10 Wrestling Gimmicks That Went Way Over Everyone’s Heads

9. The Truth Commission (South African Military)

What People Thought: The Commandant's military task force seemed like something from WCW circa 1991, and they (they being Kurrgan, Tank, Recon and Sniper) failed to land with WWF fans in '97. It didn't take long before the lifeless military gimmick lost members, gained a new leader in The Jackyl and ended up on lower-end shows like Shotgun. They were flat out boring and lacked any depth.

What They Actually Were: When Bret Hart met Robin B. Smith on a trip to South Africa, he believed the actor was perfect to play an international dictator character. So, inspired partly by the racial segregation of Apartheid, Smith was hired by the WWF despite having zero willingness to do anything physical. He was put together with the pre-existing Truth Commission boys working in Memphis' USWA.

Mere months into the run, the tripped-out Don Callis, playing the role of Jackyl, nonsensically replaced The Commandant as leader of the group, presumably because he needed something to do and was also friends with Hart.

Instantly, the South African military element was lost in favour of some borderline supernatural sect sh*t from The Jackyl. His grunge look didn't fly with the combat gear worn by his wrestlers, and the whole thing became a 'C' show nightmare nobody could wake up from. Fans just didn't get it, and the gimmick tanked.