Lacey Evans has been at the centre of controversy in recent weeks after returning to the ring sporting army camouflage based attire and using the Cobra Clutch as a finishing move, something that has irked WWE Hall Of Famer Sgt Slaughter and his family.
Evans returned to WWE television for the June 2nd episode of WWE SmackDown, her first outing since March 24th when she teamed with Natalya in a bid to qualify for the Women’s WrestleMania Showcase. The former legitimate United States Marine Corps Military Police Sergeant would soon partake in an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for Money In The Bank followed with Zelina Vega beating the former NXT star.
But with both Slaughter and his daughter furious with perceived disrespect caused by Evans’ new look, a surprising source has raced to the defence of the former WWE Raw Womens Championship number one contender.
Vince Russo Races To Lacey Evans Defence Over Slaughter Controversy
Controversial former WWE writer Vince Russo slammed Slaughter during a recent appearance on The Wrestling Outlaws, suggesting the former WWE Champion should in fact be supportive of Evans’ new gimmick given its legitimate routes:
“Bro, she’s (Lacey Evans) a legit marine, right? A legit marine. What’s his (Sgt. Slaughter’s) issue? Like, I could understand if she wasn’t a legit marine but she’s legit. He should be putting her over.”
Sgt Slaughter himself addressed the controversy in a recent interview with Bill Apter for Sportskeeda, revealing that he refuses to watch SmackDown due to Evans’ appearances on the show:
“I don’t watch [WWE] as much as I did. I watch Raw because SmackDown has Lacey on it. It doesn’t upset me because I know she can’t put a Cobra Clutch on like I do but it’s just the thought that she’s using a move without — at least I would think the writers or somebody would call me up and say, ‘you mind if we use the Cobra Clutch?’ or maybe call it something else because DiBiase brought it in when I was gone with G.I. Joe and he used it as the Million Dollar Dream.
She could have maybe come up with another name of it but just to call it the Cobra Clutch, I had to end up using the Camel Clutch when I came back [in 1990] because DiBiase was using my hold. I asked Khosrow [Iron Sheik]. I said is it okay if I use your move? That’s the way the business was. You respect your talent and the people that you worked with.”
HT: Sportskeeda for the above transcription