Timing is one of the most important aspects of success in WWE. Vince McMahon’s perception of talent changes with each era changing for the company. Names to thrive in recent memory like Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and Bayley may have had bigger obstacles in the past. WWE legends of the past like Ultimate Warrior, Kevin Nash and Sable would have tougher journeys now to showcase how much timing helped them.
Quite a few wrestlers have stories of the opposite direction when it comes to them entering WWE in the wrong way. The talents in question could have been bigger names and have stronger impacts if they joined the company in a different era. Find out what held them back and what could have helped the WWE flops who would have thrived in a different era.
10 Lars Sullivan
WWE viewed Lars Sullivan as a top prospect when signing based on his size and strength. Sullivan even had plans for a huge push on the main roster, but he never developed any momentum with the audience and eventually suffered an injury.
The time away from WWE saw reports coming out that WWE is unsure about bringing him back when he is cleared due to a lack of interest and the controversy surrounding some of his past statements and activities. Sullivan would have been a huge star in the ‘80s or ‘90s, but his limitations hurt him here.
9 Lance Storm
The technical wrestling skills of Lance Storm made him a solid mid-carder for a short time in WWE before falling into obscurity. WWE eventually ran a storyline of Storm being a boring wrestler trying to find excitement that doomed his career.
The charisma of Storm wasn’t there, but his promos with the serious character were strong enough to get heat. WWE would have found a lot more success with Storm in the current era as the best workers get more opportunities these days.
8 David Otunga
The first season of NXT saw Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan, and Heath Slater having the standout careers in the long run. However, David Otunga was the top prospect entering the show that WWE expected to win it all.
The physique, acting background, and overall story of becoming a lawyer after attending Harvard made him an ideal WWE talent. Otunga just couldn’t break out as a wrestler despite having everything needed to thrive in prior eras. WWE may have made Otunga a main-eventer two decades earlier.
7 Savio Vega
WWE currently puts an emphasis on hiring international talents and pushing strong in-ring workers. Both of those things weren’t as important in the ‘90s when Savio Vega received a big break, getting signed by WWE.
Vega had a short push that eventually saw him settling in the lower mid-card picture before his run ended. WWE would likely use him a lot better today given how important it is to find stars that represent international markets who can work with any opponent in a good match.
6 Gail Kim
One of the most obvious instances of a WWE flop that would thrive today is Gail Kim. WWE never treated her well and did little of note with her talent when they put little effort into attempting to build up the women’s division.
Gail proved herself in TNA by becoming one of the best women’s wrestlers of all time. The importance of women’s wrestling today would see a talent like Kim thriving in a bigger role. Gail unfortunately never wants to work with WWE again after the poor treatment and is happily retired from the ring.
5 The Great Khali
Vince McMahon viewed The Great Khali as a future top attraction when signing him in the mid-2000s. Khali was the perfect ‘80s heel that would have made huge money working with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage based on his size.
Even the ‘90s would see Khali doing well as a main eventer, but he was outdated by the time he joined the roster. Khali was the worst in-ring worker and couldn’t cut promos. The World Heavyweight Championship run of Khali flopped.
4 Matt Morgan
WWE had huge hopes for Matt Morgan after Jim Cornette hyped him up as the greatest big man since The Undertaker in developmental. Morgan’s size and strength saw a push planned for him that just never came.
The roles as Carlito’s enforcer and part of Brock Lesnar’s big man entourage each failed, leading to his release. Morgan also flopped in TNA, showing how much wrestling had changed from the time where he’d have thrived in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
3 Lana
The role of Lana sees her trying to find the right wrestler to manage after her time with Rusev and Bobby Lashley each ended. Lana is currently with Natalya and hopes to become a full-time in-ring performer again, but WWE already seems to have given up on that.
There were plans for a huge Lana push back in 2015 due to her look, charisma, and acting background. WWE eventually gave up when viewing her as not capable in the ring. Lana would have been the biggest female star in the ‘90s with bigger potential than Sable or Sunny when the in-ring work wasn’t as important.
2 Muhammad Hassan
WWE pushed the envelope too much with the Muhammad Hassan character by not realizing how much society was changing. Hassan did many dastardly acts as an anti-American heel, but the timing of an attack from a group of masked men airing the same day as a terrorist attack crossed the line.
Networks demanded WWE give up on the Hassan character, and he never returned to WWE again. The charisma and athleticism of Hassan were there, but his character would have been a bigger heat when WWE opted for the patriotism of fans. Hassan would have been a perfect foil for Hulkamania in the '80s and early 90s.
1 Chris Masters
Chris Masters was one of the top prospects for WWE when getting called up with the Masterpiece gimmick. WWE loved the look of Masters and believed he had the upside to eventually become a future world champion.
Masters’ gimmick was outdated with the Masterlock challenge running its course. The fans didn’t gravitate towards him as much as expected. Masters flopped and lost his push in an era that was removed from the time where he’d have been a huge star. Masters could have been big in the '80s in the WWE during The Golden Era or the '90s in WCW where the big boys play.