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WWE has a long history as the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, and because of that, the company and fans love to compare the current day to former superstars. Sometimes these comparisons are fair, and sometimes they can hurt the wrestler that is coming in because the weight of expectation crushes them.
The WWE has always tried to recreate it's successful ventures, whether trying to recreate Hulk Hogan in Sid Justice and Lex Luger. Both were seen in the Hogan prototype of being muscular and blonde. Unfortunately for the WWF, neither men had Hogan's charisma and neither of them would go on to replicate Hogan's levels of success as HulkaMania died down.
More recently, Stone Cold Steve Austin's rise to the top has been replicated by Becky Lynch as she took her place as the anti-authoritarian figure who doesn't care who she offends. Lynch has been on fire, both in the ring and on social media. However, she has a long way to go before she reaches the heights of Stone Cold Steve Austin and it's hard to imagine that Austin's popularity can be replicated in this day and age.
More than these examples, wrestling has also attracted a fair share of both good and bad imitations. Following the exits of Razor Ramon and Diesel to the WCW, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were replaced infamously by Rick Bogner and future Mayor of Knoxville County Glenn Jacobs. While Bogner and Jacobs were panned for their portrayals of Ramon and Diesel, at least Jacobs found success in the WWE as Kane.
However, this list shows 4 wrestlers who look like former superstars of different eras. The comparisons sometimes are harmful to the future superstars. Many of the current superstars are inspired by wrestlers that came before them and some of them have actively sought the comparisons to former wrestlers.
#4 Samoa Joe and Tazz
The modern-day Samoan Submission Machine is not exactly the look of what you would expect from a main event level talent. However, Joe moves extremely well in the ring for a man of any size which is even better when you consider the size of him. Similarly, ECW's submission specialist from the boroughs of New York City was also not exactly the textbook size or look for a WWE main event player. However, Tazz, or Taz in the WWE, was extremely over within the ECW promotion and managed to make an impact when he initially crossed over to the WWE.
Tazz made his WWE debut at the 2000 Royal Rumble where he defeated Kurt Angle, who had gone undefeated since his debut with the promotion. During his time with the WWE, Tazz would win the ECW title and faced the World Champion, Triple H, in a non-title match. Samoa Joe had found himself as a wrestling journeyman, having wrestled for major independent promotions like TNA, ROH, CZW, AAA, and Pro-Wrestling Noah.
Joe would finally reach the WWE in 2015, making his first appearance at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable. Joe would win the NXT title twice before being moved up to the main roster where his run has been met with mixed reviews, but Joe has finally won his first title on the main roster as the current US Champion.
The two were even at the same company when Tazz came to TNA as a commentator, while Joe was there as a competitor. The two never faced off in the ring, but that hasn't stopped fans from speculating about what would happen if it were to occur.
#3 Scott Dawson and Arn Anderson
Scott Dawson has frequently been compared to a founding member of the Four Horsemen stable, Arn Anderson. Dawson, better known as being one half of The Revival, has been in the WWE since 2012. Dawson better established himself in 2014 when he was paired with Dash Wilder. For the majority of that time, Arn Anderson has been backstage working as a road agent until he was fired earlier this year. Prior to this, Anderson wrestled for the WCW, as a part of the Four Horseman stable, and the WWF, as one-half of the Brain Busters with Tully Blanchard.
Needless to say, apart from the squat physiques and round faces, both Dawson and Anderson are tag team specialists and have never really branched out into singles competition and both are excellent at technical wrestling with both men being considered among the leaders in their field in that department.
While Anderson found success as the enforcer for the Four Horseman, a stable with which Anderson was inducted into the Hall of Fame, it remains to be seen whether or not Dawson will find the same levels of success during his career. Dawson hilariously commented on the similarity between himself and Anderson on Twitter.
#2 Dolph Ziggler and Shawn Michaels
Of all the comparisons on this list, most haven't actually had much of an impact on the career of the person. That isn't really the case with Dolph Ziggler and his doppelganger, Shawn Michaels. While Ziggler is a talented wrestler, his career has been middling, especially compared to the career of the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels.
While Ziggler is a 2-time Heavyweight, US Champion, as well a 6-time Intercontinental Champion. This by itself would be an impressive record and history. However, Ziggler is frequently compared to his doppelganger career. Michaels, by comparison, is a 4-time World Champion, 2-time Royal Rumble winner, the WWF's first Grand Slam Champion and now 2-time Hall of Fame inductee.
It is because of this unfortunate comparison that many fans have seen Ziggler's run as being disappointing. Many fans also criticize Ziggler as being unoriginal and having stolen a lot of Michaels character in an attempt to get himself over. Unlike the others in this list though, Michaels and Ziggler have shared a ring together in the early stages of Ziggler's career. As a part of the Spirit Squad during their feud with DX.
#1 Dean Ambrose and Brian Pillman
It's fairly easy to imagine a young Dean Ambrose growing up watching Brian Pillman and thinking that Pillman was someone that Ambrose could relate to. Ambrose may not have Pillman's shoulder length blonde locks, but their face and approach to life are quite similar and no doubt the loose cannon persona would have inspired an impressionable lunatic fringe.
Unfortunately for Pillman, he passed away from a heart attack in his hotel room in 1997, several years before Ambrose would make his wrestling debut it 2004, or when he would eventually make his way to the WWE in 2011. While Ambrose has had his ups and downs with the WWE, he still achieved a significant amount in the company as a grand slam champion, as opposed to Pillman who failed to win a single belt with the WWF.
While Pillman wasn't successful with titles, his feud with Steve Austin is one of the most memorable programs of the era. Especially with Austin breaking into Pillman's home and brawling with Pillman in a variety of rooms. The segment famously went to an ad-break after a gunshot was sounded, sending audiences watching the program into a panic.
Now, with Ambrose leaving the WWE and announcing himself as Jon Moxley, his ring name in the independent wrestling scene. Ambrose has once again jumped on the loose cannon persona that Pillman made famous after he left the WCW and wrestled for ECW and eventually the WWF.
