WWE: 8 Embarrassing Early Gimmicks Future World Champions Want You To Forget

4. The Rock €“ 'Rocky Maivia', 1996-1997

It's not that Rocky Maivia was the worst character the WWE has ever had €“ after all, there's nothing terrible about just being a generic, fan-pleasing babyface. It's that the Rocky Maivia character was so different from the true personality later exuded by The Rock--the kind of intensity that made him become one of the most popular WWE superstars of all time. The Rock would make a name for himself by doing some of the greatest trash talking in the history of our so-called sport, and would then back it up in the ring by laying the smack down. Rocky Maivia, however, was far, far removed from some of the hilarious insults lobbed by The Great One. Instead, Rocky Maivia smiled, and shook hands as he gallantly ran towards the ring. Instead of making fun of his opponents before stepping into the squared circle with them, Rocky Maivia would tell interviewers how much he respected his opponents, and how he was just happy to be in the WWE like his father and grandfather before him. As if we at home couldn't get the point that Rocky Maivia was supposed to be a fan favourite, the commentators would constantly hammer home the fact that Rocky was a "blue chipper" or a "great guy". Before the WWE even got the chance to pull the plug on the Rocky Maivia experiment, the fans revolted, and chants of "Die Rocky Die" rang throughout arenas €“ the first instance of a clearcut babyface getting such a negative reaction. Rocky Maivia switched things up. He joined the Nation of Domination, re-christened himself "The Rock" and the rest as they say was history. The People's Eyebrow, the People's Elbow, and a slew of memorable catchphrases catapulted Dwayne Johnson into the upper echelons of professional wrestling, and eventually, Hollywood.