CHAMELEONS | Wrestlers Who Reinvented Themselves!

CHAMELEONS | Wrestlers Who Reinvented Themselves!
In wrestling, as in any form of entertainment, it’s all about keeping yourself relevant. And one of the best ways to do this is to ensure you’re always changing with the times. That’s why being able to evolve is so important for a performer because if they can do this then they’ll have a much easier time staying on top. But what are the best examples of this? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to be looking at today. So, join us as we take a deep dive into Chameleons: Wrestlers Who Reinvented Themselves.
Music Credits:
JAYDEGARROW
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THANK YOU!!!
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[@WRESTLEWITHANDY]

Thanks for watching, what should we cover in future videos? Also, make sure to drop a like to help get the video picked up by KZbin’s algorithm 💪🏻👊🏻🤘🏻

[@pinkyellowblue007]

You could try a different microphone, it sounds a little hard to listen to.

[@ItzYaBoyPorche]

Just too let you know. The Undertaker didn’t become the “Lord of Darkness” until 1999, not 1996. He did change his character in 1996 but not too that character just yet

[@exodia9817]

I'd say that Uncle Howdy is the whole SOURCE (in storyline) of Bray Wyatt's different incarnations. The Fiend would represent the hate he had toward Howdy, and the bayou cult leader represents what he became after leaving his uncle

[@glasschin871]

I’d like to see some Smokey mountain wrestling videos

[@romeokoroma3341]

Please do the return of the undertaker’s American badass in judgment day 2000.

[@matthewdunn9900]

Watching this after Bray Wyatt's passing is heartbreaking all over again.

[@thebrownbaldy]

Too bad we never got to see Taker vs Sting, that would've done big time numbers. All of these reinventions deserve the praise.

[@Alakazoro]

Agreed. But also, Sting vs Taker would have been so much fun!@

[@M._mkid]

Sting vs Taker happened kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZojRp6B_Zd-fatk

[@Alakazoro]

@Mಠ_ಠ true but it's not the same

[@hollaluyah]

Would have been nice, but I'm over it

[@MykaTheDevil]

@Ducky Dave yeah, but not as their iconic gimmicks.

[@mycahjofficial]

*I think we all know that Chris Jericho is the best when it comes to reinventing yourself. There’s so many iterations of him that are so awesome from “The Best In The World At What He Does” and “You Just Made The List”.*

[@fingersTitan]

He should re-invent himself into retirement. It's sad seeing him "trying" to perform.

[@jtp2007]

@@fingersTitan He is still better than at least half of the people in the ring.

[@sutnack7537]

Just means your easily entertained

[@anjhontongo6945]

Honorable Mentions: *Steve Austin - Superstar - Stunning - The Ringmaster - Stone Cold *The Rock - Rocky Maivia - The Leader of Nation of Domination - Corporate Rock - The People's Champ - Hollywood *Jeff Hardy - Team Extreme version - Charismatic Enigma (Facepaint or not) - Willow - Brother Nero *Kenny Omega - Golden Lover - Devil Sky - The Cleaner - Belt Collector *Cody Rhodes - Rookie - Legacy - Dashing - Un-Dashing - Stardust - American Nightmare *Seth Rollins - The Shield's Architect - The Authority's Champion - The King slayer - The Beast Slayer - The Monday Night Messiah - The Visionary *Mick Foley - Cactus Jack - Mankind - Dude Love - Commissioner of WWE - Santa Claus *Brock Lesnar - Next Big Thing - The Beast Incarnate - The Cowboy *The Godfather - Papa Shango - Kama The Fighting Machine - Kama Mustafa - The Pimp - Member of Right to Censor *Kane - Santa Claus - Dr. Isaac Yankeem DDS, the Mad Dentist - Fake Diesel (when Kevin Nash was in WCW) - the Demonic Monster (Masked) - The Big Red Machine (Masked/Half Masked) - Unmasked Psychopath Serial killer - Tag Team Champs with Big Show (Unmasked) - The Big Red Machine (Unmasked) - Main Event Monster (Unmasked) - The Big Red Monster in 2012(Half Masked with Helmet) - Corporate Kane/Director of Operations Kane(Unmasked) - Demon Kane (Half Masked) - Hall of Famer and Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee (Unmasked) *Gregory Helms - Leader of 3 Count in WCW - the Superhero named The Hurricane - The self proclaimed "Greatest Cruiserweight Champion in WWE History" *Edge - The Brood - Tag Team Champs with Christian - Rated R SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPERSTAR - Leader of The Judgment Day (in a short time) - The Rated R Brood (Hybrid alter ego) *John Bradshaw Layfield - Cowboy Brawler - member of the Ministry of Darkness - Tag Team with Farooq/Ron Simmons a.k.a the Acolytes/Acolyte Protection Agency (A.P.A) - Self proclaimed WRESTLING GAWHD *Albert - Tag Team with R-Truth and Test with Trish Stratus - A-Train - Lord Tensai - Sweet T (Tag Team with The Funkasaurus Brodus Clay) - NXT and WWE Performance Center trainer *Matt Cardona - Edgehead a.k.a EDGE'S B**** (thanks Joe Henry) - Internet Champion - Long Island I.Z - Indies Greatest Bastard

