Taz Once Called Pizza Shop To Threaten Ex ECW Star Over Gimmick Infringement

Gimmicks are very important in pro wrestling, because it can make or break a character. If someone has a gimmick that works, it is very important to protect that at all costs. Taz understands that idea very well.

Bay Ragni performed as Chubby Dudley outside ECW, and that word got to Taz. The Human Suplex Machine did not appreciate that one bit, so he got on the phone and did something about it.

Once upon a time, Bay Ragni was one of nine members of the Dudley family in ECW. That went down in 1995. The now 52-year-old continued to portray Chubby Dudley on the independent scene after leaving the company in 1996. On top of pro wrestling, Ragni also worked at a pizza shop. Taz obviously knew where to find him.

During the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Ragni revealed that Taz once called him at the pizza shop and demanded he stop using an ECW gimmick. Ragni wanted to talk, but Taz wasn’t having it.

“He’s like, ‘Are you doing our gimmick on the indies?’ I said, ‘What do you mean our gimmick?’ He’s like, ‘That’s our gimmick. We own the gimmick. You can’t do it.’ I said, ‘Well, that’s kinda f*cked up. All right, you wanna talk, can we just please talk? I would love to talk.’ I said, ‘Taz, all I wanted was a shot. That’s all I wanted. I was never given a shot.'” 

Taz is still very protective of his brand, and he won’t let anyone belittle him in pro wrestling, or on social media. It seems that this was certainly an instance where Taz put his foot down, and Chubby Dudley had to alter his gimmick after that.

We’ll have to see if the Dudley Family has a grand reunion. They have all gone their separate ways at this point. Even then, the Dudley name still has a lot of respect behind it. So, be careful how you use it.

What’s your take on this story about Taz? Does it surprise you that he didn’t just show up instead? Sound off in the comments!