Barry Windham - Why The Stalker Gimmick Didn't Last in WWF

[@TitleMatchWrestling]

Big shout out to the legend Barry Windham Stream the Full Shoot Interview (2002): ➡titlematchnetwork.com/wrestling-shoot-interviews-results/

[@briancorbin5542]

Barry Windham is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time.

[@internettroll7604]

I hope Windham is working on getting his weight back down now. He was one of my favorites in 80’s with the Horsemen. The most recent interviews I saw with him he did not look or sound good. Hopefully he fully recovers from his Heart Attack and takes steps to keep another one from happening. I want to see him still giving interviews 15 years from now

[@greggie0707]

Me too. I like Barry

[@robertaustin-y7j]

Barry Windham thank you for everything you did in wrestling I hope you're doing well in your personal life take care of yourself

[@lukef3559]

just fantastic. legendary. such a smooth performer. made everything look effortless

[@TheRealVerbalAbuser]

I liked Barry Windham in WCW.

[@Dr.Meth666]

we're an American band!!!! Fuckin I saw verbal abuse open for dayglo abortions like 10 years ago out here in vegas

[@jamesgeschwender2276]

Living in Tampa all my life I remember when Barry, Kendall Dustin, started rasslin. I've met many of them. Kendall had a small restaurant on u.s. 92 called Windhams and let me tell you they cooked with love. I worked at Lazy Dayz R. V. so i tried to go there at least once a week.

[@bernhardwall6876]

Barry was one of my first wrestling heroes, back when he was teaming with Mike Rotundo and fighting Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik.

[@CannedHam2479]

They shouldve given Barry time to get into shape and just bring him back as the Widowmaker in late 96/early 97

[@jonathanrife-rs7sf]

Stalker gimmick didnt work because the gimmick sucked. A great wrestler like Barry Windham should never been asked to do this horrible gimmick. 😢

[@toddsmods.623]

You took the words out of my mouth. Whoever asked him to do this the best Babyface worker of his generation should of never had a job again.

[@Brian316G]

I know Vince loved gimmicks but he should of come in as Barry Windham and that would of been enough. Loved watching him in NWA/WCW. One of my all time favorites.

[@98armstead]

@@Brian316G should HAVE and would HAVE. Learn English.

[@Brian316G]

@@98armstead learn how to be less of an unwanted prick. Nobody cares about Grammer Nazis.

[@Brian316G]

@@98armstead feel better? Is that the best you can contribute? Smh

[@MrBeavis84]

Vince should have brought him back as the Widowmaker again. Barry is such a talented wrestler he had some good matches with Austin in WCW and he could have had some with him in WWF in the attitude era.

[@RedfishCarolina]

Imagine The Stalker tag teamed with that crazy ass Se7en gimmick that Dustin Rhodes had that one night in WCW, they could be called The WindowPeekers

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

Then we wouldn't have experienced "Rap Is Crap". That would have been nice ...

[@ModelJames13]

One thing is for certain, your Stalker entrance music was amazing. Stalker for WWE 2K25!

[@jumbothompson]

So many things in WWF sucked around that time. If The Stalker was a rib than 70% of WWF roster was a rib too.

[@TheMrBmurray]

Vince never knew how to use Barry Windham. Simple as that.

[@gabeguzman9478]

Yep, because he wasn't his creation

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

Even though he has long blonde hair ...

[@MissterX]

TOYALLY, especially when he gave him one half of the world tag team championships and had him perform at the first WrestleMania.

[@robertdesantis729]

You mean 2 time tag champ Whatever Keep sweeping those Walmart floors

[@Shin-Blade]

In 1996, I'd rather see a fat Barry Windham than that horrible gimmick...

[@TheNewFNShow]

It's funny Barry Windham in 2002 looked 20 years younger than in 1996 without that horrible mustache.

[@mkl62]

Had four stints in WWE. Last one as The New Blackjacks with JBL. It was a part of the NWA Invasion led by Jim Cornette.

[@libertarianrevolution7026]

The Widowmaker was way better than The Stalker. Bsrry Windham should have been a main event guy during his Widowmaker run, which could have lasted a lot longer.

[@jeankeys9854]

Barry was a great worker, Wish he would have gotten a title run when he was younger. I've always heard Barry wasn't interested ?

[@jeff-ds2pr]

LMAO, that thumbnail. Looks like Barry was trying out to be one of the Thundercats.

[@slow71971]

Thundercats!..HOE!

[@Ghoulies]

Wind-E-Kit

[@Halbared]

I liked the Stalker gimmick!

