WWE has featured some of the greatest wrestling gimmicks of all time. From larger-than-life superheroes to villainous heels, a wrestler's character, or "gimmick," can make or break their career. A simple gimmick change helped launch stars like The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
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The background story behind the greatest gimmicks in the history of WWE range from split-second decisions to carefully crafted ideas expected to get audiences riled up. This list will examine 10 great wrestling gimmicks and explain their origins.
10 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Austin, who had previously portrayed a more generic character as "The Ringmaster," sought to reinvent himself in WWE since WCW had missed the boat with him. With the encouragement of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Austin began incorporating elements of his own personality into his on-screen character, including his love of beer and his anti-authority attitude.
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Stone Cold Steve Austin's wrestling gimmick originated from his real-life persona as a rebellious, beer-drinking, middle-finger-flipping badass. After his ex-wife advised him to sip his tea before it became "stone cold," Austin eventually came up with the name Stone Cold. The Hall of Famer admitted that seeing a documentary about serial killer Richard Kuklinski gave him the idea for his role. Austin's character became one of the most successful gimmicks in the history of WWE. It was so well received it helped WWE become a cable television phenomenon.
9 The Undertaker
The Undertaker is one of the most famous wrestling gimmicks of all time. The original idea was for a mysterious, undead mortician who rose from the dead to do battle in the wrestling ring. The character made its debut in WWE in 1990 and quickly became one of the company's most recognizable and enduring personalities.
Over time, the Undertaker's character evolved to include elements of horror, mysticism, and supernatural power. His pairing with Paul Bearer elevated "The Deadman's" identity. The magical urn added to the supernatural.
8 "The Rated R Superstar" Edge
One of Edge's most famous wrestling feuds also led to the arrival of his heel gimmick, "The Rated R Superstar". After the love triangle storyline between him, Lita, and Matt Hardy, Edge found a heel angle that worked well. The result was the "Rated R Superstar" character, which was introduced in WWE in 2005 in a feud with Ric Flair.
Edge's "Rated R" character was known for his edgy, adult-oriented humor, evil opportunist actions, and a willingness to break every rule. His feuds with John Cena and The Undertaker were show-stealing. He was one of the best heel wrestlers of the Ruthless Aggression Era.
7 Mankind
The Mankind character was introduced in 1996 and was based on an idea from WWE creative. Foley, apparently, loved the idea and ran with it even though the mask reeked and the gimmick was over the top. The Mankind gimmick helped to establish Mick Foley as one of the top stars of the Attitude Era and remains one of the most memorable and impactful wrestling gimmicks of all time. It eventually morphed into a more comedic character when Foley fully took hold of the idea and elevated it to its peak.
6 Razor Ramon
Scott Hall's Razor Ramon character was inspired by Tony Montana, the iconic drug lord from the movie Scarface. Razor Ramon was introduced in WWE in 1992 as a brash, cocky, and charismatic bad guy with a heavy Cuban accent and a fondness for gold chains and sunglasses.
The character quickly became one of WWE's most popular and successful gimmicks of the time, known for its over-the-top personality, its entertaining catchphrases, and its tendency to break the rules. Scott Hall's character in WCW was so similar, it had to be changed to avoid a lawsuit.
5 "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels
The "Heartbreak Kid" character was introduced in the mid-1990s and was based on Michaels' real-life persona as a charismatic, womanizing, and arrogant wrestler. The character was known for his good looks, smooth-talking, and tendency to break the hearts of fans and opponents alike.
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The "Heartbreak Kid" gimmick was one of the first major anti-heroes in WWE. It also led to the establishment of D-Generation X. People were unable to resist the antics of Michaels. Many argue that the gimmick was born after he turned on Marty Jannetty and split up The Rockers.
4 Mr. Perfect
An urban legend in WWE states that Terry Taylor was offered the choice between The Red Rooster or Mr. Perfect and he chose Rooster, while Curt Hennig was given Perfect. Hennig took the idea from WWE creative and turned it into one of the great Golden Era gimmicks. The vignettes that introduced Hennig showed him as a perfect athlete (and bowler). He looked the part and played it well elevating himself to the upper WWE midcard.
3 "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase has stated that he was instrumental in the design of the Million Dollar Championship. He's also claimed that Vince McMahon came up with the Million Dollar Man gimmick in WWE. DiBiase was forced to sign a contract with WWE before he was given the gimmick, which led to DiBiase flying first class and staying in expensive hotels to sell his gimmick both inside and outside of the ring.
2 Kane
Kane was originally introduced as the long-lost brother of The Undertaker and was portrayed as a force of evil who wreaked havoc on his opponents. Over the years, Kane has been portrayed as a variety of characters including a monster, a corporate stooge, and a fan favorite. WWE creative developed the idea to give The Undertaker a brother to expand his story.
1 The Ultimate Warrior
Jim Hellwig, who later changed his name to Warrior, was never the best wrestler. The character was introduced as a muscle-bound, high-energy superhero who had a frenzied in-ring style and a colorful look that helped him get over with fans in a big way. He was known for his intense interviews, in which he delivered motivational speeches and inspirational messages to the fans.
Hellwig developed the character himself away from WWE when he portrayed "The Dingo Warrior." He was told he looked like a Warrior and painted his face to expand the idea. Vince McMahon brought him to WWE, where he became a future WWE Champion and Hall of Famer.
