The 1990s were an experimental decade for professional wrestling, where creativity often ran wild—sometimes too wild. Wrestling promotions leaned into outrageous characters, hoping to captivate audiences with gimmicks that ranged from the bizarre to the borderline offensive. Some of these personas became cult favorites, while others left fans scratching their heads. From clowns to supernatural beings, these gimmicks reflected the anything-goes attitude of the era. Let’s revisit the wildest wrestling gimmicks of the 90s and the unforgettable chaos they brought to the ring.
A clown in wrestling might sound like a terrible idea, but Doink the Clown became one of the most infamous gimmicks of the 90s. Initially portrayed as a sinister heel, Doink terrorized opponents and fans with his creepy antics, making him an unexpectedly compelling character. However, as the 90s progressed, Doink transitioned into a slapstick comedy act, complete with sidekicks like Dink, Wink, and Pink. While some fans embraced the absurdity, others saw it as a sign of WWE’s growing reliance on over-the-top characters during the New Generation era.
While The Undertaker eventually became one of wrestling’s most respected figures, his early 90s gimmick was nothing short of bizarre. A wrestling mortician with supernatural powers, The Undertaker rose to prominence with his macabre persona and eerie theatrics. From carrying a mystical urn to being buried alive only to rise again, Undertaker’s gimmick blurred the lines between horror movie villain and wrestling superstar. What could have been a short-lived joke instead became one of the most enduring and beloved characters in wrestling history.
Goldust’s debut in WWE in 1995 was a shock to the system. Draped in gold and exuding an androgynous, provocative aura, Goldust (played by Dustin Rhodes) pushed boundaries with his bizarre promos and unsettling mind games. His character was a deliberate attempt to make fans uncomfortable, challenging gender norms and traditional notions of wrestling personas. While Goldust’s antics were controversial at the time, the gimmick is now celebrated as groundbreaking and ahead of its time.
When WWE hyped a giant egg for weeks leading up to Survivor Series 1990, fans expected a shocking debut. Instead, they got the Gobbledy Gooker—a wrestler dressed as an anthropomorphic turkey. The reveal bombed spectacularly, with the live audience booing relentlessly. The Gooker’s gimmick was so poorly received that it disappeared almost immediately, becoming a cautionary tale of what happens when wrestling goes too far into absurdity.
Papa Shango was the wrestling voodoo priest fans never knew they needed—or maybe never wanted. Played by Charles Wright (later known as The Godfather), Shango cursed opponents, made black goo drip from their heads, and performed eerie rituals in the ring. The character leaned heavily into supernatural themes, making him a memorable, if polarizing, figure in early 90s WWE. Despite his short-lived run, Papa Shango remains a cult favorite for fans of wrestling’s weirder side.
WWE’s villainous take on a Canadian law enforcement officer, The Mountie, was equal parts absurd and entertaining. Dressed in full red serge and carrying a cattle prod, The Mountie antagonized opponents and fans alike. His over-the-top arrogance and ridiculous catchphrases made him a memorable mid-card heel, even if his gimmick occasionally veered into parody territory.
The Shockmaster’s debut in WCW in 1993 is legendary for all the wrong reasons. Wearing a glitter-covered Stormtrooper helmet and a fur-lined vest, the Shockmaster tripped during his entrance, falling face-first into infamy. While his debut was supposed to establish him as a serious force, the mishap turned him into a laughingstock, cementing his place as one of wrestling’s most unintentionally hilarious gimmicks.
If there was ever a character designed to disgust fans, it was Bastion Booger. With his unkempt appearance, grotesque eating habits, and strange ring attire, Booger’s gimmick was as off-putting as it was ridiculous. While he didn’t last long in WWE, his over-the-top persona is still remembered as a prime example of the more baffling creative decisions of the era.
Al Snow’s partnership with his mannequin head, simply called “Head,” was equal parts disturbing and hilarious. Snow’s deranged gimmick revolved around his obsession with Head, using it to cut promos and even as a weapon in matches. The absurdity of the gimmick made Snow a cult favorite, particularly among fans of WWE’s Attitude Era.
Mantaur was exactly what his name implied—a wrestler dressed as a half-man, half-bull. With a large foam headpiece and a tendency to moo at opponents, Mantaur’s gimmick was as strange as they come. Though his time in WWE was short-lived, Mantaur’s bizarre persona remains a symbol of the creative risks wrestling promotions were willing to take in the 90s.