5 Wrestlers Who Looked Better Without Their Face Paint (& 5 Who Didn't)
Face paint is an underrated way for wrestlers to showcase their personality and stand out without going over the top. Quite a few wrestlers competed under face paint full-time in WWE, WCW, AEW and other promotions. Certain talents went back and forth between the paint or not depending on the situation or story.
There were instances of wrestlers with full-time face paint losing it as a match went on due to the sweat and grueling time inside of the ring. Some names looked better with the paint, while others were better off with their normal face. The following wrestlers showed examples of each side when it comes to the use of face paint in the wrestling industry.
10 Better Without Paint: Papa Shango
The Voodoo Gimmick Failed Badly
Close- Papa Shango Was A Terrible Idea
- Kama Mustafa Had More Credibility
- The Godfather Was His Peak Success
WWE wanted Papa Shango to become a successful heel character using voodoo to harm his rivals. A program with Ultimate Warrior flopped badly to show that WWE was completely misfiring with this character struggling to get over.
Papa Shango ended after a few years with Charles Wright losing the face paint to become Kama Mustafa and The Godfather later in his career. More success came his way without the face paint since he was naturally intimidating as a big man with a fighting background.
9 Better With Paint: Sting
So Many Great Face Paint Looks
Close- Face Paint Helped Define His Career
- Fans View It As Part Of His Identity
- Most Successful Face-Painted Wrestler
Most fans would name Sting as the greatest wrestler to have face paint since he became a main eventer, world champion and legend with the unique look. Sting kept innovating the look with various face paints to match his character with the surfer, crow, Wolfpac and Joker versions.
Fans did get to see Sting unmasked on a few occasions in longer matches or even in TNA when he appeared without the paint in the Main Event Mafia. Sting looked way cooler with paint and will likely always keep it for the rest of his AEW career.
8 Better Without Paint: Crush
Looked More Intimidating Without Paint
Close- Demolition Run Started The Look
- WWE Tried A New Face Paint Design For Singles Run
- Ultimately Looked Better Without Any Paint
WWE once viewed Brian Adams as a future top star under the name and persona of Crush. It made sense for Crush to have face paint in Demolition when joining the legendary tag team. Crush had a few different face paint designs in his singles career before dropped it.
The size and intimidating nature of Crush made him more intimidating without the face paint, especially when he had darker hair. Crush’s career didn’t pan out as expected, but this wasn’t due to not having face paint. The previous look held him back and prevented fans from viewing him with credibility.
7 Better With Paint: Umaga
His Career Took Off With New Look
Close- Needed To Rebuild Career After Tag Team Disappointment
- Umaga Was A Fully New Persona
- Face Paint Added To His Best Run
Umaga had such success with his face paint and intimidating persona that fans often forget about his time as Jamal in 3 Minute Warning. The tag team of Jamal and Rosey delivered had potential, but they never hit that during a short run together.
Jamal returned to the company a few years later as Umaga with the face paint as the Samoan Bulldozer. Umaga became one of the most intimidating heels having strong programs with top babyfaces like John Cena and Triple H to show how a change can help one’s career.
6 Better Without Paint: Rico
Fans Were Confused Over Rico's Role In WWE
Close- Added Face Paint Too Late After Debut
- Look Was Associated With Failed Tag Team
- Rico Managed Better Than He Wrestled
The original role for Rico in WWE was a manager with the tag team of Billy and Chuck as their wedding planner. Rico betrayed them to manage 3 Minute Warning after helping Eric Bischoff set up an attack on Smackdown as part of the brand split rivalry.
WWE moved Rico into a full-time wrestling role where he started sporting colorful face paint. The tag team run of Rico and Charlie Haas with Miss Jackie as their manager didn’t provide much success. Rico’s face paint felt random as opposed to his previous look since the change came out of nowhere.
5 Better With Paint: The Great Muta
WCW Fans Fell In Love With His Face Paint
Close- Helped Make WCW/NJPW Relationship A Success
- Face Paint & Mist Became Part Of His Act
- Mask Felt Pointless After Losing Paint
Japanese legend The Great Muta was one of the first talents from there to appear regularly in the United States as part of the WCW and NJPW working relationship. Fans loved Muta quickly due to his face paint standing out and providing the perfect look.
Muta using the green mist to blind his opponents led to him having both a look and an attack that were each new to American fans. Later years saw Muta wrestling without his face paint and even adopting a mask, but many fans missed his cool look since it was part of his appeal to them.
4 Better Without Paint: Booker T
Going Back To A Failed Gimmick Was A Bad Idea
Close- Booker T Came Up With Gimmick When Starting Wrestling
- G.I. Bro Almost Ruined His Momentum
- Ditching Gimmick Led To His Greatest Success
Booker T came up with the gimmick of G.I. Bro himself in his early years dressing like he was in the military and having camouflage face paint. WCW foolishly asked Booker to bring the character back in 2000 when he had become one of the most popular singles face characters.
The look returned with Booker wearing face paint for seemingly no reason as the gimmick failed to get over. Booker ditching this idea and going back to his usual look led to him winning the WCW Championship for the first time.
3 Better With Paint: Goldust
Face Paint Changed His Career For The Better
Close- Goldust Look Gave His Career New Life
- Struggled Without Face Paint In WCW
- Changed It Up With New Look Today
Dustin Rhodes could succeed with or without face paint, but there is no denying that a new look and identity as Goldust helped him move to the next level. Goldust had a unique look that felt truly groundbreaking for the time when WWE introduced him.
Future runs without face paint saw Dustin struggling to find the same success. Even the current AEW run sees Rhodes with new color schemes to update his look while also providing similar appeal. Dustin enjoys wearing face paint as part of his career that fans expect whenever he still performs.
2 Better Without Paint: Finn Balor
Rare Instance Of Being Great With Or Without Paint
Close- Started Using Paint In Japan
- Demon Paint Is Better Saved As Attraction
- Fans Would Miss His Normal Look If Always Painted
The most difficult name to make a decision for being better with or without face paint is Finn Balor. Body paint is used by Finn when he taps into his Demon persona in WWE. Balor started this off back in Japan when he would design paint to look like various characters like Spider-Man or The Joker.
Fans love the face paint of Finn, but it would become a problem if he wore it every match. Balor has a great look without any help that plays into his success. The paint becoming a special attraction for big matches as the Demon works much better as Balor looks great in 95% of matches without it.
1 Better With Paint: Ultimate Warrior
Paint Helped Make Him A Star
Close- Young Fans Fell In Love With Warrior's Paint
- Helped Hide His Weaknesses
- Reached Top Of WWE With Paint
WWE found their first massive star to use face paint when the Ultimate Warrior got over. The instant popularity of Warrior was due to the theatrics of his unique look of colorful face paint and tassels along with a fun entrance.
Young fans loved getting their faces painted to match Warrior, and it helped him reach that peak top level with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. Warrior looked less appealing any time he lost his face paint during the rare longer matches that made him work.
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