[@God-0208]

I thank you for your hard work, I know that most of this was somewhat difficult man

[@darkknight125]

Santa Claus 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@nevenpatrk9661]

What about Seth Rollins? Seth has had so many characters over the years and has done great things with all of them.

[@lvscpenguin917]

The fact that Becky is on here and Seth is not is absolutely ridiculous. I would almost guarantee Seth has played an enormous role on some of Becky's character work. That is not taking away or diminishing Becky's talents. But unfortunately, she isn't even the best Chameleon in her own house lol.

[@paulswamptiger]

Explain to me why isn't Mick Foley on this list

[@kevinlee9929]

Foley defintely should be on here.

[@thabomatebane9153]

That's exactly what I was thinking. The man is a living legend.

[@kyokari4]

thats actually crazy man had 4 personalities in one era and got them all over

[@bazookajoe6133]

He had 3 personas working in one long venture, not split up.

[@mackisbrocklesnar]

because Foley did not reinvent himself with one avatar after another. He was badass enough to play 3 identities at once.

[@LibraJohnny]

Billy Gunn had walked a long way since The Smoking Gunns era, for sure. Glad to see him having some pop in AEW.

[@seroledibatane2182]

From lionheart to y2j to the best in the world to the man of the list to the paimaker to le champion to the demogod to the Ocho Jericho has managed to do it all and better than most each time.

[@kadharefinley224]

Chris Jericho has to be the king of reinvention because all of his gimmicks through out the years have been absolutely amazing and all of them got over

[@nicholassealy251]

I agree with that 💯 #official365

[@Chocolatepain]

100%. Always gets a slew of different phrases over, it's wild.

[@zemox2534]

Disagree greatly. It is the same annoying character. The only time he "reinvented himself" was when he ripped off nick bockwinkel

[@suntanironman]

Not of all them got over. His WCW baby face run where he was shaking his opponent’s hand before and after matches and just being glad for the opportunity to fight even if he lost didn’t get over at all. He was the babiest of baby faces. He was too nice all the time and few people wanted to see a character like that (including Jericho himself - who desperately wanted to turn heel).

[@malwynnt5392]

You really think "Painmaker" was absolutely amazing?

[@maisa.elmiina]

i think it's incredible how becky managed to reinvent herself even after being at the top of her game and giving birth and on top of that turning heel! just goes to show how amazing she is

[@sutnack7537]

Women really do have a different outlook, she had like 2 gimmicks if that, she took PAID VACATION because she had a child and came back wow such a heart wrenching story.

[@maisa.elmiina]

@@sutnack7537 what does this have to do with gender? and in my comment i'm talking about her two gimmicks, the man and big time becks, not sure what you got so angry for. not everyone decides to have a baby at the peak of their career and then successfully come back with a totally different gimmick and that's what the video is about "wrestlers who reinvented themselves".

[@planetfixer]

@@sutnack7537 you're probably a young dude so just take my advice that this mindset is going to fuck you in a million different ways lol. grow past this stage quick my brothers

[@ja1295]

​@@sutnack7537 and john cenas only had 1 gimmick since 2007? Does that mean men have a terrible outlook? 😂

[@samilton87]

How could you forget Mrs. Foley baby boy Mick? He entered at match as 3 characters. Also R-truth heel. You have to do a part 2!!!!!

[@oharold]

Wait a minute…. There’s Terry Funk…. And…. No MICK FLOEY…. 😂 he’s like the 1st person I thought

[@mackisbrocklesnar]

Foley does not fit here coz he technically did not reinvent himself with one personality after another. He is in a different league altogether living 3 personalities at once

[@Frosty_CH]

Hi Andy! I just wanted to suggest the idea for a video about wrestlers with animals! Jake The Snake, British Bulldog, Koko B Ware! They’re some of my favorite gimmicks and I feel like it’d be an interesting video!

