Good Wrestler: Bad Gimmick

[Disturbed]

Alright, have you ever seen a wrestler where you thought, "Damn, only if he had a better gimmick he could be something?" In this thread, I want to know who you think could have done more if it wasn't for his gimmick holding him back. Explain why his gimmick was holding him back and how they could fix it and give him a better gimmick.

I have to say Rikishi. I actually loved his gimmick but I think he needed something more serious. It's hard to take a stinkface serious in a main event match. I have noticed that Big Show is starting to do something like it but at least he isn't wearing a thong. I think Rikishi could have started off with that gimmick but then changed into a badass heel. He could steel have the same attire but just be taken more serious. I would have liked to see him turn on too cool then go into the main event and have World Title run or two. He wasn't that bad in the ring. I just don't think this gimmick worked in his favor for the long run.

 

[Simmo]

I get what you are saing and agree that Rikishi was good for a limited bit of fun and his stuff with 2 Cool was kind of the Santino and Kozlov moments we have now..

One wrestler I always thought would have been better with a different gimmick was Bradshaw.

I am saying from the perspective of watching him in the early days as the redneck bar room brawler type (kind of good), then his time in the Acolytes with Ron Simmons (big fail), to them then becoming the APA (big + but limited scope) I thought he was done and would just fade away after a while.

Boy was I wrong, whoever the creative guy was who saw a re-run of Dallas and went "this is the gimmick for Bradshaw" was a freaking genius....

His JBL gimmick turned out to be one of the best heel gimmicks in a long time and lead to one of the longest title reigns in modern history....

As for another wrestler, I think when Perry Saturn joined WWE they could have done so much more with him but destroyed him with MOPPY instead. Such a waste....

 

[RendarSelin]

The first one that comes to mind for me has to be Chavo Guerrero's Kerwin White gimmick. Everything about the gimmick just was awful: his golf cart entrance, his music, his "White is Right" "catchphrase". The sad thing is, the only thing that stopped this horrific gimmick was the untimely death of Eddie Guerrero. It still makes me cringe to think about how long this awful gimmick could have gone without that tragic event.

Others that come to mind are DDP's "Motivational Speaker" gimmick, Simon Dean's "fitness guru" gimmick, Shelton Benjamin's "It's because I'm black" gimmick, and, so TNA doesn't feel excluded, Robbie E and Cookie.

Horrible gimmicks happen, but if a wrestler can take a turd and make it shine, then that shows who the true talents are.

 

[wrestler36]

Not so much the gimmick as how it was compromised. Matt Bourne and Doink as a heel was way beyond its time and lasted only a few months. Once threw in Dink and made him a face, it was downhill. Heel Doink's promos were cynical and brilliant, on par with Jake the Snake's.

Dean Malenko was pretty cool as a man of 1000 holds. Then in WWE, they turned him into a 'lady's man,' and I thought that was pretty lame. I don't care for Shane Douglas all that much, but he was brilliant on the mic, and when they turned him into Dean Douglas, that was pathetic. Kane as Dr. Isaac Yankem. I can go on and on.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

I think it's fair that I only mention a few because there have been so many that I could probably go on and on. I think around 2000 when Big Show lost at wrestlemania and started be become a bit of a joker immitating people like Hulk Hogan was really bad for him. The previous year he was a behemoth that had won the world title but he quickly went to a bit of a joke and fell down the card until he regained his pride a bit when he feuded with Brock lesnar a couple of years later. Put simply he should have stayed mainly serious and used a bit of humour from time to time like he does now.

Despite what some people would say, I'm gonna shout for Kizarny on this one. I really can't see how the gimmick would ever have worked as it is completely out-of-whack with this generation and their idea of cool seen as he was supposed to be face at that time. Another one has to be Mike Knox's dissembling of the anatomy, those little talks he'd have before he came to the ring were very

Finally I'm gonna nominate a guy that few of you will remember. The Maestro in WCW. Dude was supposed to like classical music and that was his gimmick.... I'll add Alex Wight to that as well. So you dance stupidly eh?.........good enough for me!

 

[SmattyG]

As for another wrestler, I think when Perry Saturn joined WWE they could have done so much more with him but destroyed him with MOPPY instead. Such a waste....

Are you kidding me? The Moppy angle was awesome!!! Up there with Saturn wearing a dress after losing to Jericho in WCW. The segment with Regal and Tajiri (That's just a mop with a face painted on it!) is laugh out loud funny.

They tried to make Rikishi a hell by revealing him as the driver who ran over Stone Cold, but he was more fun as a face.

