8 Gimmicks From The Past That Wouldn't Work In Today's WWE

8. The Lovable Hillbilly

Happy-go-lucky hillbillies are one of the classic personas in pro wrestling. A staple of WWE TV for decades, it seems like every generation of fans has had their fair share of hillbilly gimmickry.

Dating all the way back to the '60s and the monolithic 600 lbs of mass that was Haystacks Calhoun, the hillbilly gimmick was a popular part of the product back in the day. Owing in large part to Calhoun's gigantic size, the massive country boy was a big draw for crowds and paved the way for those that followed.

Those that followed happened to be a whole family of countryfolk. Aptly named The Hillbillies, the stable consisted of Hillbilly Jim, Cousin Junior, Cousin Luke, and Uncle Elmer and the band would have memorable feud with Roddy Piper, Bob Orton Jr and Jesse Ventura. While Jim was undoubtedly the best known of the group, Uncle Elmer was the '80s equivalent of Haystacks and mirrored Calhoun quite a bit as a mountain of man.

The '90s also had its share of southern justice in the form of The Godwins. Originally managed by Hillbilly Jim, it was a nice update for the gimmick while still maintaining its roots. Nevertheless, it ultimately didn't last and the traditional hillbilly gimmick has been virtually dropped altogether since the turn of the century.