10 Top Secret Wrestling Gimmicks That Will Blow Your Mind

5. Bray Wyatt Is Axl Mulligan

Cody Brandi Rhodes Industries
WWE Network

No, that's not a Cody Rhodes t-shirt. Well, it sort of is, albeit unofficially. It's actually a shirt depicting one of The Misfits' songs, and it was part of Axl Mulligan's wardrobe. If you're unaware, Mr. Mulligan was a short-lived experiment worked by none other than future 'Fiend' and cult leader Bray Wyatt.

It has definite Jason Voorhees vibes.

Bray brought Axl to FCW in 2011 following a stint on the main roster as Husky Harris. The mask-wearing Mulligan character would never made it to FCW telly though - Wyatt continued playing Harris onscreen, and only trialled Axl in front of live crowds when the cameras weren't rolling.

Christ knows what he would've made of the thing had WWE let it go live. His eventual "Eater Of Worlds" Bray Wyatt persona perhaps borrowed a thing or two from Mulligan, but the guise remains one of wrestling's most curious test runs.

WWE has its own "American Nightmare" in 2023 anyway.

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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.