20 best WWE gimmicks of all time, ranked
By Mark Lynch
4. Paul Heyman
Real name: Paul Heyman
"You can sell your soul to the devil but your (censored) belongs to Brock Lesnar!" -Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman is the guy you want in your corner. Almost anyone he’s attached himself to has become a world champion. CM Punk, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, and, of course, Roman Reigns are all examples of this. In a lot of ways, his stamp of approval means more than Vince McMahon’s. It isn't just the company he makes believe. The fans gravitate to anyone he's next to.
What is Heyman’s gimmick? It’s simple, he’s Paul Heyman. He promotes his wrestlers better than anyone has. He speaks and makes his guys more than sports entertainers. They become larger than life. They don't even need to be in the same state. He picks up a microphone and reminds the world that, even in their absence, their presence should be felt. That’s why being a “Paul Heyman Guy” is one of the biggest compliments you can receive.
3. The Rock
Real name: Dwayne Johnson
"If you smell what The Rock is cooking!" -The Rock
The Rock is the WWE’s greatest success story. Dwayne Johnson created a personality and never looked back. He’s arrogant, proud, strong, and holds the crowd in the palm of his hands. Even when he’s been gone for years, he returns to a roar of applause.
What is the Rock’s gimmick? I’ll use one of his quotes: “The jabroni beating, pie eating, trail-blazin', eyebrow raisin', all around, smack it down People's Champion.” In short, he talks a bunch of trash and electrifies the crowd. Do a lot of people do that? Yes, but none of them do it like Dwayne Johnson. There'd be no LA Knight or Roman Reigns without The Rock. He is probably the best talker in WWE history.