Living the gimmick: Wrestlers who went to great lengths to keep kayfabe
The Sheik
Ted DiBiase
Nikita Koloff
Chris Benoit
Mr. Wrestling / Tim Woods
After surviving the plane crash in North Carolina in 1975 that crippled Johnny Valentine and nearly ended Ric Flair’s career, Woods (with a concussion and fractured spine) crawled away from the wreck so it wouldn’t be discovered that he was traveling with heels, hitched a ride to the hospital and checked in under an alias, then wrestled two weeks later in order to “prove” that he couldn’t possibly have been in a plane crash like the dirtsheets were reporting.
Living the gimmick: Wrestlers who went to great lengths to keep kayfabe
The Sheik
Ted DiBiase
Nikita Koloff
Chris Benoit
Mr. Wrestling / Tim Woods
Ric Flair
Ray Traylor
Traylor was Jim Cornette’s bodyguard early in his career. The two arrived at a venue in a taxi together and the car door got slammed on Traylor’s hand. He remained quiet and calmly walked into the locker room and Taylor then starts yelling about the pain.
Living the gimmick: Wrestlers who went to great lengths to keep kayfabe
The Sheik
Ted DiBiase
Nikita Koloff
Chris Benoit
Mr. Wrestling / Tim Woods
Ric Flair
Ray Traylor
El Santo
Was only seen in public once without his mask since his wrestling career began - one month after his retirement, and one month before his death. He was buried with the mask on.