10 Outrageous WWE Experiments That Failed
4. 'The Artist Formerly Known As' Goldust
It could be argued that the original conception of the Goldust gimmick was an outrageous experiment to begin with.
Dustin Rhodes put a lot on the line by agreeing to play the androgynous character, one which introduced elements of homosexuality and homophobia (from opponents) into the mix. Fittingly, given his nickname, it was all very bizarre.
Things incredibly got even more strange by 1997, when Rhodes started to mess around with the established formula. No longer did Goldust strictly wear gold, it now wasn't uncommon to see him don colours such as pink and green to the ring.
The character was rechristened, now called 'The Artist Formerly Known As' Goldust.
Segments like reciting Dr. Seuss poetry at In Your House: D-Generation X were frankly odd, and the character - who hadn't exactly been sane to start with - went completely off the rails. Later, the WWF would return Goldust to his more traditional look, doing away with the 'Artist' moniker.
The whole thing had been outlandish, and people seemed to have a hard time latching on to this new incarnation of Goldust. By the time Rhodes returned to the original incarnation of the gimmick in 1998, it was long overdue.