Hilariously Stupid Early Personas Of Wrestling Superstars.
By Edtrader Oct. 21st, 2022
Successful pro wrestlers often have had horrible and hilarious early career gimmicks that flopped. Erased from history, but it would be a crime to forget them.
Successful pro wrestlers often have had horrible and hilarious early career gimmicks that flopped. Erased from history, but it would be a crime to forget them.
John Cena Was A Cyborg.
We all know John Cena as a movie star and WrestleMania top-lister. However, earlier in his career, he was a cyborg. I kid you not. Citing himself as 50% man, 50% machine, Having his promos centered around his genetic superiority over that of humans. As seen in this video, he started interviews doing The Robot from 1985. Either that or a very bad Robocop imitation. To top it all off, he would do the obvious... wear sunglasses like The Terminator.
We all know John Cena as a movie star and WrestleMania top-lister. However, earlier in his career, he was a cyborg. I kid you not. Citing himself as 50% man, 50% machine, Having his promos centered around his genetic superiority over that of humans. As seen in this video, he started interviews doing The Robot from 1985. Either that or a very bad Robocop imitation. To top it all off, he would do the obvious... wear sunglasses like The Terminator.
Chyna Was A 'What Is That'.
Towards the end of Chyna's wrestling super-stardom, she was a glorious and sexy woman. With enough wrestling chops to compete with anybody. That glamour and sexuality landed her as one of the most bought covers of Playboy magazine. She also became a top drawing pornographic actress.
She was a weightlifter in real life. Shawn Michaels and Triple H found her in a gym and knew she had to come to the WWF/E. Vince McMahon wasn't sold on her as a full performer. So, the two talked him into having her as their bodyguard. That passed, and she made her TV debut. Walking out with the two as DX's butch man-lady bodyguard. The bad thing is that she acted like a bodyguard. A stone and mean face that was mannish. It came off as 'What is that, women, man'?
With a straight-foreword leather outfit that a S&M would say is too butch. All of her femininity was deleted. And this carried on for quite a while. She herself had a boob job. Then she had her jaw reconstructed to give her a more womanly look. But keeping in tow with a bodyguard, it was like Mr. T on a bad mood day.
Luckily for her, DX split up, and it was time for her to make it on her own. She started to profile more of her female side and grew more and more into a sexual yet confident lady. Going more along the lines of her new Glamorous Amazon Beauty persona.
Amazonian women were said to be tall and strong. But she is also beautiful and very feminine. She had the strength, but it wasn't until after DX that the beauty and feminine part of her shone through. Now she added more colors and style to her wrestling outfits. With more movie actress make-up, that really lit up her face.
Towards the end of Chyna's wrestling super-stardom, she was a glorious and sexy woman. With enough wrestling chops to compete with anybody. That glamour and sexuality landed her as one of the most bought covers of Playboy magazine. She also became a top drawing pornographic actress.
She was a weightlifter in real life. Shawn Michaels and Triple H found her in a gym and knew she had to come to the WWF/E. Vince McMahon wasn't sold on her as a full performer. So, the two talked him into having her as their bodyguard. That passed, and she made her TV debut. Walking out with the two as DX's butch man-lady bodyguard. The bad thing is that she acted like a bodyguard. A stone and mean face that was mannish. It came off as 'What is that, women, man'?
With a straight-foreword leather outfit that a S&M would say is too butch. All of her femininity was deleted. And this carried on for quite a while. She herself had a boob job. Then she had her jaw reconstructed to give her a more womanly look. But keeping in tow with a bodyguard, it was like Mr. T on a bad mood day.
Luckily for her, DX split up, and it was time for her to make it on her own. She started to profile more of her female side and grew more and more into a sexual yet confident lady. Going more along the lines of her new Glamorous Amazon Beauty persona.
Amazonian women were said to be tall and strong. But she is also beautiful and very feminine. She had the strength, but it wasn't until after DX that the beauty and feminine part of her shone through. Now she added more colors and style to her wrestling outfits. With more movie actress make-up, that really lit up her face.
She turned from a follow-behind character. Into the lady of the WWF/E, being one of the featured matches and the first woman to be the intercontinental champion. Her character grew out of the silent ass-kicker. She entered a storyline with Eddy Guerrero and his Latino Heat persona. So, we got to see the tender and sweet side of her in love with Eddy. Not surprisingly, Playboy magazine noticed.
They wouldn't have a stern and mean playmate. But the Glamorous Amazon Beauty made the cover. And hers is one of the highest-selling Playboys of all time. When she quit wrestling, the porno industry sought her services. Making her one of the highest-paid porn stars of the time.
Chris Jericho Was The Unlovable Whinner.
Outside of wrestling eyes would recognize him from the 2016 season of Dancing With the Stars. His platinum selling albums from his band Fozzy. Or his guest appearance on the August. 3rd, 2016 edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway. Wrestling fans knows Chris Jericho for his extensive book of wrestling moves and counters. As well as professionalism that makes him an industry standard. However, his 1995 United States debut came at the hands of the WCW. An immature foley that would whine when he lost or whined when he won. But he put on great matches. And as a joke, shirts were sold that took the name of the show and changed it to Monday Night Jericho. The shirts sold far better than expected.
