10 Wrestling Gimmicks Handed Down To Other Wrestlers

2. Doink The Clown

Who knows what kind of greatness the original Doink The Clown heel gimmick could've gone onto had Matt Borne not been tortured by personal demons ripping his career to pieces. Bruce Prichard has claimed on his podcast that one early proposition for 'Mania IX was a circus-themed spectacular centred around the character.

By Survivor Series that same year, Borne wasn't even under the greasepaint.

The manic depressive genius, told through superior, unnerving facial expressions, of Borne was replaced by a campy, buoyant interpretation of Doink. Ray Apollo was thrown into the role, and he was asked to be a much friendlier clown who high-fived children instead of playing tricks on them. The character was totally changed.

Others who played the gimmick before and after Apollo included Steve Keirn, Steve Lombardi and journeyman pro John Maloof. Fans who loved Borne's eccentric, demented approach to the gimmick would've rather the WWF hadn't bothered once he left the company.