WWE: Top 5 Halloween-Style Gimmicks of All Time

It's that time of year again.  

All Hallows' Eve is nearly upon us, and as my candy-craving three-year-old prepares to don his Toy Story Woody costume for trick-or-treating, it occurs to me that certain WWE Superstars are likely doing the same thing.

Not dressing like Woody, rather the trick-or-treating bit.  You know what I mean.

There have been many outlandish gimmicks in WWE history, utilizing all forms of characters and drama.  The Halloween season brings us some of the characters whose gimmicks reach to the darkest parts of the human soul, bringing sheer terror to the hearts of even the most fearless fans.

In other words, these guys are meant to be creepy and a little scary.

So, with that, here's my top five Halloween-style gimmicks of all time.

5- the Boogeyman

Nothing says Halloween like a grown man wearing a big clock around his neck and gyrating on stage.

No, I'm not talking about Flavor Flav.

Okay, so The Boogeyman may not have been horror personified, but he was a little creepy, and WWE went out of its way to make you believe that he belonged in a Wes Craven flick.

Then, there's the worms.

Knowing that fans in this day and age would not be fearful of him, WWE apparently decided to go the Fear Factor route and just gross them out.

Guess what?  It worked.

The worms did their job and got more pop than some workers in the locker room.  It was disgusting, it was sickening and Boogeyman's character screamed Halloween.

Which is why he's on the list.

4- Paul Bearer

The Undertaker needed a manager who could capture the fans' attention, someone to speak for the Deadman as he began his reign of destruction in WWE.

Paul Bearer was that manager.

Paul was a perfect fit with Taker, a manager who was the mouthpiece but never a distraction.  Their gimmicks meshed together nicely, and for many years it was hard to imagine one without the other.

The fact that Paul Bearer looked like a cheap B-horror movie character was just icing on the cake.

Paul was so over the top, taking his gimmick to such extremes that eventually fans stopped smiling and started respecting.  Respecting the effort and total commitment to his character.

If the jack-o'-lantern is ever dropped as Halloween's No. 1 mascot, Paul Bearer is the perfect replacement.  

3- Mankind

Disturbed.  Deranged.  Destructive.

This was Mankind on a good day.

When Cactus Jack put on that leather mask and began pulling his hair out, fans stood up and took notice.  What happened to the hardcore wrestler they once knew?

Cactus's rough exterior had been subdued, replaced with a character who had retreated into his own morbid fantasy world of pain and suffering.

And that is exactly what he brought upon his opponents—and upon himself.

Mankind, in the original gimmick before he turned face and began pulling a sock out of his tights, is a prime example of how psychology can be used successfully.

It's also a prime example of how Halloween-style gimmicks can be very effective, and very over, in the business. 

2- Kane

The Big Red Machine is everything that nightmares are made of.

He's big, he's intimidating and he has a cold stare that can send shivers down your spine.  With an icy laugh and no remorse in his black heart, Kane is the monster that is hiding in your closet.

Go ahead and check.  I dare you.

Kane's approach to his character comes more from a serial killer's perspective than that of an inhuman creature.  

He's human, but he just doesn't care.  Inflicting suffering on others is what makes him smile, and that is flat out scary.

Kane is the remorseless killer who is just waiting for his next victim.  And, when he gets his hands wrapped around his opponent's neck, he does exactly what Jim Ross always said he would do.

He sends them to hell.

1- The Undertaker

Knew he was going to be No. 1, didn't you?

Taker is more Halloween than any other character that WWE has ever seen.  The eyes rolling back in his head, and the way he suddenly sits up when you least expect him to; it's very theatrical and very effective.

His total image and the power that it has whenever the opening bell of his music hits is a real experience. It automatically brings fans to their feet and gets them prepared for his legendary entrance.

The lights, the fog, the druids carrying torches and the lack of emotion he shows when he finally steps through the ropes.  Fans know that when Taker is on the card, they're in for a treat, and quite possibly, the most entertaining moment of the evening.

When it comes to capturing the darkness that exists in his character, no one does it better.  

Undertaker is one of a kind, and no one will ever be able to come close in terms of overall gimmick and character than the Deadman.

He made Halloween hip, and he will always be No. 1 on this list.