Gimmicks That Only That Person Could Pull Off.

[chunkylover53]

As we know, gimmicks are a huge part of professional wrestling. Some are looked at in high regard and will be fondly remembered by fans(such as Undertaker) while others have been flushed away into obscurity(Max Moon). Some gimmicks have potential to be crap, but because of the person who played it, made it work. Something many can't do. So which successful characters do you think would fail if somebody else played them? Here's my list...

Goldust - Before 1995, if I(or the IWC) ever heard of a character like that, we would consider it doomed at the very beginning, while others would tell us to give it a chance(another IWC cliche). Well those people would be right because this bizarre persona worked very well with the fans. As you know, the character was played by Dustin Runnells, who made a name for himself as a do-gooding cowboy. To see that transformation into a Hollywood obessed freak covered in gold and black with a questionable sexual preference is something you have to see to believe. Had anybody else played that role it would've been short lived, but Runnells was into the role an made it believable. You can even call it a contributor to the Attitude Era. Now, don't get me wrong, it did get stale after awhile, and his numerous comebacks have worn out their welcome. But you can't question the novelty it once had.

I can think of more, but I'd like others to name some.

[hedonismbot]

Repo Man, and I'm being dead serious. It may have been wrestlecrap, but at least Barry Darsow made it entertaining.

[bubbles]

I doubt anyone else could go as long as The Undertaker with his gimmick

[Turd Ferguson]

Vince McMahon.

[Baixo Astral]

I'll suggest the Boogeyman... he's very good at what he does, as long as he stays out of the actual wrestling side of things.

[plushtar]

I can't really see anyone else doing Joel Gertner's act.

[Deleted]

Hollywood Hulk Hogan. I don't think anyone else has possessed the same level of overness as a face coupled with infamy due to (at least believed) locker room politics. I can't imagine anyone else turning from wrestling's biggest hero to its biggest villain in such a dramatic fashion.

[Mac]

Zack Gowen

[VeggieOverlord]

Hulk Hogan. We have seen NUMEROUS times promoters--even Vince--trying to find the next Hogan, but they keep failing. Why? Because Terry Bollea was the only guy that could pull THAT off. The man is overlooked as a wrestler and as a performer.

[Goldenbane]

veggieoverlord said:

Hulk Hogan. We have seen NUMEROUS times promoters--even Vince--trying to find the next Hogan, but they keep failing. Why? Because Terry Bollea was the only guy that could pull THAT off. The man is overlooked as a wrestler and as a performer.

My only problem with that whole thing is that the promoter wants it both ways. No, there can never be another Hulk Hogan. I doubt any other wrestler will be the ultimate babyface hero like he was, going to all these places, and seeing all these sick kids, and that sort of thing...

However, when bookers/promoters/whatever keep saying "who will be the next Hogan?" the idiots keep wanting someone who's as big a draw as Hogan. Sorry to say it, but Steve Austin was already "the next Hulk Hogan." Nobody has as many stupid products, shirts, action figures, and other crap labeled with his catchphrase (Austin 3:16) The biggest problem is that Steve didn't have the "nostalga factor" that Hogan has. Possibly, in 20 years or more, fans might ask "Geez, why did all those people cheer for such a despicable and evil man like Steve Austin?" It wasn't in Austin's character to be the hero or the stand up guy...he was the vigilante, the man out only for his own reasons and motives.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that "the next big Hogan-like draw" has already come and gone...but the next big ultra super hero stand up guy hasn't yet...such a character just isn't "in" with the times right now.

[simplydurhamcalling]

mikeybadnews said:

Zack Gowen

Winner!!!

[hutter]

Honky Tonk Man. Can't see anyone but Wayne Ferris working well with that.

[mrjl]

goldenbane said:

veggieoverlord said:

Hulk Hogan. We have seen NUMEROUS times promoters--even Vince--trying to find the next Hogan, but they keep failing. Why? Because Terry Bollea was the only guy that could pull THAT off. The man is overlooked as a wrestler and as a performer.

My only problem with that whole thing is that the promoter wants it both ways. No, there can never be another Hulk Hogan. I doubt any other wrestler will be the ultimate babyface hero like he was, going to all these places, and seeing all these sick kids, and that sort of thing...

