10 Legendary Pro Wrestlers Given TERRIBLE Gimmicks

[@Captain_Pudding]

Say what you will about Mr. America but it got us the line "I'm not Hulk Hogan, BROTHER!" and that means it was worth it.

[@haydendivine8412]

And in 2022 we get "I'm not Elias" lol

[@Captain_Pudding]

@@haydendivine8412 "I'm Hulk Hogan's brother, brother"

[@Alex-2-5-1]

Of course hogan believes his on bs

[@stevenmacaulay8807]

@@Alex-2-5-1 you spelt ric flair wrong.

[@ezedrippy]

I personally hate Hogan

[@danielhess1082]

I actually have to disagree with the Reverend Devon entry. It brought out Devon's Charisma (something he barely got to strut as part of the dudley boys tag team) and was, to an extent or part of his real life personality turned up to 11. Yes it wasn't going to be anything more than a mid card act, but I found it entertaining and humorous looking back on it. The timing of lack of other singles titles on Smackdown didn't help much either, almost all mid card titles were on Raw at the time

[@sergiodbd]

I can't believe people still, in this day and age, talk down on Reverend D-Von... the uncultured swines. He should've been pushed to the mooooon lool Seriously though, it was never as bad as people make out. I liked it, Deacon Batista on the other hand...

[@danielhess1082]

@@sergiodbd yes, odd way to introduce Batista to the main roster...but as is the way with the greats.....Terra Ryzing(about three different spellings lol) Ringmaster, Rocky Mavia, gimmickless white meat babyface John Cena and Randy Orton.....

[@fookiebookie4239]

He even continued the "TESTIFY" chant after the dudleys teamed up again

[@TheJuliet316]

Yeah, I would say Deacon Batista was worse. Thank goodness for Evolution.

[@LordBarros]

@@fookiebookie4239 He said "Oh my Brother, Testify!" from the very beginning. It was ALWAYS part of his character. Before, during, and after the Reverend gimmick.

[@joshhale9355]

Ricky Steamboat being turned into an actual dragon comes to mind immediately.

[@rvawildcardwolf2843]

Well it was dumb and way too literal. But sort of cool he learned fire eating.

[@shadhinov]

The fire thing looked bonkers cool tho 😂

[@raizenlim6910]

I'm surprised he didn't transition into being an actual steamboat

[@joshhale9355]

@@raizenlim6910 okay, that would’ve been worse

[@TaylorMade223]

@@raizenlim6910 🤣🤣🤣

[@rvawildcardwolf2843]

I actually really liked the Mr. America gimmick. Hogan openly admits Dusty Rhodes was one of his big role models along with Billy Graham, so him getting to do the Midnight Rider storyline for a new generation was actually sort of neat. Obviously Hogan's ego got the best of him when he walked. I don't think it was a bad gimmick, because we were supposed to be in on the joke.

[@balancer182]

Yeah Mr. America was basically what Ezekiel is now. It was hilarious.

[@johnathan3gameking]

Dude the Reverend D-Von gimmick was badass! I always truly believed it was so underrated. I wish he did it longer back in the day!!! 😂😂😂

[@taylordudley3673]

To be fair, The Real Mans Man had the best theme song ever.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

True

[@spokenwordillusions5756]

Disagree. It sounded like a variation of The Bushwhackers entrance theme. At the time, Ricky Steamboat's WWF entrance was a great entrance, as was Ric Flair's entrance. The list goes on, no way can anyone say "best ever". Best theme for 2022 might be FTR's remake of the Midnight Express theme, my favorite right now is "Cold World", Eddie Kingston's theme. That written, Real Man's Man would be a good theme to induct the Gentleman Villain.

[@jeremywilliams5141]

Terry Taylor as The Red Rooster; Dustin Rhodes as Black Reign; Tony Atlas as Saba Simba; Brutus Beefcake as every gimmick he had in World Championship Wrestling.

[@ncwrestling2412]

Terry ain’t no legend

[@ROBken2654]

OKADA’s run in TNA still gets under my skin every time I hear about it.

[@cod-gameplays9266]

Ratiod

[@singerdude1992]

I get why, but he was a Young Lion. Young Lions at the time were generally jobbers in other countries on excursions.

[@Tegridy_Gaming]

@@cod-gameplays9266 fail

[@cod-gameplays9266]

@@Tegridy_Gaming nah+gay

[@sandoc9]

@@cod-gameplays9266 ratio + you get no pull

[@AngeltheAnswer]

It’s wild seeing the difference between how they treated Okada and then Sanada a bit later.

