Line #58 Wrestling/JesseVentura


1	[[quoteright:259:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Jesse_Ventura_1506.jpg]]
2
3	->''"My governor can beat up your governor"''
4	-->-- T-shirt popular during his term as governor of Minnesota.
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6	James George Janos (born July 15, 1951 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American retired professional wrestler, actor, politician and broadcasting personality from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He performed in the Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation and the [[Wrestling/{{WWE}} WWF]] under the name Jesse "The Body" Ventura, a {{Heel}}, from the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s, when he had to leave the ring due to blood clots in his lungs (which he claimed were the effects of exposure to Agent Orange). At that point, he took up color commentary with both the WWF and Wrestling/{{WCW}}. He also competed in the NWA Central States territory in UsefulNotes/KansasCity, NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling in UsefulNotes/{{Portland}}, OR and NWA UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}}. .
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8	In 1987, Ventura appeared [[HilariousInHindsight alongside fellow future governor]] Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger in ''Film/{{Predator}}''. Ventura and Schwarzenegger would also appear together in ''Film/TheRunningMan'' and ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''. In the same year as ''Predator'', Ventura made a guest appearance on ''Series/SmallWonder''; he also appeared in the famous ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "Jose Chung's from Outer Space".
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10	He was elected mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in 1990, serving from 1991 to 1995. In 1998, he successfully ran for the office of governor of Minnesota, serving from January 1999 to January 2003. He ran as a member of the Reform Party, UsefulNotes/RossPerot's short-lived political party. [[note]]Although he later broke from the Reform Party and became a member of the Independent Party of Minnesota and then a member of the Green Party[[/note]]. This was the first such occurrence in modern political history.
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12	In late 2003, Ventura hosted a show on MSNBC called ''Jesse Ventura's America''. In 2004, he was inducted into the Wrestling/WWEHallOfFame. He returned to broadcasting in 2009 with ''Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura''.
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14	As for his in-ring achievements, he is a former [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-t.html AWA World Tag Team Champion]] with Wrestling/AdrianAdonis, a former 2x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pnw/nwa/pnw-h.html NWA PNW Heavyweight Champion]], a 5x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pnw/nwa/pnw-t.html NWA PNW Tag Team Champion]] (2x w[=/=]Wrestling/PlayboyBuddyRose, 2x w[=/=]Bull Ramos and 1x w[=/=]Jerry Oates), a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-t.html NWA Central States Tag Team Champion]] with Tank Patton, a 2x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-h.html Southern (Memphis) Heavyweight Champion]] and a 1x [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/hi/hi-t.html NWA Hawaii Tag Team Champion]] with Steve Strong (better known as Steve [=DiSalvo=].)
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16	His life resembles that of [[VideoGame/FinalFight Mike Haggar]]. No relation to Film/AceVentura.
17	----
18	!! "These tropes ain't got time to bleed":
19	* AndThisIsFor: When Ventura threw Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon out of the ring at ''[=SummerSlam=] 1999'', he (in)famously shouted, "That's for your [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon old man]], you little bastard!"
20	* AppropriatedAppellation: As governor of Minnesota, he handed out media badges labeled "Media Jackal". These quickly became a hot commodity.
21	* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: A key part of his victory in the gubernatorial election was a combination of Minnesota's same-day voter registration laws and campaign workers accosting young men in the street and saying, more or less, "Hey, you! Jesse Ventura is running for governor! You want to vote for him?" "Hell, yeah!" After the election, his office printed up t-shirts that were just an outline of Minnesota, with the words "My governor can beat up your governor."
22	* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Okay, so he was a wrestler ''before'' becoming a governor, but still. One example of him being this while being governor is his role as ref during the 1999 ''Wrestling/{{SummerSlam}}'' main event.
23	--> ''[After literally throwing out Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon for interfering]'' That's for your [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon old man]], you little bastard!
24	* BecauseISaidSo: During the Team Strike Force[[note]]Strike Force (Wrestling/TitoSantana and Wrestling/RickMartel)[=/=]The Young Stallions (Paul Roma and Jim Powers)[=/=]The Rougeau Brothers (Wrestling/{{Jacques\|Rougeau}} and Raymond)[=/=]The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and "Jumpin'" Jim Brunzell)[=/=]The British Bulldogs (Wrestling/DynamiteKid and Wrestling/DaveyBoySmith)[[/note]]-Team Hart Foundation[[note]]The Hart Foundation (Wrestling/BretHart and Wrestling/JimNeidhart)[=/=]The Islanders ([[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Haku]] and [[Wrestling/TheTongaKid Tama]])[=/=]Wrestling/{{Demolition}} (Ax and [[Wrestling/BarryDarsow Smash]])[=/=]The Bolsheviks (Wrestling/NikolaiVolkoff and Wrestling/BorisZhukov)[=/=]The New Dream Team (Wrestling/GregValentine and Dino Bravo)[[/note]] match at ''Wrestling/SurvivorSeries 1987'', he and Gorilla Monsoon got into an argument over the pronunciation of Islander Tama's name.
