10 Worst WWE Gimmick Ideas You Won't Believe Almost Happened

1. Baron Von Bava

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WWE.com

There's nothing new about the "evil German" gimmick in professional wrestling. Grapplers like Baron Von Raschke and Hans Schmidt ran with it throughout the '50s, '60s, and beyond, as did many of their peers, and it proved an easy (but cheap) way of capitalising on western audiences' post-WWII paranoia.

As with most similar gimmicks, the character type's effectiveness dwindled with time, but WWE almost took it to new extremes in 2004. Pitched by former writer Dan Madigan, Baron Von Bava was supposed to be a Nazi cyborg stormtrooper cryogenically frozen by German scientists scared of losing the war in the 1940s. Unthawed by Paul Heyman (a Jewish man, it should be noted), BVB would be completely unaware of his surroundings, and operate as though he was still in World War 2, goose-steps and all.

WWE have devised dozens of insensitive gimmicks over the years, but Von Bava was too much for Vince McMahon. With Madigan apparently goose-stepping his way around the meeting room to demonstrate his creation in action, Vince grabbed his coat and stormed out without saying a word.

A crushing rejection, but exactly what this harebrained character idea deserved.

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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.