[@joshhale9355]

At least they gave a tiny fuck about Sanada as opposed to Okada, you know one of the best wrestlers on earth for the past decade. TNA, gotta love ‘em

[@texarican_77]

The jab taken at Meltzer....🤣🤣🤣..."5 stars at the Tokyo Dome"...that killed me 🤣🤣🤣

[@DragonHeart613]

1:40 = Why are some people questioning Kevin Nash's status as a Pro Wrestling legend? He was a top star in WWE as Diesel & went on to even bigger things upon joining WCW where along with Hulk Hogan & Scott Hall, he co-founded The NWO & turned the entire Pro Wrestling world upside-down as The NWO was the reason that WCW gained the upper hand over WWE for a long time during The Monday Night Wars before WWE ultimately came roaring back & eventually conquered WCW in the end. Big Sexy might not have been the best in-ring worker but no one can ever deny or ignore the massive impact he made on the business. If it wasn't for Big Daddy Cool helping to start The NWO than there would be no Bullet Club who also went on to be a big deal in Pro Wrestling for a time. Not to mention that if it wasn't for Kevin Nash than who knows if Stone Cold Steve Austin would've ever been signed to WWE in the first place (8:16) 5:05 = Mike Awesome might not have been a legend in either WWE or WCW but he was indeed a legend in Japan & in ECW. Awesome's battles with Masato Tanaka in ECW are amongst the greatest most hard-hitting matches in the history of Paul Heyman's much missed promotion.

[@urnemystic]

I think it is fair to say that Nash was a legendary sports entertainer. He was entertaining on the mic and could tell a passable story in the ring, I always personally liked his work. He was just not legendary in the ring, like hogan he was more personality than skilled grappler.

[@DragonHeart613]

@@urnemystic Hogan was a far better Pro Wrestler than you think. If you don't believe me than look up videos here on KZbin of his work in Japan.

[@urnemystic]

@@DragonHeart613 he had a modicum of skill in his early career up until he met Vince. Then he was allowed to be lazy in the ring so he did it for the rest of his career. He had lots of memorable moments but not one has ever included good wrestling.

[@The4cp]

Nash really screwed Mike Awesome over out of shear and absolute fear of the ECW gimmick making him irrelevant. He knew Awesome would be 100% over and could dominate WCW.

[@max__p1765]

Hey, at least the "Real man´s man " -entrance theme is a classic (in a deep voice "man") 🤣

[@RuanAntunes7]

Remember Chavo Guerrero as Kerwin White? That gimmick was awful

[@jasonjimerson7046]

This, at least, should have had an dishonorable mention here.

[@TheJuliet316]

*wince* Yeah, I probably would have put this on the list before Reverend Devon.

[@theunknownstuntman4010]

I agree the Stardust gimmick was stupid but I will praise Cody for doing everything he could to try and make it work

[@jak1165]

Stardust might have been able to work if it wasn't just "Here, be a clone of your half Brother"

[@spokenwordillusions5756]

Was a cool entrance theme

[@mofftarkin6010]

Who ever doesnt think Kevin Nash is a legendary wrestler get the fuck out of here.

[@MikeBehrensWX]

As a kid I thought the Mr. America gimmick was hilarious haha.

[@LordBarros]

I loved Stardust, still have his shirt.

[@rayblackard1974]

Russo screwed a lot of wrestlers & organizations.

[@shadhinov]

Real man's man was actually Ron Swanson

[@kevdogyt08ti]

Last time I saw Kevin Nash, he was at Big Time Wrestling. Scott Hall (may he R.I.P.) was suppose to show up, I even made a sign for him (I thought maybe he did didn't feel the greatest in health and is why he didn't show), but Nash came for the show. I thought it was really cool when Nash was Diesel and when Scott Hall was Razor Ramon. 🕶 When Glenn had to play Diesel and Rick Bognar (may he R.I.P. as well) had to play Razor Ramon, I thought it worked for a little bit and then I thought it would flop since the Outsiders were cool in WCW. Kevin Nash was cool there when I was there on a date with my girlfriend at the time Nicole. #KevinNash #ScottHall #Diesel #RazorRamon #GlennJacobs #RickBognar

[@BlaxkSun]

To be Fair about the Okato, who could really think he’d be the guy he is today

[@TheJManOrRiot]

I knew you were going to take a shot at him for being mayor

[@BShortTheDev]

I can't believe I just got the "I yank em" pun. 🤯

[@rvawildcardwolf2843]

Just a quick question since I'm American. Regal played an upper crust twit a lot of the time, probably because Americans think of the British as classier than us, But around when and where he grew up and his actual accent; Isn't Regal's IRL background more roughneck?