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

As a 13 year old, I didn't thought it was bad at the time. He kind of reminded me of Jake The Snake Roberts back then. And it was much better than this The New Blackjacks gimmick with Bradshaw that followed.

[@knigweenis7092]

Most naturally gifted of all time. Effortlessly great in his prime.

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Widowmaker with the eyepatch was the best gimmick

[@johnlong334]

Vince f'd Barry Windham and he was always honest with Vince. He couldn't stand NWA better talent being put over. Well, ol Vince how's it working out for you today. I pray for all of his victims now.

[@MichaelEarl]

I was 13/14 at the time and I thought it was cool. Had great vignettes

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Interesting because on paper the Stalker and Widowmaker gimmicks had potential, and Barry was an amazing worker. Yet it didnt work out. Since Barry was known from the NWA, maybe it was best if he didnt have a gimmick and just let his work in the ring speak for itself.

[@DanlowMusic]

Except the Stalker wasn't good even on paper. But the Widowmaker could have been huge!

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

@@DanlowMusic the Stalker gimmick was not a good fit for Barry, especially at that point in his career as he was well known. But similarly to the Undertaker gimmick, it could have worked with the right guy that could pull it off, provided that guy was relatively unknown in the wrestling business.

[@DanlowMusic]

@@GameTime-yj6qv I don't think it would have worked with anybody honestly. Every time they've tried a creepy stalker thing it has been terrible.

[@martyaseavers4977]

Dream match The Widow Maker vs The Stalker SummerSlam Feel the heat 😂

[@maestri09]

He would never get over as just Barry Windham in the WWE...and certainly not in the WWE of 1996. Apart from Bret and Owen Hart, I can't remember anyone in the roster being popular using their own name--not even Brian Pillman. Even "Rocky Maivia" had to change his name to become something.

[@RussKline-x8p]

That’s down right criminal to make a legend do that

[@timjespersen3605]

Windham looks great. Good for him.

[@Tc-ce3lk]

This is over 20 years old

[@Taylormademan900]

He looks horrible now and didn't age well after leaving WCW

[@JefferyAshmore]

This is years ago. I wish him the best

[@timjespersen3605]

My bad, I didn't realize the date. God Bless him.

[@-Karnage]

This video is from 2002 lol...

[@cyberbehikesanakori]

Now we truly know what Vince really was focused on.

[@epappas1035]

One of the funniest gimmicks had to be Dusty Rhodes and Barry Windham wearing masks in Florida as the midnight rider and the yellow dog ( I believe)

[@stupidfathobbit4262]

I always thought the reason the Stalker character died off is because one of his first feuds was going to be with Mero and Barry was going to stalk Sable and Mero put the kabash on that, Barry then had no direction after that. Funny Vince then used the same angle with DDP to go after Sara and Undertaker during the Invasion angle.

[@mkt8306]

He looks a little like Windham Rotunda

[@casiemny1219]

It didn’t work because it was dumb

[@gene_takavic57]

Is RF Video still in business?

[@PeteSanctions]

Their library is all Digital & On Demand now,but I haven't seen a new shoot of theirs in quite a while

[@everythingstrength1485]

This guy had WAY too much talent for the crappy characters💯 Other than Demolition, the WWF failed this man

[@pauls9844]

Barry should have leaned into technical wrestling and reversals for The Stalker. Focus on planning and strategy for the hunt, reverse all his opponents signature moves, instead of being caught up in the outfit.

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

The Stalker vs Giant Gonzales in a scaffold match woulda coulda shoulda

[@brianpendergast2894]

The Stalker vs The Red Rooster. 2 Vince Dickovers

[@Farmerb1985]

The stalker gimmick were ok and i remember seeing him wrestle at survivor series 96 and eliminated by goldust with curtain call,wrestle a few matches and then disappeared

[@jdriguez00]

His stalker gimmick shouldve been a heel

[@Grisna_25-]

Windham

[@Appalachiasaurus_Rex]

This is who uncle howdy is irl

[@nrobles9846]

Sounds like the name of an ex girlfriend.... The Stalker

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

She just wants to finally have her 2 millions ...

[@mogg34y]

I remember Steve Austin on the mic 🎤 at a Raw maybe. And went whats with Barry Windham the stalker. Everybody knows who he is. Well Vince was right next to him the commentary went silent 🤫 oooof 😅

[@Gizmetti]

is Barry Windham, Uncle Howdy?

[@p.d.l7023]

Vince gave him a choice: Stalker or Red Rooster 2

[@CannedHam2479]

There was a major dropoff in Barrys performance from 1993 to 1996

[@514broly]

Barry Windham have enough talent and name recognition to get over just by being himself. That gimmick was a total waste.

