12 Awesome Wrestling Gimmicks WWE Didn’t Know How To Handle
9. Lex Luger
With charisma in high supply and Vince McMahon's dream physique, Lex Luger's WWE failure was utterly baffling.
Lex never claimed to be the greatest wrestler in the world, but WCW smartly marketed his incredible physique and paired him with enough talented performers to give him the well-suited 'Total Package' gimmick.
An ex-footballer, Luger could believably crow about his skills as an arrogant all-rounder despite his technical shortcomings, and cut an impressive figure during his peak years between 1989 and his 1992 exit.
His WWE tenure was never destined to be as smooth after a clunky first few months representing McMahon's failed World Bodybuilding Federation, but their attempt at re-branding the 'Total Package' was an overtly literal mess, which in turn was abruptly dropped when Luger was tasked with being a second coming of Hulk Hogan.
Launched alongside an orgasmic Bobby Heenan, Luger was revealed as 'The Narcissist' at January 1993's Royal Rumble, in front of a giant mirror that would travel with him due to his desperate need to look at his own body.
It was near-impossible to slot the character into the flow of a match, and the persona wasn't remotely connecting when Luger suddenly donned red, white and blue trunks and became America's great defender against Yokozuna.