10 Worst Women’s Gimmicks In WWE History
Because terrible gimmicks aren't just reserved for male Superstars.
Women’s wrestling has come a long way in the last few years.
Thanks to fan support, management backing, a social media 'revolution' and the hard work of some very talented individuals, both in and out of WWE, wrestling’s female stars are no longer the subjects of abject mockery or well-timed bathroom breaks. The likes of Charlotte, Sasha and Bayley are now main eventing RAW and PPVs, both SmackDown and RAW’s women are regularly involved in heated rivalries involving violent, skilfully contested matches, and there are even rumours stirring about a female-fronted tournament akin to the Cruiserweight Classic in the works.
But those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it; professional wrestling has long been a place of tired stereotypes, awkward angles and awful gimmicks, particularly where women are concerned. Although the history of men's wrestling is littered with Shockmasters, Mounties, Akeems and plenty of other ill-conceived ideas, the women of the squared circle haven't escaped the gimmick lottery unscathed by any means.
We might still be giving ‘Divas a Chance’ in 2017, but if the word ‘Diva’ acts as a reminder of anything, it’s that this hasn’t always been the case.
10. Ariel - Vampire
A lot of people are of the opinion that it’s difficult to get invested in a gimmick like Bray Wyatt’s - a character that makes no conceivable sense within the context of an athletic sport, when you give it a second thought. With that in mind, it was no easier to buy into Ariel and Kevin Thorn when they showed up on WWE’s revived ECW brand in 2006.
Thorn and Ariel were throwbacks, harkening back to characters like Vampiro, Gangrel and even The Undertaker in some ways, with Ariel in particular taking inspiration from B-Movie horror tropes. As a sneering, sharp-toothed seductress, Ariel was actually a fairly effective ring valet and occasional wrestler - it’s just that her gimmick didn’t fit in with anything else that was going on in WWE at the time.
Already well on its way out of the Ruthless Aggression era and into the PG Era, WWE couldn’t seem to find a place for two vampiric monsters alongside its Batistas, Bobby Lashleys and John Cenas, and the pair were released after less than a year on ECW TV.