But the WCW didn't see Chris as a star. So, he was kept in this stupid frame. Things got more hilarious as Jericho began to mimicked Goldberg. Having low rent bodyguards come out with cheap fireworks. One of the bodyguards Ralphus was fat and bald with his front teeth missing. Ralphus actually began to get more of a fan reaction that Jericho did.
In the year 1999 Jericho was signed to the WWF/E. Which they gave him a heavy build up as a surprise, With the simple Y2J appearing on the screen. It comes time for his WWF TV debut with none other than The Rock. Chris's first moments he was face to face with the biggest star at the time. And he was facing Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania.
Outside of wrestling eyes would recognize him from the 2016 season of Dancing With the Stars. His platinum selling albums from his band Fozzy. Or his guest appearance on the August. 3rd, 2016 edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway. Wrestling fans knows Chris Jericho for his extensive book of wrestling moves and counters. As well as professionalism that makes him an industry standard. However, his 1995 United States debut came at the hands of the WCW. An immature foley that would whine when he lost or whined when he won. But he put on great matches. And as a joke, shirts were sold that took the name of the show and changed it to Monday Night Jericho. The shirts sold far better than expected.
But the WCW didn't see Chris as a star. So, he was kept in this stupid frame. Things got more hilarious as Jericho began to mimicked Goldberg. Having low rent bodyguards come out with cheap fireworks. One of the bodyguards Ralphus was fat and bald with his front teeth missing. Ralphus actually began to get more of a fan reaction that Jericho did.
In the year 1999 Jericho was signed to the WWF/E. Which they gave him a heavy build up as a surprise, With the simple Y2J appearing on the screen. It comes time for his WWF TV debut with none other than The Rock. Chris's first moments he was face to face with the biggest star at the time. And he was facing Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania.
A Kane The Underfaker.
It was 1996 when both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash left the WWF for WCW. It was noticed by the WWF that the two continued to act like their WWF characters, Razor Ramon and Diesel. So, Vince McMahon filed a suit against the WCW. A deal was made that he clearly owns the intellectual properties of those two characters. And the suit would be settled.
Hall and Nash helped the WCW beat out the WWF in the TV ratings. Vince needed to answer this, so a thought hit his brain. It's the characters, not the wrestlers, that make a gimmick work. I'll get two others, and the characters will live on.
So, a Canadian by the name of Rick Bogner was hired as Razor. And Glenn Jacobs would be diesel. The announcers proclaimed on WWF's Raw that Razor Ramon and Diesel were to appear. Everyone got excited except for WCW. Who in a dumb movie signed Hall and Nash a longer and more costly contract. Thinking it was true!
Fans were ready when these two came out. Both are doing a pretty good job impersonating. But understandably, fans were disappointed. These stupid personas carried on for a few months. Bogner retired from wrestling soon after. While Glenn Jacobs is a millionaire today as Kane.
It was 1996 when both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash left the WWF for WCW. It was noticed by the WWF that the two continued to act like their WWF characters, Razor Ramon and Diesel. So, Vince McMahon filed a suit against the WCW. A deal was made that he clearly owns the intellectual properties of those two characters. And the suit would be settled.
Hall and Nash helped the WCW beat out the WWF in the TV ratings. Vince needed to answer this, so a thought hit his brain. It's the characters, not the wrestlers, that make a gimmick work. I'll get two others, and the characters will live on.
So, a Canadian by the name of Rick Bogner was hired as Razor. And Glenn Jacobs would be diesel. The announcers proclaimed on WWF's Raw that Razor Ramon and Diesel were to appear. Everyone got excited except for WCW. Who in a dumb movie signed Hall and Nash a longer and more costly contract. Thinking it was true!
Fans were ready when these two came out. Both are doing a pretty good job impersonating. But understandably, fans were disappointed. These stupid personas carried on for a few months. Bogner retired from wrestling soon after. While Glenn Jacobs is a millionaire today as Kane.
Brothers And Sons
The Nature Boy Ric Flair, the multi-time world wrestling champion of either the NWA, WCW, or WWF. He received his wrestling training in Minnesota. Home of the AWA wrestling company, where their top draw was Dusty Rhodes. It was 1973 when the young Richard Fhlier (Flair's real name) was hired. Back then, the AWA was the type of territory that you didn't get hired in; then it was time on TV. You had to pay your dues by setting up the rings and carrying the top star's suitcases around.
Yes, that's a buzz-cut Rich Flair with Rhodes and Murdock.
The Nature Boy Ric Flair, the multi-time world wrestling champion of either the NWA, WCW, or WWF. He received his wrestling training in Minnesota. Home of the AWA wrestling company, where their top draw was Dusty Rhodes. It was 1973 when the young Richard Fhlier (Flair's real name) was hired. Back then, the AWA was the type of territory that you didn't get hired in; then it was time on TV. You had to pay your dues by setting up the rings and carrying the top star's suitcases around.
Yes, that's a buzz-cut Rich Flair with Rhodes and Murdock.
