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As long as I have been watching wrestling, I have seen many wrestling personas come into the business. Some were pretty good ones like Big Sexy Kevin Nash, and Diesel. Some were really stupid like Oz and Vinny Vegas. In today's WWE they seem to be re-using certain gimmicks again with new wrestlers using similar personas. Don't get me wrong I am not referring to fakes, as in the fake Undertaker (Brian Lee), Outsiders (Glen "Kane" Jacobs and Rick Bogner), Sting (Jeff Farmer) etc. Or even blatant rip offs like modelling a wrestler after Undertaker and calling him Gravedigger. I am also not referring to gimmicks that have been passed down from one wrestler to another such as Doink the Clown or the Patriot. I am however referring to the current gimmicks in WWE that may or may not be inspired by a past gimmick. In this article I intend to compare these very gimmicks.

First we shall look at Rob Conway. After splitting with Sylvan and going solo, he became the "Conman". You maybe asking me "What does that have to do with a gimmick from the past"" Well read on:

I believe he has the "stuff" to be a carbon copy of Marcus "Buff" Bagwell. Let us compare shall we" The two men have a similar cockiness and arrogance. As well Rob comes out to the ring wearing similar hat and sunglasses. In WCW Buff always came to the ring wearing sunglasses and a somewhat flamboyant hat. For example the top hat with his portrait on the top. His haircut, sideburns and goatee are also strong evidence that he was inspired by Bagwell. Oddly enough Conway is only 4 years younger than Bagwell. I can safely say the Conman stole Buff's stuff.

Next we move on to the second generation star Carlito Caribbean Cool. Unlike the man he's inspired by, he has a legit claim to the Caribbean. His father is Puerto Rican Legend Carlos Colon. But the persona seams a bit familiar. I mean he isn't that close of a match as Conway was to Buff, but I do see in Carlito a gimmick that graced the WWF ring from 1992-1996. The wrestler I am thinking of wasn't a legit Latino but he pulled off the Tony Montana persona quite well. I am of course referring to Scott Hall's star making persona of Razor Ramon.

First off Razor was billed from Miami Florida, and was a slick Cuban street thug. His persona was complete with long greasy hair, gold chains, nice threads, and a tooth pick. Carlito is Puerto Rican and has a similar street thug gimmick instead of long greasy hair he has an afro, and instead of the tooth pick he carries an apple. He also wears the nice threads on the street. Razor used to flick his toothpick at his opponent and Carlito spits out his apple. Look a little familiar now" So far not exact but still very eerie. Even more eerie is that Carlito has held the Intercontinental strap, as well as the US title. Scott Hall also held the IC title 4 times and held the US title in WCW. From what I remember Hall came in through a series of vignettes, as did Carlito. These vignettes showed the men on the street dressed quite nicely but acting like a street thug, ie. verbally abusing someone on the street for no reason. The catch phrases also seem similar. Razor Ramon always said that he was "Oozing with machismo". Carlito also saying "That's not cool" or "That's cool" to something that he likes or dislikes. Also similar is that Razor came in as a strong heel, but became popular and turned face. Carlito Cool also came in as a strong heel but became popular and turned face by splitting with Chris Masters. .

Next up is Paul Burchill. Burchill's interpretation of the pirate is to act like Capt Jack Sparrow of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. However I believe that Vince McMahon had in mind to revive the same pirate persona once portrayed by Pierre Oulette. The former Tag Team champion, (w/ the Mountie, Jacques Rougeau) came back to the WWF in 1996 with the name Jean Pierre Lafitte. The gimmick was based on a real life pirate captain named Jean Lafitte. (Pierre was supposed to be a descendant of Lafitte.) It is interesting to note also that Jean Lafitte had a brother named Pierre. He went so far as the plundering pirate to start a feud with "the Hitman" Bret Hart by looting the champ's signature ring jacket.

You are probably thinking that I am fixing to compare Bobby Lashley to Bill Goldberg but I'm not. First of all it's been done before and secondly I think Lashley has a lot more potential than Goldberg ever did. I look forward to seeing the World or even the WWE belt around his waist soon.

Instead I will compare the former IC champ Shelton Benjamin to a man who held the title about ten years ago. I am referring to the "People's Champion" the Rock. Rock held the IC strap twice where as Benjamin held it three times. However the main comparison lies in not only the super sized ego but also lately Shelton has started wearing shades and expensive shirts to the ring. Is it me or did the Rock wear his $500 shirts and a pair of sunglasses during his promos first"

There is currently on RAW one Matt Striker. His current persona is of an evil teacher. I believe around ten years ago WWF also had an evil teacher played by Shane Douglas. The Franchise of ECW was once the Dean of the WWF.

I also want to mention Michelle McCool, on Smackdown she is dressed a little like Stacy as Miss Hancock. However the gimmick is pure Teacher. Complete with the holier than thou, I'm smart but your stupid attitude. I believe I saw on WOW a woman called the Disciplinarian. She was also an evil teacher with the "you need to learn a lesson" attitude. The difference is that Michelle is quite a bit prettier than her Women of Wrestling counterpart. (I promise that's the last time I mention WOW, at least until I write a column about the women in WOW who deserve a decent chance in WWE or TNA.)

Now ladies and gents I'm going to look at a couple of big mistakes. When I say big I mean BIG. Namely Giant Gonzalas and his counterpart from India the Great Khali.Both wrestlers are above the 7 foot mark, both are very clumsy in the ring and both have been managed by very short and obnoxious men. Giant Gonzalas was managed by Harvey Wippleman and now Khali is managed by Daivari. And shockingly enough upon their debuts in WWE both attacked the Phenom himself, the Undertaker. Outside the squared circle both men have been in movies. Giant Gonzalas real name Jorge Gonzales, can be seen in "Hercules in the Underworld". The Great Khali real name Dalip Singh, can be seen opposite Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, and fellow wrestlers Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg, and Kevin Nash in the remake "The Longest Yard". I am not going to go into any detail on the similarities to Umaga and every other wild, Samoan head hunter/shrinker that has graced the ring, ie. Umaga's big brother Fatu (Rikishi) and their cousin Samu as the Headshrinkers. As well as Afa and Sika the Wild Samoans.

I think you can see now why I am experiencing Deja VU in the WWE. I am sure there are a lot more wrestlers who are giving me reason to do a flash back. Such as The Highlanders, Rory and Robbie McAllister's resemblance in manners or lack of to the Blu Brothers, Jacob and Eli (Ron and Don Harris.)

I would but I believe I have over stayed my welcome.

by Larry Williams..