The 20 Strangest Foreign Objects
Tables, ladders and chairs have long been staples in the foreign object department. WWE fans are also no strangers to seeing weapons like Kendo sticks, fire extinguishers and thumbtacks used in the heat of battle. There are, however, many other odd and unlikely objects that Superstars and Divas converted into weapons in the squared circle.
Playlist: Superstar assaulted by a snake & more | Photos of strange artillery
Watch: Giant threatened by a snake assault & more See the strange objects in action | WWE.com counts the 20 weirdest, strangest, most unexpected foreign objects in wrestling history.
Tennis racket – Jim Cornette
As manager of legendary tag teams like The Midnight Express, The Rock 'n' Roll Express and The Heavenly Bodies, Jim Cornette made a name for himself and his clients with his loud mouth. Sometimes, however, talking — or yelling — failed to get the desired results. That's often when Cornette would turn to his trusty, ever-present tennis racket. Although not the most devastating tool, Cornette's racket nonetheless impacted many matches, as the manager or the Superstars themselves could interfere and cause a distraction with a well-placed forehand or backhand.
Metal plate – Lex Luger
Superstars have tried all methods of sneaking foreign objects into the ring. Lex Luger took that a step further and actually had the foreign object implanted inside his body. When he debuted on Raw in 1993, "The Narcissist" was just that, a preening, flexing mass of muscle and arrogance. But he had something else: a metal plate implanted in his forearm after a motorcycle accident. Despite WWE officials demanding he wear a brace, Luger would often find a way to utilize his "enhanced" forearm smash, as he did successfully in his win against Mr. Perfect at their WrestleMania IX "Beyond Perfection" clash.
Urn – Paul Bearer
"Oh yes!" How could any list of sports-entertainment's foreign objects be complete without the urn of the ghostly Paul Bearer? The funeral vase not only gave The Undertaker mystical, supernatural power, but it also made for an effective blunt instrument. In the first Boiler Room Brawl, The Deadman found himself on the receiving end of blow from the ghoulish urn, handing victory to Mankind. Whatever you do, don't underestimate "the power of the urn."
Bones – The Moondogs
Few Superstars in WWE history were as singularly wild and animalistic at The Moondogs. With shaggy blond hair and dirty blue jeans, The Moondogs struck imposing figures on the WWE landscape, winning the World Tag Team Championships in 1981. Recognized for their brutal brawls, they were also known for the unusual foreign objects they would bring with them to matches: animal bones. Sometimes The Moondogs used the bones as chew toys, and sometimes as weapons to sway the outcomes of matches. Either way, these wild Superstars always struck fear — and quite possibly confusion — in the heart of their adversaries.
Guitar – The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man rambled into WWE in 1986. With his trusty guitar, cocky attitude and desire for success, the Elvis impersonator quickly started a rivalry with Jake "The Snake" Roberts. It was on Roberts' talk show "The Snake Pit" that Honky Tonk Man showed just how devastating his musical instrument could be when he battered Roberts in the back with the guitar. The Superstars would eventually meet at WrestleMania III, but for the rest of his time in WWE, Honky Tonk Man would not be afraid of using his unique and tuneful foreign object to gain an advantage in a match or to put a rival in his place.
Cobra – Santino Marella
"Cobra!" With that battle cry, Santino Marella transforms a standard right hand strike into a devastating, hilarious and surprisingly effective finishing move. It's not only one of the most unique finishers in WWE, but it's also an unusual use of a foreign object. What about a green sock puppet is so special? You might have to ask Santino to get the answer to that. Regardless, it's hard to imagine a more dangerous "cobra" in WWE history ...
Live snakes – Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Santino Marella may have the market cornered on sock puppet cobras, but Jake "The Snake" Roberts created one of the more shocking moments in WWE history when he attacked "Macho Man" Randy Savage with a live cobra, one of the most venomous and deadly creatures on the planet. The heinous act stands as arguably the most visceral, violent and unbelievable assaults in the history of the squared circle. After all, a fake cobra used a foreign object is one thing. But a real, live cobra? That's just cold-blooded. Roberts utilized serpentine support throughout his WWE career, frightening everyone from Andre the Giant to Ultimate Warrior with his signature snakes.
Mobile phone – Paul E. Dangerously
Paul Heyman's business association with WWE Champion CM Punk is certainly not the first time that the ponytailed manager has taken on a client or protégé in WWE. Arn Anderson, Rick Rude and Brock Lesnar all reached great heights under Heyman's watch. One reason for this is that Heyman has never been shy about getting involved in a match or doing what is necessary to help his client achieve victory. A common tactic was to use his mobile phone — this was in the 1980s, so it was quite sizeable — as a foreign object to interfere in a match.
Freddie Blassie's Cane – The Iron Sheik
At WrestleMania I, Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik, accompanied to the ring by the legendary Freddie Blassie, challenged the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions The U.S. Express, composed of Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham. It was a back-and-forth match, with the champions nearly getting the pinfall on several occasions. After nearly being pinned, The Sheik hit Windham in the head with Freddie Blassie's cane. The referee had his back turned and missed the illegal use of the foreign object, handing victory to the new champions, Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik.
Motorbike helmet – Jimmy Hart
Jimmy Hart would do anything for his clients. Managing everyone from Hulk Hogan to Bret Hart to Jerry "The King" Lawler, Hart would use any tactics necessary to help achieve victory, whether that was using his gift of gab or an illegal foreign object, like his trademark megaphone. During his tenure of managing The Nasty Boys, however, he utilized a different a weapon. Employing a motorbike helmet as a weapon, Hart led The Nasty Boys to defeat The Hart Foundation for the WWE World Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania VII.
