Ranking The Top 20 Best Characters, Gimmicks In Wrestling

12. Aleister Black: WWE NXT

“No man is ever truly good, no man is every truly evil. I’ll do the things you’ve never done. And we will never be equal.”

I’m a downright sucker for a professional wrestler embodying their theme song, and I’m not just talking about Roderick Strong naming his finisher after Killswitch Engage’s “End of Heartache”.

Aleister Black lies somewhere in the realm between good and evil, to the point where it is impossible to tell who is the babyface or the heel in his matches. For example, his incredible “Feud of the Year” candidate program with Velveteen Dream featured a storyline in which the Velveteen Dream, who will make an appearance in the top ten of this list, wanted Black’s acknowledgment.

He went through every tactic in the book, such as ambushing either Black or Black’s opponent that taping, to get recognition. In the end, Black said, “Enjoy infamy, Velveteen Dream,” and Dream was absolutely on “Cloud Nine” following the match despite the loss.

The aura around Black goes beyond just his theme song. He’s smooth in the ring, his entrance is wonderful, and his down-to-earth character is something that members of the audience can relate to. He lets his smooth yet hard-hitting style to the talking for him, as he tends to focus more on being a competitor than glitz and glamor. And hey, that juxtaposition between he and the Velveteen Dream helped make that feud memorable.

Personally, I’m not one of Black’s biggest fans compared to others, but even I can see just how special his gimmick is. He’s dark and sinister, but he’s also calm and reflective. Black is his own man, and no single label can adequately describe his place on NXT.

That, my friends, is the power of a nuanced – but wonderfully basic – character.