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This week saw the release of two separate shirts by high-profile wrestlers that featured imagery that invoked the logo of the Schutzstaffel. It’s not a new issue, as it’s plagued pro wrestling and combat sports in general for years, but it continues to be a troubling one. If you’re not familiar with the “SS,” it was a paramilitary organization used by Hitler. It’s the organization most responsible for the millions of deaths that occurred during the Holocaust. Clearly that imagery shouldn’t be on the shirts of wrestlers that work for major companies such as WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The first shirt that caught my attention was a new design from Marty Scurll. It’s a stylish blue design, but one look at the reflection in his glasses show a familiar looking logo. To Scurll and the designer’s credit, the shirt’s designed was altered very quickly after fans brought it up.
You can see the original shirt design below:
Good afternoon.
I'd like to let everybody know that I designed a t-shirt for @MartyScurll
It's the first time one of my designs appear on @PWTees
And yes, yes
I'm PRETTY FUCKING HAPPY!!!!Support the guy, he is the best.https://t.co/PR5COK9ldX pic.twitter.com/JNhInUzPG6
— Pedro Carvalho (@pedrohgcarvalho) September 17, 2018
In this case, the designer Pedro Carvalho says it was his mistake. “This is me at my dumbest,” wrote Carvalho on Twitter. “I didn’t notice it until now, really. I was trying (and failing) to draw the reflection of his glasses and this happened. I’m not secretly a Nazi, I’m just really dumb. I’m embarrassed, honestly, and sad that I didn’t notice it.”
Carvalho went on to state that Marty is “an amazing dude who I am really happy to have worked with.” He ended his message with a clear message: “Fuck Nazis.”
Sadly, though that’s not the only instance where it can be argued that a Schutzstaffel logo can be seen. A new shirt from NXT UK star Trent Seven also features the “ϟϟ” design.
You can view that below:
p r e o r d e r finishes at 7:00pm tuesday 17th September
t 7 4.0
Thankyou to all that have o r d e r e d
get em in babs pic.twitter.com/s9RyKXt5VF
— Trent Seven (@trentseven) September 17, 2018
These can be dismissed as mistakes by the shirt designers that were also overlooked by the wrestlers (and I’m certainly not implying that any of the combat athletes are endorsing such views), but there’s a long history of Nazi imagery in fight-related clothing that can’t be denied. Brands such as Hoelzer Reich, Dethrone and Silver Star have blatantly used the Totenkopf in the past and have profited off of it.
The author of the article I linked above, Jonathan Snowden, is well versed with the issue. I asked the US veteran about how often these designs are genuine mistakes or maliciously done. “I’m suspicious that these are merely mistakes,” said the current Bleacher Report Senior Writer. “Unfortunately, there’s a large audience looking for merchandise that espouses this kind of noxious idealogy. It adds a second group of buyers that can really make a big difference if margins are slim. But I’m not sure that means the wrestlers and fighters in question have any idea what’s going on. I remember talking with [UFC fighter] Clay Guida who seemed appalled by the idea he was wearing Nazi symbols.”
“So, I’m willing to give Marty Scurll the benefit of the doubt,” continued Snowden. “I think a lot of people just see the iconography as bad ass. And, of course, that’s why the Nazis used it in the first place. Unfortunately, sometimes a cool looking t-shirt is actually something slightly sinister.”
Professional wrestling is a fantastic form of entertainment that should be welcoming to all. Sadly, all too often there are people trying to take advantage of athletes in order to spread their repugnant views.
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