Ric was paired with Rhodes and his partner, Dick Murdock, as their slave. Ric did as he was supposed to and did as they said. Along with being the butt of their practical jokes and hazing. Finally, it was his turn to do some wrestling. Ric had admired Dusty so much that he began his in-ring career as Ramblin' Ricky Rhodes. The younger brother of Dusty Rhodes.
Gone was Ric's longer hair, and in was the same army buzz cut that Rhodes and Murdock had. Ric had grown up as a rich kid from Minnesota who had a private school background. Now he's portraying a rough n' tough poor guy from Texas.
Back then, you wrestled for a territory and were loaned out to others. Ric traveled to the Carolines to wrestle for the Jim Crockett Promotions. This was the first time they had laid eyes on this new guy. It would be ten years later, Ric would come back to JCP as the Nature Boy. Winning the NWA world heavyweight title. And headlining all of the major JCP shows.
Dusty didn't mind the persona, but AWA owner Verne Gagne did. So, he told Ric he would be good enough to just be himself. It turns out he was right. Hence, ten years later, he would be one of the top five pro-wrestlers of all time.
Gone was Ric's longer hair, and in was the same army buzz cut that Rhodes and Murdock had. Ric had grown up as a rich kid from Minnesota who had a private school background. Now he's portraying a rough n' tough poor guy from Texas.
Back then, you wrestled for a territory and were loaned out to others. Ric traveled to the Carolines to wrestle for the Jim Crockett Promotions. This was the first time they had laid eyes on this new guy. It would be ten years later, Ric would come back to JCP as the Nature Boy. Winning the NWA world heavyweight title. And headlining all of the major JCP shows.
Dusty didn't mind the persona, but AWA owner Verne Gagne did. So, he told Ric he would be good enough to just be himself. It turns out he was right. Hence, ten years later, he would be one of the top five pro-wrestlers of all time.
It's similar to what happened when The Big Show first came on the scene. Billed simply as The Giant, he appeared on WCW and attacked Hulk Hogan. Later, with Kevin Sullivan as his mouthpiece, he was part of the Dungeon Of Doom. One of the silliest groups of people ever. But the words of 'remember Andre The Giant, this is his son'. And the ploy of he's here to get revenge. Revenge for what was never made clear.
Now Andre was a big (no pun intended) TV star. Having been on Johnny Carson and other shows. As well as his critically acclaimed role in the movie Princess Bride. More importantly, it was well known of Andre's struggles with being his size in the world.
He had a medical condition that caused him to never stop growing. So, it was documented that he only had one daughter before his weight made him unable to be in a relationship. Plus, Andre had recently died because of the same condition. So, the whole Andre's son gimmick fell flat.
Paul Wight (Big Show's real name) hated the gimmick. He was constantly told that he wasn't as good as Andre. And secondly, a guy of his size and ability didn't need a gimmick persona.
Now Andre was a big (no pun intended) TV star. Having been on Johnny Carson and other shows. As well as his critically acclaimed role in the movie Princess Bride. More importantly, it was well known of Andre's struggles with being his size in the world.
He had a medical condition that caused him to never stop growing. So, it was documented that he only had one daughter before his weight made him unable to be in a relationship. Plus, Andre had recently died because of the same condition. So, the whole Andre's son gimmick fell flat.
Paul Wight (Big Show's real name) hated the gimmick. He was constantly told that he wasn't as good as Andre. And secondly, a guy of his size and ability didn't need a gimmick persona.
Shawn Michaels Was A JC Penny's Fashion Catalog Victim.
Mr. Wrestlemania, The Showstopper, The Heartbreak Kid, whatever nick-name you call him, his real name is Shawn Michaels. Although mistaken as 'Sean' Michaels on occasion, he has always used his name. However, he wasn't always the blue jeans and cowboy hat-wearing WWF champion.
Shawn was sent to wrestle for Mid-South promotion after his wrestling training. It just so happened that one night that he and his car buddy, Marty Jennetty, were a tag team for a match. And with little preparation, there was magic between them.
So, they started wrestling together night after night. Once they moved up to the AWA promotion, owner Verne Gagne kept them as a team. However, there was a plan that went with it. The AWA had lost many top stars and was losing ground. So, Verne wanted to increase the viewership of younger people.
His idea was to call them the Midnight Rockers. A combo of The Midnight Express and the Rock And Roll Express. Two party guys who had the attitude of Spacolli from Fast Times At Ridgemount High. And the look of 1980's MTV music video stars. Which could have been pulled off with a degree of success. But the look for the guys was more of a cliché-filled parody of what Verne wanted.
And they were dressed like 1980s JC. Penny's fashion catalog was thrown up on them. Bright costumes with neon colors that made them look like beer signs. Either snowboarding glasses or types of glasses that Devo would throw out the window. It didn't turn on any new young viewers. Instead, it was a mismatch for the older and more conservative crowd. These two guys dancing around just didn't fit.
Vince McMahon hired them for the WWF and kept the same personas. This was a time when the bright colors of the Macho Man had already come and gone. And the WWF saw a decline in their popularity as well. They then went with a more reality-based 'attitude era'. Shawn followed suit and dumped the persona and his partner. Before you know it, he's headlining Wrestlemania.
