10 Wrestling gimmicks that shouldn't have worked but did

The creative process for pro wrestling has been described as 'throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks' (though most of the time they use another word than mud.)

While there are certain archetypes and ritual dramas that pro wrestling can utilize to tell their zany stories, there really is no way to guarantee how the fans will react to a given segment. For example, in the early 1980s WWE teased a feud between Hulk Hogan and the heel Jake the Snake. The feud never really happened because the fans cheered Jake and booed Hogan.

There are many other examples of when a character just didn't get over the way that management had hoped. WCW went all in on Glacier, a cheap Mortal Kombat ripoff martial artist who was supposed to appeal to the video game playing teens in the audience. The effort flopped so badly it has become a punchline in the years since.

That being said, sometimes wrestling management makes a decision to put forth a character or story line that at first glance seems ridiculous or a bad idea. Then, to the surprise of all, it becomes a smash success.

Here are ten wrestling gimmicks that shouldn't have worked, but did.

1.Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake

On paper, it sounds like a terrible idea; The wrestling barber!

The reality is this; Brutus Beefcake was once nearly as over as Hulk Hogan, being one of the WWE's top 1980s babyfaces. Fans loved his outrageous outfits and the horrible 'haircuts' he gave to the enhancement talent he faced, even though cutting someone's hair while they are unconscious is really a villain sort of move.

Brutus Beefcake seemed poised to be the one to defeat Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental title, but management didn't quite believe the Barber had what it took to get to the next level.

Beefcake has had several gimmicks since the Barber, but none have been nearly as successful.