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.
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JAYDEGARROW
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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

[@LibraJohnny]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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? 😂

[@paulswamptiger]

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

[@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!!!!!

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@StopTheWorldIWantToGetOff13]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@bryanelam7431]

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

[@MissAlmostFine]

SAME!!!!

[@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.

[@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!

[@kevinkingslayer2450]

R.I.P. to Bray Wyatt..✌🇹🇹

[@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.

[@klaw547]

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

[@karenstarr]

How do you not have Mick Foley on this list?

[@higherpower254]

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

[@MichaelTaylor-qp2xf]

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

[@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.

[@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?

[@CharmCityGamer]

So long Bray. We'll never forget you.

[@americansmark]

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

[@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?

[@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

[@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

[@roberthenderson7713]

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

[@LibraJohnny]

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

[@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...

[@nwo2cool]

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

[@VintageDev499]

don’t forget Seth Freakin’ Rollins

[@arunsingla3452]

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

[@nishanthsurendran7721]

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

[@MrParker-ux2mh]

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

[@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

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Hollywood Hogan is my favorite Hulk Hogan

[@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.

[@guywilliams6569]

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

[@claymathewselevator8121]

2002 Hulk Hogan was great

[@romeokoroma3341]

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

[@shanelorrison5224]

Bless you for mentioning the legendary Terry Funk.

[@andrewbrown9981]

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

[@TalanJosef]

Mick Foley and Molly Holly were missing on this list

[@paulcharpentier5613]

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

[@guywilliams6569]

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

[@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]

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.

[@Rakmandra]

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

[@mprp2348]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Aces&Eights Bully Ray was my introduction to TNA

[@claymathewselevator8121]

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

[@MyMag77]

What about Mick Foley

[@MrH4yWire]

Day 1. Can you do the roddy piper story

[@axkamen3429]

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

[@Time2bakitup]

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

[@Avatar1977]

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

[@najxoslamp2963]

Bruh, no Seth Rollins

[@antwoneallwood6352]

Chainsaw Charlie will never be mentioned.

[@guywilliams6569]

Jericho came out like magician... Lol

[@tyreepowell8367]

Wrestle With Andy The G.O.A.T🐐

[@dougvuillemot8670]

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

[@guero-gt]

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

[@khaleelmohammed9924]

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

[@natnatpogi]

do the best high flyers in wrestling history

[@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!

[@nealabbott6520]

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

[@JokersVsZombies]

Broken Matt is a god

[@SSSD210]

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

[@havelrespes1333]

Cody Rhodes need to be on part two of this.

[@frayhua9716]

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

[@BreakerX42]

Jericho, Undertaker, and Bray are the best

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Chris Jericho is Wrestling’s David Bowie

[@seanjohnson5015]

What about Shane "Hurricane" Helms

[@Time2bakitup]

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

[@sedrickgipson8088]

Undertaker is the master of this too

[@bryanmorrison2396]

When u see size off Billy gun n the fact anyone who won KOTR in the attitude era went onto champ. Rocks promo killed him 💯 now he getting his legit spotlight daddy ass

[@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..

[@reddeath555]

Man, you sure keep the great videos coming!

[@bryanmorrison2396]

Surfer too crow 1 gimmick change like saying jeff hardy has loads gimmicks cause changes face paint as since crow sting that's all he's done mby joker sting was good infact but none og as joker n crow both movies, which works for some look at Alexa bliss the aces n 8s jst to name a few that worked

[@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.

[@blazebburnin1]

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

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Great Video 💞😍

[@peterversionone]

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

[@Naruto0s44]

Jericho is the king of this

[@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

[@renegademikey2458]

Damn, you forgot to mention Rockabilly before the Bad Ass gimmick and Mr. America of Hogan but they're forgettable lol 😂😂

[@zoamel8066]

Do your research watch mojo Becky’s “steampunk” persona is literally just Chandra Nalaar from magic the gathering