There are multiple factors that determine which wrestlers stand out in the WWE, such as being there at the right place and time. Given how stacked the WWE roster was throughout the Ruthless Aggression era, many Superstars didn't get the opportunity to truly shine.
While stars of this era have certainly crafted a very respectable career in the company, it's likely that they would have fared even better in modern times. It is possible that these names would have been competing in the main event scene as the industry has significantly changed. Some stars were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
10 Matt Morgan
While rumors indicate that Vince McMahon was a fan of Matt Morgan, he was never given a fair shot by the WWE. Starting off his career as a member of Paul Heyman's entourage, Morgan carried a generic big man persona early into his WWE journey. In 2005, he joined forces with Carlito and took on a new gimmick in which he stuttered every time he cut a promo.
And while that earned him some TV time, the character seemed always bound to fail as Morgan was released by the company shortly afterward. His impressive run in TNA proved that Morgan could have been a star in the WWE under the right circumstances. It's likely that he would have found a far more suitable identity in modern times that would have led him to the next level.
9 Carlito
Looking back at the Ruthless Aggression era, most fans would agree that Carlito was supposed to be a guaranteed star. He won the WWE United States Title against John Cena in his debut match, putting him in a great position to only go forward from there. For the next two years, Carlito remained a relevant figure in the mid-card division, but he fell short of reaching his full potential.
It's been previously rumored that his work ethic held him back in some regards, while Carlito blamed the booking team and backstage politics. Nonetheless, Carlito would have fared far better in today's atmosphere where he could have displayed his wrestling ability.
8 Paul Burchill
Paul Burchill managed to somehow take a bizarre pirate gimmick and made it work for some time on SmackDown. Despite generating a positive reaction from WWE audiences, the company opted for a character change. Burchill would go on to compete on the ECW brand for the remainder of his WWE tenure, although he was quickly lost in the shuffle.
It's safe to say that Burchill would have been a far greater fit for today's product. Not only was he an impressive in-ring talent, but he also had the ability to entertain the fans as proven by his short-lived persona as a pirate.
7 Elijah Burke
It seems like WWE had high hopes for Elijah Burke. After all, he was made to be the leader of The New Breed in ECW for some time and engaged in a feud with CM Punk. Burke was a solid worker in the ring but was an even more entertaining act when it came to promos.
There is no doubt that the WWE gave up too soon on him as he could have had a better career. While he may not be quite as exciting in the ring as some of today's top stars, Burke's charisma would have likely propelled him into far greater heights.
6 Chris Masters
Chris Masters was one of the many mid-carders to arrive in the WWE during the Ruthless Aggression era, notably remembered for the Masterlock Challenge. At some point, he appeared to be headed towards stardom as Masters received a push early into his career, but he never regained his momentum back following some booking mishaps.
It was believed that Vince McMahon saw a bright future for Masters, mainly due to his physique. The company gave up too quickly on him as he never received a fair opportunity to shine after 2006. It's likely that Masters would have been a better fit in today's environment, where he would have been allowed to slowly develop into a better wrestler.
5 Muhammad Hassan
In 2005, Muhammad Hassan was one of the most prominent mid-carders in the WWE. Despite his success as a heel, he was unable to net a long career in the company after having been forced to drop his controversial gimmick. His short-lived push saw Hassan clash against a number of top WWE stars including The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and John Cena.
Today, Hassan would be a high potential candidate for a breakout star due to his notable charisma and mic skills. Of course, he would still have needed a different character to remain a member of the roster in the long run.
4 Charlie Haas
From Team Angle to his later days parodying various WWE legends, Charlie Haas always managed to get over with the fans. But he was underappreciated as an all-around wrestler and was mainly used in the tag team division. He also helped many younger Superstars get over, but it remains unknown as to why Haas never got a chance to shine on his own.
Given what he has to offer inside the squared circle, it's reasonable to think that he would have been a better fit on the modern roster. He may have gotten a chance to break out as a solo act at some point.
3 Marcus Cor Von
Coming off an impressive run with TNA, Marcus Cor Von was expected to become a top name on the ECW brand. While he did show off athleticism, as well as his exciting finisher, Cor Von was dealt a bad hand when it came to booking. As a member of The New Breed stable, Cor Von's role was greatly diminished before he got the chance to truly shine in the WWE.
In less than a year, he was released from the company as Cor Von had to attend an urgent family matter. He arrived in WWE a few years too early as Cor Von had all the potential in the world to become a main event player. Given his charisma, Cor Von would have certainly stood out in today's WWE.
2 Paul London
Unlike many names on this list, Paul London was able to achieve success at some level in the WWE. He had a notable stint as the WWE Cruiserweight Champion and formed one of the best tag teams in the division alongside Brian Kendrick. Although he was a talented all-around Superstar, London was never given a chance to grow beyond the ceiling placed on him by the WWE.
As of the past decade, many cruiserweights have sustained success at the highest level in the WWE. London could have also been among the names to continue breaking the barriers. At the very least, he would have had many more suitable opponents to wrestle.
1 Mark Jindrak
Originally slated to be the fourth member of Evolution, Mark Jindrak's career could have been entirely different if he hadn't been replaced by Batista. Unfortunately for him, he never came close to reaching such an opportunity again in his career. He had multiple brand switches within three years and never found his place on the roster.
By 2005, WWE decided to let him go and never gave him a second chance. Jindrak's potential was there for all to see but he could never put it together. These days, it may have been easier for him to get over with