There have been some terrible gimmicks in the history of pro wrestling. We’ve seen men like the Red Rooster, Bastion Booger, and the illustrious Phantasio, all of whom live on as a small scar on our brain tissue. But when it comes to naming the worst wrestling gimmick of all time, there can be no comparison. One man, and one man only deserves that dubious honor.

In this contest, the Shockmaster stands alone.

Played by journeyman wrestler Fred Ottoman, the Shockmaster debuted in what many feel to be the worst promo ever devised. The event in question occurred during WCW’s Clash of the Champions XXIV as part of Ric Flair’s “A Flair for the Gold” interview segment. Fan favorites Sting, Dustin Rhodes, and Davey Boy Smith set the stage for the debut of their mystery partner, who would complete their half of an upcoming eight-man tag match.

It was then that Sting spoke the infamous words: “All I can say is, he is going to ’shock’ the world, because he is none other than… The Shockmaster!”

Boom went the pyrotechnics and something clad only in jeans, a long black vest, and a glitter-painted storm-trooper helmet stumbled through a sheet rock wall. The helmet tumbled from his head and onto the floor as the Shockmaster fell to his knees in front of a live studio audience.

With all party’s involved struggling to maintain their composure, the fumbling wrestler managed somehow to replace his helmet. Then, with a voice like a smoker’s-lung Yoda, the apparition began to speak.

It’s something that must be seen to be believed.

Ironically enough, we have one of the greatest wrestling minds of all time to thank for this debacle. Dusty Rhodes, one of the main men at WCW, had come up with the gimmick and assigned it to poor Ottoman.

As the story goes, the team had done a practice run of the sketch earlier in the day. The entire affair had gone off without a hitch, until executive David Crockett order a new piece of lumber be placed near the bottom of the wall through which the Shockmaster was supposed to burst.

Of course, he neglected to tell anyone about the change. Intentional sabotage? Could be. But it resulted in one of the funniest moments in wrestling history.

- Taylor Maxwell

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Tags | Bastion Booger, Phantasio, pro wrestling, Professional Wrestling, Red Rooster, the shockmaster, Wrestling