If I were to change one from today it'd be Kozlov. Hell I don't even know what his gimmick is supposed to be. He's a big scary Russian badass - let him be just that!!

Oh, and I loved Kizarny's character. They should have given it more of a chance.

 

[Calderownz]

The first guy that comes to mind is Shane Douglas as Dean Douglas. Just an awful gimmick. Especially when he was always a decent talker and could get it done in the ring.

It was one of those gimmicks that makes you think... "Okay, even if he goes as far as he can go with this, so what? So, now he's upper mid-card."

Just a crappy gimmick, all together.

Also, West Texas Rednecks, especially for Mr. Perfect/Curt Hennig. He deserved better.

 

[MancMark]

Good wrestler, bad gimmick eh? There's only one option for me, Mike Awesome in WCW.

He started off well in WCW with tons of momentum and really impressed me. Next thing you know, he's been re-branded as "The Fat Chick Thrilla". Now that gimmick was bad enough, but when your next gimmick is "That 70's Guy", you'd be asking yourself who you'd pissed off behind the scenes. His next gimmick of the "Canadian Career Killer" was marginally better, but still terrible. He joined a stable called Team Canada, when in fact he was born in Florida. Ridiculous.

Mike Awesome had all the talent in the world, and was (still is) one of my favourite big men of all time. These have to be up there with the worst gimmicks to give a good wrestler surely?

 

[Mike Diesel]

I'm going to go with a guy who's working his way towards the main event scene, Dolph Ziggler. He puts on above average matches all the time, but almost everything needs to change, outside the ring, for me to take him as a serious threat for a World Title. His music is awful, Vickie Guerrero is unnecessary at this point, and the name I just can't take seriously, Dolph Ziggler just sounds really weird to me.

I would like for him to get some sort of nickname, some edgier music, maybe even die his hair black, and get a new intense attitude. IF all those things are done, he could really be a legit threat for a major championship, otherwise, I don't see his current character going anywhere past the mid card titles with an occasional World title shot, and subsequent loss.

 

[hdchz013]

I honestly would have to go with Eric Young. His Paranoid gimmick. His comedic gimmick...they both took away from his actually wrestling ability that those of that have been fans of TNA for awhile have all seen. I believe EY is a tremendous wrestler....but he had those awful gimmicks.

 

[S.J. Maximus]

easy: Owen Hart as the Blue Blazer. Owen Hart's mic skills were far better than Bret's and his in-ring style was arguably more entertaining than Bret's even though Bret was the Excellence of Execution. What were they trying to accomplish with the Blue Blazer?! it turned out that all they accomplished was killing one of wrestling's stars of the 90's, and Stu's youngest son

 

[fenfool]

Gail Kim as a 'Diva'! Does anyone look forward to a match she's in now? You usually don't even KNOW she's gonna be in a match until that particular 6-diva tag gets underway. I used to look forward to seeing her work a match, but it's been so long since she's been a factor...so sad.

Anything Mike Awesome did for WCW. The Johnsons, in TNA's early days. I don't care who you are, you can do better than being a giant condom.

 

[jacdnwarrior]

Terry Taylor as the Red Rooster really made me cringe. He was better than to go around clucking and crowing like a rooster. That was a lousy idea. The Mama's Boy gimmick for Shelton Benjamin I didn't like too much, Dr. Yankem the evil dentist. Those are all I can remember right now.

 

[Klown_Karnage]

I have a few candidates for this category. I'm not going into them all as there are so very many.

Firstly, Goldust: Second Incarnation. I'm talking about the face version/just plain idiotic crazy Goldust. Okay, I'll admit, he had some moments of brilliance, but that was Dustin Rhodes' delivery, not the gimmick. When he started out as the exceedingly creepy Prince of Perversity gimmick, that worked. That was an excellent villain. No attempt should have been made to make him a face, especially such a ridiculous one.

Secondly, since I haven't seen any of the Divas mentioned, I'd like to mention Jillian Hall. Most would discount her out of hand these days because of the gimmick she had to play, that horrible wannabe singer gimmick. I'd have not given her a second thought...excepting the fact that I actually sat through a Divas' match with her in it and had to admit that the level of commitment to the fight as well as the sheer brutality of her performance style were really quite impressive. If they'd had her go total psycho, they might have had a female version of Kane on their hands.

