The Story of The Shockmaster: Wrestling's Greatest Blooper

Wrestling Bios Presents - The Story of The Shockmaster: Wrestling's Greatest Blooper
The debut of The Shockmaster in WCW has become the most replayed and celebrated botch in wrestling history. With the advent of online video sharing and the incredible Botchamania web series, fans have laughed and giggled at The Shockmaster making his WCW at Clash of The Champions XXIV. When Fred Ottman fell through a wall when he was supposed to blast through it in a display of his superhuman strength, he essentially became one of wrestling's greatest memes.
Before getting to WCW and having this monumental blooper, Fred had worked in the WWF as Tugboat and Typhoon. Many fans will remember his tag team with "Earthquake" John Tenta, the Natural Disasters. His debut in WCW was supposed to "Shock the World", but instead, The Shockmaster made the world laugh.
This episode of Wrestling Bios looks at the Story of The Shockmaster. Along with information about Fred Ottman, we also look at the Shockmaster debut and the fallout from the blooper. Topics covered include:
01:13 - Fred Ottman as Tugboat and Typhoon in the WWF
02:35 - WCW Beach Blast 1993
03:58 - The Shockmaster botch
06:08 - The immediate reaction to The Shockmaster's debut
08:47 - Dusty Rhodes explains how the botch happened
10:30 - The Shockmaster's first match in WCW at Fall Brawl 93
- Much More!
#wrestling #wcw #wwe
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[@davidhall6464]

This segment should be prescribed by medical professionals as a cure for depression

[@kingrama2727]

Underrated comment

[@budbundy4014]

Greatest comment ever

[@Cococonut12]

hahahahahahha

[@michaelhempfield5604]

Hahahahahahaah

[@JonySmith-bb4gx]

Tried and it didn't cure me

[@raphaelmorrata8905]

Sid deserved an Oscar for not laughing and stay serious.

[@ReaperX7]

Seriously, how Sid kept a straight face is a miracle.

[@dougbennett8592]

Sid was one helluva worker.

[@embracinglogic1744]

This is because Sid only has half a brain.

[@SuperBoomshack]

He was probably drugged out

[@royalzak2670]

Sid is a simple man. He's probably more into fart jokes.

[@hermitcard4494]

That awkward silence after he stands up. He definetivelly shocked them all hahahahhaha.

[@TxGameBred]

Sid staying in character was the best part.. 😂

[@ComicBookGuy420]

Bulldog was better😂

[@1337Shockwav3]

Best part seriously was shockmaster gesturing along Sid, mistaking him talking as his voiceover. Sid staying in character is an incredible effort tho.

[@MuddieRain]

Let’s say he didn’t fall. Was he going to wrestle with that helmet?

[@blackmantis3130]

Yeah. Heard of glacier?

[@howiegruwitz3173]

@Jabroni Destroyer gel coat metal flake from a local bass boat manufacturer

[@Megablast668]

"I can't see a thing in this helmet!" - Luke Skywalker

[@johnmullens2857]

@@Megablast668 actually that was Dark Helmet lol

[@513hook513]

Of course

[@SethColby69]

and now the shockmaster shall pass his torch to titus o neil for tripping and falling at 2018's greatest royal rumble

[@PreacherTHC]

He was just trying to find Hornswoggle

[@julezjohn5785]

Lol And he still hasn't recovered from that

[@r.harris5615]

😂😂😂😂 #WorldTitusSlide

[@justafanofnerdculture7602]

Seth Colby RIGHT!! Very good, Sir! Bravo!! 👏👏👏

[@youngmedi8447]

Julez John tbh he never did lol

[@remo_1564]

Bulldog “he just fell flat on his arse” 😂😂

[@matthewpenrose142]

Best part is when ole is laughing trying to deliver his lines.

[@Xehanort10]

And accidentally calling Sid "Stid."

[@gooniemarky]

I own one of those signed helmets 😂 Fred’s such a cool guy at conventions 👍🏻

[@evilubuntu9001]

He's not so cool if you cut him off in traffic and yell "WOOOOOOOOOH WOOOOOOOOOOOH" out the window like Tugboat. Just saying.

[@SegaDream131]

@@evilubuntu9001 😂😂😂 That's great......

[@user-ns7tv2li1u]

Yeah I have met him he is just so cool...And the Tugboat gimmick was his idea not Hogan's as the fans used to say

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Can't say I'm surprised one bit that he's a likeable guy. The botched entrance wasn't his fault, but he's obviously so humble that he decided to just go with it and have a good laugh about it for the fans. What a good sport.

