10 WWE Gimmicks Which Ripped Off Real People

6. Adam Rose - Russell Brand

RVD Jean Claude Van Damme
WWE/By Brian Solis (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Raymond Leppan's first stab at success in NXT came under the guise of Leo Kruger, a name adopted in tribute to divisive ex-South African president Paul Kruger, often referred to as Afrikanerdom personified. Thankfully, Leppan's character didn't follow in Kruger's footsteps - WWE had ticked the troublesome, irrelevant South African gimmick checkbox with The Truth Commission - but he practically transformed into his next inspiration.

In line for a repackage, Leppan closely studied the mannerisms of flamboyant English comedian Russell Brand. When he returned to screens as party-animal Adam Rose, the similarities were stark, from the superficial - his hair, his eye-shadow, his dress sense - to the subtle - his passive-aggressive undertones. It was quite the impersonation, and in the ultimate tribute to Brand, personal problems intervened to scupper it all. At least he stopped short of upsetting a fictional Spanish waiter.

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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.