WHO Gimmick (Jim Neidhart)

[Lardlad]

This board is awesome for the simple fact that whenever someone replies with "Who?" there is usually a "Jim Neidhart..." post to follow. I love it, and it never gets old.

BUT my question is:

When Neidhart put the mask on and came out as Who, did fans ever get into this gimmick? Or was he ever drowned out with "Neidhart, Neidhart.." chants similar to Lord Tensai getting the "Albert" chants today.. ??

I seem to also recall Russo saying there was supposed to be a "What" character that came in and was going to be Who's tag team partner. I wonder who they were planning on bringing in for that.. Brooklyn Brawler?

[Jimmy]

I don't think the fans reacted in any fashion when Who came out and wrestled.

[Deleted]

I still have no idea why they did this anyway...Neidhart though not a main eventer was still a recognizable persona

[lildude8218]

not only was he recognizable but he even did the laugh when he was in the ring

[Angus Mcloud]

Russo also said the gimmick was a dig at Hogan.

[Dean-o]

I still cringe when I think of Vince McMahon doing his Abbott & Costello ripoff bit on commentary.

[Hit Girl]

Completely pointless gimmick.

[jason1980s]

A dig on Hogan is an interesting new piece of information on Who. With the red and yellow outfit and the name Who it's like WWF was saying "Who?" to a former champion.
With Who I'm sure people knew it was Neidhart but with it being a low card character it probably didn't matter much. It was a joke character, not to be taken seriously like Lord Tensai, Demolition Smash or Saba Simba who fans remember as Albert, Moondog Rex and "that's Tony Atlas" or whatever Piper said to expose the gimmick.

[CaptainFall]

He came out, the crowd went 'Who?' and the bookers took that as being a positive reaction.

[héad.casé]

Here's a bigger question - did Vince really think the fans were so stupid as to not recognise Neidhart even under a mask? I knew it was him the first time I saw him.

[Fantozzi]

it would've been great if steve austin got the "what" gimmick

[laker8kiss]

Did this gimmick ever end up on a PPV or DVD?

[h]

May 15, 2012 15:35:37 GMT -5 héad.casé said:

Here's a bigger question - did Vince really think the fans were so stupid as to not recognise Neidhart even under a mask? I knew it was him the first time I saw him.

I saw him and thought, "Hey, look! A new wrestler, exactly the size and shape of Jim Neidhart! He even has chest hair in a perfectly rectangular fashion, just like Jim Neidhart (and nobody else in professional wrestling)! However, I have no idea who Who could possibly be."

[molson5]

May 15, 2012 15:35:37 GMT -5 héad.casé said:

Here's a bigger question - did Vince really think the fans were so stupid as to not recognise Neidhart even under a mask? I knew it was him the first time I saw him.

It didn't matter whether anyone recognized him, he was just a jobber. I don't think he won a single match.

[Banjo Is Broken]

Wait, you guys don't remember Who was WWF champion?

[That Mickie Fan]

I thought his gimmick was to impersonate Members of The Who

[The Sam]

May 15, 2012 22:44:27 GMT -5 Banjo Is Broken said:

Wait, you guys don't remember Who was WWF champion?

Was that during April 2004 - September 2004?

[Lardlad]

May 15, 2012 15:35:37 GMT -5 héad.casé said:

Here's a bigger question - did Vince really think the fans were so stupid as to not recognise Neidhart even under a mask? I knew it was him the first time I saw him.

I didn't reconize him at first. But I was also about 15 years old. As I type this, I'm starting to think I should have known...

[CaptainFall]

What are you all talking about? I don't know why this Jim Neidhart guy keeps getting mentioned when we're talking about Who.

[Marty McFry]

I've been watching wrestling since late 1989 and I have no memory of this guy on WWE TV.
Previously when I had seen him mentioned I had presumed he was a WCW creation.