[@therealcoltstonewolfe]

Did he tell you the joke about what the Shockmasters helmet smells like?? After hearing it I wasn't willing to try it on...lol

[@eazy8544]

Hearing Ric say "Oh God" cracks me up Everytime

[@julezjohn5785]

Even if he didn't fall, that gimmick would've fell, I mean, failed. 🤦‍♂️

[@aeromedical6750]

@Julez John - oh, no doubt. That glitter painted Storm Trooper helmet is the most ridiculous gimmick I’ve ever seen. It looks like a third graders art project gone wrong!

[@julezjohn5785]

@@aeromedical6750 I still can't believe that's the best they could do. This had to be a rib on Tugboat. Had to be. 🤣

[@headbuster103]

For real though

[@headbuster103]

They could have gave him a mask and sum body paint to look more intimidating

[@bryanb6612]

I think the entire costume budget was $9.47

[@lobsterwhisperer7932]

The Shockmaster has been immortalized, while others in the WWE will be forgotten with time.

[@BeeBumper]

W w what?

[@bigdaddytoolong3047]

Nobody remembers you 💯 😁 lmao your little corny name you probably still in your parents basement dreaming of being something more but it's never going to happen

[@BirdLives7]

​@@BeeBumperHe's didn't stutter. He said what he said.

[@karongittens]

I never noticed the Ric Flair part. Thats hilarious lmao

[@Machete87]

Lol the maid leaves a cardboard cutout of Flair😂😂

[@igorivanov299]

@FieryReign No it wasn't, he just stood motionless for a few seconds

[@igorivanov299]

@Big Al MK ultra

[@herpderp7264]

The shock masters botch caused a glitch in the matrix.

[@Machete87]

@FieryReign it was u almost didn't notice Flair bailing wit the maid.

[@sertorrhenclegane]

My favorite story about this one was the fact a young Cody Rhodes, unaware of who was under the mask, turned to Dusty and asked, "Was that Uncle Fred?"

[@Drummer8282]

Harlem Heat is involved in the best bloopers.

[@bigmetroidfan911]

Stevie Ray said that him and Booker T were laughing when it happened

[@WaterborneCamper]

I always assumed the second version of the character was meant to be an electrician lol

[@igorivanov299]

Exactly

[@Diepzeevis]

Oh wow, of course

[@ronvlaarsvar6867]

Think that would make too much sense for WCW...

[@rtyuik7]

0:58 - not even a minute in and im in stitches...Shockmaster's toy comes in the box upside-down?? thats definitely a "highly detailed action figure" xD

[@drewtitanllc3891]

10:18 ....the Ric Flair Cardboard cut out had me in real tears! 🤣🤣🤣

[@josephnicolino8529]

You can watch it 1,000 times and it's just as funny the 1,000th time as it is the first.

[@thetreblerebel]

Also know as Uncle Fred to Cody Rhodes

[@NaZtRdAmUs]

Always love the way Sid just carrys on going HAM.

[@DemonDethchase]

That Flair freeze. He's do well against a T-Rex, what with its vision based on movement

[@CrazyChiv]

You gotta love everything about this. From the stumble itself, to Davey Boys' reaction, to the Ric Flair "cutout" (which was news to me - well spotted). I'm glad to hear that 'ol Fred found the humor in it over the years. It's just too funny not to laugh.

[@TheTrainFan9]

IMO the best part is right when Fred pops back up you hear Flair in the background going "Oh God." Also, Dusty has a great retelling of this moment in Legends of Wrestling Roundtable, it's on KZbin if you want to check it out.

[@CrazyChiv]

@@TheTrainFan9 Thanks. I might look that up. You can't beat a good Dusty tale.

[@MzaAndy]

My favorite part is how Sid manages to stay in character. He practically drills a hole in his forehead to keep from laughing lol

[@rjperfetto584]

Why would they do a Ric Flair cutout.?!.

[@joshbrandon7979]

I am very very intrested in why ric flair became a cutout what the hell

[@dannysart3990]

The Kool-Aid Man has nothing on the Shockmaster.

[@paystyles5429]

Oh Yea!!

