A lot of wrestling fans may have heard of Glacier in passing but not actually know who he is. The Glacier character was more or less a rip-off of famed Mortal Kombat character Sub Zero, something that didn’t go over all that well with wrestling fans. Everyone has their own ideas as to why the gimmick wasn’t a success, but regardless, nothing stopped Raymond Lloyd from doing everything he could to get the gimmick over.
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Most people talk about Glacier when speaking of strange storylines or failed gimmicks, but there’s a lot more that can be said for the character's brief three-year run in WCW. The performer behind the gimmick was actually an impressive athlete with a legitimate karate accomplishment to his name, something that aided with his smooth in-ring style. Whether you remember Glacier fondly or not, there is a lot to learn about him.
10 His Backstory Was Incredibly Elaborate
While a lot of wrestling fans enjoy intricate storylines that feature rivalries and betrayal that can span for years, most fans don’t like having to think too hard about who their favorite character is. That very thing may be why Glacier didn’t connect with fans.
His backstory felt like a bad writer’s attempt at crafting their own kung-fu movie backstories as Glacier was said to have traveled to Japan to become a master of both karate and wrestling. His helmet was said to be centuries old, something that was given to him by his sensei as a symbol of his mastery of the elements.
9 His Entrance Cost Nearly Half A Million Dollars
The key to a good character is often to keep things simple, and while fans can appreciate an elaborate entrance, most fans tend to prefer elaborate to be saved for special occasions. Glacier’s elaborate entrance was said to cost WCW nearly half a million dollars.
The reason for the high cost came from a variety of different factors. He had a rather intricate light display that accompanied his slow entrance and even had synthetic snow that was dropped from high above. That’s without even getting into the cost of his costume.
8 His Costume Cost Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars
Having a great set of tights or an excellent costume is the kind of thing that can set you apart from your fellow wrestlers. A great outfit can help you rise through the ranks of a company, but a bad one can leave you floundering in the mid-card.
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Glacier’s costume and armor cost nearly thirty-five thousand dollars due to its intricate design that had to be created by an actual studio that specialized in that kind of thing. It really didn’t pay off considering most fans clowned on Glacier for his appearance.
7 His Entrance Could Be REALLY Long
A long entrance can work for wrestlers that are an imposing force. Few people have ever complained about The Undertaker’s long walk to the ring or even Bray Wyatt’s usually lengthy entrances, but most people changed the channel when Glacier came on.
While his entrance was extravagant, it really wasn’t all that unique for a majority of it, that is until Glacier finally got into the ring and began his kata routines. On some occasions, his routines could extend his entrance by minutes, and the routines weren’t impressing anyone.
6 His Original Finisher Was Changed
While the idea of basing a wrestler around ice isn’t really the best idea, a lot of people tend to agree that the Cryonic Kick is a cool name for a finishing maneuver. While the name was cool, the move wasn’t anything special.
It actually began as a kick from the top rope, but it was quickly changed a few times until it finally became a simple kick. The change may have been to provide a safer move to perform, but it only added to the degradation of Glacier as a character.
5 His Elaborate Gear & Entrance Didn’t Last Long
While his finishing move was quickly changed, that doesn’t mean his entrance and gear wasn't as well. How expensive the Glacier character was to maintain likely caught up with WCW, especially when the character wasn’t catching on.
The huge cost of an elaborate entrance and costume for a character that fans aren’t connecting with is a waste of money, so after only a handful of matches, Glacier was changed almost entirely from what he had debuted as, though he was still similar to Sub-Zero in appearance.
4 It Took Almost A Year For Anyone To Beat Him In A Singles Match
On paper, Glacier should have been a huge success. He was given the world, pretty much everything a wrestler could be given, but that just goes to show that the fans need to connect to a wrestler for them to really take off.
For how quickly Glacier fizzled out in the minds of fans, it sure took anyone quite a while to finally manage to beat him in singles competition. Even more surprising, the first man to beat Glacier one-on-one was none other than Buff Bagwell.
3 He Challenged Goldberg For A Title
As much as people remember Glacier as a character, there doesn’t seem to be many people who remember who he faced or feuded with over the years. Due to that, you may be shocked to learn that he challenged Goldberg for a championship at one time.
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While Goldberg wasn’t the WCW World Heavyweight Champion at the time, the match was for the United States Championship, a match that Glacier would obviously lose. It was the only time he’d ever challenge for a title during his time with WCW.
2 He Eventually Sold His Armor To Another Wrestler
When talk of how expensive Glacier was had become more common, it was only a matter of time before they ran some kind of storyline that involved his armor. That storyline saw even Glacier growing tired of his gimmick and trying to sell his armor off.
He eventually sold it to Japanese wrestler Kaz Hayashi and The Cat. Those men then started poking fun at Glacier by mimicking his entrance when they made their way down to the ring. That storyline is what led to the end of Glacier as a whole.
1 He Couldn’t Escape The Mid-Card Despite Plenty Of Help
Glacier was given everything he could have needed to succeed. He had an undefeated streak, tons of money behind him, and he surprisingly fought with Goldberg on a relatively frequent basis. All of that was unable to ever elevate Glacier above the mid-card of WCW.
It could even be said that he was always amongst the lower mid-card or even a glorified jobber at times. It’s shocking that he wasn’t able to rise higher, but WCW’s commitment to the gimmick may be what kept the man behind the gimmick from having a more fruitful run with the company.
