50 Ruthless Aggression Era Superstars Ranked From Worst To Best
44. Goldust
Pros:
1. Was still as bizarre as ever
2. Genuinely funny
3. Still worked very well
Cons:
1. Kept leaving and coming back
2. Didn’t accomplish much during this period
3. Didn’t get the same reactions as he used to
During the Attitude Era, Goldust was creepy, controversial, and to some people, offensive. During the Ruthless Aggression era, he was still his weird self, but with a more comedic twist. Yes, he still did the weird breathing thing and wore the black-and-gold paint and body suit, but instead of making the audience feel uncomfortable, he was making us laugh.
From his stuttering segment with Steve Austin, to the ‘wig’ segment with Goldberg, to his impression of Steve Irwin, Goldust was willing to make even the cheesiest of ideas and make them work. Then, of course, there was his teaming with Booker T in 2002 and 2003, which likewise provided fans with countless funny moments. Whether he was teaming with Booker or doing the stuttering gimmick, Goldust took a potentially terrible gimmick and made it work.
Unfortunately, Goldust's contract wasn't extended beyond two years, and he would spent the rest of the Ruthless Aggression era bouncing around between WWE, TNA, and other independent promotions. However, the fact that he managed to overcome all these career challenges (including the 'Black Reign' character in TNA) demonstrates that he truly knows hot to succeed in wrestling.
Final Rating: ***