The WWF may have been the most patriotic American institution during the '80s and '90s; it turned Hulk Hogan into one of the biggest symbols of patriotism in recent memory. But there's a fine line between patriotism and nationalism, which the WWF straddled for years.
By using jingoist superstars like Hogan and Hacksaw Jim Duggan, American wrestling took stereotypes from different countries and turned them into tangible, unforgettable characters. These characters were real-life representations of how America perceived other countries... and most of those characters were played by Americans.
The "foreign heels," as they are referred to in wrestling, are villainous characters or the "bad guys" in wrestling plots. They can exhibit unlikable personality traits specific to their background or behave immorally, but the point of their existence is to antagonize the "face" (the crowd favorite).
We've found a few of the most cringe-worthy foreign heels of the WWF/WWE during the '80s and '90s. Rest assured that the foreign heels haven't been worn down in the past two decades, either.
Shtick:The Iron Sheik was born in Tehran, Iran. When the Sheik was first starting out with the NWA, America was involved in the Persian Gulf War, so the Sheik made the perfect villain; Sheiky Baby played on the animosity that Americans harbored toward his country. Today Sheiky Baby (or someone who talks like him) maintains a hilariously off-color Twitter account.
Theme Song: Sheiky Baby's theme song was aptly called "Desert Threat," and he used three different versions throughout his career. You can watch his Titantron footage with the accompanying song.
Shtick:With his partner Dynamite Kid, the British Bulldog, or Davey Boy Smith, was originally half of the tag team The British Bulldogs, . He returned as a solo wrestler in the '90s but was soon released among allegations of steroid use. The Bulldog was a crowd favorite, not only in America but also in the U.K. He was part of the Hart family, as he married the daughter of his trainer Stu Hart. His 2002 death from a heart attack was thought to be related to anabolic steroids.
Theme Song: The Bulldog's theme song was strikingly (and mockingly) similar to "God Save the Queen," the National Anthem of Great Britain. It features majestic horns and a rolling drum beat characteristic of any traditional Brit anthem. His dreads weren't traditional by any standard.
