Akeem/One Man Gang

[Raine]

What was the reason behind switching the One Man Gang's gimmick to the "African Dream" Akeem? Was it to appeal to an African demographic?

Also surely a street thug & policeman would have gone better together as The Twin Towers when he was teaming with the Big Bossman, as Bossman would come across as being crooked?

[Deleted]

in Jims Duggans shoot he says it was Vince punishing George Gray(OMG) for taking time off when he was injured.

he said that Vince didnt want him to take the time but he had to so Vince changed the gimmick he knew that George Gray loved when he was away.

dunno whether its true or not but thats what Duggan said.he also said Gray detested the Akeem gimmick.

and your bang on about the Towers being better with OMG in there

[raz2005uk]

a funny mix but it worked - I always found akeem's jving hillarious lool


The Twin Towers


Something I saw on WWE Vintage Collection the other day....Akeem sure knows how to grab the ref's attention - jivin'!

[Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai]

The gimmick itself was also partially a knock on Dusty Rhodes, who was one of Vince McMahon's favorite people to mock back then because he was the booker for Crockett.

Vince named DiBiase's man-servant "Virgil" as an inside joke directed at Dusty, and I think Dusty even fired back somewhat in a couple of promos on TBS in 1987. Then, Akeem "The African Dream" became one part goofy comedy gimmick to knock George Gray down a peg, and one part "let's screw with Dusty again" ("The African Dream," and the fact that McMahon had a large white guy -- just like Dusty -- talk and jive as if he were black -- again, just like Dusty).

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2009 19:54:59 GMT -5 Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai said:

The gimmick itself was also partially a knock on Dusty Rhodes, who was one of Vince McMahon's favorite people to mock back then because he was the booker for Crockett.

Vince named DiBiase's man-servant "Virgil" as an inside joke directed at Dusty, and I think Dusty even fired back somewhat in a couple of promos on TBS in 1987. Then, Akeem "The African Dream" became one part goofy comedy gimmick to knock George Gray down a peg, and one part "let's screw with Dusty again" ("The African Dream," and the fact that McMahon had a large white guy -- just like Dusty -- talk and jive as if he were black -- again, just like Dusty).

yeah the Dusty knock does make sense too........

[Grapple Arcade]

Vince named DiBiase's man-servant "Virgil" as an inside joke directed at Dusty

why would that bother dusty as such?

also, OMG would have been a class tag partner for bossman. Although, if that were the case, would 'Jive Soul Bro' have been written?
Surely the song was a link to Akeem due to the dancing, or was it just a generic song made for slick?

Speaking of this, i always though The mountie and Nailz would have been a good team. After Mountie went to prison due to the match stipulation, he could have come back with Nailz.
Nailz could have been his personal 'monster' so to speak. But all thats for a different story.

[nibs92]

Mar 29, 2009 14:39:36 GMT -5 Grapple Arcade said:

Vince named DiBiase's man-servant "Virgil" as an inside joke directed at Dusty

why would that bother dusty as such?

also, OMG would have been a class tag partner for bossman. Although, if that were the case, would 'Jive Soul Bro' have been written?
Surely the song was a link to Akeem due to the dancing, or was it just a generic song made for slick?

Speaking of this, i always though The mountie and Nailz would have been a good team. After Mountie went to prison due to the match stipulation, he could have come back with Nailz.
Nailz could have been his personal 'monster' so to speak. But all thats for a different story.

i'm sure that jive soul bro was slicks music. butch reed came to the ring with it as well. i'm sure that was at WM4 which also featured the one man gang. i'll double check that later.

i've asked this before but can anoyone tell me why akeem didn't wrestle at survivor series 1989? any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[craignwo4life]

Mar 29, 2009 14:39:36 GMT -5 Grapple Arcade said:

Vince named DiBiase's man-servant "Virgil" as an inside joke directed at Dusty

why would that bother dusty as such?

Dusty's real name is Virgil.

Then of course when "Virgil" (can't remember his real name, ) went to WCW they renamed him Vincent as yet another inside joke, this time as a dig at Vince McMahon!!

[The Boglin]

Virgil's real name is Mike Jones

[Grapple Arcade]

Mar 30, 2009 15:10:51 GMT -5 craignwo4life said:

Mar 29, 2009 14:39:36 GMT -5 Grapple Arcade said:

why would that bother dusty as such?

Dusty's real name is Virgil.

Then of course when "Virgil" (can't remember his real name, ) went to WCW they renamed him Vincent as yet another inside joke, this time as a dig at Vince McMahon!!

ive been a fan since 89ish and this is one of those things ive never known about... quality, cheers

[skribbel24]

Mar 28, 2009 19:54:59 GMT -5 Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai said:

The gimmick itself was also partially a knock on Dusty Rhodes, who was one of Vince McMahon's favorite people to mock back then because he was the booker for Crockett.

Vince named DiBiase's man-servant "Virgil" as an inside joke directed at Dusty, and I think Dusty even fired back somewhat in a couple of promos on TBS in 1987. Then, Akeem "The African Dream" became one part goofy comedy gimmick to knock George Gray down a peg, and one part "let's screw with Dusty again" ("The African Dream," and the fact that McMahon had a large white guy -- just like Dusty -- talk and jive as if he were black -- again, just like Dusty).

Excellent explanation, I never knew about this and I've been watching since 87. Great job man.