10 Terrible WWE Reinventions

2. Tito Santana > El Matador

Emma Emmalina
WWE

Around about the time Hulk Hogan was rapidly deflating as he prepared for his day in wrestler's court, Vince McMahon rather urgently needed a new WWF Champion - and preferably, one sans worryingly pulsating veins. The gig eventually passed to the super-safe (eh Seth? *snark*) hands of Bret Hart, but for a while Tito Santana was within the frame of consideration.

There was just one problem: he had been turned into a f*cking matador.

Yes, Santana may have been one of the company's most popular babyfaces amongst Hispanic audiences, but that wasn't enough for McMahon, whose thought process seemingly went, "hang on a minute! I know what these lads like... " Quite literally taking the bull by the horns, the former IC champ traded trunks for traje, rediscovering the one-dimensional Mexican stereotype within him - the one he'd forgot during his years acting as a proper, fully-fleshed person.

Tito Santana was over enough and talented enough to slot into the top role. El Matador, on the other hand, was w*nk. At least the company never tried it aga... oh.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.