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In branding itself as "sports entertainment," the WWE is obviously there to entertain its crowds around the world. In taking a three-ring circus-like approach to its live presentations, the WWE aims to deliver a mix of performers so that audiences don't just get a single kind of match or performer when coming to one of its events.
This means that a show like Monday Night Raw can have Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Absolution and the cruiserweights from 205 Live all on the same program.
On the infamous "Raw after Wrestlemania," WWE unveiled NXT favorite No Way Jose, effectively bringing him up to the main roster. No Way Jose, as known for his high-energy theme song and conga lines, often incorporates dancing into his matches.
While No Way Jose stands out from the current entire WWE roster, this is not the first time in which a dance-oriented WWE Superstar has been on the main roster. Below are five other WWE Superstars who have been reliant on dance gimmicks. But in the meantime, congratulations to No Way Jose for his Raw debut victory over John Skyler.
#1 Adam Rose
After several years in NXT as Ray Leppan and then Leo Kruger, a re-branding as Adam Rose in 2014 brought instant success for the South African-born performer. In tow with the Exotic Express -- which at various times included pre-frame Braun Strowman, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, and Kalisto -- Rose made big entrances with an entourage.
He danced before, after, and sometimes even during matches. Rose's gimmick was all about partying and having a great time, while some undecipherable philosophy, made him come across as a blend of Russell Brand and Andrew W.K.
One of the Rosebud's regular accomplices to the ring was a man in a bunny suit, rumored to be portrayed by Justin Gabriel and Sami Zayn at different times. Rose eventually turned on said bunny and became an anti-party heel, eventually joining with The Social Outcasts alongside Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, and Curtin Axel.
Hopefully, for the sake of good vibes for all of the WWE Universe, a party-phobic character change is not in the cards for No Way Jose.
#2 Brodus Clay
Several years before he made it to the main roster of WWE, or even into NXT, Brodus Clay had the original character name of G-Rilla in WWE developmental league Florida Championship Wrestling.
When part of NXT, the man finally began using the name "Brodus Clay" and had a monster heel gimmick, pretty much destroying everyone in his path. That work with NXT briefly led to Clay debuting as the bodyguard of Alberto Del Rio and appearing in the WWE-produced film No One Lives. Vignettes promoting the call-up of Clay to the main roster followed for several weeks, emphasizing the darkness of the character.
Then on January 9, 2012, the debut of Brodus Clay on Monday Night Raw came, and it was nothing like what was promised. Clay was now a funky dinosaur -- a "Funkasaurus" -- accompanied by two dancers, Cameron and Naomi, known as The Funkadactyls. Before and after every match, Clay danced to his theme song, "Somebody Call My Momma," often inviting children into the ring to dance with him and the Funkadactyls.
Ultimately, Clay would help turn once-monster heel Tensai into a fellow dancing guy and they became the tag team Tons Of Funk. But as expected with a once-vibrant and friendly dancing wrestler, Clay eventually turned back to his old ways and stopped the smiling and dancing.
#3 Vladamir Kozlov
Ukrainian-American wrestler Vladimir Kozlov signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2006, getting his proper main roster call-up in 2008. To emphasize the strength and intensity of Kozlov, he did not have an entrance music or a titantron video, instead he approached the ring in darkness with a spotlight following him.
Kozlov was quickly in the championship picture, competing in a bunch of qualifying matches within ECW programming. After Regal turned on Kozlov in late 2009, Kozlov turned babyface.
Shortly after joining the Raw roster, Kozlov was paired with WWE's main comedic wrestler Santino Marella. The two would compete in a dance-off before becoming a tag team. Ultimately, there would be a segment in which Kozlov and Marella hosted Sheamus for a tea party.
But more importantly, Kozlov was expected to dance, and he did dance plenty more times before he left the WWE in 2011. Undoubtedly Kozlov became less of a feared competitor as a result of his dancing, although Kozlov now works steadily in movie projects as an actor and producer, so it appears that things worked out just fine for him.
#4 Scotty 2 Hotty
First wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation as a junior in high school in August 1991, Scotty 2 Hotty had one of the longest tenures with the WWE, working as a full-timer until May 2007.
In the years since Scotty has been back for a variety of one-off appearances on WWE programming. Heath Slater has been the victim of several of Scotty's returns, first in 2012 where the two wrestled on NXT.
Nowadays Scotty is employed by the WWE as a trainer at the WWE Performance Center in October, and he was recently paid tribute to by the hip-hop group Migos via the song "Too Hotty," so things are looking great for Scotty 2 Hotty.
But for a number of years, Scotty was saddled with a dancing gimmick. While teaming with Grandmaster Sexay -- then known as "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher -- the duo were first known as Too Much, then later renamed Too Cool.
The two would rap at their opponents, which evolved into Scotty working his breakdancing skills into matches. Before you knew it, if Scotty 2 Hotty did not do "The Worm" as part of a WWE entrance or a match, then he was not giving the crowd what they wanted.
As with other wrestlers referenced within this article -- unlike Lance Storm during his dancing phase -- Scotty became defined by this gimmick, which he did not need an entourage for.
#5 Fandango
Signed to WWE's developmental system in 2006, Fandango originally worked around the WWE circuit as Jonathan Curtis, later repackaged as Johnny Curtis, before going back down to NXT.
Fandango reemerged on television in early 2013, first feuding with Chris Jericho. The feud between Jericho and Fandango led to a match at Wrestlemania 29, which was Fandango's first televised match. At this time, in portraying a heelish ballroom dancer, Fandango would be accompanied to the ring by a dancing valet. Eventually, both Summer Rae and Rosa Mendes filled this role.
On the infamous "Raw after Wrestlemania", it was business as usual for Fandango to wrestle against Kofi Kingston. Or so he thought. The crowd, as full of international spectators, began singing along with the instrumental Fandango theme song. This led to the concept of "Fandango-ing" and an eventual babyface turn for Fandango, which is still in effect years later.
While Fandango no longer needs a dance partner or an entourage for his introduction, if Fandango does not dance or swivel his hips as part of an introduction or promo, then the crowd is not going to like it.