[@virtualtrucker26]

How about Kane? From the Demonic Monster to Serial Killer to Big Red Machine to Corporate Kane to Big Red Machine again

[@vaughn2444]

And all the bad early gimmicks before Kane he was a big scary dentist at one point

[@virtualtrucker26]

@@vaughn2444 and a Fake Diesel 😆

[@caitobrown]

@@virtualtrucker26 And The Christmas Creature

[@anjhontongo6945]

​@@virtualtrucker26 and the Mad Dentist named Dr. Isaac Yankeem DDS

[@christophernicholson20]

And Doomsday, Unibomb and Angus King

[@btf_flotsam478]

Low-key Jericho's "conspiracy victim" is basically the same character as Y2J; he went from thinking there was a conspiracy stopping him from being world champion and carrying the company to assuming it was inevitable he would be world champion and carrying the company. Exact same ego, practically the exact same clothes, just a shift in location leading to a different mentality. This is one of the under-rated aspects of Jericho's reinvention; he's being the same person and can therefore draw on his past, keep parts of his character that work and doesn't have any weird transitional stuff like Taker's "halfway in the desert" promo.

[@LibraJohnny]

About Bradshaw, before the APA and JBL, he started as Justin Bradshaw and Blackjack Bradshaw... What a run!

[@theonlymatthew.l]

Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw I believe

[@sedrickgipson8088]

Bray Wyatt and Jericho is the masters of this

[@dougvuillemot8670]

Neither of them are at top. Mr Foley wrestled as 3 different people in royal rumble

[@chrisfornaro1548]

Seth Rollins is on his way to getting on this list.

[@theylovedaboy9617]

Rollins sucks

[@aeso3555]

Fr. The Visionary saved him from that disastrous 2019 run.

[@StopTheWorldIWantToGetOff13]

Chris Jericho is not only the master of reinvention, he is in my mind The GOAT.

[@regularjohn6582]

Hey I've been watching your videos because you give a lot of insights and informations on wrestlers that I haven't had the pleasure of watching at their prime. I was looking to know more about Jeff Jarrett but haven't found a video about him, you think you could do one?

[@dangalangman7379]

You know it's weird Wrestling Bios hasn't done that yet or hell even Markyd123 should have done something 🤣 A WILD SLAPNUTS APPEARS!

[@bryanelam7431]

I don't care what anyone else thinks, I was always a fan of The American Badass gimmick from The UnderTaker!!

[@MissAlmostFine]

SAME!!!!

[@kevinkingslayer2450]

R.I.P. to Bray Wyatt..✌🇹🇹

[@dangalangman7379]

In 2016 Broken Matt made professional wrestling great again. I miss them days 😭 I literally got back into wrestling souly do to that gimmick and then I found BTE and haven't stopped keeping up with the business since.

[@houseofpibb1435]

I had stopped watching regularly around 08 and completely by 09 and when I heard about broken Matt I had to check it out and have since watched it regularly again

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Same

[@kevinlee9929]

Broken Matt was entertaining as hell. And the Final Deletion is a classic.

[@glasschin871]

I haven’t watched since the mid 2000s but gave wrestling a try again with AEW but I can’t get on board with it but I actually like some of MLW Jacob Fatu , Chris Hammerstone , Davy Richards and Richard Holiday are all decent.

[@dangalangman7379]

@@glasschin871 MLW was fire af before AEW stole Tony from commentary. And back when MJF was the leader of the Dynasty. I still watch because Hammerstone is basically Hulk Hogan if he was actually good. Straight up go watch the broken hardy saga if you haven't. It is honestly the greatest thing ever to happen in wrestling 🤣 its just too good.

[@some.dude.on.za.internet]

Matt hardy had one of the best gimmicks for me

[@dangalangman7379]

Broken Matt is by far the greatest gimmick in the history of gimmicks. You can't tell me otherwise.

[@klaw547]

Jericho is easily in the top 5 greatest of all time! He is too good!!!

[@rvawildcardwolf2843]

Not a bad list, but you brought up Roman Reigns before discussing Becky Lynch, even though HE also had a great reinvention. Going from the hated top babyface Vince desperately wanted to replace John Cena and actually getting worse off in fans eyes with every major win, to a mafia-esque top heel who's gets huge reactions.

