10 Surprising Hidden Meanings Behind Famous Wrestling Attires

Secret style.

Bret Hart CM Punk John Cena
WWE.com

At the start of Randy Orton's 'Evolution Of A Predator' documentary, 'The Viper' peered down at three pairs of near-identical trunks ahead of his Elimination Chamber 2011 clash with John Cena, CM Punk, John Morrison, Sheamus and R-Truth.

Poring over the decision for just over five seconds, he selected the washed out blue over a blackened red and a faded green, blowing away even the tiniest notion that he might have put any additional consideration into his wrestling gear. When it comes to a wrestler's attire, Randy is a decade-long offender, having barely budged from the style he adopted in 2003 save for the extremely rare colour change or the odd post-Wyatt selection he fronted for his WrestleMania 33 WWE Title victory.

Thankfully, not all superstars share Orton's aesthetic disinterest. Several performers over the years have attached symbolism or gravitas to their attire selection ahead of a big match, television debut or merely a bout of heightened personal significance.

Often the changes or tweaks are pronounced and carefully documented for the benefit of a storyline, but several decisions have even avoided the gaze of the commentators altogether. It's these that offer the most, often affording an insight far greater than any writer or creative head could concoct...

10. All That Glitters

CM Punk Randy Savage
WWE

Preparing to win his second WWE Championship precisely a year after he was 'retired' by the Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man Randy Savage foreshadowed his glorious victory over Ric Flair by sporting more gold that the title belt itself.

It had been four years since Randy was entrusted with the company's top title (and all the responsibility that came with it), and just like in 1988, it came as Hulk Hogan prepared to temporarily exit stage left. Though lacking the physique he'd once sported during his 1980s pomp, Savage was able to look a million dollars through his attire rather than muscular frame.

Selecting gold on top of gold on top of black on top of gold with all his usual ostentation, Savage sparkled inside WrestleMania 8's gorgeous Hoosier Dome yet still maintained the fiery temperament required to effectively sell the blood feud he'd rapidly developed with 'The Nature Boy'.

The sight of Macho Man and Elizabeth's glittering title celebrations following the contest live long in the memory, and mark the final WWE pay-per-view in which they'd share the screen. With the pair about to divorce in real life, Elizabeth would appear at an upcoming European Tour then head home, never to work in the company again.

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