10 WWE Gimmicks That Just Aren't Working

A wise man once said that the best wrestling gimmicks are simply the performers’ own personalities cranked up to 11. Evidently the following 10 did not get the memo, or rather, the geniuses behind their booking didn’t.

Ill-fitting, poorly cast roles are detrimental to both the wrestler in question and the product overall. From natural babyfaces being wedged into heel roles, to comedy acts forced upon serious workers, there’s plenty of ways for a gimmick to go horribly wrong.

For what felt like an aeon, Roman Reigns was pressed into a childish babyface hero role. It was clear to all but a certain Vincent Kennedy McMahon that the schtick did not suit the man. In 2021, he’s the company’s biggest (full-time) star with a sharp heel act tailored perfectly to his skillset.

Needless to say, sometimes all it takes is a fresh coat of paint to get one’s career back on track. As the following 10 gimmicks reveal, that same fresh coat can also lead to total derailment.

All 10 entries have talent in spades. Some have had the chance to showcase it in the past, others not so much. Regardless, they all find themselves in a similar boat right now, stitched up with characters that just aren’t clicking.

It's hard to be a badass when it's your ass that keeps getting kicked.

While Shayna Baszler's 15-11 MMA record wasn't quite on the level of a Jon Jones or a Khabib Nurmagomedov, it did lend her an air of legitimacy in pro wrestling. Presenting herself convincingly as a ruthless, technically skilled and powerful combatant, Baszler dominated the NXT women's division for years.

Rumours abounded of when she'd finally arrive on the main roster and raise hell there too. After a badly botched angle with Becky Lynch that involved vampire bites and one of the least exciting Elimination Chamber bouts ever, Baszler tumbled into the midcard.

18 months later and Baszler barely ever wins and has only a poorly received tag run with Nia Jax to throw on the old resume. While the submission artist does her best to still carry herself with the gusto and aura she established on the black and yellow brand, the genie is out of the bottle.

There was some promise back in September when she dismantled Eva Marie that her mean streak was set to return. Unfortunately this potentially effective angle was derailed by her subsequent loss to Doudrop in the Queen's Crown tournament.

It's not too late for Baszler to turn things around but it's getting there. A lot of work is needed to re-establish her as a threat and, with WWE's track record of late, such a commitment seems unlikely.