20 best WWE gimmicks of all time, ranked
By Mark Lynch
17. Rhea Ripley
Real name: Demi Bennett
"Mami's always on top." -Rhea Ripley
In six years, Rhea Ripley's star is shining brighter than anyone could have imagined. All she did was embrace everything that she truly is and turn it up a few notches. Because of that genuineness, people love her for it. It’s turned her into a popular character and one of the (if not the) first woman leaders of a male-dominated faction.
Rhea's gimmick didn’t just help her. She’s elevated everyone around her: Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio are all fantastic sports entertainers. However, no one can deny that she’s helped bring them into a bigger spotlight.
16. Bayley
Real name: Pamela Rose Martinez
"Ding Dong! Hello!" - Bayley
Bayley’s original happy-woman gimmick was fun, but it wasn’t as good as the current heel Bayley. Her “role model” leader of Damage CTRL, “I hate all of you” personality put her among the elite villains in sports entertainment. She doesn’t even need to have a match to be noticed. Bayley knows what to do to get people's attention.
Her gimmick doesn't just help her. It influences everyone around her. When the up-and-comers like Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky returned at Summer Slam, the creative team paired them with Bayley. Now, Iyo Sky is the WWE Women’s Champion. When Kairi Sane made her return, the WWE did the same thing for her. Now, she is in front and people are remembering how great she is. It’s all because of who Bayley is.
15. Kurt Angle
Real name: Kurt Angle
"Oh it's TRUE, it's DAMN true." - Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle may be the greatest in-ring wrestler of all time. He’s proven time and again that he can keep up with anyone in the ring. He’s also shown that there are not many people who can top him on the microphone either.
Kurt’s been goofy, arrogant, and downright devious when he’s cutting a promo. It all depended on what the WWE needed from him. We’ve seen him joke about getting his hair cut, talk about loving milk, and then get cold-blooded about his opponent. You could say he’s the Swiss Army Knife of the WWE. Or, in Kurt’s case, the American Army Knife.