10 STRANGEST WWE Gimmicks Of The 90s

From Isaac Yankem DDS and Damien Demento to Repo Man and TL Hopper, these are the 10 STRANGEST WWE Gimmicks Of The 90s.
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[@mattjones5531]

Can we take a moment to acknowledge that the Undertaker, one of WWE's greatest wrestlers, started out as a 90's occupational gimmick.

[@KingQuel]

P

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

It really wasn’t a thing with a stigma of occupational gimmick because their hadn’t been tons of Garbage man, dentist, plumber, hockey player, Repo Man gimmicks yet. The only one that really pre dated it was Big Bossman.

[@gandalf_thegrey]

@@MrRyan-wu4jx and BBM had more of a character plot than an occupational gimmick (although I don't know how it started)

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

@@gandalf_thegrey what? His gimmick was literally that he was a corrections officer. An occupation.

[@devious187]

I'm glad there was such a hot employment market for undead zombie wizards in the early 90s, he had not one, but 2, count em, 2 jobs! I'm alive and can barely hold onto one job lol

[@yujirohanma5199]

In an alternate universe, Mantaur completely changed the business and Mantaur-Mania still runnin' wild, Brother!

[@martynodonnell8467]

Moooooooooooo!!!

[@kagemaru259]

"Whatcha gonna do, brother, when Mantaur-Mania stampedes wild over MOOOOO!!!"

[@slayermill8621]

He occasionally tags with The Mummy as well in that universe.

[@defblinders9585]

@@haydenc41_82 I watched that live with my mom and sisters. My younger sister called him "Dookie-Toilet-Paper Man." My mom was like "What the FUCK is he doing to Hulk Hogan?"

[@S1mpSc10n]

This proves that we currently live in the darkest timeline. What a beautiful world it would be if that indeed happened.

[@ryanh4453]

When I was young I always thought repo man was a burglar

[@nicoledickson6099]

Lol, he wasn't irl but gimmick hell yes.

[@dibslin2.081]

Specifically the Hamburglar

[@greasy2007]

Ha!

[@cjvaye99]

hamburglar

[@jeremyfincham1422]

I bet Pachitti enjoyed using that “flushed down the drain" line.

[@jreid2303]

You’re a Pachitti, pal.

[@richg4189]

The Berserker was one of my favorites. The bizarre chanting, the sword. Etc. he was also quite mobile for a big man. I must be alone

[@kagemaru259]

Huss... Huss....Huss....

[@Spitfirethedragon]

The Berzerker is so similar to AWA's The Barbarian and WCCW's Nord The Barbarian. from 84 to 93. So he basically protray the same character in 3 wrestling feds. Just the name changes.

[@andrecorpserosado3890]

Don't forget the "HUSS"

[@alexanderveritas]

Yes, because he was interpreted by _fricking_ *Bruiser Brody!* That’s guy was a *THOUGH* bastard that scared many in the Wrestling Industry!

[@KDE4LIFEBAYBAY]

​@@alexanderveritas "Though" b******

[@kevinhorn9100]

Im pretty sure that's Hillbilly Jim with the Godwins haha

[@Captain_Pudding]

That's how small his cup of coffee was, they couldn't even find a picture of him.

[@DenOfVipers]

@@Captain_Pudding He managed the heel Godwinns, and for like, less than 2 months. It was almost no time at all.

[@middlefinger1565]

@@DenOfVipers He managed the face Godwinns...and they turned heel against him.

[@middlefinger1565]

@@MrSniperfox29 How come the Godwinns were getting lots of pop from the fans in the crowd, then? I was pretty sure they had a face turn at some point in time.

[@middlefinger1565]

@@MrSniperfox29 I just cannot imagine Hillbilly Jim in a heel role. He's always been a face, imho.

[@bloodsimple94]

Simon Miller would like to talk about that Repo Man entry.

