Okay so in all likelihood you know that trailblazing, absurdist playwright Samuel Beckett used to drive future French wrestler André the Giant to school (because he was too big to fit on the bus). BUT, did you know that another renowned grappler, “Sgt. Slaughter”, was actually a real deal United States Marine drill instructor at Parris Island?

Yep (back when he was Robert Remus, of course).

So, when the arena public address announcer made that introduction before he stepped and billed him from that landmark depot in South Carolina, it wasn’t a put-on. Twas the truth.

In fact, it’s been rumored (whether stone cold fact or just legend [pun intended]) that he actually received the nickname “Sergeant Slaughter” while serving in the military.

Watch him utilize his bag of wrastlin’ tricks (“Atomic Noogie”, camel/cobra clutch, elbow drop, forearm smash, gutbuster, inverted suplex slam, scoop slam, texas piledriver, knee drop, etc.) in the following footage from 1983, where he takes on the aforementioned European in an international tussle you won’t soon forget …

Here’s more flavor from the sarge — er, the former drill instructor. The military man turned hokey pretend military man/ring idol …