10 Current Wrestlers Who Could Pull Off Classic Gimmicks

[@SoSickRick]

I thought Flair stole Jay Lethals gimmick?

[@unfixingbowl5454]

No Macho man did

[@Masedogg10k]

Lethal got his shtick from Randy savage

[@denistuohy2535]

Let’s be honest the lunatic fringe gimmick from WWE was literally just a watered down Brian Pillman. Loose Cannon and Lunatic Fringe even sound similar

[@anthonythompson9763]

Moxley already had the "Loose Cannon " gimmick but he can take it up a notch and bring it back

[@jeffreymark475]

They don't sound similar at all lol. They both start with L that's all

[@nicholasokeefe3632]

@@jeffreymark475 yes 4 entirely different words, 2 different phrases, but they're also synonymous with each other, that being said, 2 dudes from Cincinnati who both share a wild card gimmick would 100% be looked at as a Pillman rip off

[@TheGreatGouki]

Honestly, a few of these are super obvious. Others, not so much. But I think Dunne would do better as a Taz character more than a Shamrock. Solid video. A few good ideas here.

[@grahf4215]

Dolph as a Bodydonna? Nope. If you're giving Bobby Roode the Ravishing gimmick then Dolph should have the Mr. Perfect gimmick. Mr. Ziggles could quite possibly be that damn good that he could take up the title of the perfect one. The two of them together would be Ravishingly Perfect. Perfectly Ravishing? Ravfectly.

[@nicholasokeefe3632]

Ravfectly sounds about as WWE as you can get tbh, 5/7 I'll hate them in 2 weeks

[@Alleliteindia]

No one can match Brian PILLMAN not even his son

[@terrancegallemore6864]

He pull it off with perfection and it made it him seem like he was really crazy

[@jakobjansen9541]

Personal Trainers from hell sounds really amazing. Shame that wwe would screw it up because...you know....it's a Tag team

[@calum2324]

I feel like Marko Stunt could be the next Spike Dudley

[@tucktuck76]

then what the heck is Joey Janela?

[@mspacely6521]

Marko stunt is a joke.

[@mspacely6521]

@@JRMagro I can't stand him personally.

[@adamturner749]

Please never mention Marko Stunt and Joey Janella in the same sentence as Spike Dudley. Spike or Mickey Whipreck both could work and had charisma and played the underdog to perfection. Neither would be on an indie show take a black sex toy in the mouth, step forward Marko Stunt and yes we know that happened, or basically be an out of shape mess who boasts he never had any training and believe me it shows. Those 2 are an embarrassment for what they have done and if anyone excuses a wrestler taking a sex toy in his mouth on a show full of idiots who found it hilarious then never ever call yourself a wrestling fan again.

[@adamturner749]

@@JRMagro but they didn’t boast about being untrained and swallow a sex toy so they hold the massive higher ground. In terms of workers they would run rings around those 2 it’s not even close.

[@superrobz]

If they’d let him go a bit more darker similar to early 90s Goldust I think Codys “star dust” could have worked, its just the light hearted stuff only had a limited shelf life

[@Montaq_]

As much as he didn't like playing the character he bloody nailed it and all the flaws with that gimmick where the result of creative and not his performance.

[@superrobz]

@@Montaq_ Goldust was the same, I’m probably showing my age here but I remember when he was REALLY dark and creepy from around 95-97, then people complained and it got heavily watered down

[@nicholasokeefe3632]

I'm sad I missed Stardust era or just blocked it out of my mind idk, but I feel like having him be an alien style character, his species greatest fighter, but doing that would have to kill Goldust. Could potentially do it without killing Goldust tbh, Stardust created Goldust to take over Earth and he's broken about having to destroy his "creation"

[@windmaster9]

@@Montaq_ wanting him to be from outer space was one of the flaws

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Drew Gulak as a modern day Mr Backlund would be great too

[@vicentenavarro5494]

I really want this to happen

[@mrdethbuzzard4885]

Yes please!

[@EddieLowenheim]

Gulak is practically Backlund anyway. Why they didn't choose him is beyond me.

[@talonthehand]

Only Olympic gold medalist in wwe history* *apart from Shaq

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Technically you’re right 😂

[@majinriley9776]

Hey hey. Good catch.

[@Virttreks]

Aint mark Henry a gold medal winner

[@talonthehand]

@@Virttreks Yes and no. He's a gold medal winner in the Pan American Games, and set some world records (no clue if they're still standing), but not a gold medalist in the Olympics.

