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WWE has had many gimmicks over the years. While some have hit home runs, others have failed miserably. 2021 was no exception as the promotion attempted many gimmicks, some good and some bad.
A good gimmick can ultimately make a star. Steve Austin was just another wrestler. First, he was stunning and then a ringmaster before he became Stone Cold Steve Austin and set the wrestling world on fire.
The Rock was just a third-generation superstar before becoming the most electrifying man in sports entertainment. Imagine if The Undertaker was always 'Mean' Mark? It is highly doubtful that we would be talking about a WrestleMania Streak at any point in his career.
This year, WWE handed the baton to several superstars, hoping to create the next big thing. There are still countless superstars, that haven’t quite hit it on the nose yet and thus are yet to break the glass ceiling.
There are more than a few who have made the leap, thanks to their new gimmicks and the sky seems to be the limit for them.
In this article, let’s take a look at the five most intriguing WWE gimmicks of 2021.
#5 WWE Conspiracy Theory Gimmick: Sami Zayn
WWE Superstar Sami Zayn has always been an underground success in his years on the independent scene and then as part of NXT, including a run as NXT champion.
In 2014, Zayn got his first call-up to the main roster as a babyface and debuted against John Cena in Montreal as part of the latter’s US Title Open Challenge.
The crowd popped at his first appearance following that year’s WrestleMania, and it looked like the Canadian superstar was set for a big push.
Unfortunately, what should have been a perfect night turned ugly, when Zayn injured his shoulder. He would not return until January of 2016.
Zayn lingered in obscurity until a heel turn and teaming with Kevin Owens revitalized his career. The two would take on Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 34.
Zayn was forced out of WWE again, undergoing surgery and more uncertainty. When he finally returned, the crowd again wanted to pop for him. But the former NXT Champion stayed a heel, blaming the fans for his misfortunes.
He could have milked this gimmick for a nice lengthy mid-card run, but Zayn took it to another level.
In 2021, Zayn took his string of losses and made it work for him. He blamed everyone for his shortcomings and had a video crew documenting his every move going forward, with the notion that there was a conspiracy against him.
The results have been brilliant. Zayn is relevant, funny, and entertaining on a weekly basis. His recent interactions to help get babyface Brock Lesnar over points out the importance of Zayn’s new gimmick.
The Great Liberator is easily one of the more entertaining acts on WWE television, and a face turn wouldn’t be surprising given how over he is.
One theory that can’t be disputed at the moment is Sami Zayn’s gimmick is way over.
#4 Xavier Woods' WWE King Of The Ring gimmick
WWE has always had a good thing going with The New Day. The group has been an outstanding tag team, and the promotion has found success with Kofi Kingston and Big E holding the WWE Championship.
However, the company couldn't produce a successful singles gimmick for Xavier Woods until this year.
Since returning from a knee injury, it looked like WWE would have been content with Woods continuing to partner Kofi Kingston and have them battle for tag team gold.
Big E looked like he would be this year’s only singles star coming out of The New Day. Then, as injuries started to mount a bit for Kingston, WWE decided to give the ball to Woods, and he ran with it.
Becoming King of the Ring has been a perfect fit for both Woods' excellent in-ring work and his top-level mic skills.
Historically, the King of the Ring gimmick has not worked for everyone. Billy Gunn famously dropped the ball when he was given the mantle. Superstars like Baron Corbin and Mable never prospered, while others, like Booker T and Kurt Angle, have thrived given the boost.
Xavier Woods has had a fantastic start to 2001 utilizing the gimmick. He’s gotten the main event rub from Roman Reigns, which has only elevated his status on the roster.
Before the gimmick, Woods looked like a sure-fire WWE Hall of Famer based on his involvement with The New Day. When all is said and done, he might also be mentioned as a World Champion when he is eventually inducted.
#3 WWE's RK-Bro: A perfect pairing and gimmick
WWE has always had a sure-fire talent in Randy Orton. The Viper has won countless singles titles and has been in some memorable feuds.
Orton is also 41 years old now and on the back end of his storied career. With his icy, humorless demeanor, no one could possibly have imagined that the perfect pairing for Orton at this stage of his career would be Riddle. The formation of RK-Bro as a tag team gimmick has been nothing short of brilliant.
Randy Orton is known as the Viper because he is someone that can strike at any time and can’t be trusted. Riddle is over with the fans for portraying a happy go lucky guy.
The pairing of these two opposite personalities has revitalized both careers as well as the dormant tag team division in WWE. Orton has slowly come around to the ways of Riddle while The Original Bro continues to idolize the former and has started to take some of his advice.
While all signs point to an eventual Orton turn and a possible showdown at WrestleMania, we hope WWE keeps this act together. They could be the new version of the Rock n’ Sock Connection.
The pairing has undoubtedly added a few years to Orton’s career with less wear and tear in the tag team format.
If and when WWE breaks up RK-Bro, it should be mutual. Allow this chemistry to return at a later date, as WWE did with Rock n Sock Connection several times.
#2 Brock Lesnar's babyface gimmick in WWE
Brock Lesnar’s return was supposed to be about the Beast Incarnate tearing apart WWE. However, the former Universal Champion has come back with character depth.
The bearded, slip-knot hairstyle and overalls-wearing Lesnar has captivated the audience with his look, as much as his dominance.
WWE could have taken the easy way out and reunited Lesnar and Heyman. They could have just gone off and ran with that. It would have been effective, but it would also be business as usual.
Suddenly, we have this version of Lesnar that they can run skits with and have him interact with other talent beyond just beating them senseless.
Like Randy Orton, Lesnar is on the other side of 40. This version of The Beast Incarnate can save some miles on his body and entertain the Smackdown audience.
He might eventually side with Heyman yet again as Lesnar is, after all, a tough person to try and figure out. But, if he stays on this course, he can reach a whole new audience and not always have to show off his serious superhuman side.
Lesnar is proving that he is not all brawn but also has brains.
#1 The Bloodline gimmick in WWE
WWE fans watched as years of wishing became reality in 2020 when Roman Reigns returned at SummerSlam and turned heel, destroying everyone in his path.
A week later, Reigns had Paul Heyman as his advocate and the heel turn was complete. Reigns' first step was in taking the title, which he did at Payback in September 2020.
The blueprint for Reigns’ next gimmick, and that of his cousins Jay and Jimmy Uso, began with a series of bouts with Jay that started out as a favor to his tag team specialist cousin and ended with a test of his loyalty.
By the time of their 'I Quit Hell in the Cell' match, Jimmy had returned and protected his twin brother from the wrath of Reigns. This led to months of speculation as to the loyalties of the Usos heading into 2021.
With 2021 and through Reigns matches with Kevin Owens, Edge, Daniel Bryan, John Cena and eventually Brock Lesnar, the Bloodline took shape. Jay and Jimmy have stood firmly by Reigns' side, interfering when necessary, and acknowledging him as the true tribal chief of the family. The Usos have won tag-team gold once again and they look stronger than ever before.
The WWE Universe has taken firmly to this faction and Bloodline t-shirts can be seen throughout arenas at all WWE events. The slow build towards an inevitable showdown between someone else who shares that same bloodline seems inevitable.
The Bloodline gimmick has become so successful that McMahon may dole out millions to secure The Rock to set up a mega-match at Wrestlemania, a match that could alter the foundation of the faction.
If WWE is unable to secure that match, the group will still be one of the featured acts at Wrestlemania and with a family full of wrestling legends and up-and-comers, Bloodline can continue to flourish.
What was your favorite WWE gimmick in 2021? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
