WCW was known for having bizarre ideas that didn’t always find the success they hoped for. The risk-taking sometimes worked with ideas like the New World Order’s hostile takeover, Goldberg’s undefeated streak, and Sting becoming the Crow version of his character. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work out with the idea of introducing new characters.
Quite a few noteworthy WCW names were given creative directions that lacked logic in more ways than one. Some wrestlers were able to overcome these issues and either get the gimmick over or switch paths. Others witnessed their careers never recovering from such a negative shift. The following WCW wrestlers had characters that just made no sense.
UPDATE: 2024/09/15 22:00 EST BY JOEY HAVERFORD
Many of the most interesting WCW stories all this time later unfortunately focuses on negative sides of their existence. WCW had their fair share of hits to pass WWE for over a year, but the bad moments played a role in them falling apart. Many ideas showcased horrible creative and a bad direction for the wrestlers in play.
Quite a few talented wrestlers were placed in bad gimmicks, but there were also non-wrestlers getting on television. WCW turned into a hot mess by allowing the worst ideas to make television. Fans questioning a wrestler’s purpose became problems at various points due to the logic not making sense.
15 Judy Bagwell’s WCW Presence Provided Little Logic
WCW Booked Buff Bagwell’s Mother In Bad Comedy Angles
- Judy Joining To Upset Buff Made Her Comedic Character
- Storyline Of Teaming With Rick Steiner Ended Quickly
- Kanyon Abducting Judy Provided Even More Confusion
The WCW career of Buff Bagwell lasted over a decade and saw him becoming a major part of the company’s roster depth. However, Buff ended up in some strange storylines, especially when his real mother Judy Bagwell became part of the show.
Judy first appeared to show her displeasure about Buff’s actions and was named Rick Steiner’s tag team partner when he needed someone to hold the other WCW Tag Team Championship belt. The next angle of Judy getting abducted by Kanyon and placed on a forklift for a match stipulation had no chance of making any sense.
14 Seven Was Among Dustin Rhodes’ Worst Gimmicks
WCW Had To End Confusing Gimmick Night Of Dustin’s Return
- Dustin Rhodes Left WWE For Fresh WCW Start With Russo Booking
- Network Executives Hated The Vignettes To Demand Ending Seven
- Dustin Debuted With Worked Shoot Promo Burying Seven Gimmick
Dustin Rhodes returned to WCW in 1999 after Vince Russo jumped ship and convinced him to join him by leaving the Goldust gimmick. Seven was the new character booked for Dustin with creepy vignettes appearing outside of the window of young children.
The network hated the optics of these skits and demanded that WCW completely change the gimmick. Dustin appeared once in the Seven makeup and gear to cut a worked shoot promo burying the character to state he’d wrestle as himself.
13 Mr. JL Was Jerry Lynn’s WCW Masked Gimmick
WCW Wanted Lynn To Replicate Luchadors’ Success As Cruiserweight
- Lynn’s Big Break Saw WCW Demanding He Wear A Mask Like Luchadors
- Character Made No Sense Since Luchadors Had Strong Pasts In Mexico
- ECW Was Place Where Lynn Became True Star Years Later Without Mask
Jerry Lynn is known for breaking out in ECW during the late 1990s, but he had a chance in WCW before that. Creative wanted Lynn to work under a mask and adopt the new name of Mr. JL after masked wrestlers from Mexico got over.
Mr. JL became part of the cruiserweight division and wrestled against bigger names to put them over. Lynn didn’t get a fair chance to showcase his in-ring skills or overall potential until getting released. An American forcing the masked character didn’t feel organic as the luchadors who built their names and reputations with such acts.
12 The Renegade Was Cheap Attempt To Trick Fans
Teases Of Ultimate Warrior Debuting Paid Off With The Renegade
- WCW Wanted Fans To Believe Ultimate Warrior Was Coming To Company
- Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage Cut Promos Alluding To Big Debut Coming
- Renegade Gimmick Completely Let Down Fans With No Real Payoff
Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage started making comments about a familiar face coming to WCW that clearly meant to imply Ultimate Warrior. Fans were confused and let down when The Renegade was the wrestler to appear instead.
