10 WWE Attitude Era Gimmicks That Didn't Get Over

Racism and wrestling have gone hand in hand for decades. Unfortunately, this has often manifested itself in the form of foreign heels who we're supposed to hate simply because of where they hail.

Rarely - very rarely - there has been a heel character reviled because he's a racist. The USWA's Truth Commission were a stable of such villains: a white separatist paramilitary faction inspired by South Africa's almost identically named Truth and Reconcilation Commission.

Thankfully, apartheid was abolished by the time the group made their 1997 debut in WWF, but the fact made the gimmick utterly meaningless. The band's only South African, The Commandant (actor Robin Smith), was soon replaced by Don Callis, as the purpose of the coterie's existence became further unclear. Instead of inciting hatred amongst the fans by espousing a pro-apartheid message, Callis (now known as 'The Jackyl') instead acted more like a cult leader for his troupe of racist soldiers.

It was a mess of conflicting ideas, and unsurprisingly, no-one cared in the slightest. Vince McMahon, possibly cursing the fall of apartheid, dismissed the group save for what he obviously saw as its only worthwhile asset: the near seven foot tall Interrogator. We got Kurrgan out of the deal. Thanks for nothing, Nelson Mandela.