WWE changing gimmicks at end of careers

[EastCoastFan]

Tito Santana tried to make the "El Matador" gimmick work, but when he found out they had no plans for promoting or merchandising the character, he walked and then retired.

The rumor I heard about Owen Hart resuming the Blue Blazer was that Vince Russo originally planned an adultery storyline between him and Debra, but Owen refused to do it (he didn't want to have to explain it to his kids) and the Blue Blazer was his punishment for saying no.

I have no idea what they were thinking when they turned Terry Funk into Chainsaw Charlie. Everybody knew it was Funk.

As for Mr. America, that was a rehash of the classic "fired wrestler returning under a mask" trope that has been done so many times over the years, the most famous one being the times Dusty Rhodes became the Midnight Rider.

[Y2eh 2.0]

The four you named have been pretty well discussed. How about Tony Atlas 'embracing' his African roots as Saba Simba. Not sure if there was a story behind it but it was an insulting joke as far as I am concerned.

[HBsam31]

Harley Race going from pretty much just a no gimmick tough guy in the NWA winning 8 titles to King Harley Race in WWE. I wouldn't say he was a joke, but his past was never mentioned which Vince tended to do in those days and even now. He could have been a nice vetern addition to the roster, but instead they made him into a glorified jobber. It always seemed dumb for me to bring a guy in with such a storied past only to throw a crown on him and have him feud in the mid card at best. He later returned to WCW to be a manager, and his time as King Harley Race is pretty much forgotten.

[WallsofZakku]

Originally Posted by Macho Machismo

DDP's motivational speaker gimmick. Everytime I think of all those main event feuds that he could've had with guys like Austin (Stunner vs. Cutter), Rock (Peoples Champ vs. Peoples Champ), Jericho, Angle, HHH, and more before he decided to hang up the boots, I shake my head in disappointment. Vince could've booked the Invasion storyline and used DDP so much better, he didn't even get a proper one-on-one match with The Undertaker in their feud.

I too cringe at the fact that Vince seriously dropped the ball with DDP, I mean c'mon the dude could wrestle, had charisma, and was one of WCW's top guys.
Like you said, he could've had some great matches and fueds with the WWE's top guys but instead Vince couldn't pull his head out of his own ass to make it happen.

[Y2eh 2.0]

Originally Posted by WallsofZakku

I too cringe at the fact that Vince seriously dropped the ball with DDP, I mean c'mon the dude could wrestle, had charisma, and was one of WCW's top guys.
Like you said, he could've had some great matches and fueds with the WWE's top guys but instead Vince couldn't pull his head out of his own ass to make it happen.

You are remembering DDP far too fondly. DDP was at best a mid card guy who got title runs because of the lack of options. I put DDP in the same category as Booker and Steiner. DDP had a really good feud with Savage, I'll give him that, but come on, it was with Savage. I could have been in a feud with Savage and would have been made to seem credible. DDP, Booker and Steiner all got pushed to the moon at a time where WCW needed to put the belt on someone. It really wasn't because they SHOULD HAVE HAD the belt.

[WallsofZakku]

Originally Posted by Y2eh 2.0

You are remembering DDP far too fondly. DDP was at best a mid card guy who got title runs because of the lack of options. I put DDP in the same category as Booker and Steiner. DDP had a really good feud with Savage, I'll give him that, but come on, it was with Savage. I could have been in a feud with Savage and would have been made to seem credible. DDP, Booker and Steiner all got pushed to the moon at a time where WCW needed to put the belt on someone. It really wasn't because they SHOULD HAVE HAD the belt.

Well you never know until you try right? i think DDP was great, then again this is my opinion as you have yours. DDP was one of the best guys WCW had. And no im not counting the Eddie Gurreros or the Dean Malenkos, etc because we all know that in WCW they never had a shot at that title.
What was WCW going to do? keep the title on guys like Sting or Flair the whole time?

[justtxyank]

Originally Posted by Y2eh 2.0

You are remembering DDP far too fondly. DDP was at best a mid card guy who got title runs because of the lack of options. I put DDP in the same category as Booker and Steiner. DDP had a really good feud with Savage, I'll give him that, but come on, it was with Savage. I could have been in a feud with Savage and would have been made to seem credible. DDP, Booker and Steiner all got pushed to the moon at a time where WCW needed to put the belt on someone. It really wasn't because they SHOULD HAVE HAD the belt.

I actually agree with you about Booker T. To me he was always a guy who was good in the ring and fun to watch, but only as a mid-carder. I never bought him as a main eventer.

However, you are dead wrong about DDP. DDP did get his push largely because of his friendship with Bischoff, but there was nothing forced about the way the crowds embraced him. Beginning with his Diamond Cutter on Scott Hall when they wanted him to join the nWo, he went on a wild ride until the end of 1998 where he was one of the three or four most popular men in the company with Goldberg, Sting and Hogan. There was a reason they wanted DDP involved in the Leno/Rodman/Malone stuff. DDP had become a HUGE hit with the crowds. He was so over that when he faced Goldberg at Halloween Havoc I was SURE he was going to win the belt. (And didn't want it to happen!) I was there live and remember the crowd being very pro-DDP (there was also an "I BANGed Kimberly" sign that I will never forget!).

Steiner, same way. Steiner was a legit main eventer. His heel heat got off the charts after becoming Big Poppa Pump. Had he been in the WWF there is no doubt he would have been pushed as a main eventer as well. It just came too later. His ring work was falling apart because of the roids and then he got seriously injured when he was brought into the WWF and made to look a fool.