JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the 1990s were winding down, the third most popular wrestling promotion in the United States was Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Eventually, the promotion, operated by Paul Heyman folded and some of its wrestlers were called up to the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE).
One of the success stories of that promotion that made it big in WWE and beyond was the Dudley Boyz. Originally comprised of several members, the two most prominent, Bubba Ray and D-Von, were brought into WWE and became one of the most popular tag teams in history.
Known for being obviously fake “brothers” (Bubba Ray is white and D-Von is Black), the two started as heels but quickly won over fans through their hardcore use of tables. The two would put opponents through tables to finish off matches every week on television.
“D-Von get the tables!” became one of their well-known catchphrases. Arguably the most famous and controversial moments of their career involved driving a woman in her 80s through a table. That woman was widely considered one of the toughest women to ever get in the squared circle, Mae Young.
Dudley said at the time WWF owner Vince McMahon wanted to make sure the Dudleys were considered “bad guys” and the audience would boo them. In his telling, McMahon thought “power bombing” the elderly Young through a table would accomplish that. The Dudleys disagreed.
“Vince says look I have this idea. We want to put Mae Young through a table,” said Dudley. “He’s like I think this will make you guys instant bad guys. We looked at him and said, ‘No it won’t.’”
Keep in mind wrestling is a scripted form of entertainment and everyone from Young to the audience to the Dudleys knew this was part of the show. And that act did the opposite of what McMahon hoped it would accomplish. The Dudleys quickly became more popular with fans for the stunning action and it cemented them globally as a hardcore team who would do the unthinkable.
Young, of course, continued to wrestle well into her 80s until she passed away at the age of 90 in 2014. Fans were always in awe of the physical abuse she would take in the ring. In the wrestling business, it’s referred to as “taking bumps.”
Another thing the Dudleys are remembered for is re-inventing the use of tables, ladders and chairs. Alongside two other iconic teams -- The Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian -- the trio revolutionized the industry by having a match at a WrestleMania where all three things were employed. In fact, for years after that original match, WWE would host a pay-per-view called TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs). The Dudleys were the originators.
The Dudley Boyz were eventually inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and still remain active in the industry to this day.