Rick Wilson played a new character that ripped off Warrior and did a lot of his mannerisms. WCW looked extremely cheap for doing this after already scoring the success of signing Hogan and Savage. The Renegade had no direction or logic behind such an act, outside of wanting to trick fans into thinking it was Warrior.
11 Vince Russo Powers That Be Character Set Tone For His Run
Horrible Authority Figure Idea Showcased Russo’s Worst From Day One
- Russo Joining WCW Saw Him Playing A Faceless Authority Figure
- Powers That Be Running Show As Heel Become Stale Too Quickly
- WCW Removed Russo From TV Until His Return Later In Following Year
The first storyline of Vince Russo and his general introduction to WCW was booking himself as a faceless character. WCW cameras filmed the perspective of a mystery boss in the chair with Russo’s voice talking to wrestlers visiting his office.
The Powers That Be was the name used to describe the mysterious entity of Russo. WCW gave fans no reason to care about this angle. The product got worse during Russo’s early run and saw WCW losing faith to end his full power after a few months.
10 The Yeti Added To An Already Confusing Scenario
Fans Had No Idea What To Make Out Of Mummy Character
- Yeti Arrived After All-Time Bizarre Hogan Vs Giant Match
- Fans Had No Idea What To Make Out Of A Mummy Character
- Bear Hugging Hogan Added To The Ridiculous Gimmick Confusion
WCW already booked a messy ending to Halloween Havoc 1995 when The Giant won the WCW Championship from Hulk Hogan via a DQ. Things got even more bizarre when The Yeti made his debut walking to the ring like a mummy as the newest member of the Dungeon of Doom.
Fans had no idea what to make out of a bear hug from The Yeti and The Giant to Hogan. WCW only used The Yeti on television three times after his debut, with no real way to explain his character. Wrestling was evolving past the cheesy ‘80s gimmicks that used to work.
9 David Arquette As Wrestler Was Mistake
Weird Heel Turn Came Out Of Nowhere For Odd Character
- Started Off As Babyface Actor Friend Of DDP
- Winning World Title Made Him Hated Figure
- Heel Turn Reveal Was Too Convoluted To Work
Most fans complained about David Arquette winning the WCW Championship and wrestling matches, but his overall character was a mess. WCW started him off with the obvious face role as an actor forced into the ring and getting help from his Ready to Rumble cast member Diamond Dallas Page.
The heel turn betraying DDP to join up with Jeff Jarrett and the rest of the New Blood made no logical sense. Arquette insulted the fans with a generic heel promo and ended his storyline in the most ridiculous swerve possible.
8 The Wall Was Ridiculous Enforcer Character
The Name Alone Was A Bit Too Absurd To Take Seriously
- Character Was Meant To Back Up Alex Wright As Berlyn
- WCW Tried To Push The Wall On His Own Without Changes
- Comical Program With Hulk Hogan Ruined His Chance
The Wall was one of the rare fun spots for WCW in the final year when developing a gimmick of choke slamming others through tables. WCW initially introduced him as the bodyguard of Alex Wright’s heel character Berlyn.
The controversial Berlyn character was scrapped quickly, but The Wall remained using the same name. There was no real context to his character beyond having fun spots of a big man destroying other wrestlers with the table spots.
7 Ernest Miller’s Dancing Gimmick Was Random
Started To Show Strong Passion For Dancing Out Of Nowhere
- Miller Started Off With Karate Fighting Gimmick
- Randomly Went Comedic Route With Dancing
- James Brown Somehow Got Involved In Angle
WCW spent a few years trying to get Ernest Miller over with a more serious character referencing his karate background. Miller had a lot of talent, but he didn’t get to showcase his personality in his first angle with Glacier vs Wrath and Mortis.
The character that made no sense was his comedic change out of the blue. Miller started dancing and comparing himself to James Brown. WCW even booked Brown to appear in a dance segment with The Cat, even if it lacked logic. Miller became even more confusing of a character when becoming an authority figure.
