10 WWE Stars Who HATED Their Gimmick

From Kizarny and Dean Douglas to The Goodfather and Saba Simba, these are 10 WWE Stars Who HATED Their Gimmick.
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[@oneearrabbit]

Somebody dropped the ball. "And Vince was right, the best baby faces are totally the terrifying ones that you can't understand when they talk" *Cue picture of the Ultimate Warrior.

[@KaladinVegapunk]

Thinking Stone Cold has no charisma hahaha.. Vince is a clueless clown, basically every success was in spite of what he wanted and everything he pushed was garbage. Just a greedy corporate stooge with no creativity

[@Trialwolf]

This can easily become a multi part series.

[@joeywrestling9536]

Agreed 👍🏻

[@cjgrinchy1698]

"With that neck tattoo he could look stupid on his own terms" Damn Adam 😂

[@GinkgoPete]

can't believe adam talked shit about the man that ended racism!!!

[@Roflcrabs]

Yeah Cody is one of my man-crushes but that tat is nasty.

[@leet.489]

That ending legit got me🤣🤣🤣

[@japanreddo3916]

That diss was an atomic bomb

[@DeadKoby]

I agree... talented wrestler........bad tattoo.

[@cheezeofages]

Kizarny belongs on a list of baffling things WWE has done that defy logic. Not for the gimmick itself, but for the fact it wasn't a heel character. Who the hell could logicially think that's a babyface gimmick? I agree with the guy that if he'd started out as a heel (and had a better finisher) it would have probably worked at least a little rather than just flopping nearly as hard as the Shockmaster.

[@BurnyToast]

I seen him wrestle, even got s picture with him. He really does work better as a heel or a more gray area type character. Even has a fun finisher in a 'self chokeslam'

[@ThEmDl-ei6vl]

Kizarny hated it so much he still uses it

[@scottnomore9489]

These channels and their obsession with that guy I don't get it

[@KingKhanate1997]

@@scottnomore9489 he’s just such a bizarre… Well everything. Weird gimmick, weird outside of and within kayfabe. It sticks out like a sore thumb

[@superrobz]

I don’t blame Shane Douglas for hating that WWE gimmick because it was fucking awful.. especially when you look at how over he was in ECW, so much so WWE nicked the concept and gave it triple h 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@volodymyrbilyk555]

What's even more ironic is that Trips managed to copy Douglas' character arc of ECW second run too.

[@TheSlaughtercultden]

Lol, part of the reason why triple h was never a top guy. Unoriginal. Unbelievable. Just the shits overall. Only ever adequate when Austin or rock was propelling him. Never a good wrestler just an ok no thrills middle.

[@stevenmacaulay8807]

except he was a top guy, its almost like he was a heel... also saying hes not a good wrestler compared to brawler austin and not to far behind rock, or did you really think the peoples elbow was a legit move,,

[@stevenmacaulay8807]

huh... how exactly did he nick shanes gimmick... as wcw showed shane without swearing had nothing going for him... other than that his gimmick was hate on this guy who doesnt even know my name .

[@RagnarokMic]

@@stevenmacaulay8807 People's elbow was all for show, but Rock was legitimately a great ring worker.

[@RuanAntunes7]

The Stardust Gimmick actually had potential but the booking let Cody down

[@erikstorm8935]

And if Cody wasn't into it...well, I couldn't tell. He played the part really well.

[@RuanAntunes7]

@@erikstorm8935 he's a true professional, that's why I suppose.

[@Aethelia]

I heard it's originally what he wanted, but all of his ideas for the character were rejected. That would be rather demoralizing.

[@darrellwilliams1714]

I loved golddust and stardust together.

[@austinwilliams7919]

Wasn't it Cody that said the main reason for the Stardust gimmick, was because it was his way of mourning the loss of his father? Something like that, but as he felt more happy, creative wouldn't let him be himself again.

[@zackattack3867]

I recall another one being Hardcore Holly when he was Sparkplug

[@darrellwilliams1714]

That's Sparky Plug.. don't mess up the name bro!

[@zackattack3867]

@@darrellwilliams1714 you know what, your right

[@lordevyl8317]

@@darrellwilliams1714 He was Sparky Plug for like 4-5 months than became Bob "Spark Plug" Holly

[@lolegaia]

So that's why Peyton got released. Vince love to ask his wrestler about what they did during their off time and a hobby. Peyton : i love watching tv with my dog. I guess that really trigger Vince.

[@heelgill]

Funny, because on this day, Stone Cold Steve Austin told his *Austin **3:16* promo at King of The Ring '96.

