"He was the meanest. Who the heck comes to the ring and breaks the stairs before you get in the ring?", Johnny Rodz said of Karl Von Hess. It was quite fitting as Von Hess was one of the most hated villains in the 1950s. As one of the first wrestlers with a Nazi gimmick, he played the role to the hilt - goose stepping, muttering German, Heil saluting, choking opponents with wires - often inciting riots or near riots. His act made him a top attraction for Capitol Wrestling (now WWE) in the D.C. and Baltimore areas. So convincing was Von Hess that promoter Vincent J. McMahon even had to reveal the magic in the Washington Post and explain that Von Hess was playing a role.
Von Hess' act made him a top attraction for Capitol Wrestling (now WWE) in the D.C. and Baltimore areas. Promoter Vincent J. McMahon would even publicly laud him as the top draw in Washington since Jim Londos. So convincing was Von Hess that he would get stabbed, attacked or shot at by fans. McMahon even had to admit in the Washington Post that Von Hess was playing a role. Von Hess waged battles against notable foes such as Antonino Rocca, Ricki Starr, "Wildman" Jackie Fargo and Abe Jacobs. Other were Antonino Rocca, Ricki Starr, "Wildman" Jackie Fargo and Abe Jacobs. Starr and Jacobs made for stark contrasts with Starr having a ballerina persona and Jacobs was a Jewish champion. In the 1960s, Von Hess would fizzle out.