A gimmick would help keep the wrestler popular with fans, so more bookings and more money. But I don't think the gimmick alone was enough. Lord Bertie Topham and The original Undertaker being cases in point. Great gimmicks, but not big time. Maxine's Goldbelt gimmick probably extended his lifespan, though promoters could have got rid of him if they wanted to. So the gimmick did help, but only after the wrestler had established himself as a reliable, trustworthy and capable worker. The wrestler maketh the gimmick, not the gimmick maketh the wrestler.
The Great Togo was a highly accomplished wrestler and a bill topper before he landed the role of Oddjob and fought under that name following Goldfinger.
A gimmick would help keep the wrestler popular with fans, so more bookings and more money. But I don't think the gimmick alone was enough. Lord Bertie Topham and The original Undertaker being cases in point. Great gimmicks, but not big time. Maxine's Goldbelt gimmick probably extended his lifespan, though promoters could have got rid of him if they wanted to. So the gimmick did help, but only after the wrestler had established himself as a reliable, trustworthy and capable worker. The wrestler maketh the gimmick, not the gimmick maketh the wrestler.
The Great Togo was a highly accomplished wrestler and a bill topper before he landed the role of Oddjob and fought under that name following Goldfinger.
Adrian Street a case in point. Seriously good wrestler before the gimmick.. Superstar after it, a wrestler years ahead of his time.
Hi Power.Regulary top of the bill and made more money.
Depends on what you mean by successful, if they couldn't back it up with skill and presence in the ring they would soon lose their attraction.