WWE Gimmicks That FAILED The HARDEST Every Year (1985-2025)
23. Mr. America (2003)
It cannot be denied: Everyone got swept up in Hulkamania fever once more following Hogan's return as part of the nWo revamp in 2002. The fans cheered him over The Rock at WrestleMania X8, then revelled in his red and yellow reprise as Hulk held the WWF Title for a month. It was an unbelievable renaissance for an old favourite.
By 2003, Hogan was in a creative slump and required some careful thought. Somehow, that led WWE's braintrust down the same rocky roads WCW's crack team of strung out writers had wobbled down. They landed on Mr. America, a gimmick so see through it was scribbled down on tracing paper during creative meetings.
Hogan's alter ego was greeted like the next big thing and a huge get for SmackDown. For whatever reason, Stephanie McMahon, her announcers and practically the entire blue brand roster were told to pretend that they didn't know this was Hulk Hogan. It was Mr. America, for goodness sake. He was completely different!
The America offshoot continued Hulk's feud with Mr. McMahon, and it even brought Roddy Piper back into the fold for a truly repulsive bit of nostalgic tosh at Judgment Day '03. The astounding thing here is that WWE was resembling WCW in the worst ways possible, and Mr. America was like the head of the snake that needed cut off.
WWE scrapped the gimmick quickly once Hogan left the promotion. What a mess. Commentators looked like goofs for ignoring the obvious, and people wanted Hulk properly not...some out of place patriotic spin off.