There wasn't much in the way of wrestling news today, so I'll instead rely on commentary... I know: everything I write here is commentary already... just work with me here:

With Kronik debuting in a WWF ring this week, I began thinking of how gimmicks either bury or elevate a wrestler. Let's just look at both members:

Bryan Adams: He has a lot of history with the WWF. First appearing as the third member of Demolition, the paint-faced Crush didn't get very popular with fans. As "Kona Crush", without paint and a simple orange leotard, fans started to dig him. Then came his brief heel turn before leaving - in part due to his alleged gun-running.

He returned, this time as a biker and leader of The Disciples of the Apocalypse (DOA). He never really caught on under that gimmick, and left for WCW during the Brett Hart debacle.

First, they tried him under his real name, as a member of the nWo. Didn't work. Finally, after a long layoff he and his partner returned as Kronik - really an APA clone - but it took off.

Brian Clark: He began in the WWF as a cartoony character, Atom Bomb. A borderline mid-carder who started to get a push, but was let go.

In WCW, he was dragged into the ridiculous Blood Runs Cold angle, as Wrath. He was over at first, more from the surprise value, but his popularity faded quick. For awhile, he teamed with Chris Kanyon (then called Mortis, another guy wasted in the BRE angle), and their tag team didn't prove big with the fans either.

He was out for almost a year due to injury and repackaging plans, and returned in Kronik as well. Suddenly, his popularity soared.

Gimmicks do indeed make or break a wrestler - after all, would the Ringmaster be as popular if he hadn't become Stone Cold?