It has so often been the case in WWE that there has been a wrestler who has broken out, striking up a strong connection to the audience (whether that be as a babyface or a heel) and has ultimately been neglected or buried by WWE.
Vince McMahon can change his mind about a push at a moment’s notice, which was the fate of these wrestlers.
For whatever reason, Vince McMahon often had the philosophy of going against what the fans wanted, instead pushing for what he wanted and the stars he believed were worthy of being at the top. The following names are those who would have well been major stars in WWE, but the company ended up doing nothing with them in the grand scheme of things.
WWE Gave Up On Damien Sandow’s Babyface Push
He Was Super Over As “Mizdow”
Damien Sandow’s Intellectual Savior Of The Masses gimmick was a strong one he re-emerged in WWE, and this led him to the Money In The Bank briefcase. Unfortunately for him, WWE completely buried him and he lost the briefcase, becoming a jobber. He worked hard to make everything he did mean something, which led to his boom as The Miz’s stunt double.
This led to a strong story of Sandow breaking out of The Miz’s shadow before a big babyface turn, though fans were not rewarded with any sort of push. He shed off the stunt double gimmick and settled back into being a jobber.
Rusev’s Star Potential Was Squandered More Than Once
WWE Ruined Him As Both A Heel And A Babyface
Rusev’s initial rise came as a monster heel, going on an undefeated run as United States Champion. With a great presentation and a lot of talent, he looked like he had main event potential. Unfortunately, he lost to John Cena and therefore lost all his momentum.
Rusev got hugely over under the Rusev Day gimmick, which was a major hit amongst fans. WWE waited way too long to turn him into a babyface, and when they finally did, he was hardly pushed.
WWE Should’ve Gone All The Way With Wade Barrett
Barrett’s Main Event Push Was Ended Quickly
Wade Barrett made a huge splash in 2010 when he sought to take WWE over with The Nexus. This saw him featured in several main events, but WWE never pulled the trigger on his becoming a world champion, which was a big mistake.
Instead, Barrett was another victim to John Cena and fell into midcard obscurity for years and years. If he had only won the WWE Title back then, then he could still be a main eventer today.
Vince McMahon Never Saw Potential In Cesaro
Despite His Popularity, Cesaro Was Never Pushed As A Solo Star
Cesaro was someone who managed to get over in WWE on more than one occasion, but time and time again the promotion decided against doing anything with him.
Watching any WWE performer get so blatantly buried was always difficult to watch.
His initial boom in popularity came in 2014 in some breakout matches with John Cena and Randy Orton, in addition to a stunning Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal win, but WWE then decided to keep him heel, ruining all of his momentum.
WWE Dropped The Ball On Dolph Ziggler More Than Once
Ziggler Was On The Brink Of Stardom Multiple Times
Dolph Ziggler lingered around the upper midcard several times, taking a step into the main event for a loss here and there. In 2013, Ziggler was massively over with fans, but his reign as World Heavyweight Champion was completely wasted. He managed to overcome bad booking and become popular again the following year, having what should have been a star-making victory at Survivor Series 2014.
Yet again, WWE hindered Ziggler and stopped him from climbing up the card.
Ryback Was Massively Over, But WWE Didn’t Make The Most Of Him
Ryback Had Drawbacks, But He Was Still A Breakout Star
Ryback didn’t have all the talent in the world, but he importantly connected with fans and became a big breakout star. WWE halted his undefeated streak and things got very hard for him during a feud with CM Punk and The Shield.
Eventually, Ryback was turned heel and dropped way down the card, despite him being a hit with fans multiple times over.
Enzo Amore & Big Cass Could’ve Been WWE’s Next Big Tag Team
WWE Failed To Capitalize On Their Popularity
Enzo Amore & Big Cass had brilliant chemistry, their act was a hit with fans, and they were a perfect team to build the division around. WWE didn’t see it that way, never truly pushing them and breaking them up way too soon.
As singles stars, neither of them connected with WWE fans, and they both ended up parting ways with the promotion.
WWE Halted Kennedy’s Push
He had the look, the mic skills, and the infectious charisma to make it in WWE, but in the end, the promotion did nothing with Mr. Kennedy.
Kennedy feuded with many big names throughout 2006 and 2007, and even won the Money In The Bank briefcase. An ill-timed suspension led to him dropping the briefcase and essentially getting buried, despite still having a whole load of potential as a breakout star.
John Morrison Never Achieved His Potential In WWE
Morrison Could’ve Been A Much Bigger Star
John Morrison was having a strong run in the midcard, and at the end of 2010 it looked as though he was finally getting to the point where he could become a main eventer, especially after a good feud with Sheamus and the tease of a storyline with WWE Champion The Miz.
WWE’s roster is stacked at the moment, and some stars aren’t being booked to their potential.
WWE never really went full throttle into The Miz vs. Morrison, instead putting the focus on John Cena once again. WWE missed the boat with Morrison, who fell back into midcard obscurity for the rest of his time with the company.
WWE Seemed To Never Truly Believe In Finn Balor
Balor’s Injury Derailed Him, And WWE Never Pushed Him To The Top Again
It was all lined up for Finn Balor to undergo a redemption babyface run back to the Universal Championship when he returned from injury, especially since he was still very over with the fans and still felt fresh.
However, Balor was kept to the midcard, and despite a few occasional world title challenges where no one bought him as a threat, he ultimately fell way below his potential in WWE.
