20 Wrestling Gimmicks That Got WEIRD Rip-Offs
9. Jim Ross (Oklahoma)
Most entries up until now have either been lighthearted or accidentally funny, but this one was plain mean spirited and shouldn't have happened for multiple reasons. In 1999, Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara were looking to make their stamp on WCW and prove to the world that they were creative geniuses the WWF would miss. How did they do that? By making light of some serious health problems fed favourite Jim Ross was going through.
Urgh. The Oklahoma character had zero redeeming qualities.
Ferrara dressed like JR, screwed up his face and spoke in an over the top Southern drawl. The cosplaying was one thing, but poking fun at Jim suffering Bell's Palsy attacks was a step too far. Needling anything wrestling-related would've been acceptable. Counterproductive and another small time move by WCW, but acceptable. Getting personal with somebody who didn't deserve to have his health ridiculed on national TV though? Nope. Shame on them.
It's actually surprising that Ross's longtime friend 'Dr. Death' Steve Williams agreed to go along with all of this and appear alongside Oklahoma. Either he wasn't on good terms with Jim at the time stemming from his WWF release, or Williams just didn't think it was that bad.
It isn't too sensitive to say this was that bad. OK was a rip off gimmick with insulting overtones nobody needed. Jim Ross was an announcer, not a threat to WCW and didn't need this bullying in his life. Again, it was purely mean spirited from Russo and Ferrara to burn TV time on such a mess. Oklahoma is still one of the worst things wrestling ever put out.