[@murraykelm5691]

Should have put the widow maker with The Undertaker would have made a good team.

[@aggressiveattitudeera887]

McMahon went out of his way to humiliate NWA talent that came over to the WWF.

[@jumbothompson]

Not exactly. A lot of NWA talent became even bigger stars in the WWF. I think it's the fact that everything sucked around that time and Vince was running out of ideas. 93-96 was a horrible time for WWF. Nothing was working.

[@CannedHam2479]

Except Flair and the Brainbusters LOD were treated well in 90/91

[@jumbothompson]

@@CannedHam2479 Everyone around that time was either from the NWA or AWA. Sure Vince probably liked to get revenge on some wrestlers but guys like Roberts, Dibiase, Piper, Valentine, Orndorff etc..etc..who were stars before coming over became even bigger stars in the WWF. Vince wanted to make money and become the biggest not make clowns out of guys.

[@CannedHam2479]

@@jumbothompson True

[@arturoalmazan5262]

He should have just told ; McMahon I'll work for you on one ; condition. no damn gimmicks; just use ; The barry windham name.

[@joes4194]

The thing that you said makes no sense. He called Vince. You don't call someone trying to get a job and dictate to them the conditions in which you'll be willing to work for them unless you want to get hung up on.

[@MrAac1984]

Legit the worst gimmick especially putting it on a seasoned veteran like Windham.

[@RedEyedRonin]

Great wrestler, bad gimmick. There was a lot of that in 80s and 90s WWF.

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

But the good ones were able to fight their way out of it over time. This Ringmaster and this Maivia guy for example.

[@yungmanong7567]

He look like the oatmeal guy

[@brianr797]

The Stalker was the saggymaster no doubt

[@stinsonmonrovia]

Was it lame?

[@Michael_Chandler_Keaton]

To start, guys have to have actual names. Like other sports. If not Barry WIndham, then Barrett "The Stalker" Wagner, but the Stalker is not a name.

[@60BloodyChamp60]

Love Barry but he was washed, and he got to ride the clock for something like 3 years in WCW by 1998 or so.

[@patricklarae9028]

Hmmmm the "WIDOW MAKER" the "US EXPRESS" with Mike Rotunda and now this? It seems to me that they were giving alot of favortisms to these 'VERY BORRING ON THE MIC' former White WCW rejects, than they did also with former NWA Black Superstars whom were very Charismatic on the mic and had better Talent.

[@wilfredoesqueda]

The gimmick sucked like most gimmicks of the new generation.

[@PaulShaw-ex7ri]

Or a toilet swirly

[@QuentinDude]

Stalker-needed-to-be-more-creepy-and-edgy....

[@robmcclendon6223]

🤣

[@drez0352]

All of us fans knew the stalker gimmick was trash.

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

If he had wanted to make the effort, it could have been his "Ringmaster".

[@ddewittfulton]

It wasn't just VKM but it was the case ESPECIALLY with VKMthat they would undermine talent just out of spite or even just for fun, even when it's bad for business. I have never understood this tendency among otherwise pretty phenomenal businessmen. And it's not even like VKM was consistent in this behavior! Consider the hassles of having a Shawn Michaels or an Ultimate Warrior around and then consider all of the second, third, forth, fifth chance they were given by VKM. THAT aspect of the man's personality I don't get at all. Then again, considering all that's happened with him, and everything he's done and has been accused of doing, almost nothing would surprise me.

[@joshs4594]

Vince can be a real “Trump” sometimes.

[@JK-ld8cd]

you know you have full TDS when you can put Trump name into anything....

[@n9wff]

He's a Biden now.

[@DanlowMusic]

TDS is real

[@josephgana5746]

more like Vince is Biden, CLUELESS Trump is still sane, BTW TEAM TRUMP4LIFE n jus about all the Wrestlers, today, n Yesterday's are on TEAM TRUMP They are not Blinded by the LIBERAL SISSY WOKE MACHINE

[@MariuszMroczek-dd7ku]

@n9wff And Biden was predicted by Hot Shots Part Deux.

[@kreed82]

This guy was racist asf..

[@grayrecluse7496]

Poor poor pitiful me.

[@mightyblack1]

It was racist too.

[@LoneWolf-zd7lh]

Imagine if the Stalker (Barry Windham) during the end tail of the new generation Era would have been teamed up with Skinner (Steve Keirn) if they would have brought him back?

[@mikegonzales7056]

he wa was a bum

[@I.SQUIRT.5150.KatieSukmeov]

Still better than DDPs taker gimmick and The wrestler called Skinner