The gist of this thread is really simple. Which wrestling character changes do you think were the best and which ones were the absolute worst?
Hulk Hogan/Hollywood Hogan - To some this is the end all be all of transformations when you consider the complete 180 he pulled when he changed from the arguably greatest babyface character in the history of the business who once urged his Hulkamaniacs to say their prayers and eat their vitamins and always stood for what was right to the vile, underhanded Hollywood Hogan who claimed he was sick and tired of pandering to the masses and would do ANYTHING and step on anyone to be the top guy for life.
Sting to silent "Crow" Sting - This is another change that I believe reinvigorated a declining character in Sting. Everyone including his best of friends like Lex Luger believed he may have been in cahoots with the New World Order. And to nWo's credit, they even had their very own "Fake" Sting to further the controversy. Finally Sting had had enough and while addressing the fans, said in no uncertain terms that everyone including the fans themselves thought Sting may have been a part of the nWo and for that they could all stick it. Not long after words, Sting would appear in the rafters with the black and white paint always silent and brooding just watching everything transpire but for awhile never got involved. It was great tv during a time when Nitro was really turning up the heat and giving WWF a run for its money.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley to HHH - This is one of those changes that to me that didnt exactly need to happen at the moment. I loved the snob Helmsley especially during his run ins with The Godwinns where he looked completely disgusted by their very presence. Then when he was put in the hog pin matches with them or get the old slop bucket bath, it was classic. Then after Hall, Nash, and Waltman jumped over to WCW, Helmsley joined up with HBK to form DX and gone were the dignified bowing and snobby british mannerisms in exchange for brash and vulgar HHH who liked to mock authority and push the envelope. Later he became who we see today as the Cerebral Assassin aka The Game aka The King of Kings, etc who would take a hell of a beating and bring it back ten fold and hold the top billing for a number of years and brought about the faction Evolution and later reforming DX. Great transformation.
Bradshaw to JBL - This is one of the greatest of all time in my opinion and certainly one that at first I thought would NEVER work. You take a guy who with Ron Simmons were beer drinking, bar brawling, hired guns to the highest bidders and turn the Texas Roughneck into a man who became a millionaire in New York at the stock exchange and had a complete makeover. Gone was jet black hair and goatee in favor of a suit and cowboy hat with bleach blond short hair and pearly white smile with the stretch limo.
Undertaker to American Bad Ass - This is one of those that many people are divided on. I personally like Bikertaker because it was something different and didnt tarnish the legacy of his Deadman days. BUT then when you take a realistic approach and then go back to the Deadman character...that was stupid in my opinion. Its too far fetched to me and maybe unnecessary. Sure he has had his best matches since returning to the dead man persona but I still say it may have been useless to do so.
Randy Orton from Legend Killer to Viper - This has to be the worst in my opinion because I really really liked the Legend Killer gimmick because here you had a young, brash, punk kid who literally spit in the face of those who paved the way for him and put many legends down in the ring and replaced him with the boring, stoic Viper who flops around before delivering the RKO and just doesnt deliver anymore on the mic. I think this is another one that wasn't needed and may have done more harm than good. I understand that he couldnt do the Legend Killer thing forever and had to do something to reach the top of the mountain but the whole Viper thing is a step in the wrong direction to me and needs to be repackaged or at least rethought.
Diamond Dallas Page to Stalker DDP to Positively Page - This guy may have had one of the best turn arounds of anyone in WCW because at first he was a cocky no body who found a niche and created a great following and a hell of a character than many including close friend Mick Foley, say is the most true to life characters in the business in that he lives his character every day. He was one of my absolute favorites in WCW because again, he was different. He was so unorthodox and cheesy that I couldnt help but love him. Plus the New Jersey Triad with him Kanyon, and Bam Bam Bigelow was awesome as well. Then upon going to WWE during the absorption of WCW and ECW into the roster, he started out stalking Undertaker's wife Sara and even taking an ass beating or two from her and Taker then he became basically a motivational speaker with the big cheesy smile and the catchphrase "Thats notta bad thing.....its a GOOD thing!" Pure crap
Anyway I can do this all day. What are some of your favorites and least favorites throughout history?
