Wayne Maurice Keown, better known to wrestling fans as Dutch Mantel or Zeb Colter, has signed with Impact Wrestling. Colter went public with the news this week:
NEWS: Finally, I can OFFICIALLY announce that I have signed with @IMPACTWRESTLING in a creative/advisory capacity. Changes underway.
— ??. ????? (@DirtyDMantell) February 23, 2017
A 40-Year Plus Career
The 67-year old Colter first debuted in wrestling’s territorial system in the early 1970s. Originally he was known as Wayne Cowan, but adapted the “Dirty” Dutch Mantel gimmick by 1980.
By the 90s, Mantel had dabbled as a commentator for WCW but was eventually signed as a manager by WWE. He adopted the gimmick “Uncle Zebekiah” and managed Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw.
In 2003, Mantel started a six-year stint working on the TNA creative team. He left due to “creative differences” in 2009.
From 2013-16, Colter was under contract to the WWE again as a manager. It was during this stint that he played the role of an anti-immigration crusader. The storyline, which also featured Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rios, stirred up a little controversy and garnered some mainstream media attention.
Colter’s signing is the latest in a string of backstage changes that Anthem and Jeff Jarrett have been making in recent weeks.