Professional Wrestling

From Homestar Runner Wiki

Revision as of 04:07, 4 February 2021

In the beginning...

...there were "The Strong Bads".

Ever since the first toon, professional wrestling has been a popular subject within the Homestar Runner body of work. In particular, references to wrestlers from the 1980s and early 1990s are often seen, suggesting they were as much part of growing up for The Brothers Chaps as Nintendo and Saturday morning cartoons.

References

• Marshmallow's Last Stand — Strong Bad and Strong Mad steal the star from Homestar Runner's shirt in order to force both Homestar and Pom Pom to participate in a tag team wrestling match.

• Mr. Bland is holding a sign that says "Wrestling Mania". This is quite likely a reference to the annual World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event, WrestleMania.
• The Announcer says Strong Bad hails from Parts Unknown. Having characters (especially masked wrestlers, like Strong Bad) come from "Parts Unknown" is a standard way of adding to a wrestler's mystique.
• The largely ineffective "windmill punch" Strong Bad tries to use on Homestar has actually been used in real life to similar comedic effect — such as during one of the wrestling matches comedian Andy Kaufman staged with professional wrestler Jerry Lawler.

• The Best Decemberween Ever — Among the items Homestar finds at Bubs' is a copy of the NES game Tag Team Wrestling. The game's teams were called "The Ricky Fighters" and "The Strong Bads". This game is where Strong Bad's name originated.
• Pumpkin Carve-nival — Bubs is dressed as Captain Lou Albano, who was one of the best known managers in the history of professional wrestling.
• Email fingers — The action figure Strong Bad uses for one of his "fingers" represents wrestling legend George "The Animal" Steele.
• Email unused emails — Strong Bad puts himself through a table, which is a common highlight at major wrestling shows.
• Email sibbie — Strong Bad performs the pro wrestling moves of the Jumping Piledriver and Vertical Suplex to the radio.
• Email 2 years — The "Tire Madness" Logo is similar to the logo used by the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) organization.
• 3 Times Halloween Funjob — Pom Pom is dressed as Kamala the Ugandan Giant, a wrestler known for his wild and untamed style. He is played by James Harris.
• Teen Girl Squad Issue 7 — The large man in a wrestling singlet is pro wrestler King Kong Bundy, whose finishing move was a splash.
• Email pizzaz — "This interview is OVER!" is a reference to Pro Wrestling Manager J.J. Dillon, who would often end interviews with the same comment.
• An Open Forum — B. Brian Blair and Jumpin' Jim Brunzell were WWE wrestlers in the '80s, collectively known as the Killer Bees.
• Peasant's Quest — The belt worn by Kerrek is modeled after a Professional Wrestling Championship Belt.
• Email lady fan — The Iron Sheik is a wrestler and a former WWE Champion in the 1980s.
• Weclome Back — The city "The Slickster" (as seen on the Cool Tapes tour map) is a reference to wrestling manager and referee Ken Johnson, whose ring name was "Slick" and was often called "The Slickster" by commentators.
• No Hands On Deck! — The term "Ham and Egger" refers to a mediocre or bland athlete, the term itself a reference to the fact that ham and eggs is an "ordinary" meal. It is often used in professional wrestling to refer to a wrestler who routinely loses in opening matches and doesn't make much money, but who still gets paid enough to buy a simple meal. The wrestling jargon was popularized by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
• The King of Town's Very Own Quite Popular Cartoon Show!! (DVD commentary) — Strong Bad mistakenly asks "who's running for André the Giant this year", and mentions King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang as candidates. All three are known for their tremendous size.
• Email your funeral — Strong Bad suggests that, after he dies, he should be taxidermied, performing a suplex on a cougar.
• Jibblies 2 — Strong Mad is dressed as Nikolai Volkoff, a professional wrestler portrayed as a Russian, though actually born in Croatia.
• Email yes, wrestling — The whole email is on the subject of wrestling.
• Email nightlife — Homestar wears the "Hot Rod" shirt of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
• Homestar Ruiner — Strong Bad mentions winning the Sizzleweight Belt Championship.
• Most in the Graveyard — Bubs dresses up as Junkyard Dog, a professional wrestler who would enter the ring with a chain and dog collar, and peaked in the early 1980s.
• Email hremail 3184 — In an Easter egg, Strong Sad returns as Garden Boy, with a nod towards Andy Kaufman's stunts wrestling as the "Inter-Gender Champion".
• Fan Costumes 2017 — Strong Bad reminisces about the time he won the Continental Breakfast Championship as El Cartographer after seeing fans dressed up as AWMPSCE wrestling personas.
• Poker Night at the Inventory — Heavy Weapons Guy asks Strong Bad if he is a pro wrestler like The Iron Sheik.

See Also

• Wrestleman
• AWMPSCE
• Sports