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While WWE have produced a number of cringe-worthy personas that have buried talented performers, they've also struck gold at times. It's sometimes hard to believe that the company behind the Repo Man and Eugene was also responsible for Stone Cold Steve Austin.
On the rare occasion that the company manages to find the right character for a wrestler, it can turn out incredibly well and elevate them to main-event status.
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With that being said, here are the five best WWE gimmicks of the past 10 years:
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#5. Bray Wyatt took WWE by storm as the leader of the Wyatt Family
Even though he found success towards the end of his WWE career as The Fiend, Bray Wyatt did his best work as the cult leader at the head of The Wyatt Family. Wyatt's lantern entrance and cryptic promos set him apart from the rest of the roster, capturing the imagination of the fans.
Soon after his main roster debut, Wyatt went after Kane, defeating the WWE Hall of Famer in a Ring of Fire match at SummerSlam 2013. He then had a memorable feud with Daniel Bryan when The American Dragon was in the middle of his rise as a top babyface. The program is remembered for a memorable segment in which Bryan assaulted Wyatt inside a steel cage.
Wyatt even worked with John Cena at WrestleMania 30. His entrance at the Superdome was a sight to behold. While a match with Cena should've helped elevate the Florida native, he suffered a defeat that robbed him of his momentum.
Until that setback, it looked like the Wyatt Family had an opportunity to become one of the greatest factions in wrestling history.
#4. The Demon King makes Finn Balor larger than life
While he's always been a talented WWE Superstar with an incredible amount of physical charisma, it's his transformation into The Demon King that makes Finn Balor truly box office.
When he taps into his inner darkness, Balor adds more of an edge to his in-ring style. His strikes connect harder and he's seemingly capable of greater feats of strength. Balor debuted The Demon King when he teamed with Hideo Itami to defeat The Ascencion at NXT Takeover: R Evolution.
Balor has since used The Demon King sparingly and for most of his signature wins in WWE. Some memorable instances include becoming the first-ever Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016 and defeating Bobby Lashely to win the Intercontinental title at WrestleMania 35.
#3. Daniel Bryan was amazing as the Planet's WWE Champion
When he announced his return to in-ring competition in 2018, Daniel Bryan was the hottest commodity in professional wrestling. However, lackluster programs against Big Cass and The Miz robbed Bryan of his momentum, relegating him to the mid-card.
Following a failed attempt at winning the WWE Championship against AJ Styles, Bryan wasn't going to squander his second opportunity to claim the title. The American Dragon used a low-blow to his advantage and defeated Styles, turning heel in the process.
Bryan played the part of an obnoxious environmentalist to perfection during his title reign. This run saw him cut some of the best promos of his career and even introduce an eco-friendly title belt made of sustainable materials.
Bryan eventually dropped the title to Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania 35 in the best match on the show.
#2. Tribal Chief Roman Reigns is one of WWE's best creations in recent years
After years of unsuccessfully trying to get Roman Reigns over as a top babyface, WWE relented to fan pressure and turned the Georgia Tech product heel following his return at SummerSlam 2020. They even aligned him with Paul Heyman, arguably the greatest manager in the modern era.
While the first iteration of Reigns was bland and generic, the current version of the character is essentially a mafia boss at the head of a family. His words are measured, and his actions are calculated.
Whether Reigns is stacking up Edge and Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania or asking the audience to acknowledge him, The Tribal Chief is must-see TV.
Reports suggest that Reigns is being protected for a feud with The Rock. If The Great One does make a return to the ring, he'll go up against one of the best characters WWE's produced since the Attitude Era.
#1. CM Punk was born to be an anti-establishment rebel
When CM Punk earned an opportunity to face John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011, the expectation was that he was just another heel being fed to the Cena machine.
However, Punk took to the microphone and aired his grievances with WWE, lambasting Vince McMahon and the poor job he'd done with creative. He promised to leave the company with the WWE Championship when his contract expired after Money in the Bank.
This promo instantly earned Punk the adulation of WWE's disgruntled fanbase, establishing him as "The Voice of the Voiceless." When he walked out for the title match in his hometown of Chicago, the partisan crowd welcomed him as a conquering hero.
The Straight Edge Superstar eventually outlasted Cena in a modern-day classic which earned five stars from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. As the anti-establishment rebel, Punk became one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling and took his career to another level.