[@tremaynewilliams1977]

💀💀💀🤣🤣🤣

[@sunnyblacc3795]

😂😂😂😂😂😂✌

[@FreshPrinceofGA]

That ric flair cardboard part was hilarious. Replayed it a few times lol

[@igorivanov299]

It wasn't a cutout, it was actually Flair that just stood there motionless for a couple seconds.

[@debbiebrantley61]

I hope you don’t really think that was flair standing still lol

[@JMD0086]

Shockmaster: No, one can take my Botch Crown by tripping Titus O'neil: Hold my drank Fam... hahahaha

[@alienlife7754]

Truth! Lol

[@themonsterunderyourbed9408]

"Hold my sizzurp."

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

My best friend and me laughed SO HARD watching this live. They built this up and it was DOA within the first 10 seconds.

[@djspacehopper8728]

Sounds like Dr. Claw from inspector gadget

[@FRANK.G]

I want to see the shockmaster inducted in the wwe hall of fame

[@marcrap1865]

Haha the Ric Flair cardboard cut out part is great I never noticed it b4 😂

[@ArchangelSteve]

Obligatory "he fell flat on his fookin' arse!" Way to block the segment, Davey...

[@starrsmith3810]

@@sheepdavis he said it lol

[@ethanb498]

@@starrsmith3810 Certainly did! Lol poor fred.

[@Y3ntiLS0uP]

@@starrsmith3810 "he's fell on 'is arse, he's fell flat on' is fookin arse" can be heard on the WWE upload on this site if you crank the volume Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay up

[@starrsmith3810]

Eddie Brownlee awesome. That’s my favorite part of the debut lol

[@Y3ntiLS0uP]

@@starrsmith3810 i just love that WWE hsve 67 million subs and this clip with the entire audio unedited has made it on amuses me

[@creoleDJ]

Stevie Ray said that Sid Vicious saw that 2X4 prop for the breakaway wall & told the stagehands who built it that it was too high & Fred was gonna trip on it, but they went with it anyway. When the fall happened, you can hear Sid saying, “Oh, God! I told you!” 🤣🤣

[@sludgefactory241]

Truly an important story in the annals of wrestling history that needed to be told.

[@hcaballero57]

I remember watching this when it happened. I actually recorded it on VHS. I kept rewinding it to see who he was. I kept on think that looked like Typhoon.

[@maniacalgorilla]

Poor Fred. One of the true "Good guys" of the Industry!

[@georgelea4297]

Always love Dave's comment at the entrance of the Shockmaster

[@dannysart3990]

Shockmaster sounded like Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget.

[@neldawg593]

GADGET!!!! GAAAAAADGEEEEEEEEET!!!

[@mr.christopher79]

go go gadget ....

[@justafanofnerdculture7602]

Ironically, The Shockmasters debut would've been hilarious, even without the fall, because of the helmet and Ole's voiceover. The fall was EPIC though!! In my opinion, the most infamous debut in pro wrestling! 😄

[@tonymcneill7779]

It sounds like they sabotaged the Shockmaster from the start. The wardrobe choice was damaging enough but to reinforce the wall knowing the guy was supposed to plow through it is even worse.

[@skullnbonez6808]

That one dislike is from The Shockmaster himself lol

[@mezcaomezcal4724]

I think it was a slip up

[@yourefriendlyneighborhoodbuddy]

He gunna SHOCK YA......THE SHOCK MASTER.........🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.....the fact Sid still held a straight face while going at him

[@garyjskadra1180]

The Shockmaster helmet looks like it was made by a group of kindergartners😅

[@rebeccapetty1k390]

lol 😂 🤣😂

[@Machete87]

I member Stevie Ray shouting "who is this motherf##ker?!"

[@lickkittysplit3871]

I'll never forget this episode. Over at my cousins house and watched it. Still laugh about it!

[@ThaClancyFam2]

I’ve never seen this before. This is absolutely hilarious on so many levels.

[@tobznoobs]

also found it funny when Fred was acting while Sid was intimdating him before Ole spoke.

[@MoneyManHolmes]

Yes, it seems that Ole missed his cue because he couldn’t stop laughing, so Sid started yelling at Shock to break the awkward silence. Sid’s dedication to salvaging this is almost as notable as the botch itself.

[@proudbirther1998]

Great Documentary on the SHOCKMASTER. I still get tears of laughter in my eyes over this. Long live THE SHOCKMASTER !!

[@A-Man79]

The greatest moment in WCW history.

[@evilubuntu9001]

Nah. "Hogan, we comin' for you nugga" tops this by a little bit. Still top 10 though.

