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When you talk about face paint in pro-wresting, the obvious names like Sting, The Ultimate Warrior. the Legion of Doom/Roadwarriors and even Goldust are often brought up as prime examples of some of the most legendary and recognizable patterns/styles, but this thread is designed to shine some light on some of the lesser-knowns and the underrated ones.
While you don't have to rank them if you don't want, who do you think are the top-5, or five of the most underrated face-painters in pro-wrestling history, and why?
Mine are as follows:
5. Samoa Joe
I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for it, but I thought Joe's ascension (or is that descent?) into his tribal/Samoan roots role with the Nation of Violence gimmick really took off when he re-debuted his character with that face paint. I wasn't a fan of the new tights (well, pants), or the sleeveless leather jacket, but I thought they were on the right track with the paint, and the tribal sword. It didn't last long, and didn't garner many fans, but I was one of them.
4. Vampiro
While it may be cliché to some folks, I thought Vampiro really delved into the gothic/vampiric look perfectly, and his paint, while simplistic in nature, worked for his character extremely well. It managed to draw on both the aspects of new-age gothic, as well as vampiric/zombie-esque.
3. The Boogeyman
While not the greatest wrestler or wrestling character in history, Boogeymans actual face paint truly worked to accentuate his character, and gave it a fantastic tribal feeling that he matched with his mannerisms and character tendencies.
2. Papa Shango
Again, a lot like Vampiro, Papa Shango's character was dark and based in voodoo, and as a result he painted a simple skull on his face to emphasize his character, but to me, it absolutely worked.
1. Jeff Hardy
While it's rare it's ever duplicated, Hardy's enigmatic character really acclimated to the choice to start painting his face into his gimmick I thought, and it's taken on an almost mandatory role in his future at this point, as the paint as well as his arm bands, t-shirt tied in the back pocket, etc. have really become of him and helped to define an otherwise rather bland personality.
While you don't have to rank them if you don't want, who do you think are the top-5, or five of the most underrated face-painters in pro-wrestling history, and why?
Mine are as follows:
5. Samoa Joe

I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for it, but I thought Joe's ascension (or is that descent?) into his tribal/Samoan roots role with the Nation of Violence gimmick really took off when he re-debuted his character with that face paint. I wasn't a fan of the new tights (well, pants), or the sleeveless leather jacket, but I thought they were on the right track with the paint, and the tribal sword. It didn't last long, and didn't garner many fans, but I was one of them.
4. Vampiro

While it may be cliché to some folks, I thought Vampiro really delved into the gothic/vampiric look perfectly, and his paint, while simplistic in nature, worked for his character extremely well. It managed to draw on both the aspects of new-age gothic, as well as vampiric/zombie-esque.
3. The Boogeyman

While not the greatest wrestler or wrestling character in history, Boogeymans actual face paint truly worked to accentuate his character, and gave it a fantastic tribal feeling that he matched with his mannerisms and character tendencies.
2. Papa Shango

Again, a lot like Vampiro, Papa Shango's character was dark and based in voodoo, and as a result he painted a simple skull on his face to emphasize his character, but to me, it absolutely worked.
1. Jeff Hardy

While it's rare it's ever duplicated, Hardy's enigmatic character really acclimated to the choice to start painting his face into his gimmick I thought, and it's taken on an almost mandatory role in his future at this point, as the paint as well as his arm bands, t-shirt tied in the back pocket, etc. have really become of him and helped to define an otherwise rather bland personality.