As an honorable mention, I'd like to pull a switch and mention someone who had a great gimmick but ruined it by being an idiot: Nailz. This was a great gimmick, and could still work on the right wrestler, but the wrestler who got it last was stupid enough to think he could avoid getting fired by threatening to sue Vince McMahon of (of all things) sexual harassment. Sad really.

 

[Chicago1989]

Owen Hart with the Blue Blazer gimmick could be a perfect example of a great wrestler with a bad gimmick. It's too bad that guys like Vince Russo didn't see that, but it is what it is...

Flash Funk is another good example. For a guy who wasn't always in good shape, 2 Cold Scorpio was a pretty good wrestler. I was never a big fan of his but I've checked out some of his work. That Flash Funk gimmick was just not gonna go anywhere and it was stereotypical.

TNA also has a LONG list of guys they've misused. I'm pretty sure alot of guys here will probably point them out.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

The first name that I thought of when I saw this thread was Val Venis. He was given the over the top gimmick of a pornstar in the Attitude Era. While the gimmick was a perfect fit for that era, I do not think that any guy can be a main eventer with that gimmick. The most you can get out of it is a cult following and that is something that Venis certainly did manage.

I have always seen Venis as someone who could definately go in the ring. In fact in his later years I have heard that he was used as a trainer. He wrestled Kofi Kingston in one of his first matches. Venis could also certainly cut a good promos as well. The thing that I feel is that his gimmick of a pornstar reduced him to a joke.

I mean can you ever imagine a guy who was involved in a castration angle going on to become a world champion?

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Matt Morgan with the stutter....oh my god that was awful.

For once, TNA is actually booking someone better than they were used in WWE. Admittedly Morgan was very green back in the WWE, but he still should have been used far better than he was.

You have a huge man, great physique and awesome look who has alot of potential and yet you give him the gimmick of a stutter/stammer.

Please tell me, when has anyone deliberately stuttered their way to any type of main event level success????

TNA has booked Morgan as a force to be reckoned with, and it is working very well. WWE made him look a fool, which must have been so disheartening so early in his career

 

[S.J. Maximus]

What about Santino Marella? He was probably the least threatening member of the RAW roster in 2008 (when he was losing to Beth Phoenix) and he remained that way until recently turning face and teaming with Kozlov.

He's great in the ring and had a pretty good moveset as the heel Intercontinental Champ, his mic skills are almost unparalleled in this generation of WWE superstars. Only Punk and Cena are better on the mic and only Cena, Orton, and Morrison get bigger pops - yet he's just booked as a silly Italian comedian.

 

[penguin74]

Well, someone already beat me to Mike Awesome in WCW, so I'll have to go with choice B, The Real Man's Man, William Regal. He plays his role so well, that to see him in any other capacity is strange, but that was just the worst thing I've ever seen.

And, while I know he wasn't eactly a great wrestler, the words "naked Mideon" should never have been uttered by anyone, ever.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Another one that jumps to mind is Dean Malenko as a ladies man. Yeah Dean was a fairly smooth guy, and supposedly really funny backstage but why change the stern faced, emotionless Iceman/Shooter into a James Bond style womaniser???

Malenko is one of the best wrestlers of the last 20 years and was sickeningly under-used in WWE. Imagine if they had used him properly and he was still active at the time WWE signed Kurt Angle, Tazz etc. They could have had some phenomenal submission matches. Even more stupidly, they teamed Benoit and Malenko in the Radicalz. Ok they were a decent faction, but wouldn't you rather have seen Benoit and Malenko squaring off in an iron-man match for the Intercontinental Title? I know I would have.

 

[Disturbed]

I have to mention Skip SHefield. The guy is a beast. He is a big man that is really agressive in the ring. I hate seeing him with that dumbass cowboy gimmick. He is to good for that. I know he sort of dropped it when he joined Nexus but he still had that ridiculous name. I think he should change his name and never act like a cowboy again. I don't know if he is coming back from injury with Nexus or against them but if he is against them, then God please don't let him act like a hick. In OVW his name was RyBack and I think his real name is Ryan Reeves. So I want him to come back with Nexus and say he is going by his real name. I mean can we really take a big guy serious with a name like Skip?

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I have to mention Skip SHefield. The guy is a beast. He is a big man that is really agressive in the ring. I hate seeing him with that dumbass cowboy gimmick. He is to good for that. I know he sort of dropped it when he joined Nexus but he still had that ridiculous name. I think he should change his name and never act like a cowboy again. I don't know if he is coming back from injury with Nexus or against them but if he is against them, then God please don't let him act like a hick. In OVW his name was RyBack and I think his real name is Ryan Reeves. So I want him to come back with Nexus and say he is going by his real name. I mean can we really take a big guy serious with a name like Skip?

