20 Wrestling Gimmicks That Got WEIRD Rip-Offs
11. Dude Love (‘That 70s Guy’ Mike Awesome)
OK, so everyone knows Mike Awesome's weird 'That 70s Guy' experiment WCW pulled in 2000 was an attempt to hop on the hype train for That 70s Show. The TV series was a hot property at the time, so fair enough, but something else stood out about Mike's promos and overall presentation: He was like a cheaper, nastier version of Mick Foley's Dude Love success story over in the WWF.
Vince Russo had played a part in making that a reality and bringing Mick's vision to life, and the former WWF writer needed some inspiration for a thoroughly dire WCW run. Therefore, in September 2000 after being saddled with another terrible gimmick ("The Fat Chick Thriller"), Awesome turned up in pastel coloured suits and had a big 70s style bus behind him at points.
Remind you of anyone? The bus thing, not the suits, although Dude Love also sported some garish colour schemes to sell his retro vibes. Mike's 'Lava Lounge' talk show segment seemed to borrow some of the banter Foley had used too. Yeah, the more one stops to think about it, the more it becomes possible that Russo was trying to do with Awesome what the WWF had done with Mick.
Toss in a little Austin Powers for good measure and hope for the best. This gimmick lasted mere months before Mike joined Team Canada alongside Lance Storm, Elix Skipper and pals. Christ, WCW's latter day booking really was all over the place. At least pick a plan and stick to it for longer than a cup of coffee.