[@joshjohnson3442]

Give him a cowboy gimmick to “stand out” as opposed to the other thousand cowboys that were wrestling in the 80s? 😆

[@BoboMcBooboy]

“A wild slapnuts appears”

[@rickyrosay33977]

Fr the 80s was the decade of the cowboy gimmick especially in Southern wrestling

[@jonathanlazauskas4244]

I met Shane Douglas at an independent show a few years back. The guy is a very intelligent and polite dude. I was looking into going to college at the time (considering I was a junior in highschool) and he took the time to sit with me and suggest places to go to college.

[@anthonyfarrar1738]

Way back in an issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, they featured a picture of Cody and Dusty Rhodes. The caption read to the effect: Cody wishes to follow his dad's footsteps into the ring, he has already chose a name, The Stardust Kid.

[@cousinchris802]

Besides Tony Atlas, do you know who else hated the Saba Simba character? Everyone.

[@fattiger6957]

Vince has always loved the stupid racial stereotype gimmicks.

[@DeadKoby]

As a kid, I didn't know any better. I can't recall liking the character.........he wasn't around long. I do recall them putting him in a program against Akeem..........good grief.

[@yeetusdeletes7498]

Roddy Piper got in trouble for telling everyone who he was. I remember laughing my ass off when that happened.

[@ShakeRogue]

I’m surprised that Chavo’s turn as Cerwin White didn’t make the list.

[@iandude1]

To be fair, everything I've read about Chavo as Kerwin White sounded like he didn't hate the gimmick.

[@tzvikrasner6073]

@@iandude1 True. That was just the fans who hated the ever-loving f*ck out of it.

[@lordevyl8317]

*Kerwin

[@rnairakhil4104]

Cody got so mad he went on to create a competition

[@rondoughhowell6442]

Well the Pimp and Pornstar gimmicks were on borrowed time especially when wwe was becoming a public traded company

[@rondoughhowell6442]

@matt alan of course not especially with Kayfabe being ruined and no one believes in it No more ,Imagine Val Venus going around saying he's a pornstar Well he would probably be asked that did he had ever did a scene with Lisa Ann

[@stevenmacaulay8807]

@@rondoughhowell6442 idk about that, i mean a dead hick from texas ran way past its sell by date

[@rondoughhowell6442]

@@stevenmacaulay8807 and that's why he start riding a Hog(Motorcycle) to the ring instead of dressing like a Halloween Character

[@stevenmacaulay8807]

@@rondoughhowell6442 yeah from about the spring of 2001 to the end of fall 2003. Then he went right back to it, im just saying regardless of fan opinion and respect, taker pretty much did the same gimmick from 1990 to 2020 but no one ever gives it any flak.

[@jeffreymark475]

I'd be pretty pissed off too if my ring name was Kizarny

[@wayneking9997]

Never even heard of the guy

[@jeffreymark475]

@@wayneking9997 he was around legit for like 2 weeks

[@wayneking9997]

I stopped watching WWE around 2007 after Benoit died and only turning in around wrestlemania time so chances are this guy would have debuted afterwards

[@jeffreymark475]

@matt alan could have been. It was all guess work on my part. Maybe I'm thinking of Chris Harris in ECW

[@dkupke]

I actually got the impression that Cody was having fun with Stardust-at first. About the time of the Stephen Amell program was when he got worn out on it.

[@tonyjackson4078]

I think he stated somewhere he liked teaming with Dustin but never wanted to "Become Stardust". He wanted a short run to work with his brother but they kept prolonging it.

[@dkupke]

@@tonyjackson4078 for awhile I think he had some fun hamming it up. But you could see where he started trying to find ways to freshen the act up like teaming with The Ascension or Wade Barrett and it never going anywhere. Had to have been frustrating.

[@DJDoubleCee]

Bret Hart as a cowboy, now that would have looked weird.

[@daedaethomas47]

I know, imagine Brett doing jobs as a cowboy, lol.

[@mattj4112]

Ironically the Sharpshooter name would still fit lol

[@daedaethomas47]

@@deadeyedarwin a mini-series is acting. Wrestling isn't acting. Tf are you talking about?

[@lordevyl8317]

Not was weird as Stone Cold would have been if he accepted The Fang McFrost gimmick. LOL

[@johnfalcetta5431]

This is a great list except for one. The Red Rooster

[@bpmadj]

Perhaps thst person never hated their gimmick. Look at the video title

[@Kobra6510]

@@bpmadj actually Terry Taylor STILL hates it to this day.

