Skip to main content
Inside The Ropes
  • News

    WWE News

    AEW logo for their Dynamite TV show

    AEW News

    Japan News

    Wrestling News

  • Features
    Scott Steiner and his 'pet' tiger

    10 Iconic Pro Wrestling “Super Pets”

    Triple H entrance

    5 Changes We Want To See Triple H Make To WWE

    AEW World Trios Championship Tournament

    5 Most Likely Inaugural AEW World Trios Champions

    10 Former WWE Superstars We'd Like To See Return Under The Triple H Regime

    10 Former WWE Superstars We’d Like To See Return Under The Triple H Regime

  • Interviews
    20 Questions Killer Kelly

    20 Questions With Killer Kelly

    Rick Boogs

    Interview With Rick Boogs

    JONAH

    Interview With JONAH

    Rosemary Interview

    Interview With Rosemary

  • Podcasts
    Wrestling Roast #71 – Where Is MJF?

    Listen
    Power Slam Podcast #251 – Post SummerSlam RAW, Pat McAfee & More

    Listen
    What’s Going Down #85 – SummerSlam, Ric Flair & More

    Listen
    Wrestling Roast #70 – Tractors, Returns & Retirements

    Listen
  • Quizzes
    Play Word Rumble

    Play Word Rumble

    WWE logo

    Can You Name Every WWE Pay-per-view?

    WWE Survivor Series sole survivors quiz

    Can You Name All The WWE Survivor Series Sole Survivors?

    WWE Smackdown logo

    Can You Name Every Wrestler That Competed On The First SmackDown?

  • Live Tours
  • Shop
    Magazine
    Clothing
    Accessories
    Collectibles
  • Trending
  • Follow us:
    • Facebook Facebook
    • Twitter Twitter
    • Instagram Instagram
  • Watch us:
    • YouTube YouTube
    • Twitch Twitch
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
  • Play Word Rumble
Wrestling News

Duke Droese Recalls The Origins Of ‘The Dumpster’

By Matt Tennant. Published 21st February 2021.
Duke Droese Thumb

Duke ‘The Dumpster’ Droese has recalled how his legendary garbage man character came to be after using a version of the gimmick when competing in Florida.

Prior to his entry into the World Wrestling Federation in 1994, the real life Michael Droese made his professional wrestling debut in Florida in 1990 and proceeded to tour the state’s independent circuit in order to brush up his skills and find the origins of a character that would ensure his place in professional wrestling history.

In 1993, Droese switched his gimmick to ‘Garbage Man’ Rocco Gibraltar – an early iteration of his ‘Dumpster’ character – and was called to the World Wrestling Federation for a series of Dark Matches as Gibraltar on Monday Night Raw, WWF Superstars and WWF Wrestling Challenge where he defeated Reno Riggins on all three occasions.

Now, the trash man himself has joined the cast of Interactive Wrestling Radio to detail how he became Duke ‘The Dumpster’ Droese following the Dark Matches:

“Well, I think the reason is because I came up with it. I was wrestling as ‘The Garbage Man’ Rocco Gibraltar down in Florida. I worked on it for a long time. The reason I did it is because I knew that was the kind of thing that Vince McMahon would probably grab ahold of. I remember the Big Boss Man as the police or prison guard gimmick and it just felt like something the World Wrestling Federation would have in the late 80s/early 90s.

It worked. It got me in. I pretty much just kept doing what I was doing except they changed the name to Duke ‘The Dumpster’. The creative staff maybe went a little more in that [day job] direction after I came in. I don’t take any credit for that. If I had something to do with it, great! But people now seem to be looking back at those years in a nostalgic way. I’m really kind of proud of that and I’m meeting a lot of new fans because of that era I came from. It was a blast!”

While the sky looked to be the limit for Droese upon his debut and initial feud with Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler was received well, the star soon became lost in the shuffle of cartoon-ish characters and following his feud with Hunter Hearst Helmsley departed the company for good.

Credit for the interview: Interactive Wrestling Radio

h/t for the transcription: Wrestling Inc.

  • Facebook
    Share
  • Twitter
    Tweet
  • WhatsApp
    Send
  • Share

Popular Stories

  1. Fresh Update On Carmella’s Status Following In-Ring “Collapse”
  2. “That’s Gonna Get Heat” – Ric Flair Makes Shocking New Admission
  3. Top WWE Star Was Set To Be Buried On TV Ahead Of Management Change
  4. AEW Star Reacts To Claims He Is “Wasting Away” Outside WWE
  5. Backstage Update On Cody Rhodes’ WWE Future Following Triple H Appointment
  6. Matt Cardona Comments On Potential WWE Return
  7. Rob Van Dam Wants To Face Current WWE Star In His Final Match
  8. Jon Moxley Set To Compete In Title Vs. Career Match
  9. “Learn How To Sell A Ticket” – Raw Star Hits Out At Logan Paul
  10. Returning WWE Star Was A “Heat Magnet” Backstage
Inside The Ropes
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
  • Write For Us
  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • Instagram Instagram
  • YouTube YouTube
  • Twitch Twitch
© 2022 ITR Digital Media Limited. Read about our privacy policy.