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

26. ‘Bad Man’ Rikishi (2000)

Rikishi was the creative team's big surprise reveal for who mowed down Steve Austin at the 1999 Survivor Series. He wasn't outed until late-2000, and he...he "did it for The Rock". Cramming some lazy racism stuff into the story did sod all for it, and fans were nowhere ready to give up on the big man's dancing act with Too Cool by the time the WWF ended it anyway.

So, Rikishi had a lot working against him when he first went heel. Worse, no-one thought to suggest that he move away from wearing thongs to the ring, so Kish still looked every bit like the midcard comedy gimmick fans had come to know and love. No amount of, "I'm a bad man" claims could convince people he was the company's latest top bad guy when 'dem cheeks were on show.

Austin returned to smash though the man behind the wheel in '99, then Triple H was revealed as the true mastermind behind that attempted murder anyway. Thus, Rikishi was shoved down the pecking order just as quickly as he'd rocketed up it, and he'd never come that close to permanent main event status again.

This was a botched heel turn for sure.

'Bad Man' Rikishi was often boring, but weirdly still looked pretty much identical to the comedic favourite of 1999-into-early-2000. It was jarring to witness, not least when he started teaming up with Haku at the start of 2001. The only things people remember from Kish as a heel is that "I did it for The Rock" promo and his sawdust bump off Hell In A Cell at Armageddon 2000.