[@SheriffOutlaw]

I was just thinking that too! I don't think he will be too pleased by this lol

[@bradcarver8127]

I’m sure Simon will give his response in about around 370,024 years

[@jeremyfincham1422]

Simon would like to have a few words 😐

[@Naruto0s44]

Lmao why he loves repo man so much

[@wyzeguy6]

Why???? Here's why!

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

Makes you appreciate guys like Undertaker, Bossman, Mountie/ Quebeccers, Original Doink, and Kane who succeeded with gimmicks that all could’ve turned out this bad.

[@danielmaloney6461]

Impact has Black Taurus now but his Gimmick is so much better. He's a big lad who like to headbutt his opponents. He is a pretty good wrestler too.

[@deathbykonami5487]

That's cause he already made such an "Impact" In AAA prior to coming to Impact (uhh that actually hurt)

[@ronpetzel9978]

I regularly still work with Mike/Mantaur today! He is fully ingrained into the Midwest Independent Circuit. Nice guy, still sometimes pulls out the Mantaur gimmick. Ultimately, he still enjoys a payday and gets to play a powerhouse in front of smaller Indy crowds.

[@realretrorelapse]

I wouldn't admit to that

[@kingjupiter7330]

This is basically, "top 10 wrestlers who deserve to be in your boy stable"

[@KamranKhan-im2jy]

O S DUB O S DUB

[@DashingPunkSamurai]

Get this man a can of coke

[@coolhanluk]

A winner is you mate.

[@kelvinarts]

Minute 2:43 From Bill Eadie (Ax) to Repo Man!!!📷📷📷👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@franciscoresende8061]

You mean from Barry Darsow (Smash) to Repo Man.

[@kelvinarts]

@@franciscoresende8061They used a picture of Ax instead of Smash. Little blooper. Look at the video again. 👌🏻 Minute 2:43

[@franciscoresende8061]

@@kelvinartsOops, my bad.

[@TheThird1977]

That we never found out what was inside Damien Demento's kneepad is one of wrestling's greatest unsolved mysteries.

[@damien7772]

It’s mad that despite how bad these were with Dr. Britt Baker finding lots of success as an evil wrestling dentist and Black Taurus basically being an actually cool Mantaur and also finding lots of success maybe it’s all just execution of an idea that matters

[@gandalf_thegrey]

Britt Baker is so successful with her dentist gimmick because it's a plot device and not literally the character.

[@Hochdorff]

Damian Demento and Max Moon were great when I was a kid.

[@elbermoramontero2769]

Oh the 90's, so strange times.

[@bastienclo2388]

Better than now,back then people weren't mouning and bitching all the time on social media and the fans on the shows weren't all the time with the stupid phones instead of watching the wrestlers,great times i would say💯

[@franklingoodwin]

@@bastienclo2388 is that you? Jim Cornette 😄

[@gandalf_thegrey]

@@franklingoodwin You don't need to be Cornette to be annoyed by people bitching on social media and people looking at their phones instead of the show.

[@franklingoodwin]

@@gandalf_thegrey You don't, and I agree with him on quite a few things. I don't agree with everything he says but he gets a lot of hate from wrestling fans (most AEW mark tbf even though he criticises WWE as well)

[@bluntforcetrauma2141]

@@franklingoodwin i love listening to Corny and Last. Jim has the best stories. Although his anti republican stance is annoying.

[@shevwreck7815]

I barely remember Xanta Klaus and just had my mind blown to find out the gimmick was played/performed by Balls Mahoney. I guess it's true, you really do learn something new everyday lol.

[@Metal4ever246]

This video released coincidentally after Nikki Cross's new gimmick lol. Oh Pactiti you cheaky lad.

[@JM1993951]

Repo Man is gold. It’s not a gimmick that has any upward mobility, but it’s great for what it is.

[@RF81]

Berserker was the Viking for a few months before they changed his name.🤓

[@JohnSmith-lp1kd]

I remember that! Think the nfl had a cease & desist

[@undertakernumberone1]

To be honest... I kinda want a Parody cartoon/Comic Series about the Repo Man. Like, going all ham with an "Ancient and most venerable Society of Repo Men", ridicoulus ancient conspiracies, MC switching between lollipop stealing villain and anti-hero, etc. Probably more adult oriented humour however. Intro music would be the Repo man theme.