[@nwo2cool]

Honorable mentioned: 1. HHH 2. Kane 3. Mick Foley 4. Dustin Rhodes 5. Cody Rhodes

[@VintageDev499]

don’t forget Seth Freakin’ Rollins

[@higherpower254]

As hated as Hulkster is he was the pivotal point in the two events that made wrestling mainstream Brother

[@CharmCityGamer]

So long Bray. We'll never forget you.

[@karenstarr]

How do you not have Mick Foley on this list?

[@darrencole97]

Hulk Hogan was basically the Hollywood character before he came to WWF in AWA where he was a heel.

[@CompelledUsername]

Yeah, but he was more of a chicken shit heel in WCW. Somehow, he made himself seem smaller physically.

[@MissAlmostFine]

@@CompelledUsername To be fair he was physically smaller in comparison to his past self since he stopped juicing so much.

[@CompelledUsername]

@@MissAlmostFine True, but he played small. Hogan doesn't get enough credit for his character work.

[@MissAlmostFine]

@@CompelledUsername You may be right. His backstage politicking often overrides how on point his character work was in discourse today.

[@MichaelTaylor-qp2xf]

The Ocho is probably much further than the 8th reinvention of Jericho.

[@Deo4life59]

The fact that the rock and mick foley aren’t on here is crazy.

[@jeanlongsden1696]

they missed out on Billy Gunn being Rock-a-Billy, the Honky Tonk Mans protégé. why isn't the 3 faces of MICK FOLEY on this list?

[@ChurchillGeoff]

what about Mick Foley, Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love, Mr Socko...or even Edge and Christian, from Vampires to the biggest faces of two different companies?

[@americansmark]

I had no idea Terry Funk was that old. I thought he was Mick Foley's age, but he's 78....

[@roberthenderson7713]

Great list but... Where's Mick Foley?

[@LibraJohnny]

Well, he had three incarnations in the same company, he's out of contest. :)

[@SPAC3H3R0]

I’ve lost all respect for bully ray after the whole Jon moxley drama when he said moxley owed the fans an apology for leaving to going into rehab to better himself and his family and friends

[@reddeath555]

Man, you sure keep the great videos coming!

[@malachimathis8095]

Part 2? 👀

[@oharold]

Definitely needs a part 2… Mick Foley not being on here is crazy lol… but then Seth Rollins, The Rock, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Booker T.. hell The Hurricane can be on here lol.

[@FJDGBFDBGify]

No mick foley? He’s the king of reinvention, love the video though sting is my favorite

[@stevengrvp]

Sting and y2j are the best at it

[@MrParker-ux2mh]

That’s honestly the most disgusting thing Vince has done to my recollection….the complete mishandling of The Fiend

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Hollywood Hogan is my favorite Hulk Hogan

[@leatherface964]

No Kane? And Visera was never a main eventer but he consistently was on TV with changes to his character from the early 90s to the mid 2000s

[@claymathewselevator8121]

2002 Hulk Hogan was great

[@arunsingla3452]

The one who had most gimmicks was Brutus the barber beefcake with his 18 gimmicks

[@marcusalston0910]

They forgot to mention Seth Rollins,Roman Reigns, The Uso's,Naomi,Alexa Bliss,Buff Bagwell,Brutus Beefcake,Edge,Christian, Jeff Jarrett,R-Truth,Cody Rhodes,Mickie James,Jeff Hardy,Rikishi,Kane,Scott Stiener & Shelton Benjamin just to name a few...

[@nishanthsurendran7721]

Where's Mick Foley? He literally played three characters at the same time.

[@guywilliams6569]

Sting wasn't "inspired" by the Crow or Joker, he flat out ripped those characters off!!!

[@romeokoroma3341]

Please do the return of the undertaker’s American badass in judgment day 2000.

[@peterversionone]

@13:03 I remember that scene and what happened later with that picture. I was laughing at that segment so much

[@TalanJosef]

Mick Foley and Molly Holly were missing on this list

[@paulcharpentier5613]

All of the best tag teams ended up being great solo too

[@natnatpogi]

do the best high flyers in wrestling history

[@axkamen3429]

Headshrinker Fatu and Papa Shango! Also, when you were talking about JBL, why no mention of Blackjack Bradshaw or Justin Hawk Bradshaw?

[@shanelorrison5224]

Bless you for mentioning the legendary Terry Funk.

[@Hellwyck]

1. Billy Gun was Rockabilly between Smokin' Guns and New Age Outlaws. 2. Where the hell was Ed Leslie? He was Brutus Beefcake and also 17 other personas.

