10 Times WWE Misread Their Own Audience

9. Relentless Pushing Of Cartoonish Gimmicks In Mid-1990's

The mid-1990's was an altogether strange time to be a WWF fan. Vince McMahon seemed at odds with himself over the direction his product should take, making for a complete mishmash of weird (but rarely wonderful) characters that failed to draw much interest from wrestling fans. McMahon's big idea seemed to be to produce as many cartoon-like gimmicks as he could think of. That's exactly why characters like Mantaur, Phantasio, a babyface Doink The Clown and many others gobbled up television time in the promotion without adding any real value. Admittedly, the talent roster was paper thin, with only Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker really being considered anything close to a top draw. Bankable, money-making performers were thin on the ground, but that doesn't excuse the clear lack of creativity and foresight from those in charge. Worse yet, vocational gimmicks like Bob 'Spark Plugg' Holly and 'Double J' Jeff Jarrett - a country singer looking to make a splash in music by conquering the WWF - didn't get fans coming out to events in their droves. It appears that McMahon felt it was only a matter of time before his circus-like environment would get over, but it was only in the more athletic, and ironically 'real' performances of Hart and Michaels that fans were supplying entertainment and finding positive audience responses.