Who am I? Challenge Game

[BK-097]

Not Beefcake or HBK

1) I have several ties to the wrestling talk show segment format
2) My attire from an earlier stage of my career had an enduring legacy well beyond my departure from wrestling
3) My most-remembered gimmick led to a real transformation for me.
4) I uniquely have the following varied Observer Awards to my name: worst gimmick (twice); most embarrassing wrestler; most improved wrestler; most underrated wrestler
5) have a strong sense of direction.

[PEN15v2]

Adonis fits some clues, but not all, but I'll guess Adrien Adonis

[BK-097]

Yep.

he had a partnership with Ventura and Ventura had the body shop. He gave Piper his leather jacket on Piper’s Pit when he was transitioning gimmicks to the Adorable gimmick. He had the Flower Shop

the leather jacket he gave Piper was worn by Piper for much of his WCW run in the late 90s as a tribute to Adonis

he went through a major character transformation including gaining quite a bit of weight as part of the Adorable gimmick. Rumor has it he was actually asked to gain weight by MacMahon

won those WON awards

Sense of direction - was a part of the East-West Connection with Ventura and was part of the North-South Connection with Murdoch

[PEN15v2]

That makes more sense.

1 - Former promotional champion before they had a world title
2 - I have an attachment to the Rock
3 - My theme music was shared with another Hall of Fame wrestler

[BK-097]

Don Muraco - can fit him for all three clues (I assume then other HFer he shared theme music with is Superstar Billy Graham)

[PEN15v2]

Correct, and yes on the theme song.

[BK-097]

cool..figured that was the theme song. It definitely required me thinking back to my childhood as a big Don Muraco fan to get that piece of it.

1) My only world title reign came about a year or two too late
2) I come from a wrestling family, but the nature of my familial relationship has oftentimes been misrepresented
3) I have wrestled in three PPV events emanating from Chicago and lost at all three

[Powder]

Another clue please....

[BK-097]

Will do

1) My only world title reign came about a year or two too late
2) I come from a wrestling family, but the nature of my familial relationship has oftentimes been misrepresented
3) I have wrestled in three PPV events emanating from Chicago and lost at all three
4) I wrestled, refereed, and was a ring announcer for the same promotion

[PEN15v2]

Terry Funk?

[BK-097]

Not Terry Funk.

1) My only world title reign came about a year or two too late
2) I come from a wrestling family, but the nature of my familial relationship has oftentimes been misrepresented
3) I have wrestled in three PPV events emanating from Chicago and lost at all three
4) I wrestled, refereed, and was a ring announcer for the same promotion
5) I had ring gear specifically designed to counter one my competitors’ ring gear.

[PEN15v2]

Ronnie Garvin

What's the 3rd PPV? Starrcade 87, Survivor Series 89., but I don't know the third.

[BK-097]

Well done Pen. I assumed you’d be all over this one. The third PPV was the atrocity known as SuperClash III

[PEN15v2]

I never even thought of AWA. Well done.
I was stuck with the PPV clue, as I looked up all NWA/WCW/WWF PPVs in Chicago, and found no one that fit those descriptions. I did consider Rugged Ron, but couldn't find that 3rd PPV event. And Funk, I wondered if it was the ECW title that was late.

Anyways:

1 - Though having gold in the singles divisions, I'm often recognized for my roles in stables in multiple promotions
2 - Injuries were significant moments in my career in a couple of ways
3 - While I still have taken bumps and a rare match, once I retired I was in a backstage or non-active role.

[BK-097]

I don’t think this is right but I’ll give it a whirl. Arm Anderson.