'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE superstars often need to reinvent characters to keep relevancy intact with fans.
A host of wrestlers have undergone dramatic character changes and managed a smooth transition into their new gimmicks.
In this article, we look at five WWE superstars who had the most dramatic character changes in this business:
Special Mention – WWE Hall of Famer Charles Wright aka The Godfather
Charles Wright made his WWE debut in 1992 as the creepy voodoo practitioner Papa Shango. He intimidated opponents with his morbid skeletal face paint and a necklace made from bones.
Papa Shango was best known for his feud with the late Ultimate Warrior, on whom he often cast a spell, much to the shock of the fans.
Wright then evolved into a new character called Kama – The Supreme Fighting Machine. In 1995, as part of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation, he had memorable bouts against The Undertaker. The character's most famous act came at WrestleMania 11 when he stole The Deadman's signature urn and melted it to form a necklace.
In 1998, Wright again underwent a character change to become The Godfather, his most successful gimmick. The Godfather always got a huge ovation from fans. In this character, Wright won his only singles championship, the Intercontinental title, when he defeated Goldust in 1999 on an episode of RAW.
#5. WWE superstar Happy Corbin fka Baron Corbin
Corbin debuted in WWE under his ring name The Lone Wolf – Baron Corbin. His rise to the main roster from NXT happened at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 where he won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal by eliminating Kane. He was also victorious in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at the namesake event in 2017. This was the most successful run of his career.
Corbin then defeated Chad Gable in the King of the Ring tournament final in 2019 and underwent a character change to become King Corbin.
The King lost his crown to Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown this year, which saw him go back to his earlier character.
The latest character change in August saw him transform into a wealthy man with the name Happy Corbin after he turned his misfortunes around in a Las Vegas casino.
Happy Corbin is currently in a feud with Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship.
#4. WWE superstar Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss is one of the most accomplished female superstars in WWE.
The former five-time WWE Women's Champion had a very successful run under her original character as The Goddess. She was part of some memorable feuds against the likes of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Naomi, and Nia Jax, to name a few.
In 2020, Alexa saw a complete 180 shift in her gimmick to become a supernatural character courtesy of The Fiend, who she aligned with for a brief period. Her gimmick change certainly gave superstars and fans the chills, especially with the eerie doll Lilly by her side.
Alexa was last seen in action this year at Extreme Rules 2021, and she has teased another character change on her return to the squared circle.
#3. WWE superstar Kane
Kane has been one of the most frightening and destructive superstars in the history of this business. Whether with the sinister mask or without, The Big Red Machine has conquered numerous opponents
In late 2013, Kane underwent a complete shift to leave his demonic character and enter into a corporate gimmick when he sided with The Authority. For fans to see Kane in a suit was surprising.
Having said this, The Devil's Favorite Demon was also in a feud with Seth Rollins during that time and would resort to his masked version in a few clashes against The Visionary.
#2. WWE superstar Bray Wyatt
Former WWE superstar Bray Wyatt has been one of the most sinister characters to ever step foot in the squared circle.
The former three-time world champion, as the head of the Wyatt Family, gave superstars and fans the jitters with his ominous presence. His rivalries with fellow greats like Kane, John Cena, and Randy Orton were worth every praise.
In 2019, Wyatt transformed into an even more deranged character called The Fiend with a mask that was possibly the most frightening the WWE Universe had ever seen. As The Fiend, Wyatt would continue to feud with John Cena and Randy Orton, making him a maniacal yet memorable character with fans.
#1. WWE superstar The Undertaker
If there's one WWE superstar who has played multiple characters with equal finesse, it has to be The Undertaker.
For most of the 90s, The Undertaker played the character of The Phenom. In the 2000s, Taker underwent a dramatic change and debuted as a biker guy known as The American Badass, which was very well received by the WWE Universe.
In 2004, at WrestleMania 20, he returned to his original Deadman avatar with his manager, the late Paul Bearer, in a match against his kayfabe half-brother Kane.
Whatever the character is, The Undertaker has played it with competence making him the best this business has ever seen.