[@Theonecn693]

The Olympics are the same thing as the World Championships. It’s the same tournament that’s held every year just every fourth year they call it the olympics. Yes the olympics are seen as more prestigious to the general public, but in reality it’s the same as the World Championships. Mark won gold at the 1995 drug free championships.

[@based4106]

Cesaro as a hitman mob boss gimmick with a stable around him😳😳😳😳

[@CobaltT9]

Yes! Bring Big Tony from UpUpDownDown to the main roster!!

[@NormanNorthman]

IMO, WWE/WWF didn’t make Sgt. Slaughter famous.The AWA made him popular, as did GI Joe. Slaughter was already a name known amongst wrestling fans in America before he feuded with Hogan.

[@majinriley9776]

10:13 As a former Marine, I can tell you that the last thing she’d want to do is go back to acting like a Marine

[@coltkillergaming5685]

How long did u serve?

[@quikbit]

If you say you are a “former” Marine, you probably never served

[@majinriley9776]

@@coltkillergaming5685 4 shit years

[@majinriley9776]

@@quikbit I don’t buy into that “oNcE a MaRiNe AlWaYs a MaRiNe” boot shit.

[@coltkillergaming5685]

@@majinriley9776 that sucks can u quit from being a marine?

[@368studio]

There's only one Pilman, and there will never be another. Not even his son and defenetly not Mox. You can never replicate that gimmick, that man OWNED that giinick to perfection, too bad we didn;t get to see it to it's fullest. RIP Brian Pilman

[@spi6455]

Nah, there are two. He had a son.

[@colel1605]

How could wwe mess up an olympic wrestler named gable….

[@NotCornette]

Jon Moxley isn't even close to Brian Pillman no one can replicate it

[@MSI-]

It’s like he tries to but he has no actual character he’s just a generic hardcore wrestler 4, he needs a character like in wwe he was comedic but credible and plus he’s being himself because he’s funny in real life you can ask Roman or Seth they both have a few stories of Dean being the life of the party on the road in Aew he’s being something he wants to be and he isn’t exactly that good at it apart from when he’s wrestling he wrestles like a true death match guy but character work it feels like he’s pretending to be a death match guy idk maybe it’s just me I prefer Dean Ambrose to Jon Moxley he was my favourite wrestler not my 2nd my 1st I was annoyed he wasn’t given too many opportunities but in terms of character I liked how he was booked

[@andresmartin67]

You got me I want hijo del kane right this pinche momento!!!

[@aaronhurst4379]

Shocked me to contemplate that Bobby Roode is five years older than Rick Rude was when he died. Goodness...

[@mrcleod]

Dolph as the new Rick Rude .. I'd love it. Moxley as a loose cannon, give me a hell yeah

[@martinrubio6357]

Dolph ziggler should get one more title run

[@danielmaloney6461]

I thought Su Young was using a Mankind Esq. gimmick already.

[@I.Am.Phenomenal]

I think, Baron Corbin as Scott Hall will be awesome too

[@paganjay1085]

The Bodydonnas/Rick Rude bit is genius! I can't stand Lacey Evans but this Armed Forces/Sgt Slaughter gimmick would help change that. Pillman Jr as the Babyface to Moxleys' loose Cannon could be a fun feud.

[@JoseFlores-xc7wu]

I thought Pete Dunn already had a gimmick as Rhea Ripley

[@amars773]

Lmao 🤣

[@emmadilemma7800]

Isnt the Johnny Gargano section basically the storyline that Eddie Edwards did on Impact back in 2018 where Edwards would randomly attack people while Alisha Edwards would watch horrified?

[@kenyonroyster2524]

You got me with that CP Munk.

[@King73102]

I remember the OVE stable in Impact a few years ago, i loved that stable and i wish something like that could happen again 💯

[@biggulp8448]

i cant see anyone being the new kurt angle outside of chad gable, i mean come on, he quite literally looks like his son, i mean just imagine if he went to aew and had kurt angle ad a manager, it could easily be compared to how arn anderson is managing brock anderson just not related

[@Blakkberry7]

Looks wise sure it make more sense but I think Steveson makes just a little bit more sense. Yeah they don’t look alike but they both were olympic gold medalist and they have a similar build. I know Chad is an olympian too but I think it’s just more natural with Steveson

[@kokotheclown2588]

Wrestling is full of copycats but to stand out make some tweaks to the gimmick or grab a underrated or undercard gimmick and make it your own

[@musakivines7721]

