Well since they bought it up on Superstars...

[Vice honcho room temperature]

... why did they give Regal the man's man gimmick?

[Cam]

It made no sense at all. First of all, Regal had been playing the exact opposite of the character for the past 10 years. Not to mention it didn't fit in with the Attitude Era at all. It sounds like something you'd see in 1988 not 1998.

The only good thing about that gimmick was the theme.

[J.O.B. Squad]

I remember the gimmick and even liking it somewhat and loving his entrance music....But how it came about I am not sure about.

[neuro]

Most epic entrance of all time

[WhiteFu]

Regal's initial appearance in the World Wrestling Federation was on the June 29, 1998 edition of Raw Is War, in which he defeated Droz via submission with the Regal Stretch. After featuring in one more match against Tiger Ali Singh at Penn State in Pennsylvania, Regal was sent to a training camp run by Dory Funk Jr. in order to get into shape. On his last day, in a match againt Rhyno, Regal twisted his ankle, upon returning home he aggravated this injury falling in his bathroom, breaking his ankle and leg. During this time Regal was suffering from an addiction to Renutrient, pain medication and valium and was not seen on WWF television until he returned that fall with a "Real Man's Man" builder/lumberjack style looking gimmick created by Vince Russo that was based on the image of The Brawny Man.[6] Vignettes for the character showed him doing "manly" things like chopping wood, shaving with a plain razor, and squeezing his own orange juice. After he made his full-time debut in October 1998, he faced X-Pac in the opening round of the tournament for the vacant WWF World Championship at the Survivor Series,[6] ending in a double countout and thus eliminating both men from the tournament. Regal then began a feud with The Godfather, but was taken off television soon after before subsequently checking into rehab in January 1999 and was released from the WWF in April.[2]

[celticjobber]

I always thought they just wanted him to be the exact opposite of his WCW persona.

[Ronny Rayguns Is All Elite]

The Highlight of this gimmick was the time something happened to the titantron and he showed up in his hardhat/tool belt to replace it

[Todd Pettengill]

Why didn't they say something about the song change? I mean, I got the joke, but I'm sure there are plenty who didn't.

Side note - I loved Striker using the words "Catch as Catch Can" in regards to Regal.

[Jimmy]

[angryfan]

I'll never understand the logic. "Well, he's always been the posh, British snob, but that's way too dated. So, you know that paper towel guy? I think it'd be a great wrestling gimmick".

Love the theme, though, even if it does make me think of Dudley Do-Right

[rapidfire187]

I know that gimmick is remembered fondly these days because of how absurd it was, but they really could have ruined Regal's career with it. I remember him being a huge joke among all my friends that watched wrestling. He was like, Gillberg levels of threatening. I'm really glad he was able to overcome it and have a really good career with the company.

[BlackoutCreature]

I always assumed it was some kind of punishment for him showing up in the WWF obviously out of shape and drugged out of his mind. It was their way of saying "get yourself together or this is the kinda crap you're gonna be remembered for".