Famous Wrestlers Alternate Gimmicks

There have been many failed gimmicks in wrestling history, and some of these gimmicks have caused the superstar portraying them to fail with it.  

There are some wrestlers who were able to survive after being given a horrible character and direction. These wrestlers have gone on and found success in the company with something else.

Here we will look at wrestlers who have had some bad alternate gimmicks, but then turned it around and became the successful superstars we have come to know.

Stone Cold Steve Austin/"Stunning" Steve Austin

Before Stone Cold Steve Austin was stomping mud holes... and walking 'em dry, he worked in the WCW as "Stunning" Steve Austin.

His gimmick of "Stunning" Steve Austin allowed him to display his impressive ability as a technical wrestler because that was the type of wrestling that was popular at the time.  Austin found success in WCW with this gimmick but it did not compare to the mainstream success and popularity that his "Stone Cold" gimmick got.

"Stunning" Steve Austin would go on to become arguably the greatest WWE superstar of all time as the Rattlesnake "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who was a disrespectful, beer drinking antihero.

Kane/Dr. Isaac Yankem DDS

Glen Jacobs has given WWE fans one of the most iconic characters in Kane. But before he was "The Big Red Monster," Jacobs was given the gimmick of Dr. Isaac Yankem DDS.  Jacobs made his television debut as a heel, Dr. Isaac Yankem DDS.  Dr. Isaac Yankem was supposed to be Jerry Lawler's private dentist and would wrestle on many occasions for Lawler.  Some matches were against Bret Hart,  and at SummerSlam in 1995 Jacobs hung Hart by twisting him in the ropes by his neck. Yankem competed in the 1996 Royal Rumble but was used primarily as a jobber for other superstars.

This gimmick ended in September 1996 and Jacobs would go on to make one of the most memorable debuts as Undertakers brother Kane.

Batista/Leviathian/Deacon Batista

Batista has had several gimmick changes including Leviathan while he was a part of Ohio Valley Wrestling.  He joined Synn's stable and fought many stars in the Ohio Valley like Stone Cold, John Cena and Kane.

Batista was given a big push in the WWE almost immediately upon joining the company.  The "almost" applies because he first debuted as Deacon Batista.  Deacon Batista was Reverend D-Von's villainous enforcer.

The Rock/Rocky Maivia

The Rock made his debut in the WWE as Rocky Maivia which was a combination of his father and grandfather's ring names.  The Rock did not like the idea because he didn't want to be in his families shadow but eventually was convinced and debut as a clean-cut face character.

Rocky Maivia wanted to be more exciting and would eventually start to change into a heel character.  He would become the Rock who was a charismatic bully who would refer to himself in the third person and well... you know the rest.

The Undertaker/Mean Mark Callous

The Undertaker had tried out several gimmicks before becoming the "Deadman."  One of his gimmicks was with the tag team called Skyscrapers, and he would be called Mean Mark Callous.

After finding some success in the tag team division of WCW with this gimmick, Mean Mark Callous lost in 1990 to Lex Luger for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship and was not resigned by the WCW.

The Undertaker is the most iconic figure in professional wrestling history.  This may never have happened if Mean Mark Callous was resigned by WCW. 

John Cena/The Prototype

John Cena is one of the most successful and polarizing wrestlers of all time. Cena first appeared in a ring as a semi-robotic character called The Prototype.  He would later sign a WWE developmental contract and continue this character.  Once he reached the WWE and made his television debut, Cena became a huge fan favorite because of his intensity.  He would eventually turn heel and take up his "rapper" gimmick.

Now Cena has been a baby-face for several years and is in need for some serious character altering.

Dolph Ziggler/ Spirit Squad

One of the most embarrassing and awful group gimmicks in recent years was the group Spirit Squad. They would do annoying cheer routines regularly as part of their gimmick.  Dolph Ziggler was unfortunately in this group.

Many people felt that Kenny Dykstra would be the one to become the most successful out of the group, however Ziggler has become a rising star today and looks like the future of the company.

Kevin Nash/Oz

When Nash was in the WCW in the early 90's he was packaged as the silver-haired "Oz".  This gimmick was based on the character from the Wizard of Oz and he was managed by Merlin the Wizard.  This is a gimmick that Kevin Nash wishes he had never done.  Nash wrestled as Oz all the way through 1991.

Triple H/Terror Risin

Before Triple H became "The Game" and became Mr. Stephanie McMahon, he spent a year with WCW.  In his time with WCW he was a villainous character that started named Terror Risin, then changed to Terra Ryzing, and eventually Jean-Paul Levesque.  Triple H's character was supposed to be French but he couldn't speak French and was asked to at least speak with a French accent.