[@jimbo_1312]

Yeah he's working class as fuck and originally from just outside Wolverhampton. And Blackpool is where people on benefits go for a seaside holiday. So pretty far from the bourgie character he often came across as.

[@TheJuliet316]

@@jimbo_1312 Yeah, managing Blackpool Combat Club is probably closer to Regal's roots than the Aristocratic Regal WWE and WCW often portrayed him as.

[@PapaCoco1128]

You guys should do Every WWE UK PPV Ranked in honor of Clash at the Castle.

[@Avatar1977]

The only thing I ever really saw of Mike Awesome was that match with Tanaka at One Night Stand. I'd be happy to call him a legend based off that alone.

[@KayFabeChronicles]

I figured Tony Atlas as Saba Simba woulda made the list

[@jessebarfield3419]

Nash is a legend for his mike skills and size. His move set was limited but e wrestled how Vince wanted big guys to wrestle. To bi strong and rough. A lot of big athletic guys were forced into this due to the culture and Vince's obsession with big rocked up guys. Go look up Hogan wrestling in Japan as an example. Dude was working hard and fast catch wrestling and it was awesome to see a huge guy move like that.

[@McThrill13]

Some other ones that could have been on this list are Tony Atlas as Samba Simba, Ron Simmons as the pre-Nation of Domination gladiator Faarooq, and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart as Who.

[@musc1esman]

Real Man’s man was the best! I love that gimmick! Somebody aught to bring that back. That theme song was so awesome too! “HE’S A MAN!”

[@Filmation77]

Ok WHW here's some new ones(cause these are so Passe) 1. Ric Flair as "Rambling Ricky Rhodes" (yes a proto-dusty cosplayer) 2.Scott Hall as Starship Coyote 3.Arn Anderson as Vanilla Marty Lunde AND Super-Olympia 4.The Young Bucks as Generation Me in TNA(Hardy Boyz type Cosplayers) 5.Matt Hardy as High Voltage

[@bigvito9008]

Terry Taylor as The Red Rooster

[@Filmation77]

@@bigvito9008 Terry Taylor was already Territory Famous before the WWF. And this Vlog is about people who had to slog through a crappy gimmick they hit the Jackpot with their Star Gimmick

[@jerryjanik480]

Glenn Jacobs worst gimmick is being Glenn Jacobs mayor of Knox County

[@fnafvsjaws6the6thonewrestl93]

Legendary And I Never Seen The Guy On The Thumbnail In My Life

[@TahishaArvo]

interesting story on how Austin got the Stone Cold name, considering he told it differently in interviews

[@maraviyoso8473]

@2:40 What? You talk about Kane and don't mention anything about the F'N Christmas Creature??????????????????????

[@joemomma3208]

Dusty Rhodes, Ron Garvin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, & Kerry Von Erich just you name a few.

[@zanethind]

I didn't know that was a NJPW tradition. Are you kidding me?! William Regal's the real man's man gimmick was decent and people loved it too. Regal definitely got that gimmick over. Wow! I didn't know Steve's gimmick was from a serial killer

[@dbritton987]

Mr. America was actually an amusing decision. Unfortunately Hogan couldn’t check his ego at the door to embrace something new and different. What a surprise. Reverend D-Von was fun too, but unfortunately the crowd wasn’t interested in him as a solo act. Wish Reverend got a little bit more tenure, but it clearly wasn’t getting over.

[@swg619]

I like Reverend Devon

[@schizzo8959]

Testify!

[@irishviking383]

I see nobody noticed that the video description says "Kevin Nash as Diesel in WCW."

[@veryananduren8513]

William Regal got a Russo-riffic gimmick that had no hope of getting anywhere, and still said "Maybe if i wasnt in a bad place, i could have make this work". That man. We dont deserve that man.

[@spokenwordillusions5756]

Another reason to get Vince Russo in a pole match.

[@heath1948]

The reason the Green Hornet movie didn't work was mainly because of the popularity of the original series despite its limited run also the popularity of the one who played Kato the master legendary martial artist Bruce Lee

[@KastleKrossface]

Mike Awesome was just that.. AWESOME!!!

[@realazreal]

Mr America was kinda cool tbh

[@dylanogg347]

Fun Fact: Apparently The Real Man's Man would been revealed as Gay if the gimmick stayed on TV.