However, when bookers/promoters/whatever keep saying "who will be the next Hogan?" the idiots keep wanting someone who's as big a draw as Hogan. Sorry to say it, but Steve Austin was already "the next Hulk Hogan." Nobody has as many stupid products, shirts, action figures, and other crap labeled with his catchphrase (Austin 3:16) The biggest problem is that Steve didn't have the "nostalga factor" that Hogan has. Possibly, in 20 years or more, fans might ask "Geez, why did all those people cheer for such a despicable and evil man like Steve Austin?" It wasn't in Austin's character to be the hero or the stand up guy...he was the vigilante, the man out only for his own reasons and motives.

I ask that now.

[Dolph Zalgo]

Ultimate Warrior.

He is a douche, he is a hypocrite, he is a homophobic, jingoistic asshole, he is full of himself, but he is right when he says that there only was ONE Ultimate Warrior and it was him. He is right when he refers to his itensity. In retrospect it was ridiculous, but it was the craziness that only he could portray. There was no other like him, no other could cut weird promos, no other could showcase that intensity while absolutely sucking in the ring.

I'd say Hogan would have been easier to replace than Warrior. Any blond, roided up hero figure with decent mic skills could have taken Hogan's place then, but Warrior was just from out of this world. You can imitate the Warrior, you can repeat his lines in his voice, but you will never EVER be as mad saying these lines, you will never ever FEEL the DESTRUCITY, like Warrior feels.

As I said Warrior is full of himself and he always was. He didn't play a role he WAS that role. Like Klaus Kinski. Their madness made them unique. There was only one Ultimate Warrior like there only was one Klaus Kinski*. And listen to their mad ramblings of the past makes me happy.

[Joekishi]

I don't think anybody else could have pulled off being Kane, and sustaining that character for 11 years and the changes he's gone through.

Glen Jacobs is a tremendously talented actor

[Samoa Kenny]

I've seen plenty of guys try to play "rich guy" but no one did it like Ted

[mcmahonfan85]

kennyisill said:

I've seen plenty of guys try to play "rich guy" but no one did it like Ted

"The Fifty Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase has nothing on the most money making man...


...Claudio Castagnoli

[chunkylover53]

kennyisill said:

I've seen plenty of guys try to play "rich guy" but no one did it like Ted

JBL came close.

[Bocuma]

I say Mankind.

Foley legit scared the smurf out of me, and I know I'm not the only one. There are tons of gimmicks out there that rely on the character being insane or loving pain, but Foley fleshed out the character so much by adding things from his own life into it.

Hell, even when he became a CHILDREN'S CHARACTER he was still good.

[The Peoples Elbow]

goldenbane said:

veggieoverlord said:

Hulk Hogan. We have seen NUMEROUS times promoters--even Vince--trying to find the next Hogan, but they keep failing. Why? Because Terry Bollea was the only guy that could pull THAT off. The man is overlooked as a wrestler and as a performer.

My only problem with that whole thing is that the promoter wants it both ways. No, there can never be another Hulk Hogan. I doubt any other wrestler will be the ultimate babyface hero like he was, going to all these places, and seeing all these sick kids, and that sort of thing...

However, when bookers/promoters/whatever keep saying "who will be the next Hogan?" the idiots keep wanting someone who's as big a draw as Hogan. Sorry to say it, but Steve Austin was already "the next Hulk Hogan." Nobody has as many stupid products, shirts, action figures, and other crap labeled with his catchphrase (Austin 3:16) The biggest problem is that Steve didn't have the "nostalga factor" that Hogan has. Possibly, in 20 years or more, fans might ask "Geez, why did all those people cheer for such a despicable and evil man like Steve Austin?" It wasn't in Austin's character to be the hero or the stand up guy...he was the vigilante, the man out only for his own reasons and motives.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that "the next big Hogan-like draw" has already come and gone...but the next big ultra super hero stand up guy hasn't yet...such a character just isn't "in" with the times right now.

Well, Austin was to me what Hogan is to many others. I was the absolute happiest with the product during 1996-2002 or so.