Saturday Morning Ringside: When Bad News Allen Coage actually wrestled under that name in the WWWF (1979)

 Think of this as found media.

Everyone, I'm sure, knows that Allen Coage was signed away from Stampede Wrestling in Canada in the late 80's, and memorably feuded with Bret Hart, whom he knew from Stampede, and Roddy Piper. Then, he was known as Bad News Brown.

But, a decade earlier, he had been signed to the then-WWWF, and given Fred Blassie as a manager, when he didn't have a mouthpiece during his later run. Coage was also allowed to use his own name. The "Bad News" nickname was his own, but, by 1989, trademark-happy Vincent K. McMahon needed to merchandise anything & everything about all of his wrestlers.

Check this match from March 1979. Coage actually has to redirect Blassie toward the camera during the introductions. Seems the dude had more on the ball than his manager before the match vs. Tony Garea.....

Coage would later shave his head, developing the menacing persona we all came to know and loathe.....