Doink The Clown was a highly original character, fans hadn't seen anything like it before, and haven't seen a full-time wrestling clown since. During the time Matt Osborne played the character, Doink was introduced by interacting with the live crowds, often sitting in among audiences and playing practical jokes on them. Similarly, Goldust was first shown sitting with the people, and there was a bizarre mystique to Dustin Runnels which remained for the first few years of his run as the character. Goldust was a remarkable turn for the WWF, a more risky approach than they'd been willing to try in years prior to the gimmick's first airings. As Doink, Osborne shared a few comparisons with Goldust, the mysterious nature of the character for one. Not only that, but Osborne proved that outlandish gimmicks could get over with the fans if played correctly by the right person, something Vince McMahon must have kept in mind when theorising the gimmick of Goldust. In essence, Doink The Clown - as a heel - helped pave the way for characters such as Goldust. A lot of the psychological behaviour exhibited by the white-wig wearing, androgynous Goldust was first brought to the fore by the green-wig wearing, nefarious clown.
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.
