10 WWE Attitude Era Gimmicks That Didn't Get Over

9. L.O.D. 2000

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The past is like a foreign country, so they say. They do things differently there.

For wrestling promoters however, the itch to go abroad is too hard to resist. Few industries are so fueled by nostalgia, as relics from a bygone age are repeatedly dredged up to trade on fans' fond memories of days past.

It works too; wrestling is a business based on constant rotation, as guys have to disappear to remain fresh. During the Attitude era however, the past didn't just feel like a foreign country, but a different planet. The entire ethos of the company had shifted such that the extravagant, comic-book characters of the early-'90s no longer had a place.

The Legion of Doom's 1997 WWF return put this fact into sharp focus. Only five years had passed since The Road Warrior's last appearance in the company, but amongst the brash, 'mature' characters now populating Raw, they felt like an anachronism.

Attempts to update the team 'for the new Millennium' as L.O.D. 2000 didn't help. The pair had cool new helmets, though Hawk immediately threw his into the crowd. Sunny offered nothing, and was inexplicably replaced by Droz. Not long after, WWF crassly began to exploit Hawk's real-life alcohol issues, but it was clear the Legion were doomed. Before the new millennium even arrived, L.O.D. 2000 were out the door.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.