The topic about wrestlers with gimmicks got me to thinking about wrestlers with gimmicks or identities that they changed. Why? Was it always that the gimmick had run it's course or just wasn't working? Or at the promoters insistence?
One that comes to mind is Shaun Arnott who wrestled as Magnificent Maurice before returning as Colonel Brody. Kung Fu removing his mask to become Eddie Hamill did him no harm at all, but when kendo did the same most of us thought it didn't work.
Your thoughts on wrestlers who changed their identities?
Steve Wright coming home to fight Marty Jones for the World title as Bull Blitzer was a bit of an insult to the intelligence of dedicated fans....as was Judd Harris when he came back as a German to fight Wayne Bridges....Ted Heath returned from the States as Texas Ted Heath.....Irish Pat Barrat came back as a bona fide yankee.....why did the promoters have to sink so low ?? mind you my last bouts were as a Russian Vladimir Volkov...complete with Norfolk accent !! If you could nt find a foreigner invent one !
Shirley Crabtree becoming Big Daddy, instant top of the Bill (for years)
Ezra Francis had a a good many , most revolving about the witchdoctor or Zulu theme.
Les Thornton/Henrie Pierlot did it make much difference.
Good defence of The Exorcist, Main Mask.
I never understood Larry Coulton becoming Black Jack Mulligan.
I never saw Warrior Nigel and can only wonder whether he was different from Honey Boy Zimba. But give him credit - Honey Boy Zimba - what a wonderful name, a household name even. Like Leon Fortuna was, having previously been Young Sullivan. Two good decisions to change.
Surely the biggest image change was when undercarder Brian Maxine became King of the Ring Goldbelt?
You would imagine that image changes were intended to make money, but hard to see in the above except for Maxine.
Herman Vidor went through various phases before settling down as Steve Viedor. Did he ever ever do a heel turn? Can't imagine it.
A change of identity usually went along with a change of character, some were successful some less so, Eddie Hammill did his publicly so we all knew who he was and didn't change his style, whereas Kendo publicly unmasked but to be honest you didn't know if he was fish or fowl and I thought it effectively killed the character and was never as effective again. Some wrestlers needed a change to give them a character, good wrestlers but bland, this made it hard for the audience to relate to them, give them something to love or hate enough and they are happy.
Sport needs Characters. Chris Eubanks, Alex Higgins, George Best, Gazza, John McEnroe to name but a few. Love em or hate em you never forgot them. Some wrestlers just didn't have any natural charisma and therefore needed a gimmick while others didn't. Kendo probably had the greatest ring presence ever when he was in full costume and mask yet without it he had nothing special at all. Wayne Bridges, Tony St Clair etc didn't need it as they could carry themselves no problem. The likes of Pete Roberts and Ray Steele could probably have been a far bigger draw than they were if they had a good gimmick as they were both good wrestlers but really that was about it. Put a good wrestler with a good gimmick and they were an instant top of the bill. Pete Roberts was billed as the Kung fu fighter, if he ever did Kung fu then I'm a Koala bear!