Agreed, good choice.

Sheffield is a monster, and I have read that Vince is looking at someone to take on the Batista role as a jacked up monster. I know he is considering Mason Ryan, but Skip could have a similar kind of role, making use of his strength which is his look. He is an animal.

Personally I hate the cowboy gimmick is wrestling, it is just lazy and I cannot remember any gimmick of this sort that appealed to me. I certainly think Sheffield needs to drop that for his return, and hopefully go by the name RyBack, that sounds awesome to me. I wouldn't be against him rejoining Nexus, but feuding with them after they "abandoned him" after his injury could work, simple yet effective.

I think he has a lot of potential, and look forward to seeing him back in the WWE soon.

 

[LitasRevenge79]

Here are a few wrestlers with great skill, but terrible gimmicks.

Jack Swagger...tremendous talent. Love the amateur skill he has. Lisping aside, great heel heat. But sadly, he cannot cut promos to save his life. He is more the muscle, and to 'walk softly and carry a big stick' saying. If there was some kind of Super Group that needed some American Superhero or anti-thesis of it, he'd probably be the best bet for it.

Chavo Guerrero...the name says it all. A legacy behind his name. He's had great feuds in the past. I loved his feud with Benoit above all else. Now he's relegated as a comedic enhancement talent. Whatever the case is, I for one, know that is not what Guerrero means. Chavo has certainly educated us all before that 'Guerrero means warrior.'

Ted Dibiase (Jr)...I actually like this guy. Granted, his gimmick is stale. I think he needs to ditch the whole rich kid persona. His skills are not half bad. He had a good thing going in Legacy. You could see his hunger in that. He had a hellacious match that one time with Randy Orton when he was about to be kicked out, and then got kicked in the head. Its in him, and I for one, know he can do this. I've got my fingers crossed for him. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Santino Marella...this man, the 'Milan Miracle.' The crowd is always apeshit for him no matter what. He could score a great reaction even in a temple of silence. Its a shame that even with a belt, he's still seen as 'Comedic Duo' with Kozlov.

Zack Ryder...I'm split on the gimmick part, I think that is kinda what makes him. But he's a great wrestler, to me at least. I think he is very good at what he does. He was one half of the tag team champs when he was teamed with Curt Hawkins as part of "The Edge-Heads" when on Smackdown for a while. Boy has the skills, I think he's a worthwhile competitor.

It seems that sometimes the gimmick is what makes the people either really really love them or really really hate them, no matter how great a wrestler they really are. Its all about how you carry yourself.

 

[Craig-O-Mac]

Suprised nobody's mentioned Chris Candido in WWF. Here's a guy who has the hottest woman in wrestling on his arm (The first true Diva) and the best they can come up with is the Bodydonnas?!! Chris was good in the ring and yet they saddled him with the god-awful singular name of Skip, later to be joined by an aged Tom Pritchard renamed Zip!!

 

[OWEN-ing It All]

Suprised nobody's mentioned Chris Candido in WWF. Here's a guy who has the hottest woman in wrestling on his arm (The first true Diva) and the best they can come up with is the Bodydonnas?!! Chris was good in the ring and yet they saddled him with the god-awful singular name of Skip, later to be joined by an aged Tom Pritchard renamed Zip!!

Definitely.

I'd also have to add Aldo Montoya. ECW got it right when he became Justin Credible.

Savio Vega comes to mind with his Los Boricuas gimmick. I actually liked his Kwang gimmick, loved the mist he used to spit. And when he debuted as Savio he had some great matches and feuds.....until the Boricua angle.

Deacon Batista, anyone? Although D-Von was pretty spot on and amusing. So I won't include him. But Deacon? It took me a long time to take him seriously at all, even after his world title run.....for this reason alone. He went from guarding a collection plate/box to winning the Royal Rumble and beating HHH.

Bob "Spark Plugg" Holly - Need I say more? He was always a great wrestler, but it was the name more than the gimmick. Plus when McMahon would say "Look at Sparky, he's a house of fire!!!" - awful. You look at Sparky, Vince.

Mr. Ass - That had to be the one of the worst gimmicks of all-time. That and Rock-A-Billy...........for someone who was already an established star and had all the tools. It was mind boggling how they could screw that up.

The Repo Man - Who actually thought this was a good idea. The Hamburglar is more like it.

Pretty much any gimmick Crush ever had......he was a decent wrestler. But he was just misused.