12 Awesome Wrestling Gimmicks WWE Didn’t Know How To Handle
5. Taz
By 1999, WWE had already promoted Stone Cold Steve Austin as 'the toughest S.O.B', Ken Shamrock as 'the world's most dangerous man', and even re-trumpeted convicted rapist Mike Tyson as the 'baddest man on the planet', so it probably shouldn't have been that much of a shock that Vince McMahon was less willing to promote the stocky 5'9 Taz with similar gusto.
Although he was at first allowed to keep his 'Human Suplex Machine' persona in an electric debut at 2000's Royal Rumble, the presentation was almost immediately scaled back, as his killer instinct was swiftly diluted, dropping down the card into meaningless television contests and scuffles over the hardcore title.
His shocking ECW Title win in April 2000 should have re-lit the fire, but defeat to Triple H on Smackdown whilst holding the belt damaged virtually everybody but 'The Game' and Tazz (now with added 'Z') was left to flounder.
A heel turn kept him briefly relevant, with two pay-per-view matches against Jerry Lawler marking a switch to an obnoxious comedic version of his character, but persistent bullying from Steve Austin in 2001 murdered the character stone dead, and foreshadowed his eventually successful move to the broadcast booth.