10 Most Dramatic Physical Transformations For New Wrestling Gimmicks
Physical changes in wrestling can be notable. Most of the time, it’s purely cosmetic like a shave or growing a beard for men. Women can change their hair color and an occasional cut but nothing too dramatic. There’s also how wrestlers bulk up over the years, such as Jinder Mahal and others. A few tattoos may add to it, yet some wrestlers don’t change the look too much.
Related: 10 Real-Life Influences On Gimmick Changes
Yet often, when changing their gimmick, the worker changes their entire look to a new level. It’s not just a different hairdo or outfit, they can change physically to the point it’s like they’re a completely different person. Often, these pay off with the new gimmick wildly successful and almost hilarious to see how they looked before. While there are several options out there, these stand out as ten amazing physical transformations when a wrestler took on a new gimmick and how changing the look can often boost a wrestler’s fortunes.
10 Kerwin White
This does fall under the “bad gimmick changes” category, but it has to count in terms of changing the physical look. Chavo Guerrero had been known as a fine Latino worker with his goatee and following uncle Eddie’s footsteps. In 2005, he underwent a huge transformation into Kerwin White.
His hair was short and blonde, and his skin whitened a bit as he took on the persona of a preppy suburbanite. It didn’t win over fans and was soon ended by Eddie’s untimely passing, yet striking how much Chavo was willing to change himself for this part.
9 Molly Holly
It’s amazing how far a little change in hair can go. Molly Holly had been bouncing in WWE with various gimmicks, first a “cousin” of the Hollys, then a super-heroine character. In every case, she was notable for her hair so blonde it was almost white and flaunting her body.
Related: 10 Backstage Stories About Molly Holly We Can't Believe
Finally, she dropped all that, cutting her hair short and dying it brown while dressing down but becoming a serious wrestler. It paid off as WWE Women’s champion and well regarded for her time (even going bald for a bit), and the irony that toning down her sex appeal just made Holly better for fans.
8 Bob Holly
In the mid-1990s, there were scores of “occupational” gimmicks in WWE. Thurman “Sparky” Plugg was a NASCAR driver turned wrestler with long hair and a lithe build. He had a brief run as tag team champion yet lost in the mid-card. After a few bad gimmicks, Plugg transformed into Hardcore Holly.
Related: 9 Current WWE Gimmicks That Started Off Well (But Need To Change ASAP)
He cut his hair shorter and blonde and a bit more muscle while also changing his attitude into a hardcore worker. That led to new respect from fans, a few more titles, and Holly being truly hardcore in how he changed his entire act.
7 Luke Gallows
It’s outright hilarious to see some of the early acts of future stars. Festus was part of a comedy team in the mid-2000s with Jesse as a couple of bumbling country bumpkins. The gimmick was Festus looked a total idiot but transformed into a monster as soon as the bell rang.
He first shifted the act as Luke Gallows, joining the Straight Edge Society, now leaner, bald with a goatee and lined with tattoos. He was better when he and Karl Anderson became a top team, and astounding to see this bumpkin become a top heel.
6 Steve Austin
This may seem low-key, but it has to count. “Stunning” Steve Austin was notable in first WCW and ECW for his blonde hair and lithe build even as he showed his talent. He started in WWE as the Ringmaster with short blonde hair but not as notable.
Related:10 WWE Hall Of Famers: What Was Their Worst Gimmick?
After dumping Ted DiBiase, Austin was inspired by a documentary on serial killers to shave his head bald and beef up a bit. Thanks to a stray comment, he added the “Stone Cold” name and then the Austin 3:16 speech the topper. Yet, that striking bald head was the first step to Austin’s rise to superstardom.
5 JBL
Justin Bradshaw put up with a few gimmicks in WWE like a member of the New Blackjacks. He was a long-haired, bearded tough guy in jeans and t-shirt who loved a good brawl with the APA. When he went solo in 2004, JBL changed absolutely everything, not just in character but look.
He cut his hair, shaved his beard, and dressed in suits as a millionaire. It worked, making him a long-lasting WWE champion and later top commentator. This was one makeover that truly helped JBL reach the main event when few expected it.
4 Scott Steiner
When Scott Steiner started wrestling in 1989, he was a fit All-American type with short hair and a bit bland on the mic. He was pulling moves folks had never seen like a Frankensteiner and clearly ready for stardom.
Related: 10 Things People Forget About Scott Steiner In WCW
Turning heel was one thing, but then Stiner cut his hair short and blonde and jacked himself up majorly. “Big Poppa Pump” was soon WCW World champion and, for all his ups and downs later, remained a major presence. While it’s arguable all that mass hampered him, Steiner has to rank among the biggest physical changes in wrestling.
3 Bray Wyatt
No NXT transformation was as epic as Husky Harris. Windham Rotunda had the wrestling pedigree to be a star but was hampered by a look that included a potbelly and colored hair. After trimming himself down, Wyatt grew out his hair and a huge beard and took on the bizarre persona of this cult leader.
It clicked to make him a star, including WWE Champion. Then, Wyatt brilliantly shifted the act again with a different look as the Fiend, including outlandish makeup. It’s led to multiple runs as champion and proof of how remaking yourself works for wrestling.
2 Goldust
It would have been easy for Dustin Rhodes to enter WWE in 1995 as a cowboy gimmick or emulating his dad, Dusty. Instead, he crafted one of the most bizarre characters in history as Goldust. The golden body paint and wig were one thing, but Dustin changed his entire act with some weird poses and other touches.
He did muscle up a bit but it was striking how Dustin managed to change himself so much. He kept going back to it a few times yet Goldust remained a shocking change for Dustin that allowed him to finally escape his father’s shadow.
1 Scott Hall
Back in the 1980s, Scott Hall had a lot of promise but was clearly modeled after star Magnum T.A. That included the same curly hair and thick mustache, so he didn’t stand out from the crowd too much. Joining WCW in 1991, Hall shaved the mustache, slicked the hair back, and had a five o’clock shadow as the Diamond Studd.
Jumping to WWE, Hall added a Cuban accent to the act and Razor Ramon was soon one of the biggest stars around. It’s remarkable seeing just how changed Hall was to launch his fame.