[@justinkroboth360]

"Sorry, Jim Cornette, please don't shout at me" - barely a minute into the video and already a huge chuckle. Well done, Pacitti!

[@mohamedyussuf847]

Please keep giving us a video like this Adam!!!! ❤🎉

[@f6ttm6tt]

2:27 pause and look on left........the nun was really into Monday night raw

[@franklingoodwin]

Steve the Stone? I'm pretty sure he played for Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in the 90s/2000s😄 Good to see he found work as a bailiff after he hung up his boots

[@UncledadBFD]

Cracking player was Steve the Stone

[@DarMar106]

Fun fact: Damien Demento also appeared at Universal Studios Flrorida during their Halloween event

[@rachelredhead9217]

The N64 was awesome when it was released :)

[@Paulthompson9942]

Jim Nord? Apparently John Nord was going to play the Undertaker and Mark was meant to be the beserker it's a good thing they switched it around

[@thethrillcollins]

Plumbers fix toilets, not clean them lol

[@im4ni_b]

they clean them as well 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@strangulator42]

The episode of RAW where Doink the Clown sneaked out and put hot sauce all over Bastian Buggers ringside pizza is something that will live on in my memory FOREVER!!!

[@getpumped87]

6:10 so smarks existed before the internet!

[@murderface1628]

Xanta Claus is my gimmick when I take a boat load of xanax bars and rob everyone's houses during xmas time

[@bluntforcetrauma2141]

Funny. When i took boatloads of xanny bars, I don't recall even being conscious

[@Zanatos9]

Repoman was awesome! His whispering promos, stealing stuff from wrestlers. It was great!

[@halfcirclehranch6877]

The gimmick of the Berserker was borrowed by Jimmy Jacobs for a while in the indies. Some time after he gave up his original Jumpin' Jimmy Jacobs, he started going about as the Barbaric Berserker Jimmy Jacobs. He wore a similar outfit with furry boots and all, and would stomp about the ring shouting "Huss!" It was a great time in the indies! I used to see him doing that in IWA Mid-South.

[@JT_WARCRIME]

Anyone else notice when they showed Ax when they were talking about Smash?

[@DJDoubleCee]

Oh man, I remember the Beaver Clevage vignettes. I actually thought they were funny. LOL

[@johnhammel2343]

I always felt bad that the Headbangers were saddled with this trainwreck of a gimmick.

[@nicoledickson6099]

@@johnhammel2343 Agreed.

[@robertclark2253]

Abe "Knucleball" Schwartz as played by Steve Lombardi .

[@nickmontoya3001]

HUSS! HUSS! HUSS! HUSS!

[@salimrahal1811]

The first thing that crossed my mind when I came across this video was Mantaur. Also, I dare say that the WWF dropped the balls on Xanta Klaus.

[@Kalterkard]

The Berserker: Viking Eric and Ivar: Hey! We can do that!

[@atomicbleep]

Jim Nord? Come on Adam, that’s John Nord. The only beared Jim in this video is the country boy pretending to be Uncle Cletus.

[@middlefinger1565]

Hillbilly Jim.

[@Lindforce1]

Just goes to show how great Mark was at playing the undertaker. A silly gimmick to begin with but became hands down the most iconic gimmick of all time.

[@RcJ2]

Another awesome video from Cultaholic!

[@jasonmay2023]

I had no idea that the berserker was bruiser brody! I used to love that guy when i was a kid

[@MoonPix1985]

I just watched this video and laughed so much I started crying and had pain in my stomach. It tickled me just the right way.

[@egpmh2891]

it is funny you mention Mantaur gimmick being doa as the wrestler who portrayed him was a masked member of The Truth Commission who would often face off against The DOA during the Gang Wars era

[@wolvie667]

I never knew TJ Hopper and Uncle Cletus where the same person

[@Brodysseus]

Santa's Slay was fine.

