Professional wrestling ring attire has been an important part of sports entertainment since the heyday of Gorgeous George in the 1950s. The former AWA World Champion famously wore elaborate robes to ringside. His ring attire would personify his flamboyant character. In the Golden Age of WWE, Hulk Hogan was exclusively linked to his red and yellow attire. Macho Man Randy Savage was known for his flamboyant attire that highlighted large sunglasses and never before seen hats.
In WCW, in the 1990s, ring attire was a very important aspect of character development and presentation as well. The WCW franchise Sting would be known for his neon colors and face paint in the early 90s, and known for black and white and trench coats in the late 90s. Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner was known for his metal chain head dress. Even, a mid-card star like Johnny B Badd was known for his ring attire. Some bad WCW wrestlers did have great ring attire as well.
10 The Artist With Paisley
In 1997 Prince Iaukea held the WCW Television Championship for 2 months.Yet, other than the two month tv title reign, Iaukea did not accomplish much with that gimmick. Enter WCW 2000, Iaukea would become the Artist Formerly Known As Prince Iaukea. Quickly shortened to The Artist and given a former Nitro Girl as his valet, Paisley.
The Artist and Paisley would compete for the Cruiserweight title and feud with Chris Candido and Tammy. The Artist and Paisley's ring attire was highlighted by the color purple, and Iaukea would wear a hat and a long purple velvet coat.
9 Renegade
The Renegade would debut at Uncensored 1995, billed as the ultimate surprise by Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. The Renegade's build to Uncensored made many fans believe the Ultimate Warrior would be debuting in World Championship Wrestling. The Renegade would debut as a face painted, crazy haired muscleman that favored the Ultimate Warrior.
His ring attire consisted of bright air brushed wrestling tights, and neon colored face paint. Unfortunately, the Renegade was considered an Ultimate Warrior ripoff and his character never lived up to his billing as "the man to lead HulkaMania into the 21st Century.
8 Oz
Oz would be a terrible gimmick by future WWE Hall of Famer and 6 time World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash. Oz would only defeat enhancement talent during his run in World Championship Wrestling. Oz lost matches to Ron Simmons, Dustin Rhodes, Sting, PN News, Bobby Eaton and Bill Kazmaier.
Eventually the Oz character was dropped for a run as Vinnie Vegas. Yet, as Oz, Nash had outlandish ring attire that stood out in that era of WCW. Billed from Emerald City, his green robe, hat and wig were flamboyant. As Oz, Kevin Nash didn't achieve anything as a wrestler, but his ring attire is memorable.
7 Miss Hancock
Stacy Keibler was named as a part of the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame class. Yet, Keibler did not win a title in her career. Her skills in the ring, were never the reason for her success. She would debut her Miss Hancock character in the dying days of WCW.
As Miss Hancock, she would jump off the screen with her business suit and short skirt with librarian glasses. The Miss Hancock character would lose pay per view matches to other inexperienced wrestlers such as Daffney and Major Gunns. While Miss Hancock's wrestling ability was suspect, her ring attire highlighted a very popular character.
6 La Parka
While LA Park is a legendary Mexican wrestler, his La Parka gimmick in WCW was not very successful. La Parka would join World Championship Wrestling in 1996 with several other Mexican talents to boost the WCW Cruiserweight division. Yet, La Parka stood 6'1 and weighed 270 pounds and didn't fit the same Cruiserweight style as WWE Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio, Psychosis and Juventud Guerrera.
In WCW, La Parka would have a comedic style with outlandish ring attire. His luchadore style consisted of a mask and skeleton designed costume. In his most infamous WCW moment, Diamond Dallas Page dressed up as La Parka in a match with Randy Savage.
5 KroniK
Kronik featured two 6'6, 300 pound musclemen in Bryan Clarke and Brian Adams. The two time WCW World Tag Team Champions were not very good in the ring. While their appearance would jump off television screens with their matching leather, barbed wire ring attire. Their in ring skill would be very lacking in World Championship Wrestling.
KroniK would copy popular WWE tag team, the APA as muscle for hire tag team gimmick. KroniK's catchphrase was "breakin necks and cashin checks". Their poor in ring performances led to WWE not picking up their initial contracts during the purchase of WCW. Yet, due to their appearance, WWE, would sign them in September 2001. Both members would be released from WWE before the end of 2001.
4 Charles Robinson
For most of his career, Charles Robinson has been a very well respected professional wrestling referee. Yet, Robinson's alter ego is "Little Naitch". Little Naitch would make his professional wrestling debut against Randy Savage's valet Gorgeous George at Slamboree 1999. Little Naitch would fall to the WCW vixen but most definitely debuted some incredible ring attire.
Little Naitch would wear a robe similar to the Nature Boy Ric Flair's robes. Naitch and Nature Boy would team up for a tag team bout against Savage and George on Monday Nitro. During the match Little Naitch recieved a botched elbow from the Macho Man, leading to cracked vertebrae and a collapsing lung.
3 Major Gunns
Major Gunns would join the Misfits in Action in WCW 2000. As a member of MIA, Gunns would wear a white tank top that she would rip off Hulk Hogan style to reveal her camouflage bikini top. Her ring attire would garner her a lot of attention during her run in WCW. Yet, her wrestling skills would not make the same impact.
Gunns would wrestle other inexperienced performers throughout World Championship Wrestling in 2000. Gunns battled Paisley, Tygress, Miss Hancock. and Ms. Jones during WCW's final full year. Major Gunns had the ability to be a solid sports entertainment valet, but she was not an in ring professional wrestler.
2 Kiss Demon
The Kiss Demon's ring attire looked like that of a huge professional wrestling star. With a black and red leather cape that was highlighted by spikes and Kiss inspired face paint, the Demon had the look of a main event star. At 6'7 and near 300 pounds the Kiss Demon had the size and look to impact sports entertainment in WCW.
The Kiss Demon was contractually obligated for one PPV main event and that would occur at SuperBrawl 2000. The Demon was such a poor professional wrestler the billed main event match would occur as the fourth match on the card. The Demon also lost his match to the Wall. The Demon looked the look, but couldn't walk the walk as a professional wrestling superstar.
1 Glacier
Glacier most definitely debuted during the wrong era of professional wrestling. His Mortal Kombat inspired gimmick would debut alongside the reality based New World Order in WCW. Fans couldn't get enough of the nWo and didn't want any of Glacier. Yet, Glacier's ring attire looked like it came straight out of a comic book.
Glacier's attire included a martial arts helmet, a mask that wrapped around his face and a shoulder pad that looked like it came out of an Asian temple. Glacier's look was legitimate to his character, unfortunately fans did not embrace his gimmick.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKeoqqSowaa%2BjZympmeSlrFuw8KwZLCqlajBrbHRrGSapZGvtq%2BzjKugp59dnLKivo4%3D