10 Successful Gimmicks You Forgot WWE Tried Again
9. Mad Max Tag-Team (LOD/The Ascension)
Vince McMahon viewed Konnor and Viktor as a new breed Road Warriors in late-2014. Fair enough, but the then-WWE boss sure had a unique way of trying to get The Ascension to LOD's level in the minds of fans. He instructed an outraged JBL to dump on the pair via commentary, which was supposed to make the announcer look silly because the team were ultra-successful.
One problem: WWE completely gave up on The Ascension's push. That meant Layfield's lambasting about how Konnor and Viktor were a poor man's Hawk and Animal started to ring true. This was a puzzling strategy. Why would management knowingly write off a fresh tag-team on screen whilst booking them like the bloody Conquistadors? Who knows, but they did it!
Everything about The Ascension's main roster look was supposed to conjure up memories of LOD. They had a similar red and black colour scheme, painted their faces, and initially worked a dominant powerhouse style that was too much for most opponents. The pair even took to the mic and declared that they were an improvement on the Road Warriors, Demolition, Powers Of Pain and other ancient favourites.
By mid-2015, Konnor and Viktor were glorified jobbers who had more in common with forgotten WWF 'New Generation' pair Tekno Team 2000 than the legends of yesteryear. A wishy washy union with Cody Rhodes as The Cosmic Wasteland didn't do much for their prospects of rescuing the bleak situation either. McMahon blatantly gave up on The Ascension without easing up on JBL's criticism.
They were Legion Of Doomed rather quickly.