10 Wrestling Gimmicks Probably Made Out Of Spite

They say hate can be a hell of a motivator, but so too can spite.

Spite can lead to extremely petty decisions, extremely upsetting actions, and just all-around can leave an awful taste in one's mouth. And, like most other forms of sports and entertainment, spite is something that seems to be forever running wild in the wrestling business, brother.

When looking up the definition of spite, you're greeted with phrases built around an intention to hurt, offend, anger or to score points against someone or something. With one glance at the pro wrestling world, there's a slew of prime examples of such happenings which spring to mind.

In particular, certain gimmicks and characters jump to the fore when thinking of spite within the wrestling industry. Time and time again, whether detailed or merely implied, we've seen performers sent in a certain creative direction or handed a new character solely as a way to get one over on that particular talent, one of their colleagues, or somebody in a rival organisation.

With that in mind, then, here are ten such wrestling gimmicks that were seemingly driven by nothing but spite.

In more recent times, Don Callis has often seen at the side of one Kenny Omega. In addition to that, the Canadian has served as an EVP of IMPACT Wrestling and a commentator for both IMPACT and New Japan Pro Wrestling in recent years.

Back during the late '90s, though, Callis first had a taste of the big time as The Jackyl in WWF back in 1997. There, he was the mouthpiece (and an occasional wrestler) for The Truth Commission. After that group had run its course and he'd had a stint as part of The Oddities, Callis found himself in the Land of Extreme in 1999.

With Paul E. Dangerously forever keen to play on real-life and use his television product to fire shots, Don Callis debuted as Cyrus the Virus on ECW TV. Paul E. utilised this character as a further way for him to vent his frustrations at the TNN network.

In reality, Dangerously and TNN were constantly butting heads over content, advertising and timeslots. With Callis' Cyrus, audiences were introduced to a heel character who was a purported network executive who was there to put a stop to the violent, raunchier side of ECW.

If ECW was anti-establishment, Cyrus was Paul E. creating the embodiment of the establishment he and his crew were so often fighting.