10 Wackiest Wrestling Gimmicks That Actually Worked

2. Goldust

Dustin Runnels likes to recant the story of when the Goldust character was first pitched to him. Unbelievably, the incoming WWF talent thought Vince McMahon was playing an elaborate rib at his expense in 1995, but the patriarch of the WWF system was entirely serious. The androgynous weirdo would be a smash hit if handled correctly, McMahon reasoned. That certainly turned out to be the case, and there was nobody who could have played it like Runnels. Embracing the odd nature of the character, Runnels enlisted everything from homophobia to Hollywood in order to make the gimmick stand out. So convincing was the man under the gold paint and outfit that even Scott Hall - as Razor Ramon - had trepidation about working with him. In late-1995, the World Wrestling Federation was not a hotbed of creativity. The character of Goldust arguably remains the most brilliant thing the promotion did during that 12 month stretch. Everything clicked into place, and it's no accident that Runnels has managed to continue making a living from the guise even in the modern era.