10 Regrettable Wrestling Revamps
9. Terry Gordy - The Executioner
Continuing the trend of mid-90s gimmick garbage, The Executioner was the WWF’s attempt to create credible opposition for The Undertaker during a period where pickings were slimmer than the Gobbledy Gooker’s legs.
Having already feuded with WWF mainstays, Mabel and Yokozuna, Undertaker was programmed with Mankind in a fantastic detour from the usual limited big men he was shackled to. Realising that ‘Taker and Mankind couldn’t feud forever, WWF made moves to create a successor and The Executioner was born.
Not to be confused with Buddy Rose’s Executioner at the first WrestleMania, The Executioner of 1996 was actually legendary Fabulous Freebird Terry Gordy underneath the hood. Gordy made his debut interfering in the “Buried Alive” match at In Your House 11, hitting ‘Taker with a shovel and burying him with the help of several others.
Ironically, the act would be repaid in full the following month, as ‘Taker soundly defeated The Executioner in an “Armageddon Rules” match, Goldust defeated him on Superstars, and Paul Bearer turned on him by striking him with the urn. Gordy would round off his WWF tenure with three straight tag losses to Bulldog and Owen, topping off a pretty sound wrestling burial if ever there was one.