[@FreddieBlaze]

The Most Embarrassing Moment You Mean!😑

[@evilubuntu9001]

@@FreddieBlaze WCW's Most Embarassing Moments is a Top 50 List and he Shockmaster doesn't even make the top 10.

[@joshharjo2038]

Woah that flair part is creepy haha

[@jessemersier5499]

The only part of this never gets old segment that I didn't know about until today is the part about the Ric Flair cut out. And I watched it live on tv! 😂🤣😂🤣

[@pataker7875]

“ Ah he fell flat on his arse”.

[@marineguy4eva]

I honestly think that if he didn't fall down and broke through the wall with authority, he would still seem like a big joke looking back to it. He would still be remembered as a bizarre character

[@kennywright1021]

That wall explosion would make the Kool Aid man say "Oh No!"

[@taylormademyself89]

It truly was a shocking entrance lol

[@roberttrester4030]

Lol yeah a SHOCKING experience to say the least.

[@OHMR-bo5qz]

Thank you for this one! The funniest breakdown of The Shockmaster segment I've heard was on Opie & Anthony when they had comedians Patrice Oneal and Bill Burr in studio. I've listened to it several times and it always makes me laugh.

[@roberttrester4030]

Yeah i love how you are analyzing someones massive life time F up. Thank you lol.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Good on Fred Ottman for deciding to just roll with it. That's not only very sporting of him, but it's smart because of all the merch he's getting to sell.

[@allenthinkingpositively6271]

Watch Patrice O’Neal talk about this on Opie and Anthony! Lots of laughs!

[@allenthinkingpositively6271]

I have never clicked on a video faster than this one! I have been waiting for you to cover this!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥👍👍👍

[@khanthevideogamehunter2946]

Never knew he was Dustin Rhodes brother in law. Typhoon and earthquake where my favorite tag team wrestlers.

[@jknight1984]

Khan The Video game hunter no. he is DUSTY’S brother in law, and Dustin and Cody’s uncle.

[@araynova]

Uncle Fred.

[@brucehalstead8813]

Oh my God I love how you say the Ric Flair fling he should just disappeared from that whole episode like a cardboard cutout awesome I didn't realize that thank you that's hilarious and the shockmaster is the man

[@BaltimoreBucc]

Great vid! I was real good friends with his son and he always told me his dad was a pro wrestler and his uncle was none other than the great Dusty Rhodes I just didn’t realize how important he was to the sport that would shape my entire childhood. He showed me the wall video and I died🤣Great family. Long live the Ottmans!👊🏽

[@Jasondirt]

Brian Zane at wrestling with wregret does a good breakdown of the three mini-movies. He's a little corny but funny. Just for anybody's fyi

[@cwatson42785]

He reminds me of James, the angry video game nerd.

[@robertjackson1987]

Love the Z-Man

[@mrf19741]

I still remember my Mother and I watching this live and almost dying of laughter on the living room floor!

[@user-pq6mr6op3p]

You didn't see this live...

[@oleeoleeoo2610]

I always felt badly for laughing so hard at that accident. Kind of felt the same laughing at Titus slide under the ring in Saudi Arabia.

[@mdj2010]

Thanks for all your hard work. I'm loving these regular videos!

[@TheJediJourney]

13 sec into video...I press like button...I already know I will anyway lol

[@heathmcrigsby]

Flair in the background saying "Oh god, I told ya" is what really makes it

[@MeanMrMustard1]

Supposedly that was Sid.

[@EvilBroseph]

I happened to meet Fred Ottman at a convention, and he is one of the nicest guys I ever met. Even, told me, "It is what it is." After that, we have this nice talk about wrestling.

[@MsTimothyswan]

for all of his hard work and all of the various personas that he prsesented to us, Fred Ottman deserves to be in the WWE hall of fame

[@bryansansone3301]

Freal

[@user-ns7tv2li1u]

So like john Tenta (Earthquake ) Fred deserves it ...

[@younggrinch2826]

It doesn’t work like that

[@ianward8107]

This was very well done. Thank you 🙏

[@becausegang7266]

Sid deserves an Oscar

[@stewartmeetball3417]

That poor man. I feel terrible for him. Cheers wrestling. Bio

[@evilsdemise1287]

5 secs into the video and I'm already rolling on the floor. That look on Sid's face LMAO.

