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Gimmick #3: Doink the Clown
In 1992, WWE officials were pondering ideas for new characters, since many of their classic era stars had either retired or taken work down south in the new WCW promotion.
Legend has it that Road Warrior Hawk pitched the idea of an evil clown gimmick, reasoning that a lot of people were afraid of clowns. WWE put this gimmick into use with Matt Borne playing the role of evil clown Doink.
Doink's look was loosely based off of Krusty the Clown from the Simpsons television series. Eventually, WWE decided to turn Doink babyface. Borne would be fired from the company for personal issues and then Ray Apollo, the man who many think of as the 'main' Doink, took over the gimmick for most of its WWE run.
Steve Lombardi would also briefly don the Doink gimmick for several special appearances that were in no way shape or form an attempt to bring the character back permanently. There were also mini Doinks who accompanied Apollo's Doink to the ring.
