8 Wrestling Gimmicks Based On Serial Killers

The Hawaiian shirt-wearing Waylon Mercy was one of the most interesting characters the then-WWF presented in 1995. Smack bang in the middle of the 'New Generation Era', the company rarely produced violent or malevolent characters, instead sticking to a more cartoon-like approach. Mercy was the exception to that rule.

There was a time when Bray Wyatt adopted the same look as Mercy. Complete with Hawaiian shirt, white attire, and bizarre tattoos, both were directly influenced by Robert De Niro's portrayal of Max Cady in the 1991 movie Cape Fear.

Whilst Wyatt eventually evolved into something different, the short-lived run of Waylon Mercy will always be viewed as a missed opportunity.

In Cape Fear, the homicidal Cady is a sleazy psychopath who hunts down an attorney and his family after being jailed for rape. Using the same unpredictable characteristics, the frightening Waylon Mercy took direct inspiration from Cady's pattern of quiet cleverness and violent rage.

Acting like a gentleman outside of the ring, Mercy was a sadistic animal once the bell rang and was written to revel in torturing his opponents. Sadly, the wrestler behind the gimmick (Dan Spivey) was forced to retire due to injuries, thus robbing everyone of a prolonged run for a character which could have been special.