10 Inanimate Objects In Wrestling That Somehow Got Over

10. Mine - George The Animal Steele's Teddy Bear

In reality, there are few things more terrifying than a mentally-disturbed adult man who constantly totes around a teddy bear. But put that man in some tights and have him talk to a platypus-shaped stuffed animal during a wrestling match - in between biting the stuffing out of the turnbuckles - and all of a sudden it's a cute "gimmick".

The origin of Mine is based, as so many of WWE's creative decisions are, on the potential for moving merchandise. In an effort to get Mean Gene Okerlund to crack during an interview, Steele whipped out a novelty plush toy called Earl the Dead Cat and began treating it like his new best friend. Vince, seeing giant dollar signs, decided to license an actual WWE plushy for George to lug around that they could also sell to tots.

But all of the credit for the Mine doll goes to Steele, who did everything he could to get the toy over with kids shy of booking it for a guest appearance on Sesame Street. The Mine gimmick was the last truly successful run Steele had with the company before retiring from in-ring action.