There are so many wrestlers out there that it is difficult for a gimmick to be 100% original. Many gimmicks are similar, and even some current wrestlers were inspired by other gimmicks to create their own. But despite the similarities, most wrestlers have professional ethics and try to make their gimmick unique.
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However, over the years there have been some rip-offs across WWE and beyond. These characters didn't have the slightest intention of being original but rather imitated or stole someone else's gimmick, either for their own benefit or just to make fun of it. Reddit's users shared their opinions and mentioned the 10 most blatant rip-offs in the history of wrestling.
10 Dirty Rhodes
Reddit's user MrOldSchoolMike names Dirty Rhodes as one of the most blatant rip-offs in wrestling history. It was a parody of Dusty Rhodes who appeared in the Memphis promotion, Continental Wrestling Association.
You could say today it was something funny, but back in the day should have been unethical and embarrassing. This wrestler was actually Roger Smith, who had a rather lackluster wrestling career and most fans have no idea he even existed.
9 Randy Hogan
While Hulk Hogan was making history in the WWE and was the most popular wrestler in the world, jobber Randy Hogan went unnoticed in WCW. We are talking about a cheap copy of The Hulkster, with the same style, and same mustache, but nothing similar in terms of talent, charisma, and star power.
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Randy Hogan appeared on WCW television several times and even faced wrestlers like Sting and Vader. This was a wild rip-off that most fans don’t remember or simply don’t know about.
8 The Renegade
Another blatant rip-off mentioned by Reddit users is The Renegade, who was an obvious imitation of The Ultimate Warrior. The Renegade was never anywhere near The Ultimate Warrior, and that's precisely why fans hated his gimmick, and it ruined his career.
Richard C. Wilson tried his best, but the gimmick was terrible and didn't work, not to mention that he wasn't a good in-ring performer.
7 Tammy Lynn Bytch
User RAA94 mentioned that Tammy Lynn Bytch was one of the most blatant rip-offs in wrestling history. Dawn Marie was the woman who adopted this gimmick in ECW to mock Tammy Lynn Sytch (also known as Sunny).
The original and the rip-off even faced each other at a couple of events back in 1998, and the original always came out on top. Fortunately, Dawn Marie changed her gimmick and then came to WWE, where she had some good moments.
6 The Rockers
The Rockers were a blatant rip-off of The Rock 'n' Roll Express, notes user Hour_Mastodon_204, and several users agree. The gimmick was very similar, but at least Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were very talented and shined on their own.
They were Tag Team Champions in the AWA and then also rocked in the WWE, although they didn't get the gold as a tag team.
5 Razor Revolution
User Beaverjuk brought up Razor Revolution, a blatant Razor Ramon rip-off. This guy imitated the gimmick and also stole the Razor gang logo. For some reason, Kevin Owens and Chris Hero talked about Razor Revolution on one occasion, and they found it very funny.
They said it was as if the real Razor Ramon traveled into the future in a time machine, but aged along the way. Some Reddit users say they would love to watch a Razor Ramon versus Razor Revolution match.
4 Ric Flair
Believe it or not, some Reddit users also mentioned Ric Flair. They say Flair's entire Nature Boy gimmick was a rip-off of Buddy Rogers, who was certainly the original Nature Boy.
Rogers wrestled in the NWA in the 1950s and in the 1960s worked for WWE and even won the World Championship. Flair used Rogers' gimmick and became one of the greatest characters in the history of sports entertainment, which is why some users consider him a blatant rip-off.
3 Alexander Crowley
User EchoBay mentioned that a wrestler named Alexander Crowley is a blatant rip-off of Malakai Black, and after some digging, it turns out that he's right.
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Crowley has the exact same dark style as Black, with lots of tattoos on his body, same ring gear, and even seems to have the same attitude. Crowley wrestles in independent promotions as a freelancer and in 2023 he had a match in Scotland, at the FPWA Vs. IGPW event.
2 Asya
WWE had Chyna, a pioneer of women's wrestling in America and an icon of the company. WCW didn't want to be left behind, so they also tried to have their own Chyna, but they named her Asya.
However, Asya wasn't half as talented as Chyna was, her in-ring skills weren't good, and she couldn't connect with the fans (which is why her wrestling career went nowhere). Asya was a fraud. This was definitely one of the most blatant rip-offs in wrestling history.
1 Macho Warrior Ric Hogan
The most blatant rip-off in wrestling history is arguably Macho Warrior Ric Hogan. Yes, this gimmick was real, no matter how hard it was to believe it. Michael Imburgia competed under this name in the United States Wrestling Association and in IWA Mid-South in 1996 and 1997.
Macho Warrior Ric Hogan was the USWA Heavyweight Champion for 21 days. It is worth mentioning that he didn’t use this gimmick for a long time, as he also competed as Big Daddy Doom and Tower of Doom.
