Following complaints from the manager of Wal-Mart in Cartersville, GA and from Sabrena Parton, a professor at Kennesaw State University, Wal-Mart pulled a World Wrestling Federation doll depicting a wrestler carrying a woman’s head. The doll, Summer Slam ’99: Road Rage Al Snow, is modeled after WWF wrestler Al Snow, who carries a female mannequin’s head with the words “Help Me” etched backward across the forehead.
Jim Byrne, WWF vice president for marketing said “Al Snow’s act with the mannequin head is as silly as it gets – loads of fun.” Al Snow commented that after losing a match and beating the mannequin head, the fans subsequently booed him. “Seems like everybody likes that head,” said Snow.
Professor Parton noted “my sons are 6 and 11. What kind of message would this toy send them about brutalization of women?” Wal-Mart spokesman, John Bisio, said the doll was “at least a questionable item” and would be removed from shelves indefinitely.