[@ezedrippy]

Revered Devon should’ve led to a world title push but not a win. He at least deserved a shot after so many years of putting his body on the line

[@Andy-ju8bb]

Dolph Ziggler in Spirit Squad. Chavo as Kerwin White. The Godfather as Papa Shango. Typhoon/Tugboat as the Shockmaster. Though whether Typhoon counts as legendary or not??

[@nicktaylor2657]

William Regal should of had to sing the Lumberjack song from Monty Python's Flying Circus...I put on women's clothing and hang around in bars 😂

[@venomousnate7263]

Real Man’s Man gimmick was bad, but the theme is actually quite enjoyable.

[@Man-child540]

They dropped the ball with Okada

[@davidmatoushek9111]

Did anyone notice that the Glenn Jacobs as mayor joke was taken out?

[@TheSilverEagle]

Sorry but Steve Austin got "Stone Cold" from his wife who said " Steve don't let your tea get Stone Cold!"

[@TheJuliet316]

The Okato stuff was so bad it would take nearly 20 years before Okada would even be willing to return to the US.

[@eriklarson7023]

Not sure I agree with Mr. America being on the list. The whole gimmick was played up as a joke; everyone knew it was Hogan, and it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. 2 other possibilities are former Freebird Terry Gordy as the Executioner, or the Hardy Boyz as Wildo & Ingus Jynx.

[@bryanv21]

I've seen so many people ragging on the Mr America gimmick as if it was supposed to be legit in some way. The entire thing was a joke and a way to get Hulk Hogan on the show while still being suspended, it wasn't a real gimmick like the others on this list were.

[@JokersVsZombies]

Mr america and reverend Devon were awesome.

[@Teeheehee093]

I'm glad I didn't hear about Okada before he became a legend in NJPW What the fuck TNA

[@jasonjimerson7046]

He wasn't the only one. TNA screwed over Naito as well.

[@matthewkorsak2446]

Wait....Mr. America was Hulk Hogan? Mind blown

[@wolvie667]

Regal almost looked like Bob the builder

[@RandoChrisYT]

If it wasn't for Reverend D-Von, I wouldn't have a building foundation to donate to so the Youth of America would have a nice place to go to someday

[@mikeisernie]

I really think the core of the Oz gimmick is cool. Wrestler wearing an old man wizard get up.... throws it all off and he's a big buff young dude. But also Man's Man Regal was a fucking awesome gimmick...it was a good way to get him over to a crowd that didn't care about his "legit grappler" skills

[@pestulio07]

Nah man, Stardust was a great gimmick, just for his appearance in the Scooby Doo racing movie lol.

[@Paulie1988]

Sorry but real mans man was amazing. Especially his theme song

[@patrickstewart3446]

Chaco Guerrero as Kerwin White.

[@McThrill13]

Good list, but you left out The Rock as Rocky Maivia.

[@DbossHasGrit]

Changed the Thumbnail, good

[@ItsAVolcano]

1:29 you mean NJPW demanded their star rookie back before TNA could ruin him.

[@Tdhdchu]

Kevin nash is a legendary wrestler

[@freekshow0011]

Pretty sure i have seen interviews from steve austin where he says that his wife brought him tea and she told him to drink it or it was going to be stone cold and thats how he got the name. Nothing to do with the iceman

[@TheJuliet316]

Mix of both actually. The persona/gimmick was inspired by the serial killer doc, while the nickname 'Stone Cold' was inspired by the tea.

[@benjaminrealy5661]

would love the thoughts for your bad gimmicks given after someone was a legend Obviously Windham But I would include Faarooq Assad. Repo Man. The Shark (or Golga). Possibly Freddie Joe Floyd. Dok Hendriks. I would not include gimmicks where it is the character just repackaged (ie Mr. America was hogan, or Dusty Rhodes polka dot era) And an honorable mention to Abe Knuckleball Schwartz (Brawler might not technically be "legendary " but he is one of the best enhancement talents in wwe history)

[@TheJuliet316]

Dok Hendricks, IMO was basically Michael Hayes in all but name.

[@NeroPiroman]

bray wyat as husky harris

[@spokenwordillusions5756]

What about Trevor Murdock as Stan Dupp?

[@getpumped87]

Pacittidust better be #1 edit: ha, almost had it!

[@ChannelyChannel]

It's insane how bad Okada's TNA Run was. At least we got AEW from it in a roundabout way.

