The Gimmick Table: The Origin of The Genius
Posted: Aug 14th 2024 By: Brian Damage - RingTheDamnBell.Wordpress.com
A gimmick is something that is intended to hook the attention of fans to a wrestler. They may be outrageous or steeped more in reality, whatever the case may be…some have succeeded and many others have failed. The Gimmick Table takes a look at the origins of some of your favorite and not so favorite gimmicks of professional wrestlers.
Today we browse the gimmick of The Genius
‘Leaping’ Lanny Poffo had been working as a babyface undercard wrestler for a few years in the WWF. That all changed in March of 1989, when Vince McMahon held a meeting stating that the company was low on heels. Poffo saw this as an opportunity to try something different with his character and volunteered to turn heel. WWF agent Chief Jay Strongbow laughed at the idea saying that Lanny was too good looking to be a heel and that nobody would buy into it. Poffo quickly came back and said that Strongbow was a babyface for over 30 years and he was ugly as hell…to which garnered laughter in the room. Vince McMahon gave Lanny Poffo a shot to see if he could work as a heel at a house show at the Boston Garden.
Lanny Poffo came out to the ring in his typical fashion and read a complete heel poem that went as follows…My name is Lanny Poffo and I always know what’s up. The Bruins haven’t got a chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Red Sox haven’t won in years and I hope they never do. The Celtics are a travesty; the Patriots are too. After finishing his heel poem, two fans rushed the ring and Poffo was escorted backstage by Boston police. Vince McMahon stood up and clapped for Poffo and decided to give him a chance to work as a heel. Vince gave him some time to come up with a gimmick to fit his new persona. Lanny said he worked with WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel on the development of a new character. Poffo returned to Vince’s office and suggested he be nicknamed Lanny Poffo…Boy Genius. McMahon thought about it and decided to drop the Boy part of the name and just simply call him ‘The Genius.’
Lanny would add to the character by wearing a cap and gown much like his father Angelo Poffo did in his days as a wrestler. He grew out his hair and beard and modeled the Genius after wrestlers Gorgeous George and Ricki Starr. The Genius gimmick lasted for the next three years as both a wrestler and manager which saw Poffo’s biggest achievement in defeating WWF champion Hulk Hogan by count out on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
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Spotlight in History
- 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
- 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
- 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
- 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
- 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
- 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19
- 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
- 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
- 09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
- 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
- 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
- 09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
- 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
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- 09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
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- 09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
- 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
- 09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
- 09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
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- 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
- 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
- 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
- 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
- 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
- 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
- 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
- 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
- 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
- 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
- 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
- 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
- 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
- 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
- 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
- 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
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