10 Most Shameless Wrestling Ripoffs Ever

5. Damien Sandow

Ultimate Warrior Renegade
WWE

Ripped Off: The Genius

The most famous and prosperous period of Aaron Stevens' professional wrestling career took obvious influence from 'The Genius' Lanny Poffo, who told Wrestling 101 the following in 2012:-

"FCW trainers introduced me to Damien Sandow. He was a nice person and asked me if I minded him stealing my gimmick. I told him that I had stolen the gimmick as well, I wasn't the first wrestler to wear a cap and gown. My father was one of them, and I just told Sandow 'you just do the best you can.'"

So the 'Intellectual Saviour of the Masses' gimmick was, in Poffo's words, stolen, though his Genius character wasn't entirely original itself and it sounds like he was happy enough to pass his motifs down to the relative newcomer.

More than just taking The Genius' robe, hair, and beard, Sandow grabbed the intellect, snobbery, and down-talking promo style as well, though he lacked Poffo's buttery-smooth delivery on the microphone. Still, 'The Intellectual Saviour' gimmick ruled. Sandow made it his own, and that it never progressed beyond the midcard is likely a failing of WWE's rather than Stevens.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.