[@Kobra6510]

It would've been too easy.

[@bpmadj]

Perhaps it will be in another list.

[@PJErvin]

I think Terry Taylor resented the gimmick while he was working it, but he later admits it gained him more notoriety than his actual name. To your point, I would’ve included it.

[@JerryNapalm]

Stardust had mad potential...could've continued to feud with Stephen Amell

[@leet.489]

Can’t recall if Cody himself said it, but the idea of Stardust and Cody Rhodes existing on both shows (Raw & Smackdown) completely oblivious of each other was awesome.

[@zeospark9715]

Yeah Stardust with Rhodes is infamous because he liked it at first, but didn't want it to be a permeant thing. But Vince was like "Nope! You're staying Stardust for the rest of your career" and Cody was like "Fuck you Vince I'm starting my own business"

[@SpanishFly120]

Yeah, my understanding was that Cody intended it to be something for the Goldust feud only.

[@zeospark9715]

@@SpanishFly120 Yeah Cody wanted to just portray the gimmick for a very short time, but Vince was hell bent on having him stay as Stardust.

[@AndrewHarrington218]

I like the shade thrown at Cody at the end of the video.

[@bignicktuck]

Shane Douglas / Dean Douglas was prior to that wwf run a high school history teacher. As one of his final students I will say he was a much better teacher as Troy Martin than anything WWF did as Dean Douglas. Was very happy when Shane Douglas returned and I got to see him live a few times when ECW would come to the Pittsburgh area doing shows from the CCBC Golden Dome in Monaca PA.

[@toddsmods.623]

I actually met him at the golden dome. the day before there show there actually seeing about tickets. was super cool.

[@JT-xp8hx]

And that’s the bottom line ‘cause Chilly McFreeze said so.

[@BoboMcBooboy]

Can you f’ing imagine “stone cold” Fang McFrost?!? 😂😂🤣 omg wow... the parallel universe that branches off at that moment must be a goofy one 😅😝

[@markuzthe0ne]

According to Stone Cold himself he got the stone Cold name from an ex wife of his who said and I quote "Steve you need to drink your tea or it will get stone Cold."

[@sloangiddings9763]

While watching a Kuklinsky biography.

[@ianbyrne465]

Man, I really wish that early British gimmick picked up more steam, but I’m glad he was successful in the end

[@texslazenger9378]

Thanks for sharing something that we all knew anyway 😫

[@FloridaGuy53]

Steve:"Wait... Say that again."

[@gokugoma3258]

Steve Austin was a bad ass in the w c w and I'm surprised that Vince McMahon didn't want to go with that persona but I'm glad Steve Austin stuck to his guns

[@conorwhite8600]

Great video, really enjoyed it!

[@Tompeteux]

The last line in the video… 😂🔥🔥🔥

[@wilrivera2668]

... I watched an interview with Austin and he said he got the 'stone cold' name idea from his wife at the time.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

3:32 Bret Hart's stint as Cowboy Bret was for Joint Promotions, NOT All Star Wrestling. (Which at that point wasn't even yet called All Star - it was still Wrestling Enterprises of Birkenhead in the early 80s.)

[@dezrons5679]

another thing people didn't know about "raven" he is an actual member of MENSA.....

[@newageoutlaw]

The last time I was this early it was still the New Generation

[@sloangiddings9763]

Steve named himself Stone Cold while watching a Kuklinsky biography on TV, He was drinking tea and his wife at the time told him to drink it before it got 'Stone 🥶 Cold And that's the bottom line...😁

[@ablackwelltp1]

Not sure if you've done a video like this before, but it would be great to see a list of gimmicks that had a lot of promise but just didn't work out for whatever reason (maybe the wrong time, the wrong wrestler carrying out the gimmick, or just written out prematurely for no clear reason) For example like you said with Kizarny, it could have had more effect if he was a heel

[@SomeDumbKid1]

"Devil's Advocate" Sean O'Haire could have been a fantastic gimmick with better booking and if Sean was better at cutting live promos.

[@unknownbyself]

Muhammad Hassan counts for this. If he had stayed with the "Arab-American in a post 9-11 USA" gimmick rather than the "stereotypical terrorist" angle he could've been greater than he ended up being. The poor timing of the attack on Undertaker is proof of that.

[@heinrichthomas7008]

in fact Vince doesn´t listen to his wrestlers

[@fattiger6957]

Just assigning gimmicks to wrestlers rarely works. It tends to turn out better when a wrestler comes up with the gimmick themselves.

[@bambambambamhaupt]

Shoulda continued Barry Windham's 'Widowmaker' gimmick if the WWE wanted him to be a cartoon.

[@Millwall77]

I still, to this day, trying to figure out what reaction Vince wanted the fans to give Kizarny. So he works at a carnival, speaks gibberish and has a psycotic look in his eyes.... ....what should we do with that information? Cheer him? Boo him?

[@Millwall77]

@@deadeyedarwin I know, I know. Just making a point how I think many reacted to it. I dont think a lot of people first thought was 'oh, he is speaking carny'

[@wickedgood3793]

I had an old VHS tape I watched as a kid that had a match between the soul patrol vs Dick Murdoch and Adrian Odonis one of the last times they ever teamed together at least for a major company.

[@HoldenGatsby]

So I never saw Kizarny wrestle 'cause I wasn't in at that time. I had seen the vignettes though, and I always thought he *was* a heel.

[@SomeDumbKid1]

Whaaat? You didn't think the gibberish spewing carny with psycho eyes was a good guy?

[@THEBUH81]

Kizarny didn't even speak carny right.. there had to an iz in every syllable. So it would be Kizarnizy

[@matthewbesson5367]

As one who has adopted Calgary as his hometown for the past 17 years I can say you learn to know a real cowboy from a fake. The boots are a dead give away. Imagine a modern, basic brown, blunt tipped version of a cowboy boot tucked under blue jeans and a kind of raw boned fitness. That's a cowboy.

[@vinniethedeuce]

"Phantom of the opera villian" lmfao 🤣 😆

[@thomasmb3552]

Great work as always team

[@aprentissdaye]

I remember Kizarny being a huge online meme back in 2007/2008, good times.

[@KHFMcAwesome]

Stardust will always represent a physical manifestation of “Creative have nothing for you” to me. It’s like climbing a mountain to the point that you’re practically at the peak… only to find some jerk there to punch you in the nuts and push you back down. Still, Cody has proven time and again why WWE were idiots for not using him properly!

[@fattiger6957]

I stopped watching WWE several years ago and never paid much attention to Cody when I did. He just seemed like an unremarkable midcarder there. Then, about a year ago, I start watching AEW and find out that Cody is actually amazing. Really shows how WWE's system stifles the potential of their wrestlers.

[@CorrineFerguson]

Bertha faye/rhonda sing should have been on here

[@chrisakane9840]

Yea but kizarny was alright. He is like jf jericho turned nuts 😆

[@MrAce-lm8es]

Vince McMahon has an obsession with the Nation Of Uganda.

[@TURBOTOYS8]

There definitely has been some suspect Gimmicks in pro wrestling history! And dam them parents television and media council!!! DAM YOOUUUU!!!!

[@brettwilson9913]

Dead wrong about Stone Cold, it was his wife with a glass of tea

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Bret Hart is the G O A T

[@DasKame]

2:50 THIS HAIRCUT

[@MrBossLevel]

Has there been a Where Are They Now: Fans vid? I wanna know what Sign Guy is up to these days

[@ryanklotz309]

One sec. If I'm not mistaken Steve Austin also started using "Stone Cold" because his wife at the time had made him a cup of tea, and told him to drink it, before it turned, "stone cold."

[@Rusty2FTW]

Adam with that spicy last statement about Cody Rhodes had me ROTFL

[@raynegoaway69]

I think this video might need extra editing, a lot of the footage from the stalker section is missing

[@ineedhelporaciggerate3620]

I love the Raven shoutout he was a wrestler born in a different time. Quote The... ahhh you know the rest🤞🏽

[@nataliswolf]

I agree kizarny would have worked better as a heel but the other nail in the coffin was MVP was in the middle of a sympathetic losing all the time storyline and on the verge of turning face. If you are going to debut a new face having them in a match against a heel who the audience is already starting to cheer is not a recipe for success.

[@fatcoyote2]

Stardust cut one of the best promos I've ever seen. Too bad nobody ever saw it.

[@thataurus2492]

You forgot Dustin Rhodes as Seven

[@Trafficcoordinator]

Stone colds name came from his wife. She said drink your tea before it's stone cold. He wanted to use the Iceman as his persona but the name came from the wife

[@TheDvdral]

Should have gone with Chilly McFreeze

[@stereozac7080]

As a person from Calgary I agree if you call yourself a cowboy you damn well better be one. Bret is right on with that

[@zaturnneo]

Charles Wright is one of the nicest guys I've met. Legit stood and talked to us for 20 minutes before asking if we had a bowl on us. 😂

[@zaturnneo]

@matt alan Indeed! A very down to earth guy.

