Wrestlers Gimmick Changes that added more shelf life to them

[The Blue Nova]

What gimmick Changes gave wrestlers more shelf life to them here are some I came up with

Kama becoming The Godfather in 1998 as before that he was just the guy who ate pins in Nation Matches
Bradshaw becoming JBL in 2004 he went from reforming the APA in July 03 which no one cared about to WWE champ within a year. and proceeds to be the longest reigning champ in a decade.
John Cena turning into a rapper. Cena had cooled off after his match with Kurt Angle and the whole rapping thuganomics character helped him alot
The New Day. Big E was struggling after losing the IC belt Xavier was not doing much since joining the main roster and Kofi by 2014 was a full blown jobber. This helped them alot forming the New day

The New Age Outlaws prior to being put together They were both stuck in the lower midcard not doing anything mainly wrestling on shotgun or occasional ppv dark match. Then when they put them as a tag team became one of the hottest acts and one of the most memorable teams of the attitude era.

Kane. before that he was Issac Yankem and Fake Diesel. They turned him into Kane and hes in one of marquee matches of Wrestlemania 14 against the undertaker and the rest is history

Hulk Hogan 1996. He was so stale as a babyface. having him turn heel as the third man of The Nwo made him relevant again

[Spider2024]

Undertaker turning into a biker.

And then again when he turned BACK to Deadman demon.

[Sephiroth]

Begins and ends with Broken Matt Hardy

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

Rated R Superstar Edge. It's not that Edge was floundering in early 2005, but I remember at the time he was just.. there. His whole run after breaking away from Christian had been ok, but nothing about him was really shouting 'World Champion'.

He had a good comeback after his surgery but it didn't really go anywhere. Then obviously the Lita and Matt Hardy drama happened.. Edge took it all in his stride and really hit on a great heel character out of it. Someone you COULD see at that top tier level.

[ANuclearError]

Toru Yano's comedy schtick definitely extended his career a good few years.

[nickcave]

Pierre Oulette becoming PCO

[jason1980s]

Definitely Mr. Bob Backlund. He was so out of place in 92-94 and I can't seen him staying much longer in WWF. Maybe he'd transition to a backstage role but that wouldn't be physical or competitive enough for him. He didn't make many PPVs or TV prior to the gimmick change. But Mr. Backlund changed the course of his career the last 30 years. I still legit wonder how much was for show and how much is his real personality.

Different companies but I'd say Krusher Kruchev to Demolition Smash. I can't see JCP being able to do much with Barry, especially if he had stayed on during the Turner buyout. Smash gave him a character that's been bankable for almost 40 years. Indy toy companies are still making Demolition figures, both guys are still very popular at autograph shows.

[XIII]

Billy Gunn going from generic cowboy and Rockabilly to noted Ass Expert Bill Gunn is still paying dividends

[James Fabiano]

Without Big Poppa Pump, Scott Steiner ends his career as the broken down Steiner Brother.

That is one definitive pick. The other? Well, how about the guy who stopped being a happy babyface and joined the Nation of Domination?

And by that I mean Mark Henry, what would he do without Sexual Chocolate?

Oh yeah, and that Rocky guy too. He went a little further.

Seriously, come to it, Steve Austin minus Ringmaster minus Million Dollar Champion fits too. Then going from just badass technical wizard to badass brawler who hates authority, well there was no looking back.

[James Fabiano]

Stevie Richards from midcard comedian to RTC leader could be another one. After the stable disbanded he did manage to last a few years though unpushed.

Stevie Richards usurping the careers of canceled wrestlers helped too ;-)

Chris Jericho's numerous reinventions.

Surfer Sandman becomes drunk trailer park trash, hardcore wrestler Sandman.

Tazmaniac becomes worked shooter Taz.

Sympathetic babyface in suspenders Tommy Dreamer becomes the innovator of violence.

Johnny Polo becomes Raven. (Sense a theme?)

Bombastic Bob/JOB Squad member Bob Holly becomes Hardcore.

Bray Wyatt becomes The Fiend. Well it worked for awhile.

American Male Marcus Bagwell becomes Buff.

The Trooper from the AWA becomes The Patriot in Global, then beyond.

Leif Cassidy gets some head and his original name back. (TRIVIA MOMENT: do you remember the NEWZ that he wasn't going to be Al Snow in ECW once he adapted the insane gimmick? He was to apparently have another Justin Credible pun name: "Psycho" Sam Attic)

Third generation babyface Randy Orton starts giving RNN reports, then joins Evolution. The rest is history.

[THE FVNKER]

I mean, any of the top midcard to main event guys basically ever have had gimmicks that sort of sucked before they found the right one.

[Bang Bang Bart]

Husky Harris becoming Bray Wyatt (after a short spell as Axel Mulligan)

[willywonka666]

Apr 11, 2024 16:35:58 GMT -5 XIII said:

Billy Gunn going from generic cowboy and Rockabilly to noted Ass Expert Bill Gunn is still paying dividends

I think anytime Billy Gunn appears in a documentary it should say "Noted Ass Expert" under his name

[Cvslfc123]

Roman Reigns went from being one of the biggest flops in wrestling history to one of the all time greats when he became The Tribal Chief.

Bubba/Brother Ray becoming Bully Ray.

[froggyfrog]

Sugar Shane Helms -> Hurricane Helms -> The Hurricane probably kept him from being lost in that InVasion shuffle and likely released like a lot of those guys. And then the shift to Gregory Helms later on bought him a few more years as well

Goldust was stale in 2002 even though he had just come back, being put with Booker T and then being electrocuted breathed a lot of life back into that character.

Zack Ryder becoming the Death Match King on the indies has him potentially hotter than he’s ever been.

My favorite, Scott Taylor and Brian Christopher going from lower card job guys to Too Cool one of the most over acts in the company. Throw Sultan becoming Rikishi and joining with them as well and he’s still fairly relevant thanks to his sons the Usos. Imagine if they had to be portrayed as the sons of the Sultan 😂

[johnnyk9]

Bob Backland becoming a political maniac

[Sephiroth]

Apr 12, 2024 9:20:09 GMT -5 froggyfrog said:

Sugar Shane Helms -> Hurricane Helms -> The Hurricane probably kept him from being lost in that InVasion shuffle and likely released like a lot of those guys. And then the shift to Gregory Helms later on bought him a few more years as well

Goldust was stale in 2002 even though he had just come back, being put with Booker T and then being electrocuted breathed a lot of life back into that character.

Zack Ryder becoming the Death Match King on the indies has him potentially hotter than he’s ever been.

My favorite, Scott Taylor and Brian Christopher going from lower card job guys to Too Cool one of the most over acts in the company. Throw Sultan becoming Rikishi and joining with them as well and he’s still fairly relevant thanks to his sons the Usos. Imagine if they had to be portrayed as the sons of the Sultan 😂

As I recall, Shane Helms was starting to get a massive push in the final weeks of WCW, complete with an elaborate new ring entrance. Bischoff has said he has big plans for the CW division, and Helms appeared set to be the torch carrier. Then, his fist appearance in the InVasion had no theme music and he lost the belt to Kidman. I remember feeling sorry for the guy. Yet within weeks he had created The Hurricane and became one of the most over acts of the whole story. He deserves so much credit got that.

[Smitty]

Surfer Sting to Crow Stinger and in TNA at least Joker Sting

[fw91]

Hunter Hearst Helmsley becoming Triple H

[Milkman Norm]

Hollywood Hogan.