Failed Attempts at Rejuvenating Careers

[Burst]

There are plenty of examples of guys like AJ going to Japan after a period of being stagnant, reinventing themselves, and coming back to the US revitalized and significantly better for it. Hell, one could argue the entire point of the NJPW Young Lions Excursions is built around this concept.

Clearly there are going to have been cases where it didn't work, whether just the performer was never that good or wasn't willing to improve, or something just didn't mesh one way or another. Even though this came well before his UFC success and his current run, I would argue Brock's time in NJPW would count, though you could fight all day whether it was because of him or because of the state of NJPW at the time. He looked like he was phoning it in the whole time and honestly both sides came out of it looking bad.

[mizerable]

First thought I had was William Regal in 2008. I think both the company and fans were onboard, but Regal's demons always crept up on him.

[malloc]

Bulldog 1999/2000 wrestling in jeans? No sign of the union flag? A dog barking for music? Load of wank.

[Aceorton]

King Kong Bundy in '94 comes to mind. Enough time had gone by since his first WWF run that he could have been a refreshed monster if presented properly (and he was only 37), but they blew it by making him just another Corporation goon and putting him up against other big guys, which made him look even more lumbering in the ring.

Crush in '96 was a pretty solid try, considering they had to work with the fact that he'd been in prison, but I wouldn't count that as a "success."

[chazraps]

Jan 15, 2018 13:08:23 GMT -5 mizerable said:

First thought I had was William Regal in 2008. I think both the company and fans were onboard, but Regal's demons always crept up on him.

I wouldn't even say that failed. Abruptly cut short, yes, but he was the top heel for a good six month period.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

First thought was Jake Roberts in 1996 WWF, with the "revelations" gimmick.

[Push R Truth]

Jan 15, 2018 13:37:27 GMT -5 malloc said:

Bulldog 1999/2000 wrestling in jeans? No sign of the union flag? A dog barking for music? Load of wank.

Yeah, Bulldog trying to reinvent himself screamed "Mid Life Crisis" and it felt lame as hell.


On the flip side, Bossman's gear switch to the black armored style was the correct way to upgrade from the 80's to the 90's.

[Milkman Norm]

Billy Graham shaving his head wearing karate gear in the early 80's. Apparently he change his look so much that fans didn't think it was the same guy.

[Gawk Rivers]

Tyler Reks in 2010 feels like a really elaborate joke except it actually happened.

["Playboy" Don Douglas]

What about the Headbangers in ROH as the Guardians of Truth?

[Honeybear Lyder]

Ultimate Warrior in 1992, 1996, 1998.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Macho Man roided up with Team Madness was a pathetic mid age crisis.

Road Warrior Animal's single run in the wwe. Take out the painting and the shoulder pads, he was just an ugly fat guy with a Mohawk.

Rambo Greg Gagne.

Chavo Guerrero being presented as a legend in tna.

Chris Jericho's cool dad gimmick when he returned was pathetic so glad he ditched it and found the list.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Jan 15, 2018 14:42:43 GMT -5 Push R Truth said:

Jan 15, 2018 13:37:27 GMT -5 malloc said:

Bulldog 1999/2000 wrestling in jeans? No sign of the union flag? A dog barking for music? Load of wank.

Yeah, Bulldog trying to reinvent himself screamed "Mid Life Crisis" and it felt lame as hell.


On the flip side, Bossman's gear switch to the black armored style was the correct way to upgrade from the 80's to the 90's.

The Bossman is one of my favorite gimmicks ever. It's one of those characters that will always work no matter the era because deep down I think everyone dislikes cops.

[Milkman Norm]

Jan 15, 2018 16:00:48 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Macho Man roided up with Team Madness was a pathetic mid age crisis.

Road Warrior Animal's single run in the wwe. Take out the painting and the shoulder pads, he was just an ugly fat guy with a Mohawk.

Rambo Greg Gagne.

Chavo Guerrero being presented as a legend in tna.

Chris Jericho's cool dad gimmick when he returned was pathetic so glad he ditched it and found the list.

Um... Chavo Guerrero was a legend.



Just because he was never a huge name in the Northeast doesn't mean he wasn't a draw in other places in this country.

[2coldMack is even more baffled]

Jan 15, 2018 17:11:28 GMT -5 Milkman Norm said:

Jan 15, 2018 16:00:48 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Macho Man roided up with Team Madness was a pathetic mid age crisis.

Road Warrior Animal's single run in the wwe. Take out the painting and the shoulder pads, he was just an ugly fat guy with a Mohawk.

Rambo Greg Gagne.

Chavo Guerrero being presented as a legend in tna.

Chris Jericho's cool dad gimmick when he returned was pathetic so glad he ditched it and found the list.

Um... Chavo Guerrero was a legend.



Just because he was never a huge name in the Northeast doesn't mean he wasn't a draw in other places in this country.

We're talking about Chavo Jr. here. Who was a big-ish name, but certainly not the legend TNA made him out to be.

Anyways, back on topic, pick a Marty Jannetty comeback. Any of them.

[MrElijah]

Rick Martel because of his unfortunate injury?

[Viking Hall]

Jan 15, 2018 14:35:34 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Jan 15, 2018 13:08:23 GMT -5 mizerable said:

First thought I had was William Regal in 2008. I think both the company and fans were onboard, but Regal's demons always crept up on him.

I wouldn't even say that failed. Abruptly cut short, yes, but he was the top heel for a good six month period.

I think his initial yoyo-ing between WCW and WWF in the late nineties before he got his shit together in Memphis would be a better example, especially the Man's Man thing.

[Starshine]

Everything Road Warrior Animal has tried following the original LOD.

[cassonova]

The New Blackjacks. Granted, in the case of Bradshaw, you can't rejuvenate what isn't there, as he wasn't a star yet. Barry Windham though...yeesh.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Jan 15, 2018 12:46:17 GMT -5 Burst said:

There are plenty of examples of guys like AJ going to Japan after a period of being stagnant, reinventing themselves, and coming back to the US revitalized and significantly better for it. Hell, one could argue the entire point of the NJPW Young Lions Excursions is built around this concept.

Clearly there are going to have been cases where it didn't work, whether just the performer was never that good or wasn't willing to improve, or something just didn't mesh one way or another. Even though this came well before his UFC success and his current run, I would argue Brock's time in NJPW would count, though you could fight all day whether it was because of him or because of the state of NJPW at the time. He looked like he was phoning it in the whole time and honestly both sides came out of it looking bad.

Lesnar came out of it looking bad, but Lesnar got paid. Lesnar don’t give a f***.