10 Biggest Downgrades In WWE History
When once-awesome wrestlers are chewed up and spat out of the WWE barmy gimmick machine.
As one-time WWE veteran and current AEW Sports Entertainer Chris Jericho has marvellously showcased throughout his stellar 30+ year run within the industry, evolution is the key to longevity in this wrasslin' game.
Or as Triple H less convincingly put it on-screen a few years back, "you either adapt or perish... that is evolution."
Either way, the sight of a star being thoroughly changed up when it comes to their overall gimmick has become an ever-present part of Vince McMahon's empire in particular, with an Eater of Worlds disappearing for a spell before returning as a Fiendish Children's TV Presenter, a Big Dog taking some time off before settling into their spot at The Head of the Table, and even a long-time MMA Beast deciding to dust off their cowboy hat for a bit of shameless fun.
Yet, not every performer is gifted with the chance to fully dive into a new character that exudes cool, excitement, or is even remotely compelling.
In the case of the following WWE workers, upon diving into the wrestling juggernaut's hilariously unpredictable gimmick-change machine, the utter mess that tumbled out of the other end can only be described as a serious backwards step in hindsight.
10. Karrion Kross To Discount Gladiator
It's become arguably WWE's most depressingly long-running theme in recent times - and seriously think of the ground that covers - but even with the knowledge of Vince McMahon's penchant for completely dismantling and unnecessarily diluting a winning NXT formula, fans were understandably under the impression that it would take a monumental piece of mishandling to screw up a dominant black and gold powerhouse tailer-made for the "main roster".
Or as Vinnie Mac saw it; challenge accepted.
Gone were the bells and whistles and atmospheric presentation that helped build Karrion Kross into the indomitable NXT force he'd become over the course of his 18-month undefeated run as part of Triple H's baby. In his place was a stripped back, vanilla brute, shuffled straight into the mid-card with a tacky gladiator aesthetic that was evidently an attempt to shamelessly market the former NXT Champion as Monday Night Raw's resident coliseum fighter.
The shift fell flat on its arse from the get-go and it was even rumoured that Vinnie Mac was set to change-up Kross' character once again before he was unceremoniously let go in November.