25	-->"Tama, Toma, it's Toma if I say it's Toma."
26	* BerserkButton: Increasingly, lately--seemingly just for someone daring to challenge him confidently on an issue. [[{{Kayfabe}} Could be an act, though.]]
27	** Crossed with SeriousBusiness: He really didn't like people calling him racist for calling Wrestling/KokoBWare "[[Film/TheLittleRascals Buckwheat]]" on commentary, to the point that he actually once slipped into the {{Face}} locker room to ask Koko if it was okay for him to say that. He claims Koko told him, "Body, you say anything you want about me because anytime you talk about me, I make money."
28	* BlatantLies: His claims about having "hunted men." Ventura never saw combat in Vietnam, though he frequently claims otherwise. Although he frequently claims to have been a Navy SEAL, he was instead a member of an Underwater Demolition Team on active duty (the two had the same training pipeline (the infamous BUD/S course), but [=SEALs=] were combatants and frogmen by and large weren't), and only served in SEAL Team One as a reservist, after Vietnam was over and reservists were never called up in any case.
29	* CatchPhrase:
30	** As an announcer in WWF, "I tell ya what, [[Wrestling/GorillaMonsoon Gorilla]]..."
31	** At least OnceAnEpisode of his ''Conspiracy Theory'' show, he would find an excuse to indignantly exclaim "I was a Governor!", usually in regards to not being allowed inside some secure facility.
32	** "[[CombatPragmatist Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat.]]", which he borrowed from [[Wrestling/GeorgeWagner Gorgeous George]].
33	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Some people see him as this in light of the conspiracy theories he espouses on his TV show about them.
34	* TheConfidant: He was on commentary with Wrestling/{{Vince McMahon}} and Wrestling/BrunoSammartino on the May 30 (taped May 12), 1987 ''WWF Superstars''. There was a tag match with The Can-Am Connection (Wrestling/RickMartel and Wrestling/TomZenk) vs. The Islanders ([[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Haku]] and [[Wrestling/TheTongaKid Tama]]). Vince talked about how Wrestling/BobbyHeenan was going to reveal a new tag team, with Jesse [[EvilLaugh laughing]], since he clearly knew something Vince and Bruno didn't. Of course, Heenan came out and distracted the Can-Ams, leading to them losing by countout, and the Islanders and the Brain embraced, turning them heel. Jesse said that he knew ahead of time.
35	* ConspiracyTheorist: To the point that he made a TV show about them, ''Conspiracy Theory''. For a time, he was one of ''the'' most vocal proponents of the 9/11 conspiracy theory.
36	* CoolOldGuy: If you think putting a wrestler in the White House would be cool, Ventura thinks there should probably be one in there. People have said they'd like to see him run for it, even people who wouldn't vote for him.
37	* DentedIron: Blood clots in his lungs forced Ventura into retirement. To this day he's still on blood-thinners.
38	* DirtyCoward: Allergic to direct confrontation in the ring, even from much smaller or non malicious "adversaries".
39	* ExpansionPackPast: Navy SEAL (technically, UDT, or Underwater Demolition Team, which merged with the [=SEALs=] after he left), bodyguard for Music/{{The Rolling Stones\|Band}}, [[BadassBiker member of the outlaw motorcycle gang "The Mongols"]]...
40	* {{Expy}}: The bleach-blond locks, wild facial hair and colorful outfits he wore as a wrestler (and later as a commentator) were clearly influenced by [[Wrestling/SuperstarBillyGraham "Superstar" Billy Graham]]. As a commentator, Ventura would {{lampshade\|Hanging}} this by claiming [[HypocriticalHumor Graham stole HIS look]].
41	* FinishingMove: Overhead gutwrench backbreaker rack.
42	* GlassCannon: Very strong, but, in his manager [[Wrestling/FreddieBlassie "Classy" Freddie Blassie]]'s [[{{Biography}} autobiography]] ''Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks!'', he said, "Jesse couldn't take the bumps."
43	* GorgeousGeorge: Less camp than most examples, but Ventura's wrestling attire included tie-dyed tights, feathered boas and lots of rhinestones, with one of those rhinestones in the cleft of his chin.
