Gimmick Outfits That Should Have Ruined Careers (But Didn't)

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It takes a special kind of charisma to survive a wardrobe choice that looks like a practical joke and throughout history, many wrestlers have been forced to wear attires that set them up for failure. For these wrestlers, what should have been a career-killer outfit actually became the foundation of their legendary status. It allowed them to stand out from a roster full of wrestlers who dress in the typical spandex that can often become boring.

Let’s take a look at some of the gimmick outfits wrestlers have had to deal with, which should have ruined their careers but didn’t.

Dusty Rhodes: Polka Dots​

Before the American Dream arrived in the WWE, he was flashy and would often flaunt his come up from working “hard times” to become larger than life. He was a brawler in between the ropes who’s matches would often end in some form of a blood bath with the Four Horsemen. However, when he joined WWE, his character took a turn as he was made to wear yellow polkadots and dance around the ring as a feel good comedy act.

Usually, this type of character would be a sure fire flop, as it’s overly silly with the polkadots looking quite ridiculous. Despite this, Dusty made it work and became one of the most loved acts in the business before his eventual departure to WCW.

Goldust: Gold Bodysuits​

Moving on from Dusty Rhodes to his son, Dustin Rhodes, who would go by the name of Goldust in WWE. Perhaps one of the most insane character ideas to ever grace wrestling. He would wear a metallic gold-and-black bodysuit with a feathered robe and full face paint. In the mid-90s, this bizarre look was designed to be freakish and off-putting, which usually limited a wrestler's longevity.

However, this character gave Rhodes the most success of his career, as he ran with it and made it his life. He used the gear to psychologically unsettle his opponents, and the look eventually transitioned from creepy to classic, allowing him to sustain a career for over two decades.

Mankind: Business Casual​

Mick Foley was handed a brown, sweat-stained leather mask that looked like it belonged in a horror movie basement, paired with a disheveled dress shirt and tie. He would even wear black joggers to make the look feel even less professional. It lacked the traditional superhero polish expected of a main-event star.

Nobody expected it to work, but it did. The grime was the point and the outfit made Mankind look like a deranged, tortured soul who didn’t care about vanity, perfectly complementing Foley’s sacrificial wrestling style.

The New Day: Unicorn Horns​

Early on, The New Day wore gospel-inspired robes that were roundly booed. They eventually transitioned into neon blues, pinks and greens, often adorned with unicorn horns and winged boots. In the hyper-masculine world of wrestling, this could have been a death sentence but made it work and would eventually be cheered profusely by fans.

Their chemistry was so undeniable that the absurd gear became a brand. It signaled that they were having more fun than anyone else in the building, eventually making them one of the most profitable tag teams in history.

Is there anymore you can think of? Please let me know!