10 Failed WWE Wrestlers Who Became Cult Classics

5. Yokozuna

R-Truth 24/7 Championship
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Yokozuna is an easy wrestler to fall for. Simplistic as it sounds, to get the gimmick and the performer himself...just watch him work.

Springing around the ring for much of his WWE run, the former sumo star brought a legitimate air of menace to the company as its unwelcome champion. The gimmick and specifically his title push was rooted in racism, but the threat he held over the company's best babyface was as real-feeling as the organisation were capable of during a cartoonish time.

Hulk Hogan had shockingly been eliminated from the field, Lex Luger was trying but failing to replace him, whilst Bret Hart's near-miss at WrestleMania IX was gloriously paid off by a heroic victory the following year.

Debuting at a listed 505lbs before bulking up to 568lbs, then 641lbs, Yoko still moved about like a man a quarter of his size when topping out an at announced 800lbs in late-1996. The totals may have been arbitrary to a point, but the visuals did away with the need for the massaging of the figures.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett