Wrestlers/Storylines not popular at the time

[ajdynon]

Have there been any wrestlers or storylines that weren't over at the time they happened, but gained popularity or endured afterwards?

Basically, I'm thinking of the wrestling equivalent of Star Trek or the X-Men comics. The original Star Trek, famously, didn't exactly pull in great ratings when it first aired, and was canceled after three seasons. But it pulled strong ratings once it went into syndication, and went on to become one of the most enduring franchises in science fiction.

Likewise, the X-Men comics were initially not strong sellers, and the title went into reprints and was on the verge of cancellation... until Marvel's sales analysis discovered that sales on the title were going up! The book was relaunched, and went on to dominate the comics industry.

Does wrestling have any equivalent?

[Midnight Rider]

The best example would be the whole "Jerry Lawler vs. Andy Kaufman" angle/feud; at the time it was considered to be a failure as far as feuds went; but now it is one of the legendary feuds in professional wrestling.

[Cactus Jack]

The character of Muhammad Hassan.

[winddancer]

i would say that too ( even trough iam not old enough to remember it lol) but i do know about it

dx vs corporation might be one not sure

iam talking abouyt the kuffman lawler thing

[Efren]

Wouldnt the whole ECW be the main example of that? It had really devoted fans as im sure ST and X Men did on their original runs but it wasnt exacly mainstreem and a hot property by the time it folded yet by the time WWE came out with R&F and the first ONS ECW was already ridiculously popular and both sold like pancakes.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

The career of Bam Bam Bigelow.

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

Rocky Maivia? Hunter Hearst Helmsley? "Midnight Rocker" Shawn Michaels?

Do any of them qualify, or did I miss the whole point of this thread?

[derrtaysouth95]

I agree ECW was kinda the back burner fed that just got stolen from but really was huge as has since been proven

Bam Bam too....he was there and once he passed (RIP) every was like...oh wow he was good now we don't have him anymore

I have a feeling Eddiesploitation might be this in a few years (hear me out please) it wasn't done in bad taste totally and it elevated Rey, Chavo, Benoit to some extent, and Vickie has a job to support her children