10 DUMB WWE Returns (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)

6. Big Boss Man (1998)

Hulk Hogan WWE Dumb
WWE.com

Anyone who watched Ray Traylor's work for the promotion throughout 1997 and into early-1998 could agree on one thing: He wasn't going to star in any of WCW's best ever moments. Traylor's WCW deal lapsed, and most figured that was that for someone who'd shot to fame as the blue-uniformed Big Boss Man in the WWF.

Nope, the federation picked him up and retooled Boss Man into a killer heel.

He returned on the 12 October '98 Raw as a weapon for Vince McMahon and The Corporation. It was a fitting role for this new 'evil' Boss Man (he'd been bad before, but this was the most vicious version of the famous character yet). Those worried about in-ring quality didn't have to concern themselves either, 'cause Boss Man 2.0 was deployed mainly in the Hardcore Title division or in brawls vs. Corporation rivals like Steve Austin.

McMahon rehiring Boss Man and making him a heavy for the stable was genius creative. Talk about maximising value for someone who looked to have none at that stage in his career. This was an inspired bit of booking from all involved, and Traylor played his part.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.