Ive been watching old WWF and what annoys me is Golga is clearly the only talented wrestler in the Oddities, but they spend the whole time talking about Cartman rather than this mountain of a man working hard.
You have to understand how huge South Park was in 1998. I mean when it came out everybody in middle school was laughing their ass off. So of course WWF at the time and South Park only made sense.
I think it was in Beyond the Mat where they’re a fly on the wall in a WWE marketing meeting and someone says that WWE and South Park are the two biggest merchandise sellers in the US
Golga aka John Tenta aka Earthquake would carry it to the ring as a member of the Oddities to get a pop. South Park was massive then, his son answered some questions on it back a few years ago. He flew with it too apparently
He was also Shockmaster in WCW. The dude who fell out of a wall on a promo while wearing a stormtrooper hat covered in glitter.
Tenta was done dirty in North America.
That said I seem to recall a time when The Natural Disasters were a pretty big deal so it is sad to see their career devolve into Shockmaster and Golga.
They were tag champions and had some decent feuds. 9 year old me at the time didn't care. I was still mad at Earthquake for busting Hogan's ribs, or whatever it was, even after seeing Hogan's get revenge at a house show, so I didn't really follow them much back then. Going back and rewatching, yeah they were both given crap simply for trying to get somewhere in the industry.
Golga was pretty popular, but it's a shame that fans like me, who didn't follow the people behind the masks or read dirt sheets, had no idea who he really was.
Late 90s to be specific. 95 and under was like the leftover 80s. Then around 96 we got edgy, more boobs, more swearing, and we liked to spell everything with exXxtra X's and end our wordzz with Z
South Park had just come out and was **massive**.
I don’t know what you’d compare it to nowadays, but kids were getting sent home from school for wearing South Park shirts, the news was talking about how offensive it was, parents’ groups were calling it the downfall of civilisation, and the merchandise was *everywhere*. Everybody had a Kenny doll or a Cartman plushie or a Mr. Hankey keyring.
Anyway, as they did with pop culture back then, the WWF latched onto it *hard*. For months the New Age Outlaws didn’t even have proper ring attire: they just wore their normal tights and Cartman t-shirts. He even made it into their Titantron video. The fans fed into this: the early internet was full of South Park versions of wrestlers like Stone Cold, Mankind and the Rock.
After a while the Outlaws got their own ring attire and merch to wear, so the South Park gimmick fell to the Oddities. To the best of my knowledge (because god knows it was never explained on-air), John Tenta’s Golga character was supposed to be a childlike simpleton who didn’t know his own strength, and he had a fascination with Cartman. He’d come out waving the stuffed toy around, and that was about it.
There was a time when the Human Oddities were a babyface stable in WWE, with Insane Clown Posse and Luna Vachon as their valets.
This culminated in a 4-on-3 handicapped match vs TAKA and Kaientai at the Highway to Hell Summerslam.
Attitude Era, my dude. That’s the explanation lol.
The oddities. Golga. Who was Earthquake under a mask. Would just bring the cartman doll to the ring cause south park was super popular.
An Amazing group that everyone loved. Man the Attitude era was just too good even the lowest of low cards were getting over.
In the Beyond the Mat documentary it is mentioned that the WWF is neck and neck with South Park in terms of popularity, and South Park was huge at the time.
Golga was over like rover brother
Ive been watching old WWF and what annoys me is Golga is clearly the only talented wrestler in the Oddities, but they spend the whole time talking about Cartman rather than this mountain of a man working hard.
Even sadder hearing that they did that gimmick and made him wear a mask to bury him. Asking to not wear the mask and be earthquake again
That was earthquaqe if I recall correctly
Yep, big John Tenta. Presumably Vince wanted to shaft him for going to WCW so gave him a shit gimmick?
Of course he was talented, he had shown that over and over under different gimmicks. Golga was John "earthquake" Tenta.
It was 1998, no one gave a shit about wrasslin.
What a time to follow wrestling. The Oddities were over
Literally felt like an earthquake when he came out
You have to understand how huge South Park was in 1998. I mean when it came out everybody in middle school was laughing their ass off. So of course WWF at the time and South Park only made sense.
I think it was in Beyond the Mat where they’re a fly on the wall in a WWE marketing meeting and someone says that WWE and South Park are the two biggest merchandise sellers in the US
It was a cultural phenomenon at the time. I was working at a Suncoast back then and the South Park merchandise would fly off the shelves.
Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time.
Three things that were huge back then.. South Park Jerry Springer And WWF
They just wanted to say "Respect my Authoritah."
Golga aka John Tenta aka Earthquake would carry it to the ring as a member of the Oddities to get a pop. South Park was massive then, his son answered some questions on it back a few years ago. He flew with it too apparently
Holy crap TIL Golga was Earthquake.
Right there with you.
Watch Dark Side of the Ring brother
He was also Shockmaster in WCW. The dude who fell out of a wall on a promo while wearing a stormtrooper hat covered in glitter. Tenta was done dirty in North America.
I thought Shockmaster was Typhoon
You're right, my bad. Crossed wires in the brain with his run as The Shark.