6 The KISS Demon Was A Silly Novelty Idea
Rock Band Demanded A Character Based On Them
- KISS Wanted Character Based On Them For WCW Performance
- The Demon Was Instantly A Joke To Most Wrestling Fans
- Turned Into Lower Card Act Before Removed Completely
Eric Bischoff took a few financial risks like booking the rock band KISS to perform on WCW Nitro. This investment didn’t pay off to bring in new fans, and it grew even worse when KISS wanted a bizarre stipulation for their performance.
WCW had to come up with a character based on them when having The KISS Demon debut. There was no real depth or context to this character beyond having a supernatural side and painting his face like KISS to lackluster results.
5 Tank Abbott Became Strangest Comedy Character
Downgraded From Serious MMA Fighter To Boy Band Groupie
- Vince Russo Gave Up On Tank’s Serious Push
- Became Comedy Character With 3 Count Act
- Never Moved Into Main Event Spot Like Expected
WCW initially signed Tank Abbott away from the early UFC run to have a tough fighter character on the show. Rumors indicated the original plans was to build Abbott up as an unstoppable heel to have a new credible opponent for Goldberg.
Vince Russo instead changed paths by having Tank embrace a comedic role when joining the 3 Count dance faction. Abbott essentially threatened the boy band members of 3 Count to perform while he danced with them as a sudden change out of the blue.
4 The Booty Man Was Failed Push For Hogan’s Friend
Ed Leslie Tried Too Many Woeful Gimmicks During WCW Tenure
- Hulk Hogan’s Best Friend Kept Changing Gimmicks For Pushes
- Booty Man Was Worst For Having No Logical Reason Behind It
- Ed Leslie Never Panned Out With The Numerous WCW Chances
Hulk Hogan getting his best friend Ed Leslie hired led to multiple absurd gimmicks in WCW. The Zodiac, The Butcher, Brother Bruti and The Disciple could make the list, but The Booty Man takes the pun-ridden proverbial cake.
WCW came up with the new character revolving around Leslie having a decent looking backside. The Booty Man added Kimberly Page as a manager and tried to get the crowd involved in the act. This character clearly flopped and lacked any common sense to make it work.
3 Asya Was Insulting Chyna Parody
Insulting WWE Star Didn’t Help Asya Get Over
- Name Was Blatantly Meant To Mimic WWE’s Chyna
- Gimmick Insulting Opposing Competitor Didn’t Work
- Revolution Faction Failed With Asya’s Involvement
WCW became too obsessed with trying to outshine WWE in the Monday Night Wars. Even when WWE passed WCW for good, they were still pulling in good numbers until booking desperately to sour the audience.
Asya was a character based on Chyna to show how negative things could go when trying to poke fun at WWE. There was no real comparison between the two beyond their names and physiques. WCW couldn’t get Asya over in The Revolution faction and punted on the idea.
2 Johnny B. Badd Was Inspired By Little Richard
WCW Felt Badd’s Similar Look To Singer Was All He Needed
- WCW Felt He Looked Like Music Star Little Richard
- Received Flamboyant Gimmick Similar To The Musician
- Left WCW For Fresh Start With New Character In WWE
Another strange idea for a WCW character to replicate someone else was Johnny B. Badd trying to imitate musician Little Richard made no sense in the wrestling world. The flamboyant portrayal and colorful look certainly showed the idea, but there was no upside to it.
Other musicians had personas suited for wrestlers as seen with others inspired by Prince and Jim Morrison. Marc Mero did his best with the gimmick to have a solid mid-card spot, but the gimmick held him back from reaching another level.
1 The Giant Playing Andre’s Son Was Huge Mistake
Hulk Hogan’s Bad Idea Almost Hurt Future Legend’s Early Career
- Hogan Believed Fans Would Care About Giant As Andre’s Son
- Big Show Had No Relation To Andre The Giant Nor His Family
- He Eventually Stopped Pretending To Be Andre’s Son In WCW
WCW threw logic out of the window when having Big Show debut as The Giant. The original plan saw The Giant revealed as Andre the Giant’s son looking to get revenge on Hulk Hogan. WCW never even having Andre in the promotion made it feel weird from the start.
The character made no sense and took away from Giant’s success winning the WCW Championship. It wasn’t until WCW distanced themselves from that angle that almost ruined his career. Big Show leaving for WWE helped make fans forget about such a bad introduction for his character.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)