5 current WWE Superstars who once had terrible gimmicks

In WWE, you live and die by your gimmick. Your character, it is what fans think of when they think your name or see you in the ring. In WWE history, there have been plenty of gimmicks, both good and bad.

Good gimmicks include the take-no-names attitude of 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, and the undead lord of Darkness, The Undertaker.

However, whilst Austin and the Deadman were able to benefit from having a good gimmick, many Superstars have suffered under bad ones, and have seen their careers as part of the WWE end because of it.

There are some though, who were able to weather the storm, and eventually were able to rid themselves of bad characters. Here are five current WWE Superstars who were able to survive strange, terrible gimmicks, and went on to do much better.

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#5: Cesaro- The Yodeller

Cesaro represented his native Switzerland by

yodelling

in 2012.

Whilst the majority of the Superstars had terrible gimmicks before making it big in WWE, this one happened when the Swiss Superman was arguably at his peak.

Cesaro has always been a mystery in WWE. Despite his incredible in-ring ability and fair competency on the Mic, he has never received a World Championship, reportedly because Vince McMahon believes he lacks a certain 'it-factor'.

What he did have instead, was a gimmick where he would yodel before matches, playing up to his Swiss heritage.

Possibly the most cliche thing the company could've given him, fans didn't take the yodelling well but should've been pleased that the Swiss Superstar didn't come out with some Toblerone and Cheese fondue.

To be fair, Cesaro made to be a great yodeller, before the character was quickly shelved.

#4: Braun Strowman - Rosebud

Strowman would make his presence first known on the main roster as part of Adam Rose's rosebuds.

In 2019, Braun Strowman has done plenty in his short time on the main roster.

Joining Monday Night RAW in 2015 as part of the Wyatt family, Strowman was a dominant force in the group, before splitting from them to have even greater success. Upon his accolades, Strowman has competed in several main events, and won the 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble.

But before all of that, Strowman's earliest instance on the main roster came as one of Adam Rose's Rosebuds, a group of partyers who would accompany the Exotic Express to the ring.

Given his incredible size and strength, Strowman would often stand out as part of Rose's entourage, and whilst the South African star is now a distant memory in the WWE, Strowman's career continues to grow each year.

#3: Eric Young - Super Eric

Young had his fair share of strange gimmicks in TNA.

Eric Young has been a truly lasting force in pro wrestling.

After making a name for himself in his homeland of Canada, Young would join TNA Wrestling, appearing on the very first edition of TNA Impact. A true company man, Young would be a part of several questionable storylines, including when he became the only man to win the Knockouts Tag Team Championships.

In 2007, Young took weird to the next level, as he became Super Eric, and claimed to be from another planet. Despite the name, Super Eric would refuse to reveal who he was, though did capture the TNA Tag Titles (the men's ones), with Kaz.

All his toiling for the company eventually paid off, as Young was given a World Championship push in 2014, defeating current NWA Champion Nick 'Magnus' Aldis.

#2: William Regal - A Man's Man

Regal competed as Steven Regal in the Deadly Games.

William Regal may have been one of the most technically gifted Superstars of all time, but he was also one of the most hilarious. Growing up on British pantomime, the NXT General Manager made for a hilarious villain, able to utilize facial expressions and slapstick comedy to the delight of the crowd.

Before that though, Regal's first stint in the WWF came as Steve Regal, a real man's man, who was as tough as they come. Whilst the character was entertaining, it was clearly not right for Regal, who would have greater success years later.

Unfortunately, Regal's first stint with the company wouldn't last long as he would be fired for his substance abuse issues, and despite being technically sound in the ring, has since claimed he does not remember his first run at all.

#1: Johnny Gargano - Cedrick Von Haussen

A young Gargano represented Liechtenstein against then-US Champion Montel Vontavious Porter in 2007.

In NXT, Johnny Gargano has been one of the most impressive stars in recent years.

A former NXT Tag Team and North American Champion (though he held the latter very briefly), Gargano's career in the developmental brand has been defined by his incredible matches and fantastic feud with former partner Tommaso Ciampa.

But in 2007, the WWE Universe would get their first sight of Gargano, in a blink and you'd miss it.

As MVP bragged about being the greatest US Champion of all time, his open challenge was answered by Cedrick Von Haussen, the reported champion of Liechtenstein.

Actually Gargano, Von Haussen may have been the champion of the false teeth capital of the World but was squashed in minutes by WWE's so-called franchise player, before returning years later.