10 Insane Wrestling Gimmicks That Morphed Into Another Level
8. Goldust
The androgynous premise behind the Goldust gimmick was so unprecedented that its subject didn't even understand. To his eternal credit, Dustin Runnels perfected the unknown.
Goldust oozed a discomforting, unsought desire, but his valet Marlena only caused further confusion; with this literally smoking bombshell by his side, why did Goldust delight in ravishing his male opponents? The act was a genius blend of captivation and repulsion; WWF fans didn't know what this thing was, or what it wanted, but it sure as f*ck needed to get the hell away from them. And yet, they were drawn to him. In his original portrayal of the character, Goldust struck it: this was an iconic and unforgettable gay panic act remixed for the 1990s just enough to obscure the intention.
Genuinely sophisticated for its time (1995 also saw the debut of Mantaur), and even beyond, it all got a bit broad as the New Generation Era receded. It all got a bit racist, too; experimenting with celebrity impersonations as 'The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust', this was a backwards step; once ahead of everything, Goldust parodied Marilyn Manson and Vader, becoming a parody of himself in the process. As 'Flashdust', TAFKAGoldust donned an afro, furs and gold chains, and was played to the ring by what Vince McMahon thinks urban music sounds like.
Also, he later contracted Tourette's syndrome via electrocution, and Triple H still laughed harder at the idea of Booker T as a World Heavyweight Title challenger.