5 Famous WWE Stars Whose First Gimmick Failed

#1 Kane (Isaac Yankem DDS)

The maniacal dentist Isaac Yankem makes his entrance at Summerslam

It is a name that haunts many longtime WWE viewers to this day. For a generation of fans the name Isaac Yankem DDS awakens long, better-buried memories.

It was one of the most nonsensical gimmicks of all time. Portrayed as comedy heel Jerry Lawler's psychotic personal dentist, Yankem was tasked with ridding WWE of Lawler's arch nemesis, Bret Hart.

Yankem contested awful matches at Summerslam and Survivor Series 1995 before he was demoted to a jobber role and retired as a character.

The duff gimmicks didn't end there for Jacobs. He was subsequently saddled with the fake Diesel character which was WWE owner, Vince McMahon's petty way at sticking it to the original Diesel, Kevin Nash, who had bitterly upset McMahon by leaving his company for WCW earlier in 1996.

After flopping once more, Jacobs was thankfully given the character of the long lost brother of The Undertaker, Kane.

Kane - More successful than Isaac Yankem DDS

Portrayed as a supernatural monster with greater powers than his older brother, Jacob's new act was a smash hit and eight months after his debut, Kane became WWE Champion, defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin at the infamous King of the Ring 1998 pay per view.

20 years after that title win, Kane is still a major character in the promotion, despite Jacob's juggling his wrestling career with his full time job as Mayor of Knox County.