When fans have to wait for a new wrestler to debut while watching a series of hype-filled video packages, it can create anticipation in the best way if done correctly. WWE debuts several wrestlers over the course of every year and sometimes uses this tactic to introduce the wrestler to audiences. Unfortunately, things do not always go as planned through the debut process.
For a variety of reasons, things can go sideways on the route to a wrestler making their debut after being hyped. More often than not, these vignettes run for way too long and instead of making fans excited to see the wrestler, it just frustrates them and negatively impacts the wrestler's stock in the eyes of fans. Thankfully, these wrestlers do get a solid legacy out of a failed hype period - they often become a hilarious wrestling meme.
10 Veer Mahaan
Despite having had a handful of matches on the WWE main roster before, WWE began heavily promoting Veer's arrival on RAW in the winter of 2021. While it is great to see a new star receive support from management on television, the length of time that fans have watched his "coming soon" advertisements has become very comical.
For over three months, fans witnessed advertisements for Veer's singles debut on RAW, and it has transitioned from sad to hilarious. Fans have taken hold of Veer's unfortunate circumstances and turned him into a hilarious meme. Reportedly, WWE has not planned anything special for Veer upon arrival, but he can enjoy his new life as a wrestling meme.
9 Chris Masters
There is no denying how impressive Chris Master's physique was during his WWE debut in 2005. Considering how much WWE enjoys body-builder-type wrestlers, Masters seemed destined for a long run on the main event scene. Unfortunately for him, his impressive physique was not enough to overcome how dragged out his debut was.
For almost two months, WWE promoted the unveiling of "The Masterpiece" on RAW. By the time Masters actually debuted on the show in person, fans were already sick of him. Combine that with his very long entrance to the ring, during which he flexed every muscle in his body, and he was instantly rejected by fans.
8 Emmalina
Despite having a tenured career on the independent wrestling circuit in Australia prior to joining WWE in 2011, Emma was not given many opportunities to succeed during her WWE tenure. After not receiving a strong push during the first part of her career, she was given a character change from Emma to Emmalina.
Unfortunately, fans never got to see exactly who Emmalina was. After months of vignettes promoting her makeover, she finally debuted on television only to say she was turning back into Emma. The storyline was not only confusing, but damaging to Emma's career, and she was released from WWE shortly after the debacle.
7 Glacier
Despite having an incredibly elaborate and expensive entrance, Glacier quickly fizzled out following his WCW debut in 1996. While his wrestling skills were not on the same level as others on the roster, most fans point to the failure stemming from the overly long and dramatized vignettes that aired prior to his debut.
For a period of several months, the mystical story of Glacier was shown during episodes of Nitro. While they were initially intriguing, it eventually became very tiresome and fans became disinterested in the character. When he finally debuted, his lacklustre performances in the ring made fans tune out, and he faded away very quickly.
6 Kizarny
After a series of vignettes in 2008 featured a bizarre carnival-themed character named Kizarny on Smackdown, fans were initially intrigued. However, as the vignettes continued to drag on and on, they not only became tiresome but also turned nonsensical.
Despite having a considerable amount of experience in other promotions prior to his WWE arrival, Kizarny's WWE career was over before it even started. Fans were not only perplexed at the character, but they were also not interested in what he had to offer. Unfortunately, he only had a handful of matches in WWE before he was released, and has never appeared in the company since.
5 Mordecai
Sometimes hype packages and a cool-looking wrestler can result in interest building around a character. However, when the presentation starts to border on silly and the amount of vignettes becomes too many, it can end up damaging a wrestler who was once slated for big things by WWE management.
Mordecai was initially presented as a big character - a religious zealot who was going to "save" wrestling audiences and had fans buzzing. However, the months of vignettes that it took him to debut on Smackdown combined with poor showings during his first matches not only sent him back to developmental but cancelled a reported planned feud with The Undertaker.
4 Lana
Lana had already been a part of WWE's main roster for several years by the time 2017 rolled around and was already a very popular figure in the eyes of fans. However, in an attempt to repackage her, she was kept off of television for several weeks before videos began promoting her return with a different attitude and a focus on wrestling.
While changes to characters are sometimes very welcome, Lana's took way too long and resulted in very little payoff. Despite her best efforts, Lana's in-ring abilities were still limited, and fans already knew who she was so a long debut process just made them groan instead of getting excited about the future.
3 Brodus Clay
Given Brodus Clay's size, charisma and in-ring abilities, he should have been a big star in WWE. Based on the attributes he showed during his stint on NXT's competition show, all signs pointed to him being pushed to the moon upon his eventual debut. However, once months of planned debuts continued to be cancelled, fans started to get worried.
Unfortunately, their worries were founded when Clay finally did debut on RAW in 2012. Instead of the imposing and menacing monster that he was presented as previously, he became the fun-loving and dancing Funkasaurus. Not only did fans wait a long time for his debut, but they only wound up being disappointing by the character shift, and Clay struggled through his WWE run.
2 Brakkus
If there is one thing Vince McMahon appreciates, it is a muscle-bound wrestler. Unfortunately, those body types do not always wind up being the best in-ring performers, regardless of how they look. Despite their track record, that has not stopped WWE from bringing in wrestlers like this.
Brakkus was another wrestler in a long time of bodybuilders with little wrestling experience who were brought into WWE in the 1990s but did not only fail due to his look and abilities. A series of vignettes were produced to introduce Brakkus to fans, but the strange script he was forced to read only succeeded in making fans laugh at him, and he did not last long following his debut.
1 Fandango
After years of being stuck in developmental, Johnny Curtis was finally given the opportunity to perform on WWE's main roster as the Fandango character - a pretentious ballroom dancer. Fandango was not introduced through a series of vignettes, but would rather appear in front of audiences and then leave in disgust when the ring announcer was not able to pronounce his name correctly.
While initially, this gimmick frustrated audiences in a good way, it went on for far too long. Fandango appeared on television and radio for several weeks with this gimmick before finally debuting in a match with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 29. Not only was his debut not worth the wait, but he defeated Jericho, which fans were not pleased about.