Easter Eggs in Wrestling!

Last week, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) launched their over-the-top streaming network, aptly named WWE Network. It allows subscribers to access WWE's growing and massive library of wrestling content of more than 50 years and includes content from WWE, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), and many other smaller wrestling promotions. Much of the content chronicles debut appearances of popular wrestling personalities and shows character progression over the years.

But with the birth of modern wrestling entertainment, audiences began to see an uncanny relationship between some wrestlers' personalities and pop culture.

Back in 1982, comedian Andy Kaufman started doing skits where he wrestled women and declared himself the "Intergender Wrestling Champion of the World". A very young Jerry "The King" Lawler had proposed a challenge to Kaufman, which became very public and even had an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. The story is well chronicled in the movie "Man on the Moon" with Jim Carrey.

Contrary to popular belief, Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lawler were good friends

The name "Hulk" in Hulk Hogan came from an appearance with Lou Ferrigno on a talk show. It was mentioned that Hogan appeared physically larger than Ferrigno and, at the time, Ferrigno was playing the title monster in the Incredible Hulk TV show. Vince McMahon Sr. (the father of the Vince McMahon you see on TV now) suggested the name Hulk, secured the rights to use the name from Marvel Comics (which was a popular comic at the time) and the "Hulk" in Hulk Hogan began.

He looks like the Incredible Hulk…right?

Brother Love was a character that mocked the popularity of TV evangelists at the time.

I…Luuuuuuuve yoooooooo!

The infamous Austin 3:16 phrase was borne out of a promo (impromptu speech displaying the character of a wrestler) that Stone Cold Steve Austin gave at the Pay-Per-View event King of the Ring in 1996 mocking Jake "The Snake" Roberts using the John 3:16 verse that had been become popular amongst modern Christians.

And it doesn't stop there. D-Generation X was a fictional rebel faction that was created as a response to a real life ratings war between WWE (WWF at the time) and WCW. As WCW started to get grittier in their content, WWE compensated by creating what was known as the Attitude Era to "out-grit" the competition.

In 1994, the movie Interview with a Vampire debuted in theaters and made over $220 million in the box office. Not long after, a character named Gangrel appeared in the WWE; a vampire-like wrestler. In addition, his name came from a vampire clan in the contemporary role playing game Vampire: The Masquerade.

Fangs and Blood? Totally fake. 

John Cena's first incarnation of his character was a white rapper in 2002. Is it any wonder that, during that time, Eminem (a white rapper) was gaining massive popularity as a recording artist?

The wrestling character Fandango appeared on WWE TV during the height of the Dancing with the Stars popularity and, during that time, featured WWE star Chris Jericho as a contestant.

The faction known as The Shield, dressed in signature black military gear, appeared during the time The Avengers came out in theaters. Its leader, Nick Fury led a military group called S.H.I.E.L.D that dressed in…you guessed it, black military gear.

Where's Nick Fury?

There are many examples of wrestlers embracing characters that emulate pop culture. These characters are the Easter Eggs of pop. We attach to them because we can relate to them in some way. They use these characters as a vessel to exploit the culture.

And we eat them up.