Shawn was sent to wrestle for Mid-South promotion after his wrestling training. It just so happened that one night that he and his car buddy, Marty Jennetty, were a tag team for a match. And with little preparation, there was magic between them.
So, they started wrestling together night after night. Once they moved up to the AWA promotion, owner Verne Gagne kept them as a team. However, there was a plan that went with it. The AWA had lost many top stars and was losing ground. So, Verne wanted to increase the viewership of younger people.
His idea was to call them the Midnight Rockers. A combo of The Midnight Express and the Rock And Roll Express. Two party guys who had the attitude of Spacolli from Fast Times At Ridgemount High. And the look of 1980's MTV music video stars. Which could have been pulled off with a degree of success. But the look for the guys was more of a cliché-filled parody of what Verne wanted.
And they were dressed like 1980s JC. Penny's fashion catalog was thrown up on them. Bright costumes with neon colors that made them look like beer signs. Either snowboarding glasses or types of glasses that Devo would throw out the window. It didn't turn on any new young viewers. Instead, it was a mismatch for the older and more conservative crowd. These two guys dancing around just didn't fit.
Vince McMahon hired them for the WWF and kept the same personas. This was a time when the bright colors of the Macho Man had already come and gone. And the WWF saw a decline in their popularity as well. They then went with a more reality-based 'attitude era'. Shawn followed suit and dumped the persona and his partner. Before you know it, he's headlining Wrestlemania.
Sting (Steve Borden) Was Flash Borden.
1970s sci-fi fans will remember Flash Gordon. In the early 80s Ron Bassman rounded up a team of weightlifters he wanted to make into a wrestling group. They had three but Steve was found in a gym. And a fourth was added to Powerteam USA. Very little training went into the guys. But they were packaged, and feelers were put out.
Powerteam USA
1970s sci-fi fans will remember Flash Gordon. In the early 80s Ron Bassman rounded up a team of weightlifters he wanted to make into a wrestling group. They had three but Steve was found in a gym. And a fourth was added to Powerteam USA. Very little training went into the guys. But they were packaged, and feelers were put out.
Powerteam USA
The group didn't get picked up, but Sting and the future Ultimate Warrior showed promise. Beforehand they didn't have names, but Ron came up with Flash Borden. Gordon rhymes with Borden so it seemed cool. Dying his hair that high blonde the Flash character had. Warrior was giving the name Rock, and the Blade Runners was born.
Blade Runners was also a sci-fi spin of the Harrison Ford film of that name. The movie had these genetically engineered replicants. Which are stronger than people and are used for dangerous or illegal activity. So, the two were used in that role for wrestling manager Eddie Gilbert.
A mixture of the spiky hair and rat-tails the likes of new wave rockers had. They would come at and growl at the audience like insane cavemen.
Blade Runners was also a sci-fi spin of the Harrison Ford film of that name. The movie had these genetically engineered replicants. Which are stronger than people and are used for dangerous or illegal activity. So, the two were used in that role for wrestling manager Eddie Gilbert.
A mixture of the spiky hair and rat-tails the likes of new wave rockers had. They would come at and growl at the audience like insane cavemen.
Hulk Hogan, The Irish villain.
The Hulk Hogan we know today received wrestling training in Florida. Once he was hired full time by Louie Tillet in Alabama, it was time to pick his world champion name. Hulk had actually brought a friend up with him and convinced him to wrestle. This guy would become Brutus Beefcake later on.
Louie thought 'I'll call them 'The Boulders'. Playing off the muscle strength that the duo had. But if you see them side by side, Beefcake is a pebble compared to the rock that Terry Boulder was. Did he have a grand costume design for the two? NO. Hogan's chest hair was trimmed to look like the mushroom shaped dust-cloud from an atomic bomb!
The Hulk Hogan we know today received wrestling training in Florida. Once he was hired full time by Louie Tillet in Alabama, it was time to pick his world champion name. Hulk had actually brought a friend up with him and convinced him to wrestle. This guy would become Brutus Beefcake later on.
Louie thought 'I'll call them 'The Boulders'. Playing off the muscle strength that the duo had. But if you see them side by side, Beefcake is a pebble compared to the rock that Terry Boulder was. Did he have a grand costume design for the two? NO. Hogan's chest hair was trimmed to look like the mushroom shaped dust-cloud from an atomic bomb!
Hulk was then hired by Vince McMahon Sr. to wrestle in New York. Vince had the idea to name a character after his Irish ancestry. So, Hulk's real first name was pared with Hogan. Terry Hogan had Classie Freddy Blassie as his mouthpiece. Keeping the bomb chest hair.
Yep, a blonde-haired Florida guy trying to be an Irishman!
His back covered with the cape that liked like a bad drapery from a 60's LSD house.
Underneath was a spandex 'outfit' that allowed Hogan's man package to bulge out like a sub sandwich.
