10 Wrestling Gimmicks That Weren’t Supposed To Last Long
3. 'Black Machismo' Jay Lethal
The twisted result of a gag segment featuring Kevin Nash's 'Paparazzi Productions', Jay Lethal being permitted to deliver his dead-on Randy Savage impression was a rare case of the tribute act actually serving the impersonator well.
Lost to the aforementioned folly of backstage bullsh*t at the time, Lethal's X Division exploits weren't doing him many favours by 2006 but donning the Macho Man's gear and delivering his dead-on gravel-voiced impression established a renewed bond with the Impact Zone crowd.
Lethal played the role with such heart that it became impossible not to enjoy the affection with which his schtick was intended. The seamless blending of his in-ring repertoire with Savage's only helped solidify the act as a dynamic midcard attraction, and his push remained stable as a result.
Mishandled and abused by reckless booking because TNA just couldn't f*cking help themselves, the gimmick limped to its demise three years later after an otherwise prosperous tenure. A miraculous clean victory over Kurt Angle at TNA No Surrender 2007 was unquestionably the peak of his run, but getting three years instead of three minutes from a stolen catchphrase was miracle enough.