10 Talented Wrestlers Let Down By Lame Gimmicks
1. Steve Austin (The Ringmaster)
The fact that Steve Austin went on to become WWE's biggest ever star is remarkable when considering his humble beginnings in the promotion - not to mention the absolutely rubbish character management first had in mind for him.
One of the most charismatic, captivating and successful wrestlers of all time was landed with one of Vince McMahon's most boring ideas in 1995; introduced as 'The Ringmaster', announcers reasoned that Austin was one of the greatest wrestlers between the ropes.
That was it: the WWF literally told fans nothing else other than the fact that Austin could wrestle. Surely that was a prerequisite for even signing with the company to begin with?
Via his podcast, a contemplative Austin has since remarked that he was viewed as a solid in-ring mechanic who was only there to make others look good. That adds up when analysing The Ringmaster character, because it was uninspiring at best.
Back in 1995, even the great Steve Austin was viewed with the same distinction as the default Create-A-Wrestler model in WWE video games. That must have felt like a total let down.
What other talented wrestlers can you think of who were let down by lame gimmicks? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section below!