[@joshhale9355]

Man, Glenn Jacobs has to be one of the most patient, easygoing guys in wrestling. He had some garbage gimmicks, even before WWF, before he got to play Kane; even then he had to do some pretty shit storylines as Kane.

[@1ex1uger-prank-calls]

Damien Demento's KZbin shoot promos are hella funny

[@obadiahvondeath8048]

i'd've put Aldo Montoya in there! "the Portuguese Man of War" indeed!

[@stephenhester9804]

The ECW crowd never him live that down😆

[@JM1993951]

Gotta hand it to Glenn Jacobs for sticking to it. Isaac Yankem and Fake Diesel…ugh. But he ended up with one of the best gimmicks ever. Persistence pays.

[@TheCfk84]

funny how often people said things like "hahaha, they expected us to believe he was a dentist/binman/mountie,etc who wrestled at the weekends?!" and now....that basically is britt baker!

[@NDTexan]

Who else knew this list would include the berserker, Max Moon, Mantaur, and friar ferguson/bastian booger before even watching the video? Bonus points for Damien demento...

[@96grunge]

Bastion Booger #1. I’m calling it

[@anonamatron]

I saw Max Moon at a house show. I thought he was absolutely amazing. I'd seen him on TV before that and his jetpack stuff blew my mind. I was ready for this guy to replace Hulkamania. Also got to see Papa Shango challenge Bret Hart for the title in the main event. Ultimate Warrior was there too for like a three second match. Loved that show even though I had to hear my dad grumble about how fake it was the whole time and that the ring was a trampoline.

[@loboblanco4426]

The creative equivalent of taking a dump! Spectacular!

[@TheMulToyVerse]

Internet today: The Berserker was an outdated and corny Viking gimmick Internet today: keep giving the Viking Raiders a decent push damn-it!

[@Feralwolf444]

The Goon, Battle Kat, Aldo Montoya, Avatar/Shinobi, Phantasio, Meat, Brakus, The Oddities, Techno Team 2000, The Gobbledygooker, Bertha Faye

[@FredCracklin]

Duke the Dumpster Droese.

[@DisRuptMedia]

That Luke Gallows bit was....great.

[@vassa1972]

Interesting video still love the 80's wrestling

[@oliverl.5834]

They could've brought back the Berzerker back as the Manager for whatever they're calling War Machine. The "Huss"-Chant was actually a tribute to Brody who originated it. Nord adapted it after Brody's death.

[@middlefinger1565]

Rhyno is the War Machine.

[@oliverl.5834]

@@middlefinger1565 I'd say that RhIno is the Man-Beast. ;-)

[@brianrieger8427]

Anybody remember Damien Demento as Mondo Kleen?

[@JGlizzy-br9fx]

Do strangest wwe gimmicks of the 80s and 00s

[@HoV326]

Boogeyman would easily top the 00's list.

[@fishingmaster99]

The Berzerker was actually named The Viking for a very short while first

[@Soyuz2578]

In an alternate universe, Mantaur took the path that Triple H did and is now a house hold name when it's comes to sports entertainment and Triple H works at a Cinnebon in Des Moines. 🤣

[@DERWUNDERBARE]

Strange Gimmicks, you could do a top 100 of them… the goon, Phantasio, Man Mountain Rock, Duke Drose, Boogeyman and so many more…

[@101686nate]

You guys should do strangest gimmicks of the 80s and 2000s

[@PopeyeBjj86]

Repoman looks like Dean Ambrose with a mustache *FIGHT ME*

[@AllTheWeirdestProject]

2:26 in the background - WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

[@cntipede1000]

I used to love the Bezerker Husk!

[@arrownoir]

Just got a Cena included movie trailer with a shark guy.

[@hellionsentinel]

Huss, Huss, Huss, Huss, Huss, Huss

[@lilpoetat]

thanks!

