History EnsembleDarkHorse / ProfessionalWrestling

* Wrestling/AJLee started as a losing ''Wrestling/{{WWE NXT}}'' entrant, but after her reintroduction became wildly popular. Once the creative team recognised that, she was pushed, and given a General Manager role on ''Raw'', followed by winning the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-diva.html WWE Divas' Title]] soon after.

** Part of the reason for Richards' popularity was he was on Heat for years without being fired, and had an ironic gimmick about his lack of popularity.

* [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] and Wrestling/{{Ryback}} were both former [[Wrestling/TheNexus Nexus]] members, and both of them are popular today.

* A developmental example. When footage from an NXT promo class leaked online, several promos saw developmental Diva Alexa Bliss playing the girlfriend of redneck Scott Dawson. She got lots of praise from fans, who eagerly awaited her debut.

* Wrestling/AlSnow started his career in 1982, but didn't really get much television exposure until he arrived in Wrestling/{{SMW}} in 1994-1995. He spent years jobbing in WWE under failed gimmicks (Avatar and Leif Cassidy of the New Rockers) until he got shipped down to Wrestling/{{ECW}}, where he started the [[ConsultingMisterPuppet "Head"]] gimmick, which got him over. Even with this newfound popularity and recognition, he still has only one [=PPV=] main event to his name (a loss to [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ecw/ecw-h.html ECW World Heavyweight Champion]] "The Franchise" Shane Douglas at ''ECW [=WrestlePalooza=] 98'', May 3, 1998.)

* Despite their status as jobbers, 3MB (Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre) has a pretty big following and is the subject of the "Reasons to Like 3MB" meme.

* Despite what VinceRusso may want you to believe, nearly every luchador in Wrestling/{{WCW}} had a pretty easy time getting over, no matter their usage. Examples would be SilverKing and ElDandy, icons in Mexico who never received notable pushes or much to do but have still stayed remembered by American fans. But nobody got more bang for their buck than LaParka, who has been a star in every promotion he's ever worked, including WCW. Even KevinNash, who couldn't book his way out of a paper bag, decided that he was going to put him in the main event of his last show as head booker in 1999, because Parka was just that over.

* Despite what [[Wrestling/VinceRusso] may want you to believe, nearly every luchador in [[Wrestling/WCW]] had a pretty easy time getting over, no matter their usage. Examples would be Silver King and El Dandy, icons in Mexico who never received notable pushes or much to do but have still stayed remembered by American fans. But nobody got more bang for their buck than [[Wrestling/LaParka]], who has been a star in every promotion he's ever worked, including WCW. Even [[Wrestling/KevinNash]], who couldn't book his way out of a paper bag, decided that he was going to put him in the main event of his last show as head booker in 1999, because Parka was that fun to watch.

* Wrestling/StevieRichards in WWE. On the September 10, 2007 ''Raw,'' [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]]'s flunky Jonathan Coachman told him that, in the online poll on WWE's website of who the fans thought would be revealed to be Vince's "son," Richards was in second place, leading to Coach bringing Richards in to see Vince. Considering how Richards had not held a title for five years[[note]]He scored his 22nd, and final, win of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-hc.html WWE Hardcore Title]] for less than a day on August 18, 2002[[/note]] and had not even had a [=PPV=] match[[note]]The [=Mexicools=] (Juventud Guerrera, [=Psicosis=] and Super Crazy) d. the Blue World Order (Richards, Wrestling/TheBlueMeanie and [[Wrestling/MikeBucci Nova]]) at ''WWE The Great American Bash 2005'' on July 24, 2005[[/note]] in two years at that point, it just showed how Richards had been able to retain a fan base from his years in ECW.

* Wrestling/ChrisBenoit was admired by a large section of the {{Smark}} community for his technical ability as he moved from Wrestling/{{ECW}} to Wrestling/{{WCW}} then Wrestling/{{WWE}}. This underground popularity was enough for him to get a push to win the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-h.html WWE World Heavyweight Title]] at ''Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} 20''. Even after he murdered his wife Nancy, his son Daniel then killed himself, there are still those who look to his work in the job without looking into his disgraceful death.

* Al Snow started his career in 1982, but didn't really get much television exposure until he arrived in Wrestling/{{SMW}} in 1994-1995. He spent years jobbing in WWE under failed gimmicks (Avatar and Leif Cassidy of the New Rockers) until he got shipped down to Wrestling/{{ECW}}, where he started the [[ConsultingMisterPuppet "Head"]] gimmick, which got him over. Even with this newfound popularity and recognition, he still has only one [=PPV=] main event to his name (a loss to [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ecw/ecw-h.html ECW World Heavyweight Champion]] "The Franchise" Shane Douglas at ''ECW [=WrestlePalooza=] 98'', May 3, 1998.)

* [[BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] and Main/{{Ryback}} were both former [[TheNexus Nexus]] members, and both of them are popular today.

* Wrestling/ChrisBenoit was admired by a large section of the {{Smark}} community for his technical ability as he moved from Wrestling/{{ECW}} to Wrestling/{{WCW}} then Wrestling/{{WWE}}. This underground popularity was enough for him to get a push to win the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-h.html WWE RAW World Heavyweight Title]] at ''Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} 20''. Even after he murdered his wife Nancy, his son Daniel then killed himself, there are still those who look to his work in the job without looking into his disgraceful death.

