10 Totally Ineffective WWE Heel Runs

7. Heidenreich

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WWE Network

Say what you will about modern day WWE, but it has been a long time since we were presented with a gimmick as laughable as Heidenreich's. A former NFL football player, he joined WWE in 2003, and was immediately inserted into a free agent storyline while under the control of an unknown entity named "Little Johnny."

The angle was abandoned without resolution, and Heidenreich disappeared. He returned as a poetry reading psychopath in 2004, and that's when things got particularly weird. One night on SmackDown, Heidenreich attacked commentator Michael Cole, dragged him backstage, and, ahem, had his way with him in a bathroom.

The angle was intended to put Heidenreich over as a monster, but it was far too ridiculous for the fans to buy into. Like Giant Gonzalez before him, Heidenreich was booked against The Undertaker soon after, but it flopped completely, bottoming out with an atrocious Casket Match at the 2005 Royal Rumble. Heidenreich was exposed as a subpar worker, and combined with his ridiculous character direction, this made his heel run completely ineffective.

Heidenreich eventually linked up with Animal as a new member of the Legion of Doom, but while the duo held the Tag Team Championships for a while, the big man was out of the company by 2006.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.