alter ego (n.): another side of oneself; a second self.

Through the years, the wrestling industry has had its share of individuals with a penchant for having an alter ego. Some have been open with it, while others have “concealed” it, based on termination from an organization in some form or fashion, and then used their creativity to continue to be “gainfully employed." Let’s take a look at a number of folks who concocted their own unusual guises. ( PHOTOS)

Mr. America

Could it be true? The iconic Hulk Hogan with an alter ego? Once again, it was a case of “gone today, here tomorrow” when Mr. America appeared on the WWE scene in 2003. Hogan was forced to sit out the remainder of his contract by Mr. McMahon. Exit Hogan, enter Mr. America. And with the arrival of the new masked man in WWE came the “Real American” theme music, and incredibly similar mannerisms employed by The Hulkster. In this case, though, Mr. McMahon had the last laugh, as he had video proof that Hogan and Mr. America were one and the same. So long, Hulkster. ( WATCH)

Charlie Brown (from Outta Town)

Another masked man who bore a striking resemblance to a top superstar occurred within the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling area in the early 80’s. With his long, prodigious beard and recognizable jive talking, Charlie Brown from Outta Town seemed to be the spitting image of The Boogie Woogie Man, Handsome Jimmy Valiant. Valiant lost a Loser Leaves Town for Six Months Match in 1983 to the Great Kabuki. Shortly thereafter, Charlie Brown began appearing in Mid-Atlantic rings, which drove Kabuki and his manager Gary Hart bananas. The rivalry culminated at the original Starrcade later that year, when Charlie Brown defeated Kabuki for the NWA World Television Title, before heading back "Outta Town" for good. Good grief! ( WATCH)

Goldust

When Dustin Rhodes got involved in the wrestling industry, he came in as not only a second-generation performer, but as one of the most highly touted individuals to come down the pike in quite some time. His early years were fine and fluid, and high expectations abounded - Dustin captured the WCW United States and Tag Team Titles. However, in the fall of 1995, WWE was in receipt of a superstar whose persona was never before seen. Rhodes returned, but with a unique makeover. Welcome to the world of Goldust, and what a world it was! He became a master of mind games, a fanatic for all things gold, and a narrator of famous lines from the “golden” screen. And his ring style also was one that had the aura of being controversial. Rhodes mastered his alter ego to a tee! ( WATCH)

The Red Rooster

Another individual whose alter ego clucked about much controversy in WWE was Terry Taylor as the Red Rooster. In the early to mid-1980’s, Taylor had very good success competing in the Mid-South and Dallas areas. So when WWE came calling in 1988, Taylor entered the organization. After a rough start, Taylor not only enlisted the services of manager extraordinaire Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, but also underwent an alter ego change, becoming the Red Rooster. As the Rooster, Taylor was remembered for a long, red robe, red trunks and hair styled like a rooster’s comb. Taylor and Heenan eventually had trouble brew between them, then a parting of the ways came, leading to a one-on-one match between the two at WrestleMania V in 1989. ( WATCH)

Spider Lady

Wendi Richter was going great guns as WWE Women’s Champion in 1985. But she would never forget one fateful night in 1985 in Madison Square Garden when the mysterious, masked Spider Lady challenged her for the title. After all was said and done, the mystery woman surprisingly dethroned Richter, and was then revealed (by Richter) to be The Fabulous Moolah. So, for one night only Moolah slipped into an alter ego, and left the Garden smelling like a rose! ( WATCH)

The Midnight Rider

The man who exploded onto the scene of Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1983 sure acted and sounded like none other than the American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. And how ironic was it when Rhodes lost a Lights Out Cage Match to Kevin Sullivan that had a stipulation the loser would be suspended from competing in Florida for 60 days. Sullivan swore the Rider was the Dream, but the Rider always was one step ahead of everyone. The Midnight Rider rode once more in 1988, when he arrived in Jim Crockett Promotions, shortly after Rhodes was suspended for a brutal baseball bat attack on Tully Blanchard. Though Blanchard and The Four Horsemen were suspicious of his true identity, they never caught The Midnight Rider. ( WATCH)

The Black Scorpion

In August 1990, World Championship Wrestling was introduced to a masked man named The Black Scorpion. His mission was to make Sting’s life miserable. His voice was distorted, he was covered from head to toe in black, and his psychological war with Sting had everyone guessing as to who he was. This mystique went until the end of that year at Starrcade. Sting finally was able to unmask the Scorpion as “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. The bottom line was that even one of the all-time greats like "The Nature Boy" would go to any length, alter ego included, to do his arch rival in. ( WATCH)

Kanyon

As a WCW competitor, Chris Kanyon debuted in 1995 and became a member of the construction worker duo Men at Work. Not having great success in that arena, he re-invented himself by creating an alter ego of Mortis, a masked individual whose eeriness was very unique, to say the least. Mortis, decked out in a skull mask and ghoulish green gear, primarily wound up feuding with Glacier, and teaming up with Wrath as well. Eventually, Kanyon ditched the mask, entering into an alliance with Raven, which broke down into a heated rivalry. ( WATCH)

Sin Cara Negro/Hunico

Last year, Sin Cara made his spectacular debut in WWE rings. Yet within a few months, an individual who looked and had the movements and mannerisms of Sin Cara appeared as well. Soon thereafter, there was a discernable difference as the imposter Sin Cara appeared dressed all in black. After a Mask vs. Mask match on SmackDown, Sin Cara Negro lost and was revealed to be Hunico, who has since enjoyed moderate success in WWE. So in this case, someone’s alter ego was conceived by first donning a mask, and is now pursuing an individual career in WWE. ( WATCH)

Mick Foley

Perhaps the one man who had the most success with his alter egos was Mick Foley…..or was it Cactus Jack … or Mankind … or Dude Love? Foley knew how to extract the best from within and present (besides himself) three unique and divergent personas. His first alter ego of Cactus Jack began back in the late 80’s, and out of that came an individual whose style bordered on lunacy. Cactus loved to brawl, and more times than not, took double the physical punishment he dished out ( WATCH). Then in 1996, Foley entered WWE rings as Mankind, a bizarre, sadistic individual who made Cactus Jack pale in comparison. Pulling his own hair out, enjoying life in boiler rooms and just flat out living on the edge arguably made Mankind one of the most interesting, yet complex WWE Superstars of all time ( WATCH). But there was also some mirth and merriment within Foley, as he took a character that he portrayed in some home videos before he entered the ring and brought it to life. Enter Dude Love. Tie dye, peace and love had arrived, courtesy of Foley, whose alter ego was fun loving and jovial, yet still meant business once in the ring. ( WATCH)