Gimmicks that got popular even though they bombed at first?
 

I can't think of any off hand, but let's discuss gimmicks that either bombed with the general audience or you didn't like but then grew on the audience/you. These gimmicks couldn't have gone through drastic changes, maybe just more face time or something.

Miz.

We hated poochy on Smackdown and most of us figured he was going to get the boot sooner or later, and look at him now.

"Dashing" Cody Rhodes

Eugene. It started off cold, then heated up white-hot before flaming out.

First thing that comes to mind is my favourite tag team of all time: The Acolytes. They debuted with the Jacyll as their manager and seemed to be destined for future endeavours. They were put into the Ministry and the rest is history. I always liked them more pre-APA, because they never spoke, they just came to the ring and you knew somebody was getting hurt.

Does Dolph Ziggler count? Everyone thought his "Hi, Dolph Ziggler" schtick was lame, and he doesn't really do it now, but it wasn't a total gimmick overhaul.

Admit it. None of you thought Too Cool would catch on.

I never imagined that Kurt Angle would have caught on like he did. Angle would

Adam Bomb.

The Hardy Boyz... probably. Its probably more of a case of them not catching on right away in the business than not connecting with the fans.

But Snitsky's "It wasnt my fault" gimmick. Every time he said it, it got a reaction

Kurt Angle. Not sure if it would be qualified as a gimmick but my dear lord did he bomb at first.
Once they parlayed it into a heel character, it shot to the moon.

I stand my belief that them getting over was solely due to the influence of Gangrel!

They changed their gimmick to get over. I don't think that really counts here

Santino Marella, I'm sure we all hated him at first.

You're right... but they were first managed by Dok Hendrix upon that gimmick change and no one gave a shit. I'm telling you, it was Gangrel.

But you're right, that isn't exactly on topic.

The Boogieman. Think about it. It started out as "WTF?" and got to a point where he got a pretty decent pop just standing in a broom closet singing "London Bridge" in a backstage bit for John Cena, let alone when the off-chord piano hit signaled his entrance.

hulk hogan..

boring blue tights and cape with no catch phrases or anything

change em to red and yellow..and some "whatcha gonna do brother" later..and there you go.

Steve Austin

I have to disagree. I remember when he first showed up, the matches, the promos. He just stuck instantly. Pulled you right in from the beginning. Granted I was young and probably didn't see the iconic figure he'd become. But I knew there was something to watch when Angle was on.

I really want to say Kofi Kingston. When he debuted one of my roommates was actually Jamaican and would just laugh at how terrible the fake accent was. The thunder clap thing he does seemed really forced at first, too, but it's caught on and now you have everyone in the arena doing it.

I loved when Michael Hayes managed them! They were starting to get an edge with Hayes managing them.

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And some of us still do.

Reverend D-Von.

I thought it was a good gimmick anyway lol. Shame they had to throw fat fucking Blubber Ray back with him just as he was getting over.

The Hurricane, Gillberg, and Crash Holly all come to mind.

Maybe just because we are on that subject, Deacon Batista. I remember when he just stood there growling with a collection tray. When he first was a monster he didnt really stand out from all the other similar gimmicks (Sean O'Haire, Jesus, Luther Reigns, Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones). I would have never expected him to become the main eventer at all

The Boogeyman

JBL.

Well how about we call this thread "Gimmicks that started lame but could have been cool but ended fucking retarded aka TNA's booking committee,"

Kurt was a heel from his debut, and I think he did pretty well with it. By his second PPV he was opening the Royal Rumble against the debuting Tazz.

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The utlimate example of this is the Honky Tonk Man. In the early days WWF wanted Honky Tonk Man to be a face. It didn't last that long because he was booed out of the building. So, instead of firing him they turned him heel.

Instead of playing the guitar he'd hit it over somebody's head. After that the greatest IC Champion of all time was born. So, he was a big success after having a horrible start of his WWF career.

Another person i can think of would be Bradshaw. Both of his early gimmicks were complete shit. First he was Justin Hawk Bradshaw a lassoing Texan with Uncle Zebakaia as a manager. After that things probably went from bad to worse when he was a part of the New Blackjacks with Barry Windham. What could have been a pretty sweet bad ass tag team was just a joke of what the original Blackjacks were.

Bradshaw of course then went on to form the APA which was a huge success. Later on he became the WWE Champion using the rich texan gimmick from the Simpsons/Million Dollar man's gimmick. John Bradshaw Layfield became the longest reiging WWE Champion in Smackdown television history. So, he came out of two bad starting gimmicks and then became what he said he would become, a wrestling gaaaawd!

Heidenrich reading poetry somehow got over.

I love the "free porn channel preview" music the Hardy Boyz had

...NeXus.

It was only supposed to be a little "Tough Enough" style show, with a bunch of no-name dudes trying to make it, yet they got 'em all together, made a stable out of 'em, gave 'em the NeXus name, and instantly put 'em in the spotlight and made 'em famous.