4: Adrian Adonis’s change of gimmick
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In the 1980s, the WWE was rife with minority stereotyping and paper thin caricatures which were fashioned to represent the immorality inside a society waiting to be salvaged. The period was particularly notorious for its insecurities concerning homosexuality and the supposed threat it posed to the masculine persona. Adrian Adonis’s transformation from a leather jacket clad, rough-edged biker into a flamboyant, garish, chubby performer was a talking point for audiences and commentators alike, who could not help but project hate and disgust for the feminine mannerisms which the character espoused.
Taking a cue from Gorgeous George’s showmanship and shooting it to extreme levels, “Adorable” Adrian Adonis would often imitate the former’s overdone theatricality. He was accompanied to the ring by his manager Jimmy Hart, who was instrumental in creating this persona. “We just wanted to make sure he was flamboyant.", said Jimmy Hart, discounting any indications of Adonis’s purported sexuality. Nonetheless, effeminacy and gaudy, pink attire were enough fodder for homophobia to take shape around the WWE ring, making “The Adorable One” one of the most talked about performers during his time.
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Adonis was fired from the company after his feud with Brutus Beefcake ended in 1987. Speculations abound that it was his refusal to work out that invited Vince’s resentment for him and finally, got him to leave the WWE.
