Most drastic gimmick changes for Wrestlers

[Vern Gagne]

For instance in WCW Steve Austin was Stunning Steve. Long blonde hair, long sequined robe, a blonde valet.

 

Goes to WWE, after a brief stint in ECW. Bald, simple black drunks, had no friends, beer drinking, doesn't care what people thinks and does what he wants.

[Guest Fook]

Undertaker went from undead zombie to middle-aged biker.

[Ace309]

Jimmy Yang goes from being an Elvis impersonator to a member of the Yakuza.

[TheFranchise]

Val Venis.

 

Porn Star to preacher.

 

You pretty much don't get more different.

[Lil' Bitch]

Lex Luger - from an arrogant prick to Captain America

[Vern Gagne]

Ted Dibiase I believe for a good majority of his days in Memphis was a babyface. He goes to the WWE, and he's one of the most hated heels in the last 20 years.

[Special K]

Mankind: Deranged psychopath monster to fun-lovin' hippy who loves bad jokes

Glen Jacobs: Wrestling dentist to mutant burned retard (I know it doesn't really count)

Ric Flair: World's biggest pimp to HHH's bitch.

E&C Vampire hunters(?) to goofy wisecrackers who like to brain people with chairs.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

Dustin Rhodes to Goldust.

[Red Baron]

Rey Mysterio: Lucha Libre to Gangsta

[Myxamatosis]

Adrian Adonis: Tough, leather chaps wearing Biker to flaming cross-dresser.

 

Both had homosexual overtones, though.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh]

Charles Wright: Papa Shango to Kama Mustafa

 

Voodoo Man to Supremely Fightingly Racist

[Guest news_gimmick]

Randy Savage : outdated and stale nWo member to middle-aged, mid-life crisis rapper

[Darthtiki]

Charles Wright:  Papa Shango to Kama Mustafa

 

Voodoo Man to Supremely Fightingly Racist

from Kama Mustafa to Godfather

 

Racist to Stereotypical Blaxploitation Era Pimp

[DCMaximo]

Mike Awesome- "Career Killer" to a man who loves fat girls

Shane Helms-Boy band member to wannabe superhero

Juventud Guerrera-masked luchadore to tequila-weilding, Rock impersonating commentator extrordinaire

[Steve J. Rogers]

Hunter Hearst Helsmely

American Blue Blood to Degenerate who doesn't give a damn (and name change to Triple H and wardrobe change) to Degenerate who doesn't give a damn who is a merry prankster to Power hungry Anrgy Guy who is a so called "Master Manipulater"

 

Rocky Miavia

Happy Blue Chipper with Samoan Heritage to pretty much a clone of the modern American Pro (and major college sports) cocky, spoiled, third person speaking athlete

 

Scott Levy

Different character but still I think there were acknowledgements that they were the same guy, Scotty Flamingo to Raven

[Just John]

John Layfield:

 

Went from a beer-swilling, card-playing, rough, tough, Texas redneck named Bradshaw... To a clean-cut, rich, smart, professional investor in New York named JBL.

[Guest Desperate Housewife]

They gave a viable reason for that.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh]

Ric Flair

 

1980-2001: Legendary 16-time (recognized) World Heavyweight Champion, respected icon

 

2002-Present: Paints Hunter's toenails

[Jericholic82]

They gave a viable reason for that.

sure, as bradshaws success in the stock market had been acknowledged many times, and he even had a book.

[tommytomlin]

Mideon went from happy go lucky pig farmer to mute bodyguard to sacrifical lamb to spawn of evil in about 6 months. I don't think anybody can top that.

[tbondrage99]

Mideon went from happy go lucky pig farmer to mute bodyguard to sacrifical lamb to spawn of evil in about 6 months. I don't think anybody can top that.

And lets not forget after all that was said it was decided the best thing to do was have him wrestle "naked"

[tominator89]

Although not a full-time wrestler (thank god), I'll add Vince McMahon. He went from being an annoying announcer to Mr. McMahon.

[ISportsFan]

Mideon went from happy go lucky pig farmer to mute bodyguard to sacrifical lamb to spawn of evil in about 6 months. I don't think anybody can top that.

And lets not forget after all that was said it was decided the best thing to do was have him wrestle "naked"

Actually, I think it would be best to forget that.

 

He actually got a PPV match against William Regal at No Mercy 2000. Perhaps the only redeeming thing about Naked Mideon -- Regal's facial expressions.

 

Jason

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

Charles Wright:  Papa Shango to Kama Mustafa

 

Voodoo Man to Supremely Fightingly Racist

from Kama Mustafa to Godfather

 

Racist to Stereotypical Blaxploitation Era Pimp

To the RTC's Goodfather.

[Vern Gagne]

Mideon went from happy go lucky pig farmer to mute bodyguard to sacrifical lamb to spawn of evil in about 6 months. I don't think anybody can top that.

There's at least a reason behind Mideon's drastic changes.

[Some Guy]

What were they? Besides all of them being failed gimmicks?

 

BTW Tommy, you missed his brief stint as Dennis Knight in Southern Justice and Naked Mideon.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

Sparky Plug > New Midnight Express' Bombastic Bob > Bob Holly, JOB Squad > Hardcore Holly

 

Even though he was the same character, the Rock's traits drastically changed when he initially turned face in 1999, no longer mocking the crowd, talking much more cartoonish/fast/high pitched, and using far more catch phrases, and speeding up pretty much everything he did, his entrance, his matches, even his song.

[CanadianChick]

Glen Jacobs: Wrestling dentist to mutant burned retard (I know it doesn't really count)

And a Diesel impersonator in between.

[Aero]

From "Wildman" Marc Mero to boxing Marc Mero. While, he did retain alot of the same moves (SSP, Moonsault, etc.), his gimmick totally changed. As Wildman, he was screaming in interviews and wearing leopard print... As the boxer, he wore boxing shorts and robes and did all kinds of jabs.

[CanadianGuitarist]

What were they? Besides all of them being failed gimmicks?

 

BTW Tommy, you missed his brief stint as Dennis Knight in Southern Justice and Naked Mideon.

Southern Justice should have been pushed better. They were infinitely more credible than the Godwins.