5 WWE Superstars who rocked pop culture inspired wrestling attires

#1 Sting

The evolution of Sting

Paying homage to pop culture icons is one thing, but emulating a character as a gimmick for over a decade requires a whole different level of dedication. In 1996, Sting ditched the short, bleached blonde hair and surfer look for a more ominous persona.

He grew out his hair and ditched the colorful facepaint for a somber black and white one. His attire included black tights, a tank top, and a duster. The look was iconic and audiences soon recognized it to be based on the 1994 cult classic The Crow.

Taking on the reigns of Brandon Lee's The Crow was no small feat as the film resulted in the tragic death of Lee. The story, while macabre, seemed to work well for the gloomy ambiance Sting created with his portrayal.

The gimmick worked on so many levels because Sting was indeed almost becoming the character he was portraying. Steve Borden was at a low phase of his life when the gimmick came around.

He had fallen down the trap of a life filled with prescription drugs and alcohol. The darkness permeated through real life to the ring. The transformation was flawless and personal life aside, it did help bring Steve Borden's career to a new height.

Speaking of gimmicks, Sting has this to say of the change:

"It was a different time, for sure. It was special. I don’t know how to describe it. Wrestling fans were really, really changing. Wrestling was changing, and fans wanted to see something a little bit more gritty. A little darker, a little more mysterious. [As a result], my character changed."