7 Wrestling Gimmicks WWE Should Recycle
4. The Everyman
It is a credit to the wilful obstruction placed above Dusty Rhodes' head that he made his retooled character work to the extent it did in the WWF. Fans took him to their bosom, despite his ridiculous polka-dotted garb, because he was so obviously, thrillingly, one of their own.
There's a reason football fans prefer a hometown hero over a more skilful foreign import. Wish fulfilment is a major component behind the success of both sport and culture - a line WWE claim to blur.
WWE - or, more accurately, NXT - did almost transpose this sentiment with their handling of the TJ Perkins character during the Cruiserweight Classic - which, incidentally, feels like it happened a lifetime ago. Drawing on his real-life backstory of homelessness, fans identified with Perkins because they could relate to his plight. It's perhaps no coincidence, then, that they readily accepted TNA cast-off Perkins as tournament winner ahead of more the more hyped and exotic field.
However, as of last night's RAW, he became yet another zing merchant. As Drew Gulak - who, of course, was suspiciously just off-camera - sidled up to him, Perkins poked fun at his medieval-looking outfit, asking whether Tony Nese was his knight in shining armour. In one moment, Perkins made the transition from a relatable avatar for the common man to a cookie cutter WWE (c) babyface.
Instead of toying with a proven formula, WWE should revert back to it.