The closest someone comes to being the next Brian Pillman is Eddie Kingston expect of course Jon Moxley

[@RandallWI]

*except*

[@terrancegallemore6864]

He was originally supposed to have the loose cannon gimmick Jon moxley was when he was in the wwe

[@MSI-]

John Moxley needs a character he can’t just be generic hardcore wrestler who doesn’t back down from a challenge that’s why I personally prefer Dean Ambrose yes he got a bit too goofy especially in 2014-2015 but something similar to 2016 where he had a bit of a comedic side I mean if you want to be a serious wrestler having a comedic side isn’t bad just look at Kurt Angle or even Mick Foley comedic but in the ring they were credible even Matt Riddle

[@JaydenAnklez]

John moxley always reminds me of Brian pill man but they should be a tag team the crazy boys

[@FloridaGuy53]

"Gable Stevenson as 'Olympic Hero' Kurt Angle" Oof

[@pharoah418]

I've always said that Mox reminds me of Pillman. Hell, they're both from Cincinnati.

[@Theonecn693]

So you want Cesaro to get a push so you’d saddle him with a gimmick that’s whole purpose was to be a midcarder that made the top guys look good but never actually accomplish anything himself. That’s literally what Cesaro is now. Great thinking.

[@ericmasden4270]

Could see Zack Sabre Jr. doing Bret Hart. Give him some other NXTUK talent for a Hart Foundation-like stable and have him decry the US and extol the UK while talking about being the Excellence of Execution.

[@awkwardgaming5713]

Awesome vid

[@braedenmartin8596]

I was about to say I literally just watched an episode of dynamite with Brian pillman Jr 😂

[@marcellanthier8359]

NXTs already done Cameron Grimes as the Million Dollar Man (those video packages were pure genius). Dexter Loomis could pull off doing the Undertaker.(I think he's basically doing that now)

[@lilgucci6847]

Can't beilive cm punk ripped of the straight edge chipmunk 😤

[@kennyhardie8063]

I've never really seen Moxley as a Brian Pillman esc character I thought Moxley was more like a Steve Austin meets William regal with his dirty yet technically sound abilities with a badass persona.The only person I think came close to matching Pillman's act was Brian kendrick specifically in the cruiserweight classic as the veteran who was obsessed with not squandering his last chance. The way he would open his eyes all the way and have a death stare followed by him using insane maneuvers only a crazy person would.

[@windmaster9]

Yup Kendrick pulled it off nows he retired damn miss that theme

[@ragnarokz1127]

You really got me with the "until the day the Swiss decide to fight in a war"

[@blacktytrix]

Now that Adam brings it up, I think it would be great if they found a way to write an event that would cause Brian pillman Jr to go crazy so he can try to resurrect the loose cannon character since his dad sadly never got to fully carry it out back then. He could try to put his own spin on it and I think using his dad as inspiration for it, it could work pretty well.

[@DoNotPassGO]

What if Brian Pillman Jr had a gimmick where he tried his absolute damdest to be the exact opposite of his dad as far as the loose cannon schtick goes to the point where it makes him look like a lunatic. Sorta like the anti-hardcore Mick Foley in ECW.

[@bowdenproductions]

Stunt and Whipwreck is a stretch 😂

[@NhBleker]

Speaking of Pete Dunne, I think he'd thrive more in AEW then stay with WWE as he's everything AEW is looking for in their roster, being the present and future of the industry.

[@rickybobbyroode9814]

Sorry he’s not over 50 so he’s too young for AEW.

[@dev8845]

Sorry moxley but nobody and i mean nobody could pull of the loose cannon gimmick as perfect as brian pilman the dude literally lived his gimmick

[@twocentsmiguel]

Mike Bailey would, for my money, make a much better Whipwreck stand-in.

[@JonathanAlmazanMusic]

El Ijo del Kane cracks me up Lol 😭😂😂😂

[@daskavenger9625]

@3:30 you can see the wingmans cesar banonni from aew near jackson ryker in the background

[@calebdavila2420]

“Horny mid-life crisis” that’s how I hope my mid-life crisis goes.

[@tsstevensts]

*11: Saraya Bevis as The Undertaker.* Yes! This is a serious proposal, no I am not making this up. At the time of this writing we had just seen a American Badass Taker make a appearance in WWE, long after Mark Calaway peeled back the curtain post retirement. While it's always great to see the Deadman we know him today as the cool old guy on Hot Ones and Joe Rogan. Meanwhile when Paige took the wrestling world by storm she was pegged as a potential member of the Wyett Family, with fans thinking she would be right at home. With Bray's sad passing since the house that Vince built already tried to pull ahead in the ratings war with the Phenom Tony Khan could fire back with Ladytaker, a dark goth chick who could take on the mantle.