[@dimitrinicomanis]

Funny thing is had this not happened the shock master would've been assigned to the folder of forgotten gimmicks. As it stands no one will ever forget him now! Brilliant video, had me laughing from start to finish!

[@Alexm213]

Love your videos! Keep it coming.

[@Hotpur]

"I have to bust through a wall that's just like a wall in your house" Are you kidding me? The walls of my wardrobe are thicker than those cardboard walls, what kind of house have those walls?

[@SegaDream131]

The kind with wheels.....

[@GibDozer1]

Maybe you weren't paying attention. Shockmaster was a construction worker. I think he knows a wall when he falls through one.

[@mrblonde609]

To be fair: Some walls in america are that thin. I have seen videos on youtube, where people accidentially punched a hole in their wall.

[@GibDozer1]

To be fair the entrance was Shocking. Shockmasters laugh at the end is the perfect cherry on top!

[@Hitman61547]

The promo beforehand was funny too! Sid: YOU WON'T TELL US WHO YOUR PARTNER IS! Bulldog: YOU WANNA KNOW WHO OUR PARTNER IS? Sid: SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING!

[@christopherbako]

"I Coulda been a contender "...On the Waterfront

[@christopherwilson2606]

Tears roll down my face every time.

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

80's Wrestling Mania paid tribute to Shockmaster with the card Shocking Debut and the wrestler Overshock.

[@CharizardMaster69]

You know what I find funnier then Fred crashing through the wall, or Davey Boy going: “He fell flat on his ass! He fell flat on his fookin ass!”, is the fact that people still think this was work even after Fred has said several times it was a complete accident

[@nicocarlos6628]

Congrats to Sid for not fluffing his promo and still soldiering on despite tugboat's sink lol

[@erisi236]

what exactly did they have planned for this character long term, I wonder what would have become of this gimmick if this segment had gone normally

[@youngmedi8447]

It’s wcw so it would have went no where

[@gfpbaneable]

He would have joined the nWo eventually, I'm sure. Lol

[@TheSandGator]

@@gfpbaneable nWo ShockPac

[@eighterthabest9024]

I honestly don't think there ever was a long term plan. How would he wrestle with the helmet on in the first place? How are they going to make fake hitting a plastic helmet look realistic, or move at all when hed have to keep his head parallel to the ground to even keep it on? No one thought any of that through...

[@MrDreamer60]

I clicked like before the video even started. So glad you covered this. One of funniest things I've ever seen!

[@RNC200711]

Davey Boy's "He fell flat om his arse" makes me laugh every time, Flair's very audible "Oh god" is gold too

[@Chrisdrumz]

I'm glad I watched it live back in the day. At the time I was like "Huh?? Was that planned??"

[@stephenmcshane546]

This is a shocking experience courtesy of the one and only Wrestling Bios

[@Lemarick28]

You can hear Sid Vicious say "I told you".😂😂

[@dabigguy7788]

When I saw this story was the topic, I just said 'oh wow!' Really good subject to pick man!

[@WRESTLEWITHANDY]

This ones getting saved for later so I can put a pizza in the oven and chrome cast it to the TV!!! 🍻

[@WRESTLEWITHANDY]

metalfaust19 Co-Ops “Hot Honey Pepperoni” I’ve had it before, I’d rate it 4 1/4 Stars

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

Man. If I was a WCW writer, I would have just totally run with this. I would have had him keep the ridiculous outfit, and whenever he came out to the ring, I would have him fall through a wall somewhere, while, "I AM THE SHOCKMASTER!!!" followed by music played. It would have been an amazing gimmick.

[@FreddieBlaze]

Tugboat/Typhoon Was One Of My Favorite Wrestlers Of All Time!🤟

[@str.77]

Truth be told, without Uncle Fred's accident, the whole Shockmaster gimmick would have been one of the lamest angles ever. Just plain nothingness. By the accident, it gained eternal fame.

[@youngmedi8447]

Ric flair was a cutout lolololol 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@a27dub]

i cant even watch this without laughing lol

[@onjohns1]

You didn’t mention my favorite part of his debut- when Sid started talking, and Uncle Fred thought it was Ole, so he started waving his arms around like he was talking!

[@TOFKAS01]

13:29 And that makes it one of the most succesfull Gimmicks in the history of Wrestling....

[@findlay1arches]

The way you say the letter "W" is so great ha I love hearing it.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

Fred works changing tires in a Walmart last I heard. Good guy