WWE Gimmicks That FAILED The HARDEST Every Year (1985-2025)
22. Mordecai (2004)
Here he is - the poster boy of this collection.
Mordecai? More like mortified. WWE can't be blamed for trying to piggy back on The Undertaker's then-14 years years of success by introducing an alternate version, but they realised that the worker cast in the role wasn't going to make it early on. Like, really early on. Like, during his first pay-per-view clash vs. Scotty 2 Hotty at Judgment Day 2004 early on.
In years since, Kevin Fertig (the man behind Mordecai) has defended himself by saying he was told to work a slow, almost lifeless style that sucked energy out of arenas and made it nigh-on impossible for others to work around. At times, he was like Undertaker from 1991 at 0.5x speed, and that was a problem. He was just never getting over by being so bloody slow.
Mordecai was more overtly religious in tone than 'Taker, but he was regarded as a 'light/white version' of a famous gimmick shrouded in darkness. However, the twist would be that big Morde was anything but wholesome. He vowed to rid WWE of sin whilst sinning himself. What a no good scoundrel. Worm that sucker out of the company, Scotty!
After debuting in-ring in May, Fertig was sent back down to developmental wing OVW for more seasoning by July. Yep, a mere 2 months into his run under this seemingly game-changing character who was supposed to match what had been achieved by 'The Deadman'.
Wonder who has his staff/cross nowadays? It's surely still knocking around a WWE warehouse somewhere.