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#4 Overcame: Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man was handed one of the worst gimmicks of all time. He was to be an Elvis impersonator. How could anybody be expected to gain his own success and notoriety by emulating a music legend who died a decade earlier?
But Memphis mainstay Wayne Ferris grabbed the bull by his horns and stole the show with his hip swinging, rockabilly Honky Tonk Man character.
Initially a good guy personality, fans jeered Ferris and made him a heel. He was so commendable at being hated, the original Elvis rip-off made people overlook he was even an Elvis rip-off. Honky Tonk Man still tours, earning a living wage from independent wrestling bookings across the nation.
#3 Couldn't overcome: Pirate Paul
If you don't remember this gimmick, I’ll forgive you. You might remember Paul Burchill and his sister Katie Lee Burchill and that weird incest storyline. Paul Burchill aligned himself with William Regal, and soon after, Paul revealed he wanted to be a singles wrestler. He wanted to follow his family’s heritage! What is that heritage? He claimed to be descendant of the pirate Blackbeard.
Of course, WWE followed through with the "say no more" and Paul the Pirate was born. The following week he had dramatic entrance music and looked like a complete rip-off of The Pirates of the Caribbean. He would swing down the entrance ramp on the rope, and it was all fun and games for Paul. The pure comedy look doomed Paul’s career.
Thankful for him, he had sustained a knee injury that required surgery. Mark Henry demolished the pirate and Paul was written off the TV. That’s when the incest stuff started...which was equally as bad.
