10 Wrestlers Lumbered With Dead On Arrival Gimmicks

10. The Shining Stars

Primo and Epico are a curious case. Not once, in seven years under WWE employ, have they come remotely close to getting over. They're talented enough, if colourless. The abysmal gimmicks handed to them probably have more to do with it.

The very worst of which - worse than a direct sequel to Tito Santana's dire El Matador bit, which didn't get over in 1991 so what chance the Colóns stood in 2013 is anybody's guess - saw the two second generation talents repackaged as The Shining Stars. Travel salesmen.

How to parse this?

Even the very worst occupational New Generation gimmicks made some kind of transpositional sense, if you squinted or were of a generous disposition. The Goon was a hockey player too violent even for that bloodsport, so he had to turn his hand at the wrestling racket. Sparky Plugg was fast and furious in the driver's seat and in the ring! Or something.

How were the Shining Stars meant to translate to a pro wrestling rivalry? They didn't. They appeared in grimly unfunny backstage skits with the likes of R-Truth in which they attempted to sell him a time share in their holiday resort.

This wasn't funny. These skits didn't even contain gags, let alone lame ones. They just went nowhere because they had no chance of going anywhere. This is what happens when a TV executive decides RAW must be three hours in length.