10 Original Failed WWE Pushes You Completely Forgot About

9. Rosey - Samoan Gangsta Party

Honky Tonk Man Hulk Hogan
WWE

A bland idea spinning off from another one, the Samoan Gangsta Party were barely given their own name let alone screen time during their brief appearances on WWE television in 1995 as former Headshrinker Fatu suddenly abandoned the cartoonish savage he'd been playing on television for years in pursuit of "Makin' a difference".

Hard to hate but just as tricky to love, the gimmick was what it was. Fatu spoke earnestly of his hope for a brighter future for the tough neighbourhoods he frequented in vignettes and during his real life, but it did little to reconnect WWE's broader audience with a man toe-tagged by a doubles run that had no right to end as flatly as it did.

Stood shoulder to shoulder with the future Rosey was Samu, another former Headshrinker that had left a year prior right as the act found itself on the wrong side of its peak. This slab of history and the linked gimmicks offered more than just a generic Samoan turf war, but the duo were gone without trace just weeks after trying to stare out the future Rikishi.

Contributor
Contributor

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