WWE Gimmicks That FAILED The HARDEST Every Year (1985-2025)

27. ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams (1999)

Anyone who watched Steve Williams do his thing in WCW or All Japan in the late-1890s and early-90s would tell you that he was a wrecking ball of a wrestler. 'Dr. Death' formed one of the most gloriously brutal tag-teams with Teddy Gordy as The Miracle Violence Connection, and some of their matches have to be seen to be believed.

Williams was a shadow of that worker when he signed with the WWF in 1998, but the promotion didn't do him any favours with their booking either. 'Dr. Death' was supposed to win the shoot fighting 'Brawl For All' competition en route to a main event run opposite top star Steve Austin (who was once called Steve Williams himself away from the ring, bizarrely).

Unfortunately, Death was knackered due to injuries by that point and was sparked out by eventual winner Bart Gunn in the second round. Yep, the federation genuinely thought putting a tired old warhorse in a very-real fight league was the correct procedure when readying him for 'Stone Cold'. Work that one out.

Williams was knocked out and tore his quad during the boxing bout with Gunn, so he had even more injuries piled on top of his pre-existing knee problems. It was an atrocious lack of care and consideration for someone who was meant to be a high profile heel in the company ASAP.

By 1999, it was clear that 'Dr. Death' was going nowhere fast in the WWF. Technically, he could've slotted into the 1998 spot here, but that William Regal stuff just had to be discussed. So, Williams was bumped to '99. Meh, both years were as bad as each other for him.