44	* AHandfulForAnEye: Weightlifting powder.
45	* HatesTheJobLovesTheLimelight: He'd end editions of [[TalkShowWithFists "The Body Shop"]] with [[SigningOffCatchPhrase "The pleasure was all yours."]]
46	* {{Heel}}: Braggart turned coward at the slightest sign of trouble
47	* ItsPersonal: Genuinely hates Wrestling/HulkHogan because Hulk [[TheStoolPigeon "stooged" him]] to [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince]] over Jesse's idea to unionize the WWF.[[note]]Even though Jesse was a (kayfabe) critic of Hulk, since he was a heel commentator... he considered Hulk to be a close friend in real life.[[/note]]
48	* JerkJock: For all of the GorgeousGeorge aestetics of his wrestling persona, it also had shades of this.
49	* LetsSeeYouDoBetter: His motivation for running for mayor.
50	* MaliciousMisnaming: During his run as heel commentator in the WWF, has often called several face wrestlers disparaging names to help put them over. Most notable are Wrestling/HulkHogan (whom he's called "Chump" Hogan) and Wrestling/TitoSantana (nee "Chico" Santana). Santana remarked about this once in his biography, saying in fact that he encouraged Ventura – the two shared mutual respect for one another – to refer to him as "Chico" to help boost his popularity.
51	** Wrestling/HulkHogan: Chump Hogan
52	** Wrestling/TitoSantana: Chico Santana
53	** Scott Putski: Scott Paduski
54	** [[Wrestling/TheTongaKid Islander Tama]]: Toma
55	** Wrestling/UltimateWarrior: Ultimate Maniac
56	** Wrestling/TheBushwhackers: The Marching Morons
57	* NoIndoorVoice: Always manages to sound kinda...''forceful'', whatever he says.
58	* ThePeterPrinciple: He may have been able to serve well as Mayor of Brooklyn Park, but he was far less competent serving as Governor, when his forceful personality and tendency to grandstand alienated him from the legislature and press.
59	* PowerStable:
60	** (in Central States): Robley's Army
61	** (in Memphis): The First Family, led by Wrestling/JimmyHart
62	* ReadingTheStageDirectionsOutLoud: As an on-camera interviewer, Jesse had a habit of mouthing the lines of pro wrestlers as he questioned them, feigning shock over a revelation he'd already whispered to himself.
63	* RealMenWearPink: Wore extremely color outfits as a wrestler and a commentator, including a pink suit! He also wore feather boas regularly.
64	* RetiredBadass: Sports and military...to politics.
65	* SitcomArchNemesis:
66	** [[Radio/APrairieHomeCompanion Garrison Keillor]].
67	** Ventura also hates Wrestling/HulkHogan with a passion.
68	* SoreLoser: Assaulted and put Wrestling/PreciousPaulEllering on a stretcher for beating him in a dead lifting contest back in the AWA.
69	* StealthInsult: When Jesse would claim to be better than Wrestling/SuperstarBillyGraham, someone would often point out that Graham is a former World Champion while Jesse wasn't. Jesse would usually respond with, "He beat an easy champion!" Graham beat Wrestling/BrunoSammartino for the WWWF Title.
70	* TagTeam:
71	** The East-West Connection, with Adrian Adonis
72	** The Far East-West Connection, with Mr. Saito
73	** The Younger Generation, with Wrestling/PlayboyBuddyRose
74	* TalkShowWithFists: "The Body Shop"
75	* TestosteronePoisoning: All the memes and bragging about his being tough can ''easily'' come across this way...
76	* TheatricsOfPain: He sold lifting weights as a dreadfully painful experience, which is pretty ironic, considering he's "the body" and all.
77	* UnbuiltTrope: As the first widely regarded heel announcer, Ventura was very nuanced. He would root for the heels but acknowledge and point out mistakes they would make in the ring. Even while rooting for the heels, he would still give credit where credit was due and praise babyface wrestlers such as Wrestling/RickySteamboat and Wrestling/RandySavage for their athleticism and wrestling ability.
78	* {{Unperson}}: His commentary is often edited out of [=DVDs=] released by WWE. Subverted later with box sets and shows on the WWE Network. The reason for the edits is because Ventura won a lawsuit after leaving the WWE where he gets royalties for any broadcasts, videos, etc. that use his commentary.
79	* UrExample: Ventura is generally credited as the first heel announcer.
80	* VitriolicBestBuds: Ventura's broadcast partnership with Gorilla Monsoon played out like this.
81	* WarriorPoet: Ventura was known for dressing like a {{beatnik}} in his wrestling days.
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Context Wrestling / JesseVentura