[@DashingPunkSamurai]

NINTENDO SIXTY-FOUUUUUUUUUUUUR

[@vicfontaine5130]

Nailz was cheesy too, Adam Bomb hailing from 3 mile Island was funny though

[@wawaelias8842]

BLOCKBUSTER HAHA!! IT WAS SO EASY TO GO PICK UP A VIDEO, AND GO HOME ON A FRIDAY NIGHT WITH SOME BEER AND PIZZA. BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TAKE THAT SAME VIDEO BACK..

[@matthewbesson5367]

I can remember thinking about some of these gimmicks: Why is that guy a Viking and why does he care about winning professional wrestling matches? That said I could say the same thing about Kane, but I love Kane so whatever.

[@nickmontoya3001]

Mantar must of been laughing when he got mentioned on Young Rock

[@Captain_Pudding]

I have only read the title, I have not watched the video but I'm here for Mantaur!

[@Nbflowers1989]

10:45 shoulda borrowed Triple Jump's Tiny Peter for a WiLdCaRD eNtRy!1!1! cameo.

[@kokotheclown2588]

Doctor Britt baker has the dentist gimmick down to a tee I’m surprised a dentist gimmick got over

[@deepblue8143]

Berserker was bad ass, I don't care what anyone says. He was huge and scary as hell back in the day, he had an amazing look too.

[@yell0wberry]

What about other strange characters such as the Mountie, the Portuguese man O war, and even IRS???? Although he was strange, I thought that Waylon Mercy was ahead of his time. (anybody ever remember, the Hulk machine?)

[@ononsoorizu6556]

I find myself still screaming huss! in my mind

[@chuckriceyall9667]

Adam paciti thinking plumbers are toilet cleaners is in no way surprising at all

[@yedffgd]

To be fair to Isaac Yankem, Britt Baker has proven that a wrestling dentist at least isn't an inherently bad idea.

[@middlefinger1565]

Glen Jacobs (Kane) was Isaac Yankem.

[@yedffgd]

@@middlefinger1565 I know

[@garyhen1707]

Oh my buddy Jim cornette will shout at you lol

[@BradleyVolk3]

ok i paused at #10 isaac yankem and i am just gonna see how good my guess is at this list (not in this order) 1. i yankem 2. damien demento (obviously, he was pictured) 3. berzerker (also shown before the list) 4. bastian booger 5. mantuar 6. waylon mercy 7. repo man 8. duke the dumbfuck drose 9. big bully busick 10. (but really it should be #1) GOLDDUST GOLDDUST may be #1 of all time imo!!!

[@fuji302]

The berserker was fun. His gimmick was great. He could never be champion with his finisher either. Nobody was picking people up and dumping them outside of the ring. They should’ve given him a push in the Royal Rumble since he was the best at throwing people over the top rope.

[@briansimerl4014]

TL Hopper gave me nightmares.

[@martinrubio6357]

Issac yankeem became kane a star

[@Run187]

You leave the Batman's aunty Nora out of this! ..

[@wyzeguy6]

Should do a WCW version too just so you can put the Yeti on there. Sorry Jack.

[@bluntforcetrauma2141]

Or Shockmaster

[@sarcastiking1282]

You could honestly make multiple versions of this same concept

[@middleclassboardgamer]

I love being from Knoxville because my mayor can kick the crap out of literally any other mayor in the nation, and he’s a pretty sharp guy to boot!!

[@bluntforcetrauma2141]

Clint Eastwood was a mayor

[@vanillabeam5400]

Say whatever you will, but I believe that Mantaur is secretly one of the greatest wrestlers to have ever graced the squared-circle. There will never be anyone like him, and he is an uncrowned champion, and for sure Hall of fame-worthy

[@salimrahal1811]

To have ever grazed more like.

[@middlefinger1565]

I bet TL Hopper, Ludvig Borga, Phantasio and Xanta Klawz are on this list.

[@middlefinger1565]

Abe Knuckleball Schwartz, too.

[@geno1399]

That bastard Barry 2Hands broke my cousins thumbs

[@nicoledickson6099]

Adam Pachitti is my favourite... Anyone else? I love all of them but Adam just 1+ more.