[@dickflair4538]

The Good Ole Box of Gimmicks

[@garyrobinson2270]

Raven 's crew and allow should have been all money. Plus Perry Saturn, RIP to Crippled Cross face.

[@rms.ziggler7344]

I actually really love stardust the idea is great just needed a little better writing

[@von2300]

Cowboy Bret Hart? I had no Idea. LMAO!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA*COUGH* *COUGH* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! SHIT!!! LOL!!!

[@bennyconger8463]

Scott Levee was Ravin in WCW in the 90's

[@gsandison1]

What a great list, which I liked

[@JustinLeeper]

I as a young man saw Dean Douglas as a reasonable facsimile to Mr. Perfect. I was ready to give him benefit of the doubt.

[@TheForeverRanger]

Anytime I see pictures of Levy as Polo or Flamingo I have to make sure I am not in some kind of nightmarish Hell.

[@scottanderson8167]

Greg Valentine is the most genuine and pure pro wrestler in the world. Giving him a gimmick (aside from his professional name) is a sin.

[@kevinschmith9379]

Kizarny had awesome pants

[@davidparkes7741]

I mean, if nothing else Cowboy Bret wouldn't have had his career ended by a reckless kick from Goldberg.

[@loboblanco4426]

Vince con-vince-ed him to stay? Tap tap tap, is this thing on? Tap tap.

[@drstevens16]

LMAO they tried to turn Brett Hart into Double J.

[@lordevyl8317]

*Bret and not they wanted to turn him into a cowbow, not a country western singer. LOL

[@drstevens16]

@@lordevyl8317 I was referring to the light up cowboy hat and riding a horse to the ring lol

[@shatteredsoldier81]

I remember The Goodfather and absolutely hated that gimmick. I was like bring back The Godfather.

[@jerransperarman9411]

good video

[@MrThombba]

I really liked this video

[@killingragethrowback]

Imagine a world where John Cena was fired back before he started rapping. A world where WWE has no one to shove down our throats. Where failing ratings and attendance finally forces their hand into giving in to what we, the audience want or they will go broke. Isn't this a lovely world?

[@bluefire1636]

We also wouldn't have CM punk vs John Cena at Money in the bank or John Cena vs AJ Styles at Royal Rumble

[@killingragethrowback]

@@bluefire1636 I was hoping they could just fight each other. And everyone would be a lot happier. Cena can go to the indies. End up in the lower mid card where he belongs.

[@brynellsidney3983]

Rhythm and Blues is a pretty good name

[@3ngag3]

Didn't Cody take on the Stardust gimmick as a way to pay tribute to Dusty?

[@taggz82]

I shared the dressing room with The Godfather 2 1/2 years ago and everything Cultaholic said is 100% true about this

[@RicoTimeless]

Nice humble brag

[@DW3010]

Jesus 😄 your reaction by saying that made me laugh

[@thomaskubat2320]

How was The Red Rooster not on this list & how come it wasn’t number one?

[@mwcarolina]

I was fine with The Goodfather since he lost the match vs Bull

[@anthonyrandall3411]

Honestly Shane Douglas would have been a good doctor.

[@johnvanlindingham9490]

Yes Stardust a verry happy fellow

[@creepycrespi8180]

Terry Taylor hated the Red Rooster gimmick. Who could blame him?

[@malwynnt5392]

I LOVED Stardust

[@tonyjackson4078]

No "Sea Captain" Mick Foley? Oh haveta wait for the WCW list...got it.

[@iandude1]

Cactus Jack Lost in Cleveland.

[@radschord89ish]

Stardust was a cool character

[@JT_WARCRIME]

Why is Bret Hart on here? Why include a what-if? Then you include Kizarny, who you admitted liked the gimmick. You guys are turning into a second Whatculture by putting out these half-assed lists.

[@jduke93]

Thought the guy in the thumbnail was Matt Damon

[@VorpalBender]

Kizarny!!

[@storm1402]

Though I wasn't even alive when the Shane Douglas thing happened, with all I've heard about it from wrestling historians and the like, it seems borderline criminal what the WWE did to him.

[@pottsie_era]

what year were you born in.

[@storm1402]

@@pottsie_era 2001

[@pottsie_era]

@@storm1402 oh ok i was born in 2002 what month

[@toddkurzbard]

Do NOT dis Kizarny. He is the Snoop Dogg of Sports Entertainment (aside from the REAL one). OR Stardust (because I love batsh*t crazy gimmicks.) I love Pretty Ricky (who wasn't mentioned) as well.