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When it comes to the WWE, only the toughest survive.
As two or more Superstars meet in the ring, only those who are able to out-match their opponent, whether it is via brute strength, or using their own quick-wit and ingenuity.
And sometimes, playing mind games with your opponent can give a Superstar that crucial edge that pushes them to the top.
Throughout WWE history, there has been no shortage of Superstars who have donned the attires of their opponent, to either embarrass their foe, mess with their head, or just because they wanted to.
Here are seven WWE Superstars who dressed as other wrestlers, and the reasons why they would cross the line.
#7: Kurt Angle as John Cena
The Miz may have played a hilarious John Cena in 2011, but years before the A-Lister ever step foot in the WWE, Kurt Angle was showing off his own acting chops.
During a feud between the Olympian and Cena in 2003, Angle appeared on the October 16th edition of SmackDown, decked in Cena’s attire from his time as the Doctor of Thuganomics.
The segment got even funnier when a little person, dressed as Angle, confronted the Hall of Famer, and the two berated and belittled Big Match John.
Whilst the WWE Universe may have been laughing, one person who didn’t see the funny side was Cena himself, who marched to the ring to confront the pair.
Despite his best effort though, Cena would get overpowered by the two, as Angle proves not only to be one of the funniest Superstars, but also one of the most gifted.
#6: Charlie Haas as everyone
He may have never had the same success as a singles star as his former partner Shelton Benjamin, by Charlie Haas certainly had fun during his last months with the company.
As a generic Superstar on a roster of similar stars, Haas needed to do anything to stand out, and did just that in 2008 by parodying former and current stars.
Along the way, Haas would dress as The Great Khali, Carlito, John Bradshaw Layfield, MVP, Bret Hart and even Beth Phoenix in his efforts to stand out.
As a former three-time Tag Team Champion, everyone knew of Haas’ in-ring ability though the former Team Angle member won a whole lot of fans when he was able to show his comedic chops.
Although his various impersonations may not have helped him win too many matches, it did help Haas bag a Slammy award for his portrayal as the GlamaHaas, though in a category where he was the only nominee.
#5: Axelmania
Curtis Axel may be known by most fans as the son of Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig, but his very best storyline had the third-generation star paying tribute to a different Hall of Famer.
After never being properly eliminated from the 2015 Royal Rumble, Axel started his own campaign, saying he was the real winner, instead of Roman Reigns, and started the hashtag #AxelMania.
Taking his campaign to the next level, the former Intercontinental Champion would later dress as Hulk Hogan, rocking the legends iconic Red and Yellow.
Able to pull-off an impression Hogan impression on the mic, Axel also had the Hulkster’s mannerisms down, perhaps because he grew up as part of the business.
As if this wasn’t weird enough, AxelMania would later partner with Macho Mandow, as the incredibly named Meta Powers.
Whilst the pair were entertaining together, the team would never hold championship gold, and the Axelmania character was dropped when the real Hogan was fired from the company in 2015.
#4: The New Day and the Wyatt Family
There are probably no two stables more different in recent years than the Wyatt family and The New Day.
Whilst the Wyatts cemented themselves as masters of darkness led by their leader Bray Wyatt, the New Day embraced the positively and optimism of modern life, as well as a whole heaping stack of pancakes.
But on the June 27th, 2016 edition of RAW, the Booty-O trio channelled their darker side, as they dressed as their opponents.
With Xavier Woods as a constantly ‘Yeah-ing’ Luke Harper, Kofi Kingston as the unicorned Erick Rowan and Big E as Bray, the trio entertained all of their fans, but were cut short by the real Wyatts.
Taking it to the Wyatt's compound, the 6-men waged a war, in the mud, in a career-defining performance for all involved.
#3: The Miz and Maryse as John Cena and Nikki Bella
The Miz prides himself on being the WWE’s top movie star, and in early 2017, the former WWE Champion proved just how versatile he could be.
Teaming with wife Maryse against John Cena and Nikki Bella, the four were ready to face off at WrestleMania 33, though it was the weeks prior on SmackDown Live that proved the most entertaining.
Appearing on the March 21st, 2017 edition of SmackDown, the It couple revealed what they claimed to be the lost episode of Cena and Nikki’s reality show, Total Bellas.
What fans got instead, was Miz and Maryse, dressed as the WrestleMania opponents, mocking Cena for being reluctant to marry the former Divas Champion.
Popping a balloon with ‘the question’ written on it, Miz and Maryse certainly entertained themselves, though these mind games didn’t help them in the long-run, as they would lose to Cena and Nikki at WrestleMania.
#2: Chris Jericho as Doink the Clown
As a multiple time World Champion, a best-selling author and the frontman of Fozzy, Chris Jericho has one of the most recognizable faces in wrestling.
But in early 2001, the first-ever Undisputed Champion tried to hide it as part of his feud with Commissioner William Regal.
On the March 26th edition of WWE RAW which is best remembered for being the simulcast with the final edition of WCW Monday Nitro, Regal would assault Crash Holly, before being attacked by Doink the Clown from the crowd.
As many fans wondered how Doink had suddenly become an incredible wrestler, it was quickly revealed that it was Jericho behind the make-up, trying to get an edge over his WrestleMania 17 opponent.
This strategy certainly paid off, as Jericho was able to keep his Intercontinental Title from Regal in the opener of WrestleMania, and was the only Superstar that night to retain their gold.
#1: AJ Lee as Nikki Bella
Maryse may have done her best Nikki Bella impression in 2017, but she was beaten to it by AJ Lee three years early.
As the reigning Divas Champion in 2014, AJ was embroiled in a feud with Nikki, who represented everything she opposed in the women’s division.
After Brie Bella was dressed as AJ on the previous RAW, Lee played mind games of her own, dressing as Nikki Bella during the November 21st edition of SmackDown.
AJ even went so far as to get a special padded costume for her match as Nikki, giving her a more pronounced rear, making the two indistinguishable.
This war of mind games would come to a head at Survivor Series, when Brie would help her sister win Lee’s Diva’s Championship in a matter of seconds, kissing AJ to distract her, in a scene reminiscent of Daniel Bryan’s title loss at WrestleMania 28.
