10 Great Wrestling Careers Ruined By Bad Gimmick Changes

10. Giant Bernard Becoming Tensai

Matt Bloom struggled to elevate himself above WWE’s midcard as (Prince) Albert and A-Train, but he found tremendous success in Japan after leaving Vince McMahon’s company in 2004. A decorated tag wrestler, he became one of Japan’s most popular gaijin wrestlers as Giant Bernard, teaming with the likes of Karl Anderson and Tyson Tomko to score multiple titles and tournament wins in NJPW and Pro Wrestlng Noah.

Lord Tensai was WWE’s attempt at cashing-in on his Japanese success, and boy did it flop. Bloom redebuted in March 2012, promptly destroying Alex Riley, and embarking on a considerable win streak. The fact that he scored big victories over the likes of CM Punk and John Cena showed WWE’s faith in him as a top star, but it wasn’t to be, and the wheels soon fell-off.

Fans taunted Tensai with mocking chants of “Albert” every time he wrestled, and WWE did a poor job of explaining the gimmick. Tensai soon dropped the “Lord” from his name, got rid of his traditional Japanese robe, and exiled his follower Sakamoto.

A losing streak followed, before Tensai eventually became a dancing goofball as one half of Tons of Funk, then faded into obscurity altogether. He was taken-off television and transitioned to a trainer’s role in 2014, and the Tensai debacle effectively killed his in-ring career.