[@jubilee7019]

lowkey true it's like a super weird butterfly effect

[@prj7894]

How that's a stretch

[@ahmadceasar5484]

Literally had nothing to do with AEW

[@davepleaseknowbetter2840]

@@ahmadceasar5484 Well, if I recall correctly the Bucks were fired from TNA, Cornette (who was with ROH at the time) didn't want them, and they were about to quit wrestling when Okada (their friend) called in, then they worked in New Japan, joined Bullet Club, and the rest is history. (Can someone let me know if something's wrong)

[@ahmadceasar5484]

@@davepleaseknowbetter2840 they weren't fired they left but what does okada have to do with anything

[@bryanpark2760]

Mayor Kane got some stinkers for sure.

[@maxwellreinke9242]

i like Mike Awesome, he was the best big man, next to Andre.

[@REfan2002]

Welcome to Oz, welcome to Oz!

[@ivenstorm]

I would have thought number 1 would have been Hectar Guerrero as the Gobbledy Gooker.... or Dustin Rhodes as Seven.

[@captaincobana4144]

Or possibly Rocky Maivia.

[@ivenstorm]

@@captaincobana4144 to be fair, Rocky Maivia was his first gimmick. At least it wasn't one that was given to him randomly after he was established.

[@captaincobana4144]

@@ivenstorm That's right but what is your point? Haven't you watched the video?

[@ivenstorm]

@@captaincobana4144 Yes I watched the video. At least for me if its a debut gimmick I give it a pass, which is why I kind of disagree with Isaac Yankem.

[@drunkenzeppelin3808]

>Stardust >terrible character Pick one.

[@shadhinov]

This list seems like it'll have kane in here somewhere

[@shadhinov]

Yep literally two seconds later 🤣🤣

[@atishaykankaria4461]

it was bret hart not kevin nass that conviced macmahon to look at austin 8:06

[@zanethind]

I can't believe Okada has that. Also his gimmick didn't look like the Green Hornet but one of those 1920s chinese police officers in the movies. Btw not saying this because he's Japanese but if you look at movies in the 1920s that's how the chinese police was portrayed

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Thank for The Video ❤️👌❤️👌❤️👌❤️👌

[@bobbyneedz7268]

Adam Pacitti as AJ Hazard is the worst. The British wrestling legend as some jobber that WWE didn’t care about makes me sick.

[@DJVexillum]

I don't think Stardust was that bad.

[@schizzo8959]

I like Cody and he gives all to the business, but Nash is at laest 10 times the legend.

[@a.j.santiago303]

The dumbest gimmick change that absolutely killed a career was when Terry Taylor became the Red Rooster. Absolutely godawful, considering The Berserker, Repo Man, The Goon, TL Hopper, Bastion Booger and (the picture-referenced but unmentioned) Maxx Moon were yet to come.

[@a.j.santiago303]

And I forgot El Matador!

[@jimbo_1312]

Red rooster was almost as dumb as sticking Hector guerrero in a mascot outfit tbh

[@Nbflowers1989]

Lol Cody really hated Stardust

[@JoeKerrPhD]

Owen Hart as the Blue Blazer was awful. Owen is definitely a legend

[@freekshow0011]

Owen was a legend and i hope you know that owen's first gimmick in the wwf was the blue blaser and it was brett's idea so he could get over showcasing his talents under a mask instead of living off the heart name. And sadly the blue blaser was also owen's last gimmick in the wwe

[@jimbo_1312]

The blue blazer was a great character... the blue blazer later in his wwe was massively stunted.

[@Willrich202000]

Reverend dvon was hilarious

[@jaredgunn6466]

Am I the only one who didn't think Cody that good to begin with

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Okada's TNA run is complete disaster anyway . Hope he will never join WWE for good or else he would treat way worst than TNA

[@thebestcentaur]

Kenta, Kushida, and Nakamura thank you

[@cod-gameplays9266]

With triple h in charge he would be booked better then in tna

[@martinrubio3176]

Steve austin became stone cold we all know what happen with that

[@AnthonyAnalog]

So TNA is where he learned that shitty clothesline.

[@wolvie667]

Triple H as the Blue Blood, both in WCW and WWF?

[@patrickstewart3446]

There was a worse one for HHH: Terra Ryzing.

[@jackchew6021]

Ringmaster was more like a clown… I remember his weirdly brief royal rumble bow on his PPV debut. Awful….

[@brianban110]

hey everybody has to start off somewhere

[@TheThird1977]

Who should have made the list.

[@Andre_Kidd956]

Dam I think I'm the only one who enjoyed deacon d von lol