Top 10 Wickedest Old School Pro Wrestling Persona Changes

It was the 1980's and 1990's and the WWF reigned supreme.

Other federations such as WCCW, NWA, AWA and UWF could only hope to maintain a little glimmer in the wrestling world. As such, many awesome and proven pro wrestlers from the smaller federations made their way to the WWF after a while.

Why? Money and exposure.

Some of these transitions worked well especially with Mark Kallas, who was known as Mr. Mean until he truly hit the WWF with the moniker 'The Undertaker.' Curt Hennig became 'Mr. Perfect', Ted DiBiase became 'The Million Dollar Man' and other were so big that they maintained their persona, which was rare for a wrestler coming into the WWF. The Dingo Warrior became the Ultimate Warrior.

Ric Flair could not (should not) be changed and The Road Warriors were called by their surname The Legion of Doom.

But these next 10 guys, in my humble opinion, got the shaft with these crappy personas. Either the guy was disrespected with the name change or they supposedly needed it. Either way it was entertaining!

Beefcake wasn't really known before the Barber bit so he doesn't make the cut; and please don't tell me he drew you into this read. JK...did he?

Give me your picks.

10- the Model Rick Martel

He's at number 10 only because his actual name is in his new name. Martel was a former, and long-running, AWA world champ before entering the WWF.

He was emblazoned with the image of a self-obsessed model who was constantly looking at his beauty in the mirror. First off, not to be mean, but Martel could never be a model, except maybe for a wrestling magazine.

Secondly, the image put a shadow over the talented wrestler that Martel was.

Yes, he showed glimpses of greatness as "The Model" and he made mad cash, but overall his career greatness level was stunted by him staying at a midcard level all the way through his WWF tenure.

9: Razor Ramon

Razor Ramon actually worked for Scott Hall, but at the expense of his true self and his true identity.

Have you seen him now? Sad. Crazy, crazy sad.

Razor Ramon was hilarious, mean and a good wrestler. Scott Hall was too. Truly Scott Hall was not really like Razor Ramon but now Hall literally clings to the persona in desperation, because he needs to make money just to live. Yeah Ramon was dope but even worse.

8: Meng

Tonga 'Uli'uli Fifita wrestled in the WCW under the name Meng; in the WWF, he wrestled under the names King Tonga, King Haku, and Haku.

I know this was the opposite of coming to the WWF and changing his name but in my opinion, he should have never have changed from Haku. As Meng, they made him stay less competitive for titles and more of just a trusty competitor.

One thing is for sure, this guy is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Sad he didn't win WAY more titles.

Holla at me if you agree Haku was the shizzy nizzy.

7: Viscera

Nelson Frazier Jr. was the biggest (pun intended) loser when it came to personas.

Toward the end it got better, but in the name Viscera should have never needed to happen. His Mabel role was basically the same thing and the name had recognition.

As Viscera, how could you ever explain to your friends who knew less about wrestling who you were talking about?

6: The Bushwackers

When they were the Sheepherders they were nasty, mean, tough, extreme and vicious. As the Bushwackers they were a total and complete joke.

Don't get me wrong I always loved my Bushwackers fix but when it came to the actual match, Butch and Luke were robbed of showing how sick they really could be.

They made a lot of cash but it wasn't enough, because their legacy ended in a laughable condition.

5: The Texas Tornado

I hate that my favorite wrestler ever was called the Texas Tornado and that he was rarely referred to by his famous first or last name.

Yes, I know all the sh%t he did in his life and that pisses me off even more, but maybe, just maybe if he had been given the respect by the WWF in the first place, this wouldn't have happened.

Texas Tornado won the Intercontinental title but they dispensed of him soon afterward, and then soon after that he dispensed of himself. It truly did hurt me and it still kinda does. Why Kerry?

4: The Genius

Leapin Lanny Poffo is Macho Man's real life brother and that could have been capitalized upon when he was in the WWF, but when he was well-known he was called The Genius.

Despite depicting intellectuality it was so retarded. Listening to his poems was so boring and rarely comical. Then when it came to his fights, Poffo was limited by his stupid persona as a mid-to-low level character.

Poffo and Poffo's personas didn't have any connection in the WWF, except for when Macho King was inaugurated by DiBiase and The Genius' poem. Wack.

3: The Blue Blazer

First off "THE BLUE BLAZER?"

I always wondered why the hell they ever did this to Owen Hart?

This was a stupid role and yet underneath was a wrestler that was being wasted by the role. Finally, someone came to their senses and Owen Hart became a star and then...

2: Honky Tonk Guy #2

Greg Valentine had the worst personality ever for the role of Honky Tonk Man's sidekick.

I don't even know if he had a different name when they were a tag team because I hated it.

Valentine with black hair and a guitar? They should have totally found another person for this role and left this bad ass wrestler to be known as.

GREG THE HAMMER VALENTINE–see, now that's perfect for him.

1: The Red Rooster

Terry Taylor was a good wrestler who messed up his in the ring career forever when he actually accepted the role of The Red Rooster.

Yeah, it was funny, but truthfully it was sad to see this top-notch performer used in this way.

I guess, in the end, he deserves it, but the WWF sucks for making him to this just to get paid.