Assorted groceries – "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Booker T
After Booker T cost "Stone Cold" Steve Austin the Undisputed Championship at Vengeance 2001, the WWE Universe knew it was only a matter of time before The Texas Rattlesnake got revenge. That revenge would come in one of the messiest, most extended brawls in WWE history, when Austin and Booker fought tooth and nail in a supermarket. Utilizing any and every item they could get their hands on — from condiments to bread to milk — this memorable fight offered a whole grocery list of strange foreign objects. Can you dig it?
Toilet plunger – T.L. Hopper
With disturbingly low-hanging pants and a stained undershirt, T.L. Hopper descended upon WWE in 1996. Bearing his trusty plunger "Betsy," the wrestling plumber terrified his competition. The cause for fear wasn't necessarily his power, technique or in-ring ability, but instead the threat of his victory celebration: plunging the face of his downed opponent with Betsy. Yuck.
A mop – Perry Saturn
Joining the ranks of Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes, Tom Hanks and Wilson the volleyball, and many more, Perry Saturn and "Moppy" formed one of the great human–inanimate object relationships of all time. Using his beloved mop not only as a love interest and best friend, but also as a weapon at opportune moments, Saturn formed a truly special partnership with the household cleaning tool. Sadly, Moppy was thrown into a wood chipper by Raven and never heard from again.
Popcorn – The Rock and Mankind
The Rock. Mankind. A WWE Championship Empty Arena Match. How could it not be exciting and memorable? For Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999, Halftime Heat aired on USA Network during halftime, featuring a showdown between WWE Title holder Rock and his rival Mankind. With an entire empty arena to work with, the iconic Superstars battered each other with anything and everything, including at one point, a giant bag of popcorn. The Rock may have been right that it was "too salty," as he dropped his title to Mankind that Sunday.
Freebird Hair Removal Cream – The Fabulous Freebirds
In 1983, The Fabulous Freebirds invented something they called "Freebird Hair Removal Cream." The substance not only could remove one's hair, but it could also affect the eyes, causing temporary blindness and changing the outcome of a match. In a singles contest against "Iceman" Parsons, however, Fabulous Freebird Buddy Roberts found himself in a hairy situation when he was on the receiving end of the debilitating foreign object. In the chaos of the match, Parsons slathered Roberts' head with the hair removal cream. Rendered bald, Roberts was forced to wear a wig for months after.
Oxygen tank – Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin's mother — or Momma Benjamin, as she was affectionately called — had been suffering from medical issues, so she came to ringside in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank for her son's title match against Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair on the Feb. 20, 2006, episode of Raw. At the height of the back-and-forth battle, Momma Benjamin faked a heart attack. With the referee distracted, Shelton grabbed his mother's oxygen tank and clobbered Flair. Defeating Flair and winning the Intercontinental Title, Benjamin and his mother successfully used one of the dirtiest ruses and strangest foreign objects in WWE history.
Earthworms – Boogeyman
Deplorable freak who embodied the essence of nightmares, or misunderstood Superstar who marched to the beat of his own drum? Whatever way one describes or classifies Boogeyman, it's undeniable that he stands as a unique figure in WWE history. More than his "interesting" choice of attire or his creepy face paint and more than his threats and rhymes, Boogeyman is remembered for one gross thing: earthworms. Perhaps one of the most barf-worthy moments in WWE history was the epic earthworm-kiss Boogeyman planted on Queen Sharmell at WrestleMania 22.
Mr. Socko – Mick Foley
Mick Foley's Mr. Socko went from a one-time attempt to getting in a hospitalized Mr. McMahon's good graces to arguably the greatest, most recognizable and most beloved finishing moves in WWE history. The Mandible Claw was always a devastating maneuver. But when a dirty sock was added to the equation, it became all the more sickening — and devastating. Who would have thought when that soiled sock first appeared in 1998 that years later it would be regarded as one of the funniest, strangest, best foreign objects to be brought to the squared circle?
Mannequin head – Al Snow
Al Snow was a Superstar who really knew how to use his "Head," his decapitated mannequin head he always carried around, that is. Aside from potentially giving Snow a psychological advantage over his opponents and whipping ECW and WWE fans into pre-match frenzies, "Head" was also useful as a foreign object. On more than one occasion, Snow would salvage victory from the jaws of defeat by using his "Head."
Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon's prosthetic leg – Diesel and Shawn Michaels
Typically, when Superstars use their arms and legs to batter an opponent, those limbs are their own, and they're still attached to their bodies. At In Your House 7, this was not the case. At the height of a furious No Holds Barred Match between WWE Champion Shawn Michaels and Diesel, the challenger went to ringside and pulled off audience member and legendary former wrestler Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon's prosthetic leg. Diesel attempted to hit Michaels with the limb, but the champion turned the tables and hit Diesel with Vachon's leg, setting up for Sweet Chin Music and the pinfall to retain. Not only did this foreign object prove to be the deciding factor that gave Michaels a "leg up" over Diesel, it stands to this day as possibly the strangest and most unbelievable weapon to be used in the squared circle.
What do you think is the strangest foreign object in WWE history? Let us know in the comments section below and join the conversation on our official Facebook and Twitter!
WWE Shows Latest Results
Raw results, Nov. 25, 2024: Bayley helps Belair defeat Jax to earn WarGames Advantage before Survivor Series
Full ResultsSmackDown results, Nov. 29, 2024: Jacob Fatu secures the WarGames Advantage over Jey Uso en route to Survivor Series: WarGames
Full ResultsWWE NXT results, Nov. 26, 2024: Gigi Dolin makes her shocking return to NXT to take out Fatal Influence
Full Results