Wrestling Observer Awards: The Corridor of Disgrace for Worst Gimmicks
Greetings, readers! Welcome to the final word countdown of probably the most ridiculous, ill-conceived, and downright terrible gimmicks within the annals {of professional} wrestling. The Wrestling Observer Awards have been shelling out the "Worst Gimmick" trophy since 1980, and boy, have there been some doozies over time.
The Genesis of Unhealthy Concepts: The Eighties
The early days of the Wrestling Observer Awards had been a breeding floor for weird and nonsensical gimmicks. From "The Goon" to "The Lacking Hyperlink," wrestlers had been tripping over themselves to outdo one another within the realm of absurdity. The Eighties noticed a number of the most notorious winners, together with:
- 1980: The Goon, a bumbling buffoon who thought he was invincible
- 1982: The Lacking Hyperlink, a caveman with a penchant for biting his opponents
- 1983: Uncle Elmer, a tall, lanky wrestler who thought he was a farmer
- 1984: The Zambuie Specific, a tag group of two African tribesmen who wore loincloths and spoke gibberish
The Period of Excessive: The Nineties
The Nineties introduced with it a brand new period of maximum wrestling, and with it got here a complete new crop of outlandish gimmicks. Wrestlers pushed the boundaries of style and decency, leading to some actually unforgettable characters:
- 1990: The Shockmaster, a masked wrestler who tripped and fell via a wall upon his debut
- 1994: Bastion Booger, an overweight wrestler who smeared himself in barbecue sauce and rolled round within the ring
- 1996: The Yeti, an enormous wrestler with a yeti masks and a horrible behavior of forgetting his strains
- 1999: The Kiss Demon, a wrestler who painted his face like Gene Simmons of KISS and carried an enormous axe
The Fashionable Age of Meh: The 2000s and Past
Whereas the 2000s and past have not produced fairly as many memorable Worst Gimmick winners, there have nonetheless been some gems:
- 2001: The Fiend, a wrestler who wore a rubber masks and spoke in a demonic voice
- 2005: Heidenreich, a wrestler who thought he was a Nazi and gave the Sieg Heil salute
- 2012: Lord Tensai, a wrestler who was speculated to be a Japanese samurai however seemed extra like a finances Darth Vader
- 2018: The Ascension, a tag group of two wrestlers who wore Viking helmets and could not win a match to save lots of their lives
The Award-Profitable Failures: 2020-Current
Even within the extra subdued world of recent wrestling, there have been some actually dreadful gimmicks which have earned the doubtful honor of a Worst Gimmick trophy:
- 2020: Retribution, a bunch of masked wrestlers who vandalized the WWE Efficiency Middle
- 2021: The Most Male Fashions, a bunch of wrestlers who posed and preened as a substitute of wrestling
- 2022: Dexter Lumis, a wrestler who acted like a mime and would solely talk via hand gestures
Wrestling Observer Awards: Worst Gimmick Winners
| 12 months | Winner | Gimmick |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Goon | Bumbling buffoon |
| 1982 | The Lacking Hyperlink | Caveman |
| 1983 | Uncle Elmer | Tall, lanky farmer |
| 1984 | The Zambuie Specific | African tribesmen who spoke gibberish |
| 1990 | The Shockmaster | Masked wrestler who tripped and fell via a wall |
| 1994 | Bastion Booger | Overweight wrestler who smeared himself in barbecue sauce |
| 1996 | The Yeti | Large wrestler with a yeti masks |
| 1999 | The Kiss Demon | Wrestler who painted his face like Gene Simmons of KISS |
| 2001 | The Fiend | Rubber-masked wrestler who spoke in a demonic voice |
| 2005 | Heidenreich | Wrestler who thought he was a Nazi |
| 2012 | Lord Tensai | Supposedly Japanese samurai who seemed like Darth Vader |
| 2018 | The Ascension | Tag group of Vikings who could not win a match |
| 2020 | Retribution | Masked vandals |
| 2021 | The Most Male Fashions | Posing preeners |
| 2022 | Dexter Lumis | Mime who communicated solely via hand gestures |
Conclusion
Nicely, there you will have it, readers—the ignominious historical past of the Wrestling Observer Awards "Worst Gimmick" trophy. From the bumbling Goon to the mime-like Dexter Lumis, these gimmicks have offered us with limitless leisure and remind us that even on the earth of wrestling, there’s at all times room for a superb snigger. Make sure you try our different articles for extra fascinating tales from the annals {of professional} wrestling.
FAQ about Wrestling Observer Awards Worst Gimmick
What are Wrestling Observer Awards?
- The Wrestling Observer Awards are annual awards given to skilled wrestlers and different associated people in recognition of their achievements within the business.
What is supposed by Worst Gimmick?
- The Worst Gimmick award is given to the gimmick that has been probably the most poorly conceived, executed, or has in any other case did not stay as much as expectations.
What are some examples of Worst Gimmick winners?
- Some examples of previous Worst Gimmick winners embody The Boogeyman, The Nice Khali, and The Shockmaster.
Who chooses the Worst Gimmick winners?
- The Worst Gimmick winners are chosen by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer E-newsletter, who is taken into account to be one of the crucial revered journalists in skilled wrestling.
How are the Worst Gimmick winners chosen?
- Dave Meltzer makes his picks for the Worst Gimmick award based mostly on a mix of things, together with fan suggestions, media protection, and his personal private observations.
Is the Worst Gimmick award a prestigious award?
- The Worst Gimmick award will not be a prestigious award within the sense that it acknowledges excellence in skilled wrestling. Nevertheless, it’s a well-known and often-discussed award, and profitable it may be seen as a mark of notoriety.
What’s the distinction between a foul gimmick and a Worst Gimmick?
- A nasty gimmick is solely a gimmick that’s poorly conceived or executed. A Worst Gimmick is a gimmick that’s so unhealthy that it turns into virtually iconic.
What are some examples of unhealthy gimmicks that haven’t received the Worst Gimmick award?
- Some examples of unhealthy gimmicks that haven’t received the Worst Gimmick award embody The Gobbledy Gooker, The Blue Meanie, and The KISS Demon.
Why do some folks take pleasure in watching unhealthy gimmicks?
- Some folks take pleasure in watching unhealthy gimmicks as a result of they discover them to be entertaining. Others take pleasure in watching unhealthy gimmicks as a result of they discover them to be unintentionally hilarious.
What’s the way forward for unhealthy gimmicks?
- So long as there’s skilled wrestling, there shall be unhealthy gimmicks. Nevertheless, it’s doable that the way forward for unhealthy gimmicks shall be totally different from the previous. With the rising affect of social media, it’s seemingly that unhealthy gimmicks shall be extra rapidly ridiculed and mocked than they had been up to now.
