It was a game show where three people claim to work in a certain occupation and celebrity panelists ask questions and then guess who is the right person claiming to work in that particular occupation. Nobody guessed Moolah was the professional wrestling champion. She wound up winning $1,000 and a carton of Camel cigarettes.
‘Handsome’ Johnny Davis and ‘Lola Kiss’ on The Match Game (1975, 1978)
Territorial or independent pro wrestlers ‘Handsome’ Johnny Davis (1978) and Lady wrestler Lola Kiss (1975) both competed on Match Game and both won a bundle of cash winning their “matches.” Lola Kiss even demonstrated her wrestling skills on former NFLer and pro wrestler himself…Alex Karras.
WCW versus GLOW on The Family Feud (1990)
Now this is the one instance where I am mentioning a “celebrity guest” appearance for wrestlers on a game show. It was a week long battle between the stars of World Championship Wrestling which featured Sting, Brian Pillman, Tom Zenk, Brad Armstrong and Jim Ross versus the ladies of Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and Jackie Stallone (Sylvester’s mother) The reason I bring this up is because of the supposed controversy of it. Years after the shows were taped and aired, it was revealed on Vince Russo’s podcast that some of the WCW team treated the GLOW girls horribly behind the scenes. Some were ribbed and poked fun of while others were allegedly sexually harassed.
Other wrestlers or wrestling personalities that made appearances on game shows include Judy Grable, Linnie Kincaid, Lilian Garcia and Dallas wrestling promoter Ed McLemore’s daughter. I am sure there are more that I am missing so please chime in if there are some glaring omissions.
