Professional wrestling -- and more so, sports entertainment -- would be nothing without its storylines. These scripted angles are what hook viewers and get them emotionally invested in the ongoing struggles of their favorite and most despised characters. In order to have a strong story, the characters must be entertaining and intriguing as well. While not everyone needs an outrageous character, some wrestlers have a long and complicated backstory. Not everyone can be the beer drinking, middle finger raising, Stone Cold Steve Austin or the passionate patriot and perennial good guy like Hulk Hogan. Some competitors come from a dark place or have a complex origin. Furthermore, many wrestlers and their gimmicks undergo changes throughout the years. While superstars often debut with a certain backstory, their characters inevitably transform over the years. This morphing of their character makes the backstory even more complex, as changes take shape over the gimmicks lifespan. From superstars like Kane and The Undertaker to a few surprises, the following nine wrestlers did not have an easily digestible, straight forward origin. Instead, their backstories were often complex and quite complicated. Join us as we take a look at some of these intricate and involved character backstories.
Douglas Scarpa is a freelance writer, independent filmmaker, art school graduate, and pro wrestling aficionado -- all of which mean he is in financial ruin. He has no backup plan to speak of, yet maintains his abnormally high spirits. If he had only listened to the scorn of his childhood teachers, he wouldn't be in this situation.
