7 cancelled gimmicks for WWE Superstars

Everyone loves a good gimmick and some people love bad gimmicks for the same reason. Some Superstars find great success in their first go at the main roster, but others are given something that's not so useful, and they have to go back to the drawing board.

WWE is a machine. If you've ever heard it described that way that's because it's true. Every decision has to be checked by multiple people before it goes in front of an audience. But as it turns out some gimmicks are approved by people who might be a little out of touch at times.

Even though some of these gimmicks failed the Superstars they were given to were repackaged to find more success in other personas.

It might have actually been to the wrestlers' advantage to lose these gimmicks before it totally damaged their reputation with the WWE Universe. So please enjoy these misfires as we explore some gimmicks which were cancelled before they ever got the chance to fully fail on their own.

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#1 Ice Dagger

Before Steve Austin was Stone Cold WWE was trying to figure out a way to work him into the puzzle. They had him as The Ringmaster but Austin wanted something different.

WWE figured out they wanted his character to be cold, calculating, and cruel at the suggestion of Austin. But they didn't know what they were going to call the future WWE Hall Of Famer yet.

Several names were kicked around and a list was sent to Steve Austin for him to look over. Some names in serious consideration for Steve Austin was Pain McFrost, Auto VanRuthless, and Ice Dagger.

Ice Dagger would have probably been a lot like Stone Cold, except he might have been drinking Slurpees instead of ice-cold Steveweisers. It's just a good thing WWE came to their senses.

But as the story goes, Austin's wife told him one night during this time that he better drink his tea before it got "stone cold" and the rest, as they say, is history.

#2 Riverdancer Becky Lynch

We might all know Becky Lynch as the Lass Kicking Irishwoman on SmackDown Live as she drinks imaginary tea with Charlotte Flair. But when Becky made her debut in NXT, she had a much different character.

In fact, she wasn't even the same person. Her name might have been the same, but she wasn't a Steampunk Princess at all. In fact, WWE gave her a very stereotypical Irish gimmick.

Becky Riverdanced to the ring and was displayed as a dancer. She kicked and jiggled her way around Summer Rae, winning her only match with this gimmick before being pulled off television for a bit of tweaking.

Becky would soon come back and become a member of the 4 Horsewomen. But there was a time when people looked at her in the WWE Performance Center and thought she needed to make dancing her speciality.

#3 Max Moon

Konnan has made a lot of money during his career in the pro wrestling business, but he didn't make a whole lot as Max Moon. When WWF first brought in the future K-Dawg into the organization in 1992, he was fixed up with a gimmick that looked part Megaman and part something out of a sci-fi movie.

Konnan once remembered how he came upon creating the gimmick when he said:

"When I was wrestling in Japan, I saw this Japanese anime cartoon robot on TV that shot confetti and fire. [Vince] asked if I knew anybody that could design it."

Although first known as the Comet Kid, he soon became Max Moon and Vince McMahon had big plans for him. After all, he spent $13,000 on Moon's space-age attire.

Konnan was still working in Mexico while appearing as Max Moon for WWE. He was also appearing in a Telenovela at the time. He was a busy guy but there were reports saying Konnan had started the habit of showing up late and having a bad attitude backstage. Some people also apparently had an issue about how much WWE paid for the costume.

Since WWE could only use Konnan on a limited basis because he was in such demand in Mexico the Max Moon gimmick was given to Paul Diamond and soon abandoned.

#4 Imposter Kane

You might love Luke Gallows for his work with Karl Anderson as a part of The Club. But before he even had a chance to join the Straight Edge Society Gallows was The Fake Kane.

On May 29, 2006, Luke Gallows debuted on Raw as a Fake Kane. He was wearing Kane's old-school mask and outfit to cover up his tattoos. When he choke-slammed the real Kane during his match against Shelton Benjamin for the IC Title, it was on.

The Fake Kane would repeatedly attack Kane during and after his matches for the next several weeks. The two fought at Vengence in 2006 and The Fake Kane won.

However the next night on Raw, the real Kane attacked Gallows' Kane, took off his mask, and kicked him out the back door. The Fake Kane was never heard from again.

It took a couple repackagings and going to New Japan Pro Wrestling for a while to finally get Luke Gallows right. But now that he's alongside his Good Brother on Raw, things are much better for him.

#5 Kerwin White

He's just an average white guy with an incredible heritage in Mexican pro wrestling.

In June 2005, Chavo Guerrero was traded to Raw during the draft. The next week he surprised us all when he denounced his Hispanic heritage. He said he wanted to do things the "Anglo-American way" and developed a real liking for golf.

This surprise announcement led the Mexicools to come down and cause some trouble for Chavo. He soon adopted the name Kerwin White and dyed his hair blonde. He would drive to the ring in a golf cart and portrayed the character of a middle-class, white conservative.

White would make references to minorities in a negative way and things got very awkward for a bit. Shelton Benjamin didn't appreciate those remarks either when directed in his vicinity.

Kerwin White cost Shelton Benjamin a match against Rob Conway and the next week Benjamin won a match against White via disqualification when Kerwin used a golf club against him.

White hired Dolph Ziggler as his caddy to follow him around and help him when needed. However, White still lost a match against Shelton Benjamin at Unforgiven 2005.

This controversial gimmick didn't have much of a chance to go any further because soon afterwards Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room and Kerwin White was no more. WWE decided it was best to have Chavo to reclaim his Hispanic heritage and carry on like nothing ever happened.

#7 The Lock

This little gem came thanks to E&C's Pod Of Awesomeness when Christian revealed WWE had plans to introduce a new character for him.

“So, one day I get home, and I get this call [from someone in WWE creative]. They’re like ‘Hey, they kinda want you to do this thing where you think you become The Rock. We want you to do the eyebrow thing, cut your hair real short, and, you know, the Rock wears black, so you’ll where white and you’re gonna use all his catchphrases and you’re gonna act like The Rock and pretend you’re The Rock and you’re gonna be The Rock. But we’re not gonna call you The Rock.’ They were gonna call me, are you ready or this, wait for it … wait for it … ‘The Lock’. Because anytime I went to the ring, it was a lock I was going to win.

Given Christian's amazing comedic timing and acting abilities, it's a bit disappointing he wasn't allowed to try this gimmick out. It might have turned into some fun stuff.

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Edited by anirudh.b