10 WWE Wrestlers Who Break The Corporate Mould
Shotzi Blackheart, Dexter Lumis, and other unconventional stars thriving in WWE.
There are two major reasons as to why a tonne of WWE stars feel moulded in the same way.
Firstly is the corporate aspect, as - although fans wish it weren't so - WWE is a business. It needs to maintain a squeaky-clean and family-friendly image that investors and stockholders can be happy with. Thanks to the childish appeal of the industry, and the company's history, they have to present their performers in a manner they can control, to avoid controversy.
On the other hand, the higher-ups of World Wrestling Entertainment have made it very clear that they have preferences for their performers throughout the brand's existence. There is a reason that so many jokes permeate the internet wrestling community about Vince McMahon's obsession with huge muscular men and skinny waisted women. It's because WWE has always made it clear that they have a specific mould for their performers.
Right now, WWE is home to many punks, rogues, and misfits who act as the complete antithesis to the presentation that the company tends to adhere to. As a result, these eccentric personalities stick out on the roster stick out like few others, thriving in their grimy niche...
10. Kevin Owens
The former Kevin Steen was a wrestler that many Ring of Honor and Independent fans never expected to see in WWE, let alone as a genuine World Champion. A lot of things contributed to this, with the most notable being that he simply didn't fit the WWE Superstar image.
While Owens certainly isn't unfit, as his impressive in-ring bouts are full of energy and quick pacing, he doesn't have the most commonly preferred physique in the company. Although the industries obsession with beefy body types has dissipated in recent years, that doesn't change the fact that WWE has a bias for those with entirely athletic aesthetics. In a land of giants, Kevin Owens simply looks like an average guy.
This may be part of what makes Owens so fascinating, as he's one of the most ordinary-looking wrestlers in the promotion. However, his ability to perform death-defying bumps and incredible charisma on the mic makes him a fantastic presence on SmackDown and even brought him a healthy Universal Title reign.
He doesn't look like a prize-fighting brawler, but that's exactly how he acts, and despite his non-conventional look, it works.