[@blakenewdarbie7433]

"Doing a Jig or Riverdance". I can't wait till monday at work. Changing my header on my loading dock. Play the tune "Oh you didn't know". Lol

[@Rakmandra]

the Bray Wyatt part leaves a bit of a bitter taste watching it now

[@MyMag77]

What about Mick Foley

[@guywilliams6569]

Bray is the best thing about WWE in a LONG time!

[@antwoneallwood6352]

Chainsaw Charlie will never be mentioned.

[@showtime1235]

these videos deserve FAR more views than they receive

[@fingersTitan]

It's a bit off putting when he is talking about an old has been in Jeriatrico who has never drawn as top player in the same vein as Taker who stood on top for 30 yrs and drew huge..

[@MrH4yWire]

Day 1. Can you do the roddy piper story

[@Time2bakitup]

Triple H Def Deserved To Be On If We’re Talking Reinventing 🔥💯

[@Time2bakitup]

Bray Didn’t Get To See What Would’ve Been A Super Great Run😔

[@mprp2348]

Rollins should be on the list From the shield to authority to a cult leader to the joker he is now playing

[@andrewbrown9981]

I think an awesome reinvention is Tetsuya Naito; from stardust genius to el ingornable.

[@blakenewdarbie7433]

Bubba did well in singles? At TNA. If he'd had a stable and wasn't the leader he might've been midcard. The Dudley Boys are a unit. Not one without the other. What they brought was so big it was to hard to single push either. Imo guys be easy.

[@corbinselanne7990]

Update from February 2024, the gimmick involving 'Uncle Howdy' is now technically forever without a conclusion as Wyatt died unexpectedly after an illness exacerbated an existing heart issue

[@Avatar1977]

Two "That Said"'s in the space of 15 seconds, surely a new record

[@JokersVsZombies]

Broken Matt is a god

[@guywilliams6569]

Jericho came out like magician... Lol

[@najxoslamp2963]

Bruh, no Seth Rollins

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Britt Baker said Conspiracy Victim Chris Jericho was the inspiration for her heel character

[@rustycaplinger8036]

I didnt like broken matt hardy, i like the early 2000s matt more. When it was just him and jeff tag team and of course lita.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Aces&Eights Bully Ray was my introduction to TNA

[@saturdaymorningstarbrand1407]

Billy was rockabilly with the honky tonk man who he turned on via prompting from the roadie.

[@dougvuillemot8670]

Imagine if they actually worked on the between the ropes stuff .

[@b.w.22]

Kinda disagree that the Undertaker was a reinvention “chameleon.” Contrast the bright neon, blond Sting to the brooding Stinger and that seems like a reinvention, like nearly opposite gimmicks. Even Hogan going from a real American to a real a-hole was a huge change. Taker, as much as I appreciate him, just swapped out different black, “bad ass” outfits - he was never Doink in the middle of two incarnations and got that over too. Totally awesome performer with an incredible career, but his various presentations just felt like different angles on the same character.

[@seanjohnson5015]

What about Shane "Hurricane" Helms

[@guero-gt]

If you make a part 2, consider Roman Reigns and Bayley

[@BreakerX42]

Jericho, Undertaker, and Bray are the best

[@RJSmith05]

Mick foley Jeff hardy Kane The Miz Finn Balor Cody Rhodes

[@frayhua9716]

How about Jay Lethal doing an Randy Savage gimmick as The Black Machismo.

[@tyreepowell8367]

Wrestle With Andy The G.O.A.T🐐

[@SSSD210]

Im going to say this joker sting is the best version of Sting

[@nealabbott6520]

was i asleep when you mentioned mick foley, or did you not include him? he chameleoned three times in one show!!

[@khaleelmohammed9924]

Painmaker was after the omega match it was for his match with Okada

[@aceitaliano88]

Scott Steiner should be on this list

[@0PhillMC0]

RIP Bray Wyatt

[@blazebburnin1]

List of missing wrestlers: The Rock Kane Roman Reigns Cody Rhodes Mankind Lita Seth Rollins The Usos The Godfather Edge Booker T

[@dougvuillemot8670]

How could you forget probly the best at reincarnation? Mr Foley. He actually entered royal rumble as 3 different people.

[@hakansoderholm6514]

Exactly! 🙂 Not even Y2J could do that!

[@e93sports80]

While I do enjoy Becky as The Man, I do miss her Irish Lass Kicker character.

[@havelrespes1333]

Cody Rhodes need to be on part two of this.

[@Naruto0s44]

Jericho is the king of this

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Chris Jericho is Wrestling’s David Bowie

[@GrizzINK]

Mick Foley is the Father of this.