Terry went on to appear next to Lou Ferringo on a talk show. The host said Terry dwarfed The Hulk TV star, so Hogan connected the dots. Hulk went with his Florida surfer-dude persona. Which is what he was in real life. Now he's the idol we all know.
Dolph Ziggler Was A Male Cheerleader.
One of the newest hot shots in wrestling is Dolph Ziggler. Two times the world champion as well as the 2012 Money In The Bank winner. Showcasing a cocky attitude that would serve him well as either a good or bad guy. But the movie-going world would recognize him in the 2016 film Countdown.
However, when Dolph appeared on TV for the first time, he was a member of the Spirit Squad. A group of overly positive male cheerleaders (Uttering out his name at the time, NICKY!!!)
One of the newest hot shots in wrestling is Dolph Ziggler. Two times the world champion as well as the 2012 Money In The Bank winner. Showcasing a cocky attitude that would serve him well as either a good or bad guy. But the movie-going world would recognize him in the 2016 film Countdown.
However, when Dolph appeared on TV for the first time, he was a member of the Spirit Squad. A group of overly positive male cheerleaders (Uttering out his name at the time, NICKY!!!)
Whose sole purpose was to be a weapon for Vince McMahon against the 2006 reformed DX. But more often than not they were the comedic foley for the hi-jinks of Shawn Michaels and HHH.
To make sure the cheerleading was accurate, they trained with real gymnasts and cheerleaders. You could ever forget the legendary moment when 100 pounds of wet poop was dropped all over their heads on national TV.
The group was later sent back to training. It wasn't until a few years later that he came back to the WWE under his name now. He lost his first match as Dolph against Batista. But he was able to give Batistia a run for the money. And he showed he had skills greater than those used by a cheer squad.
To make sure the cheerleading was accurate, they trained with real gymnasts and cheerleaders. You could ever forget the legendary moment when 100 pounds of wet poop was dropped all over their heads on national TV.
The group was later sent back to training. It wasn't until a few years later that he came back to the WWE under his name now. He lost his first match as Dolph against Batista. But he was able to give Batistia a run for the money. And he showed he had skills greater than those used by a cheer squad.
Kevin Nash Was Oz.
Never has there been a hotter wrestling angle than the NWO. Kevin Nash being one of the three guys who changed wrestling forever. A few years prior to that, he became the WWE world champion as Diesel. But he could have been a wizard!
In 1991, Ted Turner and his Turner Classic Movies bought the rights to the landmark film The Wizard Of Oz. At the same time, WCW (also owned by Ted) gave the world a new person called Oz. This tall guy with a sparkly pointed hat and a huge green cape. The hat and the boots made Nash about eight feet tall. A castle backdrop highlighted with mystical music and green lights was the final icing on the cake.
Kevin Nash said when he was giving the gimmick, he told WCW one thing. Oz is a geographical location. The wizard is a person. Being called Oz makes no sense. With this costume, it doesn't matter what Oz really was. But worse yet, no one cared. So, the persona went nowhere. Kevin signed a deal with the WWE and became Diesel. Gaining their world title. He came back to WCW as himself and became the champ there as well. In fact, being himself was as easy as pie, and he made himself a lot of money.
Never has there been a hotter wrestling angle than the NWO. Kevin Nash being one of the three guys who changed wrestling forever. A few years prior to that, he became the WWE world champion as Diesel. But he could have been a wizard!
In 1991, Ted Turner and his Turner Classic Movies bought the rights to the landmark film The Wizard Of Oz. At the same time, WCW (also owned by Ted) gave the world a new person called Oz. This tall guy with a sparkly pointed hat and a huge green cape. The hat and the boots made Nash about eight feet tall. A castle backdrop highlighted with mystical music and green lights was the final icing on the cake.
Kevin Nash said when he was giving the gimmick, he told WCW one thing. Oz is a geographical location. The wizard is a person. Being called Oz makes no sense. With this costume, it doesn't matter what Oz really was. But worse yet, no one cared. So, the persona went nowhere. Kevin signed a deal with the WWE and became Diesel. Gaining their world title. He came back to WCW as himself and became the champ there as well. In fact, being himself was as easy as pie, and he made himself a lot of money.
JBL Was The New Of Something Old.
The Blackjacks are one of the most noted tag teams of the 1960s and 1970s. One of those teams that hardcore wrestling fans revere. JBL fans today know him as the commentator on RAW. As well as a guest panelist on CNBC and Fox News. However, there was a stupid mixture of the two earlier in his career.
Barry Windham is the real son of one of the original Blackjacks. In the WWE's wisdom, Barry was given the team The New Blackjacks. With a young JBL going under the name of Blackjack Layfield, A tough n' rowdy cowboy like John Wayne. This long handlebar mustache and tight little shorts. Who would brand his opponents with black ink like a cow. Instead of a hot iron (which may be illegal to do to a human).
Which instead of tough cowboys, it came off accidentally more like comedic stereotypes of gay cowboys.
Next for JBL came the team of The Acolytes. Only two supernatural personas have achieved great fame in the WWE. That being Kane and The Undertaker. The Acolytes made poor attempts to give The Undertaker some underlings. After turning into beer-drinking guys, it was a successful mid-card spot.