* Wrestling/StevieRichards in WWE. On the September 10, 2007 ''Raw,'' [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]]'s flunky Jonathan Coachman told him that, in the online poll on WWE's website of who the fans thought would be revealed to be Vince's "son," Richards was in second place, leading to Coach bringing Richards in to see Vince. Considering how Richards had not held a title for five years[[note]]He scored his 22nd, and final, win of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-hc.html WWE Hardcore Title]] for less than a day on August 18, 2002[[/note]] and had not even had a [=PPV=] match[[note]]The [=Mexicools=] (Juventud Guerrera, [=Psicosis=] and Super Crazy) d. the Blue World Order (Richards, the Blue Meanie and [[Wrestling/MikeBucci Nova]]) at ''WWE The Great American Bash 2005'' on July 24, 2005[[/note]] in two years at that point, it just showed how Richards had been able to retain a fan base from his years in ECW.

* Wrestling/StevieRichards in WWE. On the September 10, 2007 ''Raw,'' [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]]'s flunky Jonathan Coachman told him that, in the online poll on WWE's website of who the fans thought would be revealed to be Vince's "son," Richards was in second place, leading to Coach bringing Richards in to see Vince. Considering how Richards had not held a title for five years[[note]]He scored his 22nd, and final, win of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-hc.html WWE Hardcore Title]] for less than a day on August 18, 2002[[/note]] and had not even had a [=PPV=] match[[note]]The [=Mexicools=] (Juventud Guerrera, [=Psicosis=] and Super Crazy) d. the Blue World Order (Richards, the Blue Meanie and [[Wrestling/MikeBucci Nova]]( at ''WWE The Great American Bash 2005'' on July 24, 2005[[/note]] in two years at that point, it just showed how Richards had been able to retain a fan base from his years in ECW.

* Stevie Richards in WWE. On the September 10, 2007 ''Raw,'' [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]]'s flunky Jonathan Coachman told him that, in the online poll on WWE's website of who the fans thought would be revealed to be Vince's "son," Richards was in second place, leading to Coach bringing Richards in to see Vince. Considering how Richards had not held a title for five years[[note]]He scored his 22nd, and final, win of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-hc.html WWE Hardcore Title]] for less than a day on August 18, 2002[[/note]] and had not even had a [=PPV=] match[[note]]The [=Mexicools=] (Juventud Guerrera, [=Psicosis=] and Super Crazy) d. the Blue World Order (Richards, the Blue Meanie and [[Wrestling/MikeBucci Nova]]( at ''WWE The Great American Bash 2005'' on July 24, 2005[[/note]] in two years at that point, it just showed how Richards had been able to retain a fan base from his years in ECW.

* Stevie Richards in WWE. On the September 10, 2007 ''Raw,'' [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]]'s flunky Jonathan Coachman told him that, in the online poll on WWE's website of who the fans thought would be revealed to be Vince's "son," Richards was in second place, leading to Coach bringing Richards in to see Vince. Considering how Richards had not held a title for five years[[note]]He scored his 22nd, and final, win of the [[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-hc.html WWE Hardcore Title]] for less than a day on August 18, 2002[[/note]] and had not even had a [=PPV=] match[[note]]The [=Mexicools=] (Juventud Guerrera, [=Psicosis=] and Super Crazy) d. the Blue World Order (Richards, the Blue Meanie and [[Wrestling/MikeBucci Nova]] at ''WWE The Great American Bash 2005'' on July 24, 2005[[/note]] in two years at that point, it just showed how Richards had been able to retain a fan base from his years in ECW.

* Paul Burchill's pirate gimmick was immensely popular, yet he was not used well at all. When Vince McMahon, who didn't get the gimmick, made Burchill drop it, there was a widespread outcry from fans. This didn't stop McMahon having his way.

* Wrestling/MickieJames]] and her psycho lesbian gimmick was incredibly popular in the women's division.

* [[Characters/WWEDivas Mickie James]] and her psycho lesbian gimmick was incredibly popular in the women's division.

Pro wrestling features an elaborate set of character alignments written by the people who create the show. A {{Heel}} is the bad guy. The {{Face}} is the good guy. A {{Tweener}} is a character who shares aspects of both sides in their character, or one who gets cheered like a face despite behaving like a heel.

* Wrestling/AJLee started as a losing NXT entrant, but after her reintroduction became wildly popular. Once the creative team recognised that, she was pushed, and given a General Manager role, followed by winning the Women's Title soon after.
* {{Christian}} always had a following far greater than his mid-table position in the WWF suggested.
* ChrisBenoit was admired by a large section of the {{Smark}} community for his technical ability as he moved from {{ECW}} to {{WCW}} then the {{WWE}}. This underground popularity was enough for him to get a push to win the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania 20. Even after he murdered his wife Nancy, his son Daniel then killed himself, there are still those who look to his work in the job without looking into his disgraceful death.
* DolphZiggler was supposedly a heel all the way from his debut until he won the World Heavyweight Title the night after Wrestlemania. Not that you would've noticed from the booming cheers when it happened.
* Mickie James and her pyscho lesbian gimmick was incredibly popular in the women's division.

Pro wrestling features an elaborate set of character alignments written by the people who create the show that also must be measured against their reception by the fans.

A {{Heel}} is the bad guy. The {{Face}} is the good guy. A {{Tweener}} is a character who shares aspects of both sides in their character, or one who gets cheered like a face despite behaving like a heel.

* Mickie James and her pyscho lesbian gimmick was incredibly popular in the women's division.

* ChrisBenoit was admired by a large section of the {{Smark}} community for his technical ability, and that was enough for him to get a push to win the WWF Championship.
* Mickie James and her pyscho lesbian gimmick was incredibly popular in the women's division.
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