Nostalgia is a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to pro wrestling. Regardless if the Attitude Era was really that good, or if people just keep seeing it through rose-colored glasses, it was the greatest time to be a wrestling fan. It's easy to remember the legendary moments, but it was all the little touches and characters that made it all so successful.
The focus today won't be on The Rocks and Stone Colds of the era, but on the forgotten wrestlers who tried to do their part during mainstream wrestling's peak. Many of them succeeded at entertaining the fans despite their small role, but others weren't as successful.
9 Awesome: Dan Severn
Before "The Beast Incarnate" Brock Lesnar brought his impressive UFC resume back to WWE, there was another notorious mixed martial artist that held the "Beast" moniker.
Dan Severn was a scary dude. Not only was he a decorated fighter in the UFC, he was also the NWA World Champion when he brought his services to the WWE. He didn't attain much success during the Attitude Era, mostly because he was a legitimate fighter who couldn't handle the "entertainment" aspect of wrestling.
8 Not-So-Great: The Headbangers
Bald heads, cheap facepaint, plaid skirts, and moshing - that basically sums up The Headbangers. These metalheads weren't offensive, but nothing about them was particularly memorable, especially when it came to the ring.
The Headbangers were very much a product of the Attitude Era, getting by on their characters and their antics rather than their wrestling skill. Still, they did manage one WWE Tag Team Title reign and made periodic appearances with the company in 2016.
7 Awesome: Essa Rios
While his stay with the company wasn't very long, Essa Rios did the most with what he was given. He debuted in WWE's Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament in 1997 at the age of 19, under the ring name Aguila. He even competed against the champion Taka Michinoku in a losing effort at WrestleMania XIV.
Aguila would leave for ECW and re-debut in WWE as Essa Rios, winning the WWE Light Heavyweight Title from Gillberg. During this time he was managed by Lita, right before her Team Xtreme days.
6 Not-So-Great: Tiger Ali Singh
A second-generation wrestler who barely achieved any success in wrestling, Tiger Ali Singh was a Ted DiBiase ripoff without the charisma or the in-ring talent. He would make audience members do ridiculous and gross things for cash, and even had his own Virgil, his manservant Babu.
Singh was a Sunday Night Heat regular who managed to stay employed for five years with the WWE. He also served as the manager for another forgotten tag team, Lo Down.
5 Awesome: Tori
It's quite obvious many female Superstars were underutilized (or weren't used properly) during the Attitude Era, a time where women were employed mostly for their looks and not their wrestling acumen.
Tori had a great presence, being a former fitness champion, and was involved with D-Generation X. She was even Kane's girlfriend! She never achieved much from an in-ring perspective, though, besides one heated feud with Women's Champion Ivory.
4 Not-So-Great: The Oddities
Some WWE fans may remember The Oddities, but their origin story is something only the most hardcore enthusiasts remember. Before hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse rapped themselves into the babyface group, The Oddities were a heel stable known as The Parade of Human Oddities. They were led by The Jackyl following The Truth Commission's breakup.
Kurrgan, Luna Vachon, Golga (aka Earthquake), and Giant Silva weren't very entertaining; there's only so much you can do with ICP, a circus freak gimmick and limited performers.
3 Awesome: Kai En Tai
It's 2020, and Dick Togo is still an evil man, 20+ years since his Kai En Tai days. While he's currently spreading EVIL in NJPW as part of Bullet Club, Togo was also involved in one of the most infamous Attitude Era skits, one that almost cost Val Venis his manhood.
Kai En Tai is INDEED mostly remembered for Taka Michinoku and Funaki's hilarious antics, but they were a legitimate heel group before with plenty of talent.
2 Not-So-Great: Meat
And the award for the worst wrestling name from the 90s goes to... Meat. He was very much a product of his time. Shawn Stasiak lacked the "it" factor and was regulated to being treated like, well, meat.
He was the plaything of Terri Runnels, Jacqueline, and Ryan Shamrock aka The Pretty Mean Sisters. It was all very forgettable that didn't lead to anything for any of the people involved. Stasiak would later return to the WWE for another failed stint, this time with his Planet Stasiak gimmick.