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Paul and Katie Lea Burchill

In 2015, we looked at the trend of the Top 50 Wrestling Families. Factoring in siblings, cousins, children, uncles, aunts, spouses and other relations, there are no shortage of real-life relatives in the squared circle.

 

This list? Well, it's a little different.

 

This week, we're looking at wrestling "families" that aren't related by blood (or at least, not in the way that they've been promoted). Since the dawn of professional wrestling, promoters have created ficticious brothers, sisters, parents and other relations to either bolster a character's backstory or give them some much needed backup in the ring.

 

In compiling a list of the Top 50 Phony Families, we looked at the following criteria:

 

  • How prominent was this group in wrestling history?

  • How many members of the family are included?

  • Was there a lot of work required by a promotion to present them as legitimate relatives?

  • Did the phony family storyline do anything to further a wrestler's career?

 

If you'd like to be a part of this conversation, Tweet us at @canadianbulldog using the hashtag #Top50, or leave a comment below.


Ready? Here we go!

The Dupps were a group whose relationship was never fully defined, but included members Bo Dupp, Jack Dupp, Fluff Dupp and Stan Dupp (get it?). They began as a comedy act during the final days of ECW, were briefly in WWE's developmental and enjoyed a run in the early PPV specials of TNA.

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The Dupps

No relation to Mick Foley (legitimately or otherwise), or Jim Ross, for that matter,  J.R. Foley was a British wrestler that ended his career in Stampede as the heel manager of Dynamite Kid and others. As J.R.'s character developed he introduced his son Athol, who was really British wrestler Bernie Wright.

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