5 Wrestlers who portrayed different nationalities

Character work is just as important, if not more so than the in-ring work of a professional wrestler. One can be the most technically sound performer on the planet, but if the fans don't have something to sink their teeth into, that can only get you so far.

Some of the greatest characters have come by the way of over the top characterizations of certain nationalities. Roderick Toombs, known worldwide as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is one of the best examples of this (but we'll get to that later). However, it's not to say that this always panned out well.

In fact, sometimes the initial reaction was downright uncomfortable, and that's where we're kicking the list off.

---

#5 Akeem the African Dream

One Man Gang found his "African roots" back in 1988

Back in 1987, the One Man Gang debuted for the WWF, managed by Slick. He was portrayed as a monster heel, running through jobbers and lower mid-card talents with ease, before getting a few programs with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. However, by 1988, he'd gone through a rather shocking metamorphosis.

Reborn in, what Corey Graves dubbed in the above video as a "back alley voodoo ceremony", OMG would then be known as Akeem. Following that jaw dropping repackaging, Akeem would attempt to dance his way to the ring to a song rapped by Slick. Sadly, the man had no rhythm.

It was goofy, it was kind of dumb, but it was incredibly entertaining, partly because of how tongue in cheek it was. From the in-ring debut of Akeem, to his appearance alongside Slick and Twin Towers tag team partner Big Boss Man on the Arsenio Hall Show, it was a gimmick made to be taken lightly. As Akeem, he would immediately adopt the mannerisms of Slick, from the way he moved to the way he spoke.

Yes, Slick and the One Man Gang were trying to pull one over on people. No, neither man in kayfabe actually thought the big guy had African roots. You can hear Vince McMahon above attempting to swallow the thought of Akeem believing his own words. As strange as it was, this did what it was supposed to do. It got the One Man Gang more attention and a negative crowd reaction.

#4 Yokozuna

Yokozuna as WWF Champion

The 1990s saw a huge change in the then WWF when they moved onto the "New Generation Era." Following the steroid scandal, Vince McMahon opted to push the younger stars into the spotlight, hoping to avoid any more bad press.

With the likes of Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, and more performers from the Golden Era either leaving or retiring, we saw the rise of guys like Bret and Owen Hart, Lex Luger, Razor Ramon (we'll get to him), Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Yokozuna.

While the New Generation Era certainly struggled with viewership, it nonetheless gave the fans some incredible match ups and new performers to follow. Yokozuna the giant sumo wrestler was a personal favorite of mine.

Boasting incredible raw power, a great center of gravity, and the ability to withstand an absurd amount of punishment. With his fantastic rivalries with the likes of Bret Hart and Lex Luger, Yokozuna became one of the most recognizable names in WWF history. It's crazy to look back now and realize that he almost went in a different direction, however.

Back in 1992, he and the Headshrinkers were brought in as part of the New Generation. While Fatu and Samu debuted, Gorilla Monsoon mentioned on commentary that the fans would be seeing "another Samoan" in the near future.

With all three men coming from the Anoa'i wrestling dynasty, it was assumed that Rodney Agatupu Anoa'i would be joining the Headshrinkers as a third man.

However, a sudden change in plans saw him instead appear as a Japanese sumo wrestler who'd come to dominate a new sport. It is worth noting that, though he was billed from the "Land of the Rising Sun" he would also, at times, be billed from Polynesia.

#3 Muhammad Hassan

Muhammad Hassan was probably the most hated man in the WWE in 2005

If you'd only started following professional wrestling in the last decade or so, it's possible you never heard of Muhammad Hassan. WWE went to OVW back in 2004 looking for someone to play an Arab-American character that had qualms with the way he was treated in America. Though he was 100% Italian, Marc Copani was chosen to work the gimmick.

Looking back, Copani and his manager, Khosrow (Shawn) Daivari played their parts perfectly. Sadly, WWE did everything they could to wash their hands of the character after an incredibly controversial angle.

Hassan had a very short run on the main roster, lasting about seven months, but became the biggest heel in the company almost on sight. Debuting in December of 2015, he began appearing on Monday Night RAW complaining about the prejudice and hate felt by fellow Arab-Americans following the 9/11 attacks. What made it work was...well...he was right.

After that day, the American people did begin to vilify Arab-Americans. If you listened closely, you'd hear some incredibly bigoted talk regarding Arab-Americans or Muslims, with groups of people whispering whenever one walked by. With the way they'd been treated, the character of Muhammad Hassan actually had a point, which is what made him such an interesting performer.

It's just a shame that this character's life-span was cut drastically short. A segment aired on SmackDown, which was pre-taped back then, that showed Hassan leading a group of masked men to attack The Undertaker, beating him with clubs and choking him with piano wire. That day it aired was the same day that the London Bombings took place in 2005.

With various media outlets forcing their hand, UPN, the network that aired SmackDown at that time in the US, demanded that the character not be used anymore. Thus ended the career of Marc Copani.

#2 Razor Ramon

Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon in their classic ladder match for the IC Title

The Bad Man was one of the biggest stars coming out of the New Generation Era. A tall guy oozing with charisma and a gimmick lifted straight out of Scarface, Scott Hall was a money printing machine.

Decked out in gold jewelery and a toothpick in his mouth, Ramon was always ready to carve up the competition. Prior to moving to the WWF, he'd worked for a year in WCW as "The Diamond Studd", being managed by Diamond Dallas Page. He'd nearly joined Paul E Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance before leaving the company.

When he joined the WWF, he'd jokingly pitched some scenes from Scarface as a gimmick. Hall claimed that he'd tossed out lines from the movie to Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson, and was shocked when they were flabbergasted by the ideas, even going so far as to call him a genius.

While Hall was from Maryland, the Razor Ramon character would be billed from Chuluota, Florida as a Cuban-American.

While he's more known for his run in WCW as part of the NWO, he'd left an incredible mark in WWF/WWE history. As Ramon, he'd taken part in what's considered one of the greatest ladder matches, and WrestleMania matches, of all time when he faced Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania X.

#1 "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Roddy Piper

Now, this may be considered cheating. Roddy Piper did have some Scottish heritage, but it's a whole different ball game when he's actually billed from Glasgow, Scotland when he's actually from Saskatchewan, Canada.

Roddy Piper is considered to be, by many, the greatest heel in all of professional wrestling. From his iconic edition of Piper's Pit where he bashed Jimmy Snuka with a coconut, to his wars with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T, there was nobody that was able to get under the skin of the fans as much as the Hot Rod.

Not long after, though, he'd turn face, and after returning from a two-year hiatus to pursue a film career, he'd capture the Intercontinental Championship from The Mountie at Royal Rumble '92.

Piper's name actually came from an error early in his career when he was making his way to the ring while serenaded by bagpipes. The ring announcer didn't know much about him other than his name was Roddy, so he was called "Roddy the Piper".

Those bagpipes, the kilt, and everything else followed him throughout his career until his death in 2015. Piper was a legend, through and through, and rightfully tops our list today.