10 Best WWE Gimmicks Vince McMahon Had Nothing To Do With

4. John Cena's 'Doctor Of Thuganomics'

Vince McMahon had zero plans for young John Cena besides barking new-fangled marketing terms like "Ruthless Aggression" at him and presenting him as a neon-spandex-wearing babyface rookie. That, within months, was a paper-thin strategy that was never going to take Cena beyond opening match status, and everyone knew it.

Including Cena. He's told before in interviews that he was almost canned by WWE before he really got started.

Then, after rapping in front of his peers on the tour bus, Cena had a reprieve and was cast as Vanilla Ice for 2002's SmackDown Halloween party. Stephanie McMahon, who enjoyed the quirkiness of the gimmick and was shown on screen with Cena in that very episode, was reportedly high on the character's chances.

The generic trunks were gone, and Cena was immediately rethought as a cartoonish Eminem wannabe who cut through opponents on the mic before matches. His entire repackaging was one last ditch attempt at WWE relevancy, and it'd go on to refine his career and make him a superstar.