5 Best Money Related Gimmicks in WWE

#2. WWE’s stock expert J.B.L.

WWE may have gotten the blueprint for Baron Corbin’s character development from the career arc of WWE Hall of Famer JBL. John Bradshaw Layfield was a long-haired, beer-drinking tough Texan who had a solid midcard career. He won tag team gold with partner Ron Simmons and then settled into a career as a part-time wrestler and full-time backstage joker. When Simmons retired from active performing, Bradshaw would have a resurgence.

Bradshaw would return to WWE television after Simmons left, with a completely new gimmick. Gone was the long black hair and beard. He now came to the ring in a brand new expensive suit, freshly shaved, short brown hair and a cowboy hat. He appeared to be a 2000s version of former TV villain J.R. Ewing from Dallas. In fact, he changed his in-ring name to J.B.L. He sported a huge smile and flashed his millions of dollars around for all to see. He was no longer a rough and tough Texas redneck but a stock market playing tycoon.

JBL’s run as a singles wrestler was highly successful. He would soon win the title after a series of matches with Eddie Guerrero and would hold the title for several months. The JBL matches have nearly always ended in controversial fashion, with the heel champion retaining in some slimy way. JBL was the perfect transitional champion until WWE finally put the strap on John Cena at Wrestlemania 21.

JBL and Cena would go on to have a series of excellent matches following Cena’s win at Wrestlemania. Eventually JBL would retire to the broadcast booth where he continued his excellent career. However, his greatest moments were the ones in which he was the rich, arrogant heel: JBL.

#1. WWE’s perfect villain, The Million Dollar Man

WWE's most successful use of money as part of their gimmick was The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. Ted Dibiase had a long, successful career as both a face and villain all over the country. Dibiase's return to the WWE in 1988 was preceded by a series of videos, buying whatever he wanted or paying people to do what he wanted. They perfectly set him up as WWE’s #1 villain by the time he arrived in the company.

From his signature arrogant laugh to his catch phrase “Everybody’s got a price for the Million Dollar Man”, Dibiase was the perfect villain for his time. He quickly climbed up the rankings and became obsessed with capturing then WWE Champion Hulk Hogan’s belt. He even offered to buy the title, but Hogan refused. Eventually Hogan would lose the title in controversial fashion to Andre the Giant, who won it solely to give to Dibiase. While the title change didn’t last, it ended Hogan’s 3 and a ½ year run as champion and set up Dibiase’s next feud with Randy Macho Man Savage.

The Million Dollar Man would go on to have a great rivalry with both Hogan and Savage but never did win the WWE title. He would go on to win tag team titles with I.R.S. as the appropriately named Money Inc. True, Dibiase was the Vince McMahon character before Vince ever created his evil boss persona. With his bodyguard Virgil and loads of cash, Dibiase would even create a "Million Dollar belt" to wear to the ring. He was, and remains, the best money gimmick character ever created in WWE.