10 WWE Gimmicks That Just Aren't Working
1. Nikki A.S.H.
Nikki Cross' rebirth as a not-quite superhero hasn't exactly rocked the house in 2021. Shockingly winning the women's MITB, A.S.H. proved very handy in further inflating Charlotte Flair's absurd title record. Beyond that, her painfully brief run as champion did little for either her or the title.
The Almost a Superhero gimmick is clearly meant to appeal more to younger viewers. If it were succeeding, that would be fine. As it stands, this is one persona so goofy (even by WWE standards) that increasingly large numbers of live audiences began booing the Glasgow native during her title run.
Comedy in professional wrestling is a dangerously mixed bag. With many adult fans growing increasingly tired of WWE's ever more childish content, the A.S.H. character has been greeted with both frustration and confusion.
Perhaps sensing their error, WWE were quick to take the belt off the not quite a caped crusader. Back in the tag division, Nikki A.S.H. is serving as something of an anchor to Rhea Ripley, whose credibility was crushed all over again this year by Charlotte Flair.
Cross would do well to return to any of her previous, slightly less hokey personas as soon as possible. This is one creative gamble that simply hasn't paid off.