[@user-el3gn5yl2w]

Moxley isn't even close to Brian Pillman, he´s embarassing when he tries to act crazy

[@rickybobbyroode9814]

Totally agree. He doesn’t pull it off well at all. I preferred his WWE heel run.

[@scottdaniels8129]

He's too busy being a poor man's Stone Cold to be a poor man's Brian Pillman.

[@angelow2562]

“Pete dunne” *Kyle O’Reilly voice*

[@garyhen1707]

The loose cannon gimmick wasn't way ahead of its time.......it was like 2-3 years ahead of its time, maybe 1-2, it fit right into the attitude era, which followed promptly

[@trapmontana9440]

Please stop comparing dean to Brian pillman

[@nahhfam7678]

The way i'd tweak Lacey Evans gimmick is that americans won't boo her if she went with the military gimmick so to be a heel id make it so that she thinks america is too weak today to be a marine like her because the kids are too soft and abuse the parents for making them like that.

[@brianban110]

Dolph should've left wwe when he had the chance. I think Timothy Thatcher, Matt Riddle, Cesaro and Drew Gulak would be a better ken shamrock

[@jbj7599]

Ken shamrock wasn't really a gimmick tho. The fake mma shtick would be laughable with Brock still around

[@brianban110]

@@jbj7599 true but considering Riddle could probably take both brock and Lashley, I think he'd be a better shamrock like character if he ever decides to turn heel. Thatcher seems to have legit martial arts training in several disciplines , Drew Gulak is a technical wizard

[@TheOceanAvery]

Marco Stunt can’t beat anyone believably. Anyone who “upset” would look weak in comparison.

[@IcyTorments]

Disagreed, he could easily beat people believably if he does it a no DQ match.

[@TheOceanAvery]

@@IcyTorments even with that, we’re talking about a guy built like a 5th grader fight a grown man, it wouldn’t be believable

[@edgymcedgelord5297]

Yeah straight one on one, fuck no. But thats the beauty of wrestling, you CAN make that believable. For example, stunt ducks, his opponent hits the turnbuckle and dive for 123

[@fattman32]

i think it's insulting to the memory of Brian Pillman to even mention moxley in the same sentence as him

[@dizzy1369]

Wtf? How about Dolph Ziggler as Mr. Perfect? He already has the look naturally, scarily naturally for not being related to curt hennig.

[@darkseid6089]

And Shawn Michaels also.

[@SuperWario128]

If anything, Dolph Ziggler would be a perfect modern day HBK. He already uses the Sweet Chin Music. Both are flamboyant showoffs. Why not complete the package and turn him into the new Showstopper?

[@RandallWI]

Nah no-one can duplicate the "lose cannon" persona that Brian Pillman had... he was way before his time with that and every attempt to recreate it (Dean Ambrose in WWE for example) has been a poor copy. Besides Mox right now is like the modern day version of Stone Cold's anti-hero persona of 97-98 🤷🏽💀🖕🍻

[@Chigen_Atomic]

Idk about short time, besides a dig at his height, considering Marko's been there since the very beginning. He could definitely be the surprise winner of the TNT title out of Jurassic Express. Everyone expects it to be Jungle Boy, but what if he's able to play possum to one of Miro's hellacious beatdowns, only to get one over on him. I always thought that Dolph could have taken the reigns from Sting, though this was pre-AEW debut. He was aimless at the time and tangentially involved as a Face. Would have been an interesting turn for the usually jovial and charismatic Dolph. Mod the mask to resemble Abyss' and you'd have a nice Impact answer to Mankind.

[@seanchan4478]

Cp munk was eventually arrested

[@scottdaniels8129]

Mikey was small but he was still 5" taller and 50% heavier than tiny Marko. Even an underdog should look REMOTELY believable. It's like a heavyweight boxer going against a bantamweight, even smaller AEW guys like Jungle Boy and Darby would be super-middleweights.

