10 wild Wrestlemania Moments

#8. Gimmick Battle Royal

The Gimmick Battle Royal at WM XVII

In 2001, the wrestling world was quite different than it is now. The influence of DX and the nWo had led to an environment where nearly every wrestler in every interview was trying to pretend to 'shoot.' In other words, there was a lot of emphasis on making wrestling 'realistic.'

Perhaps as a favor to longtime fans, but mostly for fun--and to give some veteran performers a much-needed payday--the WWE conceived the Gimmick Battle Royal at WM XVII.

Filled with luminaries such as Kamala, Earthquake, Sgt. Slaughter and the Iron Sheik, the battle also included total gimmick failures such as the Gobbledygooker and the Goon. The highlight of the battle royal was Bobby Heenan's commentary. As an aged, feeble Iron Sheik limped slowly to the ring, the Brain proclaimed "It'll be Wrestlemania 38 by the time Sheik gets to the ring!"

Speaking of the Sheik, he won the battle royal--mostly because he was too old to take an over the top rope bump.