Hulk Hogan/Hollywood Hogan - To some this is the end all be all of transformations when you consider the complete 180 he pulled when he changed from the arguably greatest babyface character in the history of the business who once urged his Hulkamaniacs to say their prayers and eat their vitamins and always stood for what was right to the vile, underhanded Hollywood Hogan who claimed he was sick and tired of pandering to the masses and would do ANYTHING and step on anyone to be the top guy for life.
Sting to silent "Crow" Sting - This is another change that I believe reinvigorated a declining character in Sting. Everyone including his best of friends like Lex Luger believed he may have been in cahoots with the New World Order. And to nWo's credit, they even had their very own "Fake" Sting to further the controversy. Finally Sting had had enough and while addressing the fans, said in no uncertain terms that everyone including the fans themselves thought Sting may have been a part of the nWo and for that they could all stick it. Not long after words, Sting would appear in the rafters with the black and white paint always silent and brooding just watching everything transpire but for awhile never got involved. It was great tv during a time when Nitro was really turning up the heat and giving WWF a run for its money.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley to HHH - This is one of those changes that to me that didnt exactly need to happen at the moment. I loved the snob Helmsley especially during his run ins with The Godwinns where he looked completely disgusted by their very presence. Then when he was put in the hog pin matches with them or get the old slop bucket bath, it was classic. Then after Hall, Nash, and Waltman jumped over to WCW, Helmsley joined up with HBK to form DX and gone were the dignified bowing and snobby british mannerisms in exchange for brash and vulgar HHH who liked to mock authority and push the envelope. Later he became who we see today as the Cerebral Assassin aka The Game aka The King of Kings, etc who would take a hell of a beating and bring it back ten fold and hold the top billing for a number of years and brought about the faction Evolution and later reforming DX. Great transformation.
Bradshaw to JBL - This is one of the greatest of all time in my opinion and certainly one that at first I thought would NEVER work. You take a guy who with Ron Simmons were beer drinking, bar brawling, hired guns to the highest bidders and turn the Texas Roughneck into a man who became a millionaire in New York at the stock exchange and had a complete makeover. Gone was jet black hair and goatee in favor of a suit and cowboy hat with bleach blond short hair and pearly white smile with the stretch limo.
Undertaker to American Bad Ass - This is one of those that many people are divided on. I personally like Bikertaker because it was something different and didnt tarnish the legacy of his Deadman days. BUT then when you take a realistic approach and then go back to the Deadman character...that was stupid in my opinion. Its too far fetched to me and maybe unnecessary. Sure he has had his best matches since returning to the dead man persona but I still say it may have been useless to do so.
Randy Orton from Legend Killer to Viper - This has to be the worst in my opinion because I really really liked the Legend Killer gimmick because here you had a young, brash, punk kid who literally spit in the face of those who paved the way for him and put many legends down in the ring and replaced him with the boring, stoic Viper who flops around before delivering the RKO and just doesnt deliver anymore on the mic. I think this is another one that wasn't needed and may have done more harm than good. I understand that he couldnt do the Legend Killer thing forever and had to do something to reach the top of the mountain but the whole Viper thing is a step in the wrong direction to me and needs to be repackaged or at least rethought.
Diamond Dallas Page to Stalker DDP to Positively Page - This guy may have had one of the best turn arounds of anyone in WCW because at first he was a cocky no body who found a niche and created a great following and a hell of a character than many including close friend Mick Foley, say is the most true to life characters in the business in that he lives his character every day. He was one of my absolute favorites in WCW because again, he was different. He was so unorthodox and cheesy that I couldnt help but love him. Plus the New Jersey Triad with him Kanyon, and Bam Bam Bigelow was awesome as well. Then upon going to WWE during the absorption of WCW and ECW into the roster, he started out stalking Undertaker's wife Sara and even taking an ass beating or two from her and Taker then he became basically a motivational speaker with the big cheesy smile and the catchphrase "Thats notta bad thing.....its a GOOD thing!" Pure crap
Anyway I can do this all day. What are some of your favorites and least favorites throughout history?
