Creative Speculation

I don't care if they were ex SEALs. Having military training means absolutely nothing unless one practices the martial arts nearly every day for decades and lives in a constant state of preparedness. Any one who takes a few classes at the local Y and goes out looking for a bar fight will end up in the emergency room. I know this because I've seen a few guys take this approach as well.

I have plenty of friends who are ex-military, and an 8 year old kid could sucker punch them and they'd fold like a cheap suit. I took Kenpo classes almost every day for over 10 years, and unless you work out intensely, and I mean with a sparring partner, your muscle memory will fade over time. Yeah, you'll remember the techniques, but they will not be as natural as scratching your balls, which they would need to be to avoid having your throat cut from behind while strapped into a chair with your hands on a steering wheel.

Jesus, this kind of wild conjecture really frosts my pineapple.

Unless you can show me that those pilots were actively involved in MMA training right up to time they had their throats slit, your nutty theory will get as much respect from me as it merits, which is to say, none.

However, it has been very pleasant meeting Spook's intellectual heir.