10 WWE Superstar Gimmicks That Nearly Turned Out So Differently

10. Goldust

In 1995, Dustin Rhodes debuted for Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment as the mysterious, enigmatic and bizarre Goldust. Donning a long gold robe with white feathers, a blonde wig and gold and black face paint, he was the type of character that could very easily have failed were it not for the truly outstanding and revolutionary performance by the man behind the gimmick. It can be argued, though, that losing himself behind the paint and the extravagant garb allowed Rhodes to deliver the type of mesmerizing performances he became associated with under the Goldust persona. Simply put, everything from the pain to the wig to the robe and the man underneath it all was integral in the overall success of the character. Without that complete package, it would not have lasted 18 months, let alone the 18 years that it has. Believe it or not, though, the Goldust character almost never existed. As revealed in the concept art released by WWE, Rhodes nearly played a handful of characters, none of which would have brought him the success that the Bizarre One did. First was the overly generic "The Cowboy" Dustin Rhodes, which took the "Natural" character that the second-generation star portrayed in World Championship Wrestling and turned the volume up to eleven. According to the artwork, he would have sported a brown leather and tasseled vest and cowboy hat, really playing on the Texas cowboy stereotype. While Rhodes was above average in the ring, there is no in-ring performance possible that would have overcome that gimmick.

Another possibility was Stargate, presumably based on the film of the same name. Rhodes would have resembled something out of Egypt, with a staff to boot. It was ridiculous and the sort of gimmick and appearance that dooms a performer right out of the gate. As was "Shadow Rhodes" which would have featured the performer in a cutoff t-shirt and leather pants. If that doesn't scream "industry changing Superstar," what does, right?

The company wasn't even sold on the look of the Goldust character originally. One sketch had him donning a gold tuxedo, sans the makeup. Essentially, it would have been Dustin Rhodes in the most hideous suit imaginable.

Another instance had him sporting the gold bodysuit he eventually competed in but, again, without the makeup. An even uglier blue and gold bodysuit capped off the early ideas for Goldust. For the sake of the character and the performer himself, none of the concepts became reality.