10 Wrestling Characters Who Are Nothing Like Their Gimmicks In Real Life

Wrestlers always play gimmicks and exaggerated versions of themselves inside the ring in a bid to entertain people. Some wrestlers take on gimmicks that are very close to the real-life versions of themselves, which makes it reasonably easy for them to portray the character.

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Meanwhile, others like Ric Flair end up morphing into their gimmick as that becomes part of who they are, which makes the differences tough to determine. However, there are plenty of wrestlers who are nothing like the characters that they portray on television, with the real-life versions of themselves being vastly different from what fans see on-screen.

10 Kane Isn't Really A Monster

He's One Of The Most Intelligent Wrestlers Ever

WWE Tenure: 1995 - 2020 (Sporadic appearances since)
Current Mayor of Knox County
WWE Hall Of Famer

Kane is one of the legendary gimmicks in wrestling, with this character being portrayed as a genuine monster who people should fear whenever he appears. He can summon fire by raising his arms, and focused on putting fear into people over the years, but that's not what he's like in real life.

Kane is one of the smartest wrestlers in WWE history, which has led him to having a career in politics outside of the ring. It's the last thing most people would expect when seeing him in WWE, as he is completely different from his gimmick.

9 Bryan Danielson Isn't As Aggressive

He's Enjoys Nature And Is A Family Man

Member of Blackpool Combat Club
Father of two children
Grows his own vegetables

Bryan Danielson's current AEW gimmick is all about violence, fighting, and the love of combat. He will happily make it clear he wants to kick someone's head in while competing in the most hard-hitting matches possible that often leads to plenty of blood.

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However, the reality is that Danielson is nothing like that in person. Instead, he's sweet-natured and kind, being someone who enjoys hiking, growing their own vegetables, and being a family man - which people saw on "Total Divas."

8 Alexa Bliss Is A True Contrast To Her Gimmicks

She's A Disney Lover At Heart

WWE Tenure: 2013 - Present
Bliss is a major DisneyWorld fan
She wanted to work as Tinkerbell in the theme parks

Alexa Bliss has played a few different gimmicks over the years, but none have been anything like the real her. She's been a classic high school bully-type character and an over-the-top supernatural performer as well following her work with The Fiend.

However, Bliss is a sweetheart in real life who loves all things Disney - often being found in the theme parks. She's also a major fan of music, with her personality being completely different from her on-screen persona.

7 The Miz Is A Family Man

He's Not Always The A-Lister

WWE Tenure: 2004 - Present
Father of two children
Married to Maryse

The Miz often plays an egotistical heel who is willing to do anything to make people hate him, and that's something that he has been effective in doing. However, that doesn't mean he is always like that in his real life.

The Miz is a family man away from wrestling, having two daughters whom he puts all of his efforts into. His "Miz & Mrs" reality show allowed people to see him in a completely different manner, proving he's nothing like his gimmick.

6 Mick Foley's Fourth Face

The Fourth Face Is The Real Him

WWE Tenure: 1996 - 2001/ 2003 - 2008/ 2011 - Present (Sporadic Appearances)
Worked as Mankind, Dude Love, and Cactus Jack
Volunteered as Santa for charity in the past

Mick Foley is well-known for portraying three wildly different characters, with Dude Love, Mankind, and Cactus Jack having little in common outside of being played by Foley. However, all of them are over-the-top and popular in their own right, and each is unique.

They helped get him over massively with fans, but they are different from who Foley is as a person. In reality, he's a major family man who absolutely Christmas, with that being a major part of his life.

5 Stephanie McMahon Is Very Different

She's Not Always The Evil Boss

WWE Tenure: 1999 - 2023
Former Interim WWE Chairwoman
Former WWE Women's Champion

On-screen, Stephanie McMahon has been one of the greatest heels in wrestling history. She has happily slapped the taste out of countless wrestler's mouths and trash-talked with the best of them as she has ensured fans had plenty of reasons to boo her.

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However, the real version of her is much kinder, which is something that many wrestlers have spoken about. The outpouring of love she received when being named the interim Chairwoman for WWE showcased the type of person she truly is.

4 Dolph Ziggler Likes To Make People Laugh

He's All About Comedy

WWE Tenure: 2004 - 2023
Former two-time World Heavyweight Champion
Regularly performs stand-up comedy

Throughout Dolph Ziggler's career he has shown a range of emotions, but being seen as a comedic wrestler has never been him. This could be because his in-ring ability was so good that he needed to be booked more seriously, but fans wouldn't know that he's very funny in reality.

However, that is true and it's a big part of his life as well. Ziggler has gone on to do regular stand-up comedy performances, showcasing a completely different side to the Show-Off.

3 Brock Lesnar Is A Sweetheart

He's Not Always Looking To Put Fear Into People

WWE Tenure: 2000 - 2004/ 2012 - Present
Former UFC star
Seven-time WWE Champion

While there are elements of Brock Lesnar's character that are very similar to his real-life personality, that doesn't mean he's completely like his character. Most fans find Lesnar someone to fear and that leads to him having a certain perception amongst the WWE Universe.

Lesnar's fellow wrestlers have often praised him for being a sweetheart behind the scenes, always giving advice and helping others. He previously paid to keep a bar open during a storm so the locker room could hang out together, with Lesnar having often showcased the real side of himself to his peers.

2 Jimmy Hart Isn't Always A Heel

He's A Popular Person

WWE Tenure: 1985 - 1993/ 2011 - Present
Vocalist for The Gentrys
Composed many wrestling theme songs

Jimmy Hart was an effective heel manager, with his ability to frustrate and anger audiences with his antics at the side of the ring and on the microphone. It helped him to become an iconic character, but in real life, he is a very different person.

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He's not just interested in wrestling, with Hart having previously been in a band as well, showcasing a different side of his creative abilities. Meanwhile, he is a genuinely nice person too, which is why WWE often uses him for charity events and press junkets.

1 Mr Perfect Was A Prankster

He Was Less Serious Backstage

WWE Tenure: 1981 - 1983/ 1988 - 1996/ 2002
Died on February 10, 2023
Two-time Intercontinental Champion

Mr Perfect often spent his time in wrestling trying to live up to his gimmick name, and that led to him being seen as quite a serious performer in the eyes of the fans. It worked well for his in-ring style, but it wasn't a good indicator of who he was.

That's because behind the scenes he was notorious for pulling pranks on his fellow wrestlers. He is often named as the ultimate prankster by people who shared a locker room with him, which isn't how most would see him.