Wrestlers most often receive massive pushes based on their size, charisma, or popularity amongst the WWE universe. While these pushes can often be entirely undeserved, there is at least a logical explanation why they are happening.
Wrestlers have also received pushes for obscure reasons and occasionally for no reason at all. These instances usually result in a quick crash and burn, as wrestlers who do not possess the in-ring ability to perform up to the level of their competition rarely find success in the industry. Nearly all those wrestlers who meet these criteria are remembered as disappointments as a result.
9 Zeus
Zeus', whose real name is Tommy Lister Jr., massive push came after his starring role in the 1989 WWE film No Holds Barred. Despite his extremely limited in-ring skillset, Lister began a heated feud with his on-screen rival, Hulk Hogan, who was the face of the company at the time, immediately after making his debut with the company.
Naturally, considering Hogan's unmatched superstar status, Zeus' was firmly entrenched in the main event scene. Thankfully, the company mercifully pulled the plug on the failed experiment just months after forcing Lister to the top.
8 Lex Luger
Lex Luger is one of few wrestlers who received a questionable push that enjoyed a long and semi-successful wrestling career. He made his debut with WWE in 1993 during a time that the company was starving for fresh talent to take the throne of the recently departed Hulk Hogan.
Not only did the company attempt to replace Hogan with Luger, but they also attempted to mold the upstart into a carbon copy of the former face of the business. He failed to fill the departed superstar's shoes, as fans refused to buy into another wrestler with a larger-than-life superstar schtick, and he did not have the in-ring ability to maintain his rising star status.
7 David Arquette
There are many ways that WCW attempted to boost their ratings, but crowning David Arquette with the company's most prominent title in 2000 was arguably the most deplorable. Arquette, who is best known for his role in the Scream franchise, had a short stint with the company that saw him win the championship in his first career match.
While he may have only held the belt for 12 days, the reign was enough to diminish the once-prized championship's credibility. He is still remembered today as one of the worst champions in WCW history, and that is saying something considering the way the company played hot potato with the belt during their final years.
6 Heidenreich
Heidenreich had the size that WWE hoped they could work with when they signed him to a contract in 2003, but it quickly became clear that he would not live up to their massive expectations for him. Nevertheless, despite looking underwhelming in the ring, the company foolishly decided to pit him against The Undertaker.
The company had countless wrestlers of comparable size to Heidenreich, and many of them would have fared far better with the push that he received, and they surely must regret giving him top billing for as long as they did. He did find some success in a lesser role after becoming one-half of the newly resurrected Legion of Doom.
5 David Flair
David Flair, who made his debut with WCW in 1999, was pushed near the main event scene for a short period after joining the company. He spent much of his time with WCW feuding with his father, Ric Flair, who was in the midst of a heated battle against the nWo.
Despite the push, it was clear that David did not have the in-ring skills to maintain his main event status, and he quickly got shoved to the background before leaving the company in 2001.
4 Kenzo Suzuki
Following a promising run with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, hopes were high for Kenzo Suzuki when he made the jump to WWE in 2004. The company had massive plans for Suzuki, as they wanted him to represent Japan in a (potentially catastrophic) Japan vs. USA storyline. Nevertheless, he still received a tremendous push despite not showing the ability to compete at a high level.
During his brief tenure with the company, Suzuki feuded with United States Champion John Cena, who was WWE's brightest rising star at that time. The Japanese wrestler even had a short tag team title reign with Renee Dupree.
3 Vladimir Kozlov
Vladimir Kozlov looked as though he was sure to be the next top heel in the company early on in his career. He was heavily involved in the WWE Championship scene in 2008 and was portrayed as an unstoppable force at times.
If having a mean scary face was enough to become a star in the wrestling industry, Kozlov would have been inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday. Unfortunately for Kozlov, that is not how WWE works. Likewise, he also did not have enough in-ring ability or charisma to maintain his monster heel status.
2 Jeff Jarrett
Despite having a limited in-ring skillset, Jeff Jarrett became a star during his tenures with WWE and WCW. While he may have been a solid technician in the ring, he had no flash to his game, and he simply looked unexciting compared to his elite competition.
While Jarrett may have been one of the most business-savvy competitors in wrestling history, he did not have the in-ring chops to merit the push he continually received throughout his wrestling career.
1 The Patriot
Even though he lacked the in-ring ability to compete with the top wrestlers in WWE, The Patriot received a massive push during his second stint with the company in 1997. He lived up to his name and represented America during a feud with Bret Hart and his anti-American Hart Foundation.
He would receive a title match against The Hitman at the Ground Zero pay-per-view on September 7, 1997, which he lost after being forced to submit to the Sharpshooter. Unfortunately for The Patriot, a torn triceps ended his career before his unimpressive wrestling chops had the chance to.