10 Wrestling Gimmicks That Got Out Of Control
5. Oklahoma
Ed Ferrara's Oklahoma was awful to begin with, but it might not be remembered as much had it been a one-off promo on some random Nitro that gave Ed and Vince Russo a laugh. If they'd stopped there, and actually got on with the task of making WCW money (like they were hired to do), then this entry wouldn't exist.
It does, and it won't be kind to Ferrara or Russo.
They needlessly parodied a genuine illness Jim Ross was suffering from. Slaughtering a beloved announcer for having Bell's Palsy was not cool, and they senselessly wasted valuable Monday night airtime on TNT. Then, the pair encroached on the Cruiserweight division's purpose by putting that high-flying belt around OK's waist.
Their power-trip went too far, and nobody stepped up to stop them. Oklahoma was a character so counter-productive that it should always be considered one of the thickest decisions any wrestling writer has ever made. The fact he won a title is painful.