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

41. The Missing Link (1985)

This guy seemed to be the perfect fit for an increasingly cartoonish WWF landscape. The Missing Link had a zany gimmick that'd be ideal for posters, toys, lunchboxes and more, and he was going to be managed by the legendary Bobby Heenan into the bargain. Coming in, ol' Link looked like a can't miss prospect who'd shine in the federation.

He didn't even see out 1985.

Link's erm...link with Heenan failed to click. Hilariously, in shoot interviews years later, the 'Brain' revealed that his charge believed Bobby was going to handle all of his flights, travel arrangements, food and hotels. That's when Heenan pulled Missing Link aside and clued him in on exactly what a pro wrestling manager is - he'd cut your promos and be at ringside, but that was it.

During his brief and fairly uneventful time in the WWF, Link almost got the company banned by the state athletic commission in New York for flinging chairs around the place during a show in Buffalo. By the year's end, he was doing the job for higher profile stars like Paul Orndorff in mere minutes.

Generally (and correctly), he's considered to be a real bust. Vince McMahon probably thought he could take the wild man and turn him into a fed-based sensation in line with some of his bigger gimmicks, but it wasn't meant to be. The fact he came in after the original WrestleMania but didn't even march into 1986 and 'Mania II really says it all about how unsuccessful an experiment Link was.