Real Life Heels: Bubba the Love Sponge (Video Evidence Included)

Do you hate this man?

Okay, okay, form a single file line.  Please. 

I guess the more intriguing question to ask would be: Does anybody not named Hulk Hogan even like this man?

Shock Jock, and more importantly, Hogan crony Bubba the Love Sponge was reintroduced to the pro wrestling scene on January 4, 2010.  He was a failed pro wrestler in a past life.  His debut with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling coincided with the donning of the Hogan/Bischoff era in TNA.

In employing Bubba the Love Sponge, Hulk Hogan displayed acts of both nepotism and misjudgment.  Unfortunately, these are two attributes that have been prominent in defining the legacy that has become the once Immortal Hulk Hogan.  The fact that Hogan actually considers Bubba the Love Sponge a dear friend continues the painting of such a disturbing picture.    

Bubba's involvement in professional wrestling was facilitated by the ambiguous nature of heat.  When fans negatively react to pro wrestling characters, it is often difficult to discern whether or not the reactions are a product of "heat" or "hate."

I am not a fan Bubba the Love Sponge, and I don't even need to read the Heel poll to know that you aren't either. 

However the hateful reaction Bubba drew from TNA houses, coupled with the Hate Sponge's relationship with the Hulkster, kept him employed.

And kept the tensions rising.  Was it any question that the curious case of Bubba the Love Sponge would come back to haunt Hulk Hogan and TNA alike?   

The concept of storytelling in pro wrestling is quite simple.  It's the execution that is periodically botched by the creative teams entrusted to give stories life.  

There are three factors that go into the telling of a great story, whether it is the story of a character, an angle, or a gimmick.  These factors are often used for purposes of telling a scripted story designed to entertain.  However they may also be utilized to tell a true story as is the case here.  What are these factors?     

1.  The Conflict

2.  The Build Up

3 . The Payoff

The Conflict

The conflict is simple.  People don't like Bubba the Love Sponge.  A man who makes his living as a Shock Jock (the real life assholes who's primary job is to offend by any means necessary), TNA's hiring of such a despicable figure was proof that TNA does not use or listen to focus groups.

Bubba was booed whenever he was shown in plain sight.  He was seen as a crony.  An outsider who did not belong.  He was annoying.  He was a fast-talking scumbag. His ability to speak English, and his access to a live microphone, placed him slightly above that of a trained chimp in the hierarchy of idiocy.

Everything about Bubba the Love Sponge's real life qualities were hard to embrace.  He's a "sunglasses indoors" guy.  Not because it gets heat, but because it's part of his shtick in real life. 

Backstage, he literally walked around in Hulk Hogan's shadow.  They're friends in real life, it's part of his shtick to reaffirm the fact that he was a member of the in-crowd and there was nothing you could do about it. Bubba often wears all black, you know, because of the shtick?

Hate or heat, Bubba's antics got a reaction.  However, coupled with the reaction of the TNA fans, it was the actions of a certain employee that escalated the conflict.  Bubba's on-air (real life) behavior quickly became part of the build up to the (legit) heat that would eventually lead to his downfall in TNA.

The Build Up

The build up of the heat for Bubba the Love Sponge, like the conflict, was simple.  The fact that "The Sponge" seemed unfireable, while Hogan was in charge, irked people and facilitated such heat. 

Bubba's platform, usually loyal Shock Jock fans, consisted of wrestling fans who could care less about what he had to offer.  Television segments involving Bubba the Love Sponge were seen as unproductive.  This never became more apparent when he aligned himself with The Band (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman), who have become the unofficial card carrying members of the Hasbeen Hall of Fame. 

It wasn't only Bubba the Love Sponge's on-camera antics that earned him the general displeasure of the consumer.

In the wake of one of the most tragic catastrophes in world history, Bubba the Love Sponge gave pro wrestling fans a more tangible reason to hate him when he tweeted this tasty gem:

"I say f*ck Haiti. Why do we have to take care of everybody our country is in shambles? " [Miami New Times ]

Bubba's insensitive comments earned him an ass-whooping from TNA standout Awesome Kong. 

Awesome Kong was a key member of the Knockouts division, a division which consistently draws ratings for the product.  As a big, imposing, presence Kong had a unique look that was completely different from that of today's female pro wrestler. 

For years, Awesome Kong had been a pioneer for TNA's upstart Knockout's (Women's) division.  It was because of Kong, as the top heel of the division, that the Knockouts thrived on the strength of a magnificent feud with then top face Gail Kim. 

Despite being marketed as a monster heel, the fans eventually embraced Awesome Kong. Kong's in-ring work, and contributions to the TNA product, shined through even her own brilliant portrayal of a menacing gimmick. 

It was also Awesome Kong's contributions out of the ring that earned her praise from her peers.  Without hesitation, Awesome Kong organized various charity events for Haitian relief upon learning of the disastrous earthquake. 

It became quite apparent that the situation in Haiti was something she was very passionate about.  It was only inevitable that Bubba the Hate Sponge would be on the losing end of a physical confrontation with Awesome Kong after his aforementioned comments.

Unfortunately this was a loss-loss situation.  Bubba the Love Sponge may have been treated like a jailhouse washrag backstage, but the confrontation has since been considered instrumental in the departure of Awesome Kong from TNA.

Cue rising tensions.

It was bad enough that Bubba the Love Sponge was seen as a slimy, undeserving hack who did little to nothing to earn a spot on the TNA Roster.  But now that his antics clashed with a TNA star who worked tirelessly to earn the respect of the fans, the build up towards the Bubba 'hate heat' intensified.  

"FIRE BUBBA" Chants reigned down from the Impact Zone on a weekly basis.  The fans were relentless.  The fine line between hate and heat had been crossed.  

They hated him. 

Bubba the Love Sponge was to be used sparingly after being (legit) punched in the face by another pro wrestling philanthropist in Mick Foley (Foley claims it was a mistake, but It's just more fun to believe the punch was in honor of fellow philanthropist Awesome Kong).  

The build up phase finally reached its tipping point in Bubba's recent verbal ambush of Awesome Kong on another Shock Jock radio show.  

There should be no polarization when it comes to Bubba the Love Sponge.  This man is a real life heel through and through. 

The Payoff

The payoff for the failed Bubba the Love Sponge experiment mercifully came to an end earlier today.  It too was simple and academic as it should have been long ago. 

TNA, a private company that never announces their releases of talent, announced the following on their website :  

"Effective immediately, TNA Wrestling has elected to terminate the services of Todd Clem p/k/a Bubba the Love Sponge. "

Good riddance.  I hate that man.