JOURNEY TO GREATNESS

Not to be confused with the WWE's annual "Road To Wrestlemania", which is currently underway. This is about professional wrestlers who have gone through a string of characters before finding "the one". Some entrants on the list are those who had found the perfect character, but then revamped themselves to prolong their careers within the squared-circle. From a simple heel or face turn to a complete over haul, in most cases it was a matter of being allowed to be themselves. With the volume cranked past eleven as they say.

Will try to leave out the wrestlers who had already discovered themselves, but the WWF (WWE) forced a gimmick of sorts on them, but there are some who took their careers to another level with said gimmick...

Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stunning Steve Austin, and The Ringmaster. Austin made the "Stunning" thing work, and made it even better when teamed with the late Brian Pillman for the tag team "Hollywood Blondes". The Ring Master gimmick, despite adding the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase Sr and holding the Million Dollar Championship belt didn't help this one. A combo of being himself (which he did in a short stop in ECW before) and Jake "The Snake" Roberts religion gimmick at that time, the "Austin 3:16 Says I Just Whooped Your Ass!" line was dropped and the rest was history. Oh Hell Yeah!! WHAT?!?

Hulk Hogan

The stars of the 80's, especially the ones who were at the forefront of Vince McMahon's vision of Sports Entertainment, are hard to add but hard not to add to this list. As most were already established stars across the territories before Vinnie Mac scooped them all up and made them global superstars. Which is where most of todays fans joined pro-wrestling fandom. The Hulkster made the cut for his ability to prolong his career, and even go to another level when he turned heel and unleashed the Hollywood Hogan gimmick on us via the n.W.o. Which translated into another "run" when he returned to the WWE and turned face. Even beating Triple H for the Undisputed WWE Championship strap. Love or hate him, he's the Babe Ruth of professional wrestling, Brother!

Bubba Ray/Bully Ray

Shocked that a current TNA star made the list? Understandable. However, I felt this one deserved in. Starting as the stuttering member of one of the greatest tag teams ever (Dudley Boys/Team 3-D), and evolving off of that and being more of the leader/mouth of the Dudleys. What helped him make this list is that he was able to find a gimmick that worked for him after the tag team split. Something that wasn't happening in the WWE days when they attempted to do the same. Bully Ray was even the leader of one of TNA's better things in the Aces & Eights faction. And he's in the best shape of his career.

Rikishi

Fun fact: Yokozuna was supposed to be a member of the Samoan tag team, "The Headshrinkers, but was replaced by Rikishi when they (WWE) decided to put Yoko in the Sumo gimmick instead. After that, he became The Saulton, and followed by more of an urban version of himself, and then finally, he became almost the wrestling equivelant of Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, became famous for dat butt. Talented in the ring of course, but the "Stink Face" would always garner a massive pop from the crowds.

Triple H

He came into the business via WCW as "", then came over to the WWF(WWE) and started as a blue-blooded snob from Greenwich, CT (Vince's jab at his neighbors) Hunter Hearst Helmsley. He really took off after forming DeGeneration-X with WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels and becoming Triple H, and then exploded after taking the reigns of D-X. Then he evolved into The Game. Now he has extended his characters career until his end with the corporate angle. Unless of course he and Stephanie get a divorce one day, but even then, the McMahons have a habit of pushing personal feelings aside in the name of business.

Kevin Nash

True, Big Daddy Cool made it big with the "Diesel" gimmick, but things went to another level when he and Scott Hall jumped ship to WCW, and used his real name Kevin Nash a co-founder of n.W.o. But not all are aware of the failed gimmicks Big Sexy had tried out before becoming Diesal or ending Goldberg's streak. There was Vinnie Vegas, Master Blaster, Oz (a rip-off of The Wizard Of Oz) as well as others. But I am sure Nash counts all the money he's made over the years and laughs along with us.


There are many others who have either gone through a string of failed gimmicks, or upgraded their gimmicks to remain fresh, but end up "making it" or at least have a lengthy career. Perhaps another list in the future covering some more like Kane, or even his brother the Undertaker. Love or hate the "American Badass" gimmick, it made way for a great return of the "Deadman".

Stay Nerdy!