While WWE hurtles toward SummerSlam, its annual summer showcase, there's another name in pro wrestling that's pulling the headlines in a time of political turmoil: The Progressive Liberal Dan Richards.
It's not that Richards is a bad guy who just so happens to be a progressive liberal. For fans of the Appalachian Mountain Wrestling (AMW) promotion, he's a bad guy (or "heel" in wrestling terms) specifically becausehe's a progressive liberal. He does, though, clearly relish playing up the "condescending liberal angle."
SEE ALSO: Guy from Kings of Leon learns not to come for pro wrestling fans on TwitterWrestling has never shied away from politics, like the Jack Swagger/Zeb Colter alliance from a few years ago that used a Tea Party-esque storyline. Not to mention the 2008 presidential candidates appearing on WWE's Monday Night Rawor the connections between WWE's McMahon family and WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump.
Richards, who says he's very much a liberal himself, wears attire like a t-shirt that screams "Not my president" or a nice one that's completely covered in Hillary Clinton faces. His rise has caught the notice of the press, earning him a pair of stories on Deadspinjust this week and now the Washington Posthas caught up with him.
But a good wrestling heel needs good lines and promos to really roll the crowd over and Richards delivers on that front.
Here are some of his best that have been documented.
"Appa-LAY-chian Kentucky, okay? That's how you pronounce it."
"You people need to be reprogrammed. You continue to vote against your own interest!"
"I came here to fulfill a purpose, sworn by, let's say, a top-level official. That would be one Hillary Rodham Clinton."
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“If he’s elected president, I hope Trump doesn’t build a wall around Mexico. Instead I hope he builds it around this town so none of you people can infiltrate the population.” -- from a 2015 promo, as told to Sports Illustrated
“I was listening to that feller play his little guitar and I understand now why you all identify with country music. It’s slow and it’s simple and it’s boring just like each and every one of you.”
[As fans chant "Feel the Bern!"] "You know what? I think Bernie Sanders would make a great Secretary of State!"
"I am here because I want to teach you the better way. The first tenet of Democratic Socialism is to give freely... And I want to exchange your bullets for bullet points. Bullet points of knowledge!"
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"It's very obvious that we're in a red state -- a red and right-wing bigoted state. Because last night the fix was in on the Progressive Liberal Daniel Richards!"
"Donald Trump talks about draining the swamp. If I was gonna drain the swamp, I would start by putting the pipe right here, in Mount Airy, North Carolina!"
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