Trivia / Jesse Ventura

• Follow the Leader: Political version. There was a time, hard to believe, when Gov. Ventura was the envy and inspiration of the wrestling world, leading to a bevy of wrestlers anouncing similar political aspirations (though whether they genuinely felt inspired by Ventura's success to actually consider run for office or were just publicity stunts is disputed). Hulk Hogan almost immediately hit the airwaves to announce a Presidential run, while Ric Flair contemplated running for Governor of North Carolina.
• Keep Circulating the Tapes: Many WWE matches with Ventura on commentary have either had Ventura's commentary cut or simply never been released, due to royalty issues. Some have survived this, simply because cutting his commentary would ruin them.
• Money, Dear Boy: Ventura by his own admission, went to work for WCW in 1992 simply because he was offered a lot of money.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Ventura was in line for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, but was Demoted to Extra when Hogan jumped ship from the WWWF.
  • He was set to feud with Hogan for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but was forced to retire due to blood clots in his lungs.^note He returned to the ring only once after 1986. He and Roddy Piper d. the Orient Express (Akio Sato and Pat Tanaka) at a house show [non-televised event] on March 16, 1990. The match was filmed for their failed TV Pilot, Tag Team.