10 Outrageous WWE Experiments That Failed
9. The One Man Gang Transforms Into Akeem
Complete with Mohawk-style hairdo, piercings, tattoos and biker gear, The One Man Gang looked like a street brawler.
Upon his arrival in the WWF in 1987, the character had already earned a reputation in companies like the NWA and Mid-South for being a great heel. That didn't mean much in the cartoon-like world of the WWF.
At first, The One Man Gang was protected as a viable top villain. Then in September 1988, his manager Slick announced to the world that the guy actually had African heritage.
Suddenly, The One Man Gang was no more, the 'African Dream' Akeem was in his place. This just had to be a rib on the 'American Dream' character of Dusty Rhodes.
Acting like he did indeed have African roots, Akeem looked and sounded ridiculous. The hokey gimmick didn't stop him from forming an effective heel unit with The Big Boss Man, but it's utterly bizarre to look back on now. Singing and dancing in his yellow outfit, Akeem looked close to being a parody.
The One Man Gang is the kind of heel WWE could really do with now, so it's fascinating to think they turned such a cool character into a colossal dork.