10 Terrible Wrestling Gimmicks You Secretly Love

2. Stardust

Baron Corbin Sad Bum Ass
WWE

What was that about controversial picks for this list?!

Cody Rhodes doesn't have fond memories of donning the Goldust-like make up/outfit and becoming Stardust. He'd try to turn the gimmick into its own thing in 2015, but doing that was like swimming upstream in a sea of treacle. By 2016, Cody was at his wits end and requested his release. WWE didn't stand in his way.

What happened next is a redemption story to be proud of. Rhodes hit the indy scene hard, then laid the foundations for what would become AEW. In 2022, he returned back to WWE as a bigger star than ever, and is now the top champ in the industry. Could any of that have happened without Stardust?

That character pushed Cody to become the performer he is today. It was also pretty fun at points despite him hating the role and most agreeing it needed to be shelved by mid-2015 (at the latest). If you find the Stardust idea charming looking back, then it's likely because of what it led to for the guy playing it.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.