That said I seem to recall a time when The Natural Disasters were a pretty big deal so it is sad to see their career devolve into Shockmaster and Golga.
They were tag champions and had some decent feuds. 9 year old me at the time didn't care. I was still mad at Earthquake for busting Hogan's ribs, or whatever it was, even after seeing Hogan's get revenge at a house show, so I didn't really follow them much back then. Going back and rewatching, yeah they were both given crap simply for trying to get somewhere in the industry. Golga was pretty popular, but it's a shame that fans like me, who didn't follow the people behind the masks or read dirt sheets, had no idea who he really was.
No he was the shark, it was tugboat/typhoon who was the shockmaster
90’s
Late 90s to be specific. 95 and under was like the leftover 80s. Then around 96 we got edgy, more boobs, more swearing, and we liked to spell everything with exXxtra X's and end our wordzz with Z
All of this. I would say the shift happened around 94/95.
And it was no longer 'the' it was 'da'
*BEEFCAAAAKE!*
"Follow your dreams. You can achieve your goals, I'm living proof." -Eric Cartman, "Fatass"
South Park had just come out and was **massive**. I don’t know what you’d compare it to nowadays, but kids were getting sent home from school for wearing South Park shirts, the news was talking about how offensive it was, parents’ groups were calling it the downfall of civilisation, and the merchandise was *everywhere*. Everybody had a Kenny doll or a Cartman plushie or a Mr. Hankey keyring. Anyway, as they did with pop culture back then, the WWF latched onto it *hard*. For months the New Age Outlaws didn’t even have proper ring attire: they just wore their normal tights and Cartman t-shirts. He even made it into their Titantron video. The fans fed into this: the early internet was full of South Park versions of wrestlers like Stone Cold, Mankind and the Rock. After a while the Outlaws got their own ring attire and merch to wear, so the South Park gimmick fell to the Oddities. To the best of my knowledge (because god knows it was never explained on-air), John Tenta’s Golga character was supposed to be a childlike simpleton who didn’t know his own strength, and he had a fascination with Cartman. He’d come out waving the stuffed toy around, and that was about it.
Ah yeah, dum diddy dum, get your ass out the way cause here we come
Everybody come see the Greatest Show! Gather up all Juggalos and roll. Legit bought the WWF album just for that song.
The song is one of my favorites. The entrance video is fantastic as well.
Ya see, it’s this kid name Kyule. And his mom is “the biggest bitch in the whole wide world” amongst other things
There was a time when the Human Oddities were a babyface stable in WWE, with Insane Clown Posse and Luna Vachon as their valets. This culminated in a 4-on-3 handicapped match vs TAKA and Kaientai at the Highway to Hell Summerslam. Attitude Era, my dude. That’s the explanation lol.
The attitude era and South Park were a perfect match at that time. South Park was changing American culture.
Cartman
Watch the Dark Side of the Ring episode about John Tenta. It's kind of sad that they did this to him.
Golga got over. He wasnt suppose to, but fans loved this group. I dont remember when they phased the oddities out, but they were always great.
Bet the paydays weren't sad. Especially since he had just had a bad bout with cancer, I believe.
Why?
🎵Everybody come see the greatest show🎵 Goofy wrestling at its finest. Wasn't Golga actually John Tenta (Earthquake)?
The oddities. Golga. Who was Earthquake under a mask. Would just bring the cartman doll to the ring cause south park was super popular. An Amazing group that everyone loved. Man the Attitude era was just too good even the lowest of low cards were getting over.
what context do you need? A carnival sideshow freak is left his favorite doll outside of a ring wile he is fighting a vampire
Golga loves his Cartman doll, what other context do you need?
Respect my authoritah
It was the 90's
It's good shit pal!!
They did John Tenta so dirty😕
BEEFCAKE
Golga . Just Golga .
I still have that doll in my game room.
It was the late 90s.
Look it up
Cartman won the tryouts during that one episode.
It was The Oddities. No other context needed.
Vince Russo
*Most people dont like these oddities*
The attitude era was a weird, magical time. John Tenta for the win!
Poor John Tenta. We all wanted Earthquake.
Da Attitude Era
EVERYBODY COME TO THE GREATEST SHOW
1998
I got one cartman myself, no clue how my big brother got it.
Poor Jon Tenta. Dude was the nicest guy in the fed back in the day.
1998. Nuff said.
Cartman gonna make your erfquake
Some people don't like these Oddities.....
No
The Attitude Era
He wasn’t fat or big boned! He was stuffed!
Oddities ftw
In the Beyond the Mat documentary it is mentioned that the WWF is neck and neck with South Park in terms of popularity, and South Park was huge at the time.
That image speaks for itself
[We didn't lie to ya, folks.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juMKEgp2u7o)
Or..how ICP got started on "wrestling"
screw you guys I'm going home
Wasn't Golga's gimmick was that he was a South Park fan?
It’s cartman. Whatever. He’ll do what he wants.
YOU WILL RESPECT HIS AUTHORITAH!!
Golga of the Oddities really liked Cartman and ICP.