[@karliebeadle29]

I can't unsee sami callihan as mankind now

[@ExtraordinaryJosh]

Pete Dunn would make a better Benoit minus well you know

[@ghalloffame]

Nature boy Paul Lee didn't earn that name he paid ric flair for the gimmick and he doesn't even woo properly

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

I think the Bodydonna type gimmick would totally work for Roode and Ziggler

[@damonlane4967]

There is a couple of wrestlers I could see pull off the Tazz persona becoming the human duplex machine. Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe one point in tna with Tazz as manager did it, hell Karrion Kross perfect persona for him. Another one the Mr. Perfect persona for a guy like L A Knight or Shawn Spears.

[@corychampagnecrush8742]

Pete dunne has a dope look, he definitely looks like a bad ass

[@superkid12345]

If you combine the bodydonna gimmick with Sgt Slaughter for Lacey, you've got gold. An aggressive military commander who is arrogant that everyone in america has lost touch and are too weak and out of shape to protect themselves.

[@marvelsProtege]

They made Bobby into the new Rick Rudd

[@Kanas83]

CM Punk and Bryan Danielson as the Outsiders

[@azrael_ao1]

Did y'all put Kurt angle in black face at 3:20 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 that's funny asl

[@thegreatestshowonearth7623]

That's an insult to Mikey Whipwreck I would say Orange Cassidy instead of Marco Stunt Mickey Could wrestle and he some pretty impressive moves Marco Stunt is the Drizzling Shits

[@DerKomischeTyp]

Moxley as Brian Pillman would be fantastic. Also thats one dream match I never thought of but now I'm sad.

[@Zigzagalltheway]

How about moxley vs CJ in a death match?

[@DerKomischeTyp]

@@Zigzagalltheway Well you can't say no to a Moxley deathmatch

[@edgymcedgelord5297]

@@DerKomischeTyp you can. Im about to do it No

[@ojmcclanahan689]

WOW! Just WOW!... Jon Moxley could never come close to doing what Pillman done. Even the people in the business wasn't sure if Pillman was working or just insane. Everyone would know that Moxley was working. That's a horrible comparison.

[@StreetUrchin4Life]

Sami Callihan is more like Cactus jack & Marko should be more like spike dudley, would b awesome and pretty crazy

[@brandonizaguirre2963]

If you actually think Moxley can be the next Pillman, you're delusional 🤣 Moxley is charismatic, I'll give him that. He can also cut a good promo, but he is nowhere near the same stratosphere as Pillman when it comes to being a loose cannon.

[@nickbrooks2408]

I agree completely. Flying Brian was a true lunatic genius.

[@artvandelay8767]

Moxley can't wrestle, while ankle fused Pillman could.

[@Sharmaji90svale]

Make Jason Jordan his story line brothers. LoL!

[@phillynott6811]

Except Mikey Whipwreck's whole gimmick was how great he could sell and Marko Stunt pops up from almost every wrestler, his brother Logan (who I am also not a fan of) would be much better in that role as he at least attempts to sell offense

[@The4cp]

Rocky Miavia would have made a great Prince Nakumaki! Pillman is untouchable.

[@Spaceman-mm6od]

We owe it all to CP Munk and his industry shaking pipebomb

[@challenerclub2145]

Lacy is now Sgt Slaughter

[@swede4444]

How about Bobby Lashley in the SGT Slaughter role?

[@marcomitri5502]

KO - the ultimate opportunist

[@marionlayton929]

Wait... Cesaro isn't ALREADY The Ringmaster??? Could've fooled me!

[@panchoromine6841]

They called it with Evans

[@slayerofcrusadersandsmallh6404]

Stunted growth.

[@KalmoK]

Not seeing Sami as a Mankind tbh, he can be hardcore af but his gimmick now fits him way better than that in my opinion

[@Ivantheterrible81280]

Kevin Owens is in impeccable shape? If Dolph was going to get a push or reinvention, it would have happened by now.

[@ofallmyintention9496]

3:18 lol. Awesome reference.

[@psrdirector]

Shawn Dean for Sgt. Slaughter

[@martinrubio6357]

Mikey whipwreck good in ecw

[@artvandelay8767]

Was Pacitti wasted when he made this list?

[@truediva18]

I don't know, but he is really putting emphasis on the last word of each sentence. He is stretching the word. He says again like a-gan-yin.

[@joelthorpe4170]

Yeah but did Gable win the gold with a broken freaking neck? I don't think so! 😂

[@martinrubio6357]

Rip brian pillman

[@FreeFoodforthePoor]

Pillman’s schtick would be better inherited by Kevin Owens, who was already doing his own version of it in ROH.

[@ZanraiKid]

I mean, early Jon Moxley is the closest he ever got to Brian Pillman.