Top 10 Nerdiest WWE Wrestler Gimmicks Ever: The Old-School List

Even though he managed one of the most menacing wrestlers in WWE history, Brother Love was far from intimidating.

This nerdy preacher man may have had a huge mouth, but he had nothing to offer as far as ring skill goes.

Love will always be remembered for his red face and suspenders rather than being a great manager.

Harvey Wippleman

Harvey Wippleman may have been the most obnoxious manager of all time.

Wippleman successfully fit the part of a trash-talking, nerdy manager who would hide behind a bigger guy after stirring the pot.

Even though he was nerdy, he managed to hold a coveted WWE title.

In 1995, Wippleman became first and only man to ever hold the WWE Women's title.

I.R.S.

Mike Rotunda was the quintessential nerdy character.

Whether he played "Captain" Mike Rotunda, I.R.S. or Michael Wallstreet,  you could always bank on him playing up the character to the fullest.

Even though his characters were nerdy, his in-ring skills were unparallelled, as Rotunda was a great mat technician and was able to go toe-to-toe with just about anyone.

Jim Cornette

Cornette was a great nerdy character.

In the beginning of his career, he played a rich momma's boy who had everything handed to him.

Over the years, Cornette has proven that he has an amazing mind for the business and knows what he's doing.

Luckily, he has been able to transcend his career and use his knowledge of the business to help boost future stars.

The Genius Lanny Poffo

He may be Randy Savage's real-life brother, but Poffo was no "Macho Man."

Poffo was infamous for reading poetry to the audience prior to matches.

Most of the time these poems would take shots at his opponents and the members in attendance.

Dean Douglas

In ECW he may have been "The Franchise," but in the WWF/E Shane Douglas was the nerdy, cocky Dean Douglas.

Douglas' character would boast about beating opponents with his brain rather than brawn.

He was also infamous for burying his opponents and the crowd with talk of his of superior intellect.

Brother Love

Even though he managed one of the most menacing wrestlers in WWE history, Brother Love was far from intimidating.

This nerdy preacher man may have had a huge mouth, but he had nothing to offer as far as ring skill goes.

Love will always be remembered for his red face and suspenders rather than being a great manager.

Bob Backland

Backland is the epitome of the nerdy wrestler.

Throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, Backland was a clean-cut, no-nonsense wrestler with a nerdy-boy-next-door look. Even as a heel, Backland was a nerdy character with suspenders and all.

Sadly, Backland was a victim of an injury that eventually sparked Hulkamania. Even though Backland finally received his title run, it was short lived and not many fans bought into him being able to beat Bret Hart.

Michael Cole

Over the years, Cole has played the wimpy backstage announcer, on-air, squeaky-clean commentator and heel commentator.

Even with these changes, one thing stayed the same...

Michael Cole has never surpassed being looked upon as a nerd.

Todd Petengill

On the first page of this slideshow I mentioned that I grew to appreciate these entertainers as I got older. Petengill is the exception to the rule.

The fact is, Petengill never really grew on me or anyone else.

Yes, he has a following in New York radio for "The Scott and Todd Show," but he kind of fell flat for the WWF/WWE.

Don't get me wrong—the man is talented, he just never transcended into anything great for the wrestling business.

Vince McMahon

Upon seeing this you may ask yourself: "Wait, how did this happen?

Prior to becoming the Mr. McMahon that we know and love, Vince McMahon the commentator was as nerdy as they get.

With his ridiculous sports jackets and over-the-top commentating, McMahon was never looked upon as a threat to many in the WWE Universe, or wrestlers for that matter.

However, we would eventually find out that McMahon was far more than a commentator.  Regardless of how wrestlers treated him or portrayed themselves on air, McMahon ultimately had the power.