Brian Damage
A gimmick is something that is intended to hook the attention of fans to a wrestler. They may be outrageous or steeped more in reality, whatever the case may be…some have succeeded and many others have failed. The Gimmick Table takes a look at the origins of some of your favorite and not so favorite gimmicks of professional wrestlers.
Today we browse the gimmick of Outback Jack
Peter Stilsbury was a former rugby player, who stood 6 ft 5 and weighed over 300 pounds. Stilsbury transitioned to professional wrestling in Australia under the name of ‘The Mercenary’ Sgt. Green. He was scouted by WWF talent scouts while the WWF were on tour Down Under. The talent scouts set up a meeting with Stilsbury in a pub in Humpty Doo, Australia. According to Stilsbury, he received a WWF contract six weeks later.
After Stilsbury signed his contract, the WWF sent him to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to train with Stu Hart. Stilsbury said he only trained with Hart for a week, before being trained by WWF wrestler Les Thorton. After training, Stilsbury worked for Stu’s wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling under the name of ‘Outback Jack.’ After a brief run in Stampede, he was called to work for the WWF to capitalize on the immense popularity of the 1986 movie ‘Crocodile Dundee.’ Several vignettes were filmed in Australia by Tim White and Steve Taylor for Outback’s debut.
Instead of getting music created by Jim Johnston, Vince wanted an authentic Australian song for Outback Jack to walk to the ring to. The song chosen was “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” by Rolf Harris, which was a top 10 hit in Australia. Outback Jack’s finisher was named ‘The Boomerang’ which was actually a maneuver called an Enzui Lariat. Outback Jack wrestled for the WWF from November of 1986 until May of 1988.
You can read other Gimmick Table entries here