10 Wrestling Gimmicks Originally Designed For Other Wrestlers
When it comes to wrestling gimmicks, second choice doesn’t always mean second best.
In wrestling, gimmicks are like a paint job on a car; a really good one can enhance what’s underneath dramatically, while a really bad one can make something great seem completely horrible.
When a good gimmick is done right it can almost overshadow the person beneath and the gimmick itself becomes part of the person that portrays it. For proof, look no further than The Undertaker.
Arguably the most famous gimmick in wrestling history, The Undertaker has survived three decades at the top of the WWE and clocked up a WrestleMania streak that’s almost as legendary as the event itself. Despite the character essentially being a walking corpse, The Undertaker persona has endured and it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the role of The Deadman.
Sadly, not all gimmicks are created equal - just ask Hector Guerrero who played The Gobbledy Gooker - and most gimmicks are designed with a specific individual in mind. However, on occasion, the creative minds behind a character don’t always get their first choice. In fact, some of wrestling’s biggest gimmicks ended up in the hands of a second or even third choice talent.
10. Max Moon - Konnan
Konnan is best remembered by wrestling fans as the razor-tongued Hispanic member of the New World Order in late-90s WCW. The hip-hop style and street smart demeanour of the Mexican superstar was a solid addition to the WCW roster and Konnan’s role in the nWo is still remembered fondly by fans to this day.
Not so fondly remembered is the character of Max Moon. A far cry from the K-Dogg of ‘98, Max Moon was a robot-inspired, intergalactic superhero and the brainchild of Konnan and Vince McMahon. Presented as a futuristic cyborg, the gimmick called for a lot of financial investment, predominantly due to the extravagant costume (which included a pyro gun that would shoot sparks into the crowd).
A combination of disinterest, frustration and locker room jealousy, Konnan parted ways with WWF before the Max Moon character was really off and running, having only appeared in the role on a handful of occasions. The gimmick was immediately given to former tag specialist, Paul Diamond, who would notably appear on the very first episode of Monday Night Raw.
The Max Moon gimmick was a colossal failure in execution and the character was dropped as quickly as it had arrived, appearing just once on WWF PPV (a two minute appearance in the 1993 Royal Rumble match).