10 Worst WWE Gimmicks Of 2016
3. Make Darren Young Great Again
WWE have created their fair share of hamfisted political angles over the years, with “Make Darren Young Great Again” standing as the latest example. A clear rip on Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan, the story started when Young recruited Bob Backlund as his life coach and started appearing in a series of aspirational self-improvement videos.
It was months before Young and Backlund actually appeared on live TV, however, and by that time, their interest levels were all but dead. The videos were fun for a few weeks, but they soon became nonsensical, and Young’s shiny-happy antics soon went the way of Bo Dallas.
Bob Backlund’s “life lessons” ultimately failed. A bizarre choice as Young’s motivational speaker, Backlund coached Young to an Intercontinental Title shot at Battleground, but that was the end of his push. The match ended in a no contest, Young drifted into a pointless feud with Titus O’Neil, then started fading from television altogether.
Backlund, oddly, has been the act’s one major highlight. His madcap performances make no sense whatsoever, but he’s always had one of the most unhinged characters in wrestling, and he’s still fun to watch.