None of these took him to the top. It wasn't until he went by his own name that he became a world champion. Using his real-life financial experience to make a persona that's a lot like him.
The Blackjacks are one of the most noted tag teams of the 1960s and 1970s. One of those teams that hardcore wrestling fans revere. JBL fans today know him as the commentator on RAW. As well as a guest panelist on CNBC and Fox News. However, there was a stupid mixture of the two earlier in his career.
Barry Windham is the real son of one of the original Blackjacks. In the WWE's wisdom, Barry was given the team The New Blackjacks. With a young JBL going under the name of Blackjack Layfield, A tough n' rowdy cowboy like John Wayne. This long handlebar mustache and tight little shorts. Who would brand his opponents with black ink like a cow. Instead of a hot iron (which may be illegal to do to a human).
Which instead of tough cowboys, it came off accidentally more like comedic stereotypes of gay cowboys.
Next for JBL came the team of The Acolytes. Only two supernatural personas have achieved great fame in the WWE. That being Kane and The Undertaker. The Acolytes made poor attempts to give The Undertaker some underlings. After turning into beer-drinking guys, it was a successful mid-card spot.
None of these took him to the top. It wasn't until he went by his own name that he became a world champion. Using his real-life financial experience to make a persona that's a lot like him.
Tazz Was An Animal.
Tazz is the former commentator for WWE's Smackdown, a former Extreme Championship Wrestling world champion, and most recently the star of his own radio show, The Tazz Show. A no-nonsense wrestler with leg muscles big enough to lift an elephant on his back.
But his first entry into wrestling had him portray a half-human, half-animal Tazmaniac. A spin-off of the popular Looney Tunes character.
Wearing clothes that seemed to come out of Tarzan's wardrobe. With a long but natted-up mop of hair on his head. Along with the costume, he would walk around like he was technically a four-limb walker. That meant having to walk upright in order to wrestle. Imagine if you were squatting over a toilet because you didn't want to touch the seat. Now try to wrestle somebody in that position. He couldn't speak as you would imagine. So, he had to use grunts and growls during matches.
The person behind Tazz was an accomplished amateur wrestler. So, the persona of a wild man really didn't fit. As he was able to do very professional technical wrestling. Once he arrived in ECW in 1995, Paul Hayman had him tune down the animal part. And a little while later, he was their world champion. And went on to the WWE. First as a wrestler, then as a commentator.
Tazz is the former commentator for WWE's Smackdown, a former Extreme Championship Wrestling world champion, and most recently the star of his own radio show, The Tazz Show. A no-nonsense wrestler with leg muscles big enough to lift an elephant on his back.
But his first entry into wrestling had him portray a half-human, half-animal Tazmaniac. A spin-off of the popular Looney Tunes character.
Wearing clothes that seemed to come out of Tarzan's wardrobe. With a long but natted-up mop of hair on his head. Along with the costume, he would walk around like he was technically a four-limb walker. That meant having to walk upright in order to wrestle. Imagine if you were squatting over a toilet because you didn't want to touch the seat. Now try to wrestle somebody in that position. He couldn't speak as you would imagine. So, he had to use grunts and growls during matches.
The person behind Tazz was an accomplished amateur wrestler. So, the persona of a wild man really didn't fit. As he was able to do very professional technical wrestling. Once he arrived in ECW in 1995, Paul Hayman had him tune down the animal part. And a little while later, he was their world champion. And went on to the WWE. First as a wrestler, then as a commentator.
The Junkyard Dog Was A Pimp.
JYD is one of the most beloved wrestling characters among children and adults alike. He was a save character for the WWF/E that was building a new foundation. Away from the cigarette-filled and beer-smelling arenas Into a more kid and family-friendly show. Vince McMahon Jr. wanted to sell things like toys and ice cream bars. So obviously, he needed characters that parents would let their kids see.
JYD would often let kids come in the ring and dance with him. And who wouldn't love a character who told the world how great his mom's cooking was? And bring her into the ring and hug her. But before he was to be seen on national TV by the WWF/E, he bounced from wrestling promotion to promotion. The usual round wrestlers did back in the 70s and 80s Performing under his real name, Sylvester Ritter. Once he moved to the Stampede Wrestling promotion in Canada, Stu Hart wanted him to have a better character.
So the future kid-loving JYD was called Big Daddy Ritter. As a soul train living, women loving, robe wearing pimp. This was of the time of Huggie Bear from Starsky And Hutch. So, Ritter had these cool sunglasses and talked all cool. But he would also talk badly to the audience. Telling them he can't help it if he's a pimp and they can't afford to buy good clothes. Not having the kind of money that he pretended to have... he wore a big chain as bling bling.
He later went to work for Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling, and Bill saw these chains. Said it looked like a dog collar. He gave him the name Junkyard Dog because it sounded tough. He was booked against babyface wrestlers, which worked for a while, but JYD became a fan favorite. He just had that X factor that fans loved. JYD accepted an offer from the WWF. Taking his character to the national level. Almost thirty years later, the WWE still sells Junkyard Dog toys!
JYD is one of the most beloved wrestling characters among children and adults alike. He was a save character for the WWF/E that was building a new foundation. Away from the cigarette-filled and beer-smelling arenas Into a more kid and family-friendly show. Vince McMahon Jr. wanted to sell things like toys and ice cream bars. So obviously, he needed characters that parents would let their kids see.
JYD would often let kids come in the ring and dance with him. And who wouldn't love a character who told the world how great his mom's cooking was? And bring her into the ring and hug her. But before he was to be seen on national TV by the WWF/E, he bounced from wrestling promotion to promotion. The usual round wrestlers did back in the 70s and 80s Performing under his real name, Sylvester Ritter. Once he moved to the Stampede Wrestling promotion in Canada, Stu Hart wanted him to have a better character.
So the future kid-loving JYD was called Big Daddy Ritter. As a soul train living, women loving, robe wearing pimp. This was of the time of Huggie Bear from Starsky And Hutch. So, Ritter had these cool sunglasses and talked all cool. But he would also talk badly to the audience. Telling them he can't help it if he's a pimp and they can't afford to buy good clothes. Not having the kind of money that he pretended to have... he wore a big chain as bling bling.
He later went to work for Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling, and Bill saw these chains. Said it looked like a dog collar. He gave him the name Junkyard Dog because it sounded tough. He was booked against babyface wrestlers, which worked for a while, but JYD became a fan favorite. He just had that X factor that fans loved. JYD accepted an offer from the WWF. Taking his character to the national level. Almost thirty years later, the WWE still sells Junkyard Dog toys!
Macho Man Randy Savage Was The Spider.
Macho Man Randy Savage (Randy Poffo) is one of only seven wrestlers who were world champions of WCW and the WWF/E. A headliner of Wrestlemania and other gig events. Moviegoers know him for the character of Bonesaw McGraw in the first Spider-Man movie.
His first career choice was that of a pro baseball player. Having actually spent time on the roster of the Cincinnati Reds. However, he suffered some injuries that curtailed his dreams. But he had a backup that he enlisted, which brought him his fame.
Being the son of wrestler Angelo Poffo, he grew up around the sport. He and his teammates would often go together to catch a show or two. Randy grew interested, and with his baseball career ending, wrestling was the next step.
He was let go of the team but was still under contract for a while. Under that contract, the players signed a deal that they wouldn't participate in other sports. Randy wasn't going to let the remainder of his paychecks be stopped prematurely.
So, to compromise, he had to have an unknown identity. There is no easier way to pull that off than a mask. So, he signed to wrestle for the Championship Wrestling From Florida promotion. There, he became simply known as The Spider. A masked wrestler, like a spider, would spend time going around and up the ropes and corners.
An attribute he used later as the Macho Man in moves like his finisher, the flying elbow drop. Ironic that The Spider would fight Spiderman in a movie. But this persona wasn't going to bring in the big bucks. So, he had to do better. Little did he know that his famous character was already there.
Being a young man, he would easily get into fights. So, his Reds teammates nicknamed him Macho Man. Trying to look different than other wrestlers, he grew out his hair and his beard. It was the early 1970s, so Florida was still very bible-carrying. And long hair and a big beard makes you a hippie. So, it got a reaction immediately.
Randy also wanted to make it on his own. And not under the guise of his famous father. So, a different last name was wanted. Randy's brother, Lanny, said the wild hair and beard made him look like a savage. So, like magic, Macho Man Randy Savage was born. Lanny would grow a beard and call himself The Genius when he wrestled in the WWF years later.
The Spider mask also covers up a flaw in Randy's personality. He was an always-anxiety-filled man. When interviewed, his eyes rolled around like a game of Atari's Pong. Plus, his nervous energy, deep breathing, and constant moving were also because of anxiety. He was wild, like a caveman savage, naturally. So, it was worked into his interview and character.
To cover his eyes, his trademark big, dark glasses came into the picture. So finally, the name, look, and personality came together. He was signed by the WWF/E, and he was a world champion soon after.
Macho Man Randy Savage (Randy Poffo) is one of only seven wrestlers who were world champions of WCW and the WWF/E. A headliner of Wrestlemania and other gig events. Moviegoers know him for the character of Bonesaw McGraw in the first Spider-Man movie.
His first career choice was that of a pro baseball player. Having actually spent time on the roster of the Cincinnati Reds. However, he suffered some injuries that curtailed his dreams. But he had a backup that he enlisted, which brought him his fame.
Being the son of wrestler Angelo Poffo, he grew up around the sport. He and his teammates would often go together to catch a show or two. Randy grew interested, and with his baseball career ending, wrestling was the next step.
He was let go of the team but was still under contract for a while. Under that contract, the players signed a deal that they wouldn't participate in other sports. Randy wasn't going to let the remainder of his paychecks be stopped prematurely.
So, to compromise, he had to have an unknown identity. There is no easier way to pull that off than a mask. So, he signed to wrestle for the Championship Wrestling From Florida promotion. There, he became simply known as The Spider. A masked wrestler, like a spider, would spend time going around and up the ropes and corners.
An attribute he used later as the Macho Man in moves like his finisher, the flying elbow drop. Ironic that The Spider would fight Spiderman in a movie. But this persona wasn't going to bring in the big bucks. So, he had to do better. Little did he know that his famous character was already there.
Being a young man, he would easily get into fights. So, his Reds teammates nicknamed him Macho Man. Trying to look different than other wrestlers, he grew out his hair and his beard. It was the early 1970s, so Florida was still very bible-carrying. And long hair and a big beard makes you a hippie. So, it got a reaction immediately.
Randy also wanted to make it on his own. And not under the guise of his famous father. So, a different last name was wanted. Randy's brother, Lanny, said the wild hair and beard made him look like a savage. So, like magic, Macho Man Randy Savage was born. Lanny would grow a beard and call himself The Genius when he wrestled in the WWF years later.
The Spider mask also covers up a flaw in Randy's personality. He was an always-anxiety-filled man. When interviewed, his eyes rolled around like a game of Atari's Pong. Plus, his nervous energy, deep breathing, and constant moving were also because of anxiety. He was wild, like a caveman savage, naturally. So, it was worked into his interview and character.
To cover his eyes, his trademark big, dark glasses came into the picture. So finally, the name, look, and personality came together. He was signed by the WWF/E, and he was a world champion soon after.
DX's Road Dawg Was A Gimp.
Brian Girard James is known to the Marines as a faithful server. With four years and a tour in Desert Storm to his credit, In the wrestling world, he is better known as The Road Dogg. Jesse James. WWF/E tag team champion while a part of the group D-X. One of the most successful wrestling angles of all time. Which also drew some of the biggest TV ratings the WWF/E ever had.
He decided to give professional wrestling a go and earned his first TV exposure for Smokey Mountain Wrestling in 1987. However, he was still enlisted, so he couldn't be seen on TV. As it could hurt his standing in the Marines. So instead of being able to show his face as a Marine, he had to wear a mask. The Dark Secret! Put a gag in his mouth and tie him up!
The promoters could have spent the effort in order to have a creative mask design. Instead, he was left inside of this dollar store Adult Shop black mask. Which gave him no character whatsoever. In wrestling, if you have no character, you have no shot at success. But he looked like the guy who was tied up in the room of the Pulp Fiction movie.
Brian Girard James is known to the Marines as a faithful server. With four years and a tour in Desert Storm to his credit, In the wrestling world, he is better known as The Road Dogg. Jesse James. WWF/E tag team champion while a part of the group D-X. One of the most successful wrestling angles of all time. Which also drew some of the biggest TV ratings the WWF/E ever had.
He decided to give professional wrestling a go and earned his first TV exposure for Smokey Mountain Wrestling in 1987. However, he was still enlisted, so he couldn't be seen on TV. As it could hurt his standing in the Marines. So instead of being able to show his face as a Marine, he had to wear a mask. The Dark Secret! Put a gag in his mouth and tie him up!
The promoters could have spent the effort in order to have a creative mask design. Instead, he was left inside of this dollar store Adult Shop black mask. Which gave him no character whatsoever. In wrestling, if you have no character, you have no shot at success. But he looked like the guy who was tied up in the room of the Pulp Fiction movie.
The Road Warriors Were Gay.
The Road Warrior's are the most successful tag team in wrestling. As title holders as well as a toy-making entity. However, they were the Village People at first
Road Warriors Hawk and Animal (Mike and Joe) were bouncers in a bar when the bartender told them he was Eddie Sharky. They knew the name as he wrestled for the AWA world title against Minnesota legend Verne Gagne. He convinces them they should have a go at professional wrestling. Which he trains them, and they end up in Georgia Championship Wrestling.
GCW promoter Ole Anderson tells them he wants sort of a biker look for the guys. So, comes in the tight leather hats and leather chaps. Along with leather gloves that had fringes on them. Even Animal says they felt like the village people. It just didn't work. Ole (who rarely, if ever, admits he was wrong) came up to them and said this has got to change. So, it was Hawk's idea to go for more of the face-paint idea that brought them their huge success.
But in this early persona, they looked just like the comedic (and stereotypical) bunch of gay guys in the bar scenes of the Police Academy movies.
The Road Warrior's are the most successful tag team in wrestling. As title holders as well as a toy-making entity. However, they were the Village People at first
Road Warriors Hawk and Animal (Mike and Joe) were bouncers in a bar when the bartender told them he was Eddie Sharky. They knew the name as he wrestled for the AWA world title against Minnesota legend Verne Gagne. He convinces them they should have a go at professional wrestling. Which he trains them, and they end up in Georgia Championship Wrestling.
GCW promoter Ole Anderson tells them he wants sort of a biker look for the guys. So, comes in the tight leather hats and leather chaps. Along with leather gloves that had fringes on them. Even Animal says they felt like the village people. It just didn't work. Ole (who rarely, if ever, admits he was wrong) came up to them and said this has got to change. So, it was Hawk's idea to go for more of the face-paint idea that brought them their huge success.
But in this early persona, they looked just like the comedic (and stereotypical) bunch of gay guys in the bar scenes of the Police Academy movies.