10 Times Wrestlers Got Away With Ripping Off WWE

5. Abyss

Undertaker Sting
ImpactWrestling.com

The idea was a sound one, on paper.

In the summer of 2003, TNA took the faded promise of the Kane gimmick - freshly-shagged by Katie Vick shenanigans - and repurposed it via Joseph Parks. Parks was also indebted to Mick 'Mankind' Foley; his slant on the demon was as kayfabe-powerful but more hardcore, more sadistic. This Kane - Abyss -wasn't going to be saddled with a manipulative female (obviously) love interest. TNA wasn't about to retcon a convoluted familicide storyline.

It worked, for a while. Abyss was key in allowing the LOLTNA league to become just credible enough to attract the likes of Christian and Kurt Angle - and, despite murmurings of nonsense, his legit violent monster aura was once so strong WWE reportedly courted Abyss for a WrestleMania date with the Undertaker.

Then, the fatalism of the folly revealed itself. Abyss was saddled with a manipulative female (obviously) love interest. TNA retconned a convoluted familicide storyline. TNA booked the WWE ripoff to fall for a WWE prop, and booked him to take part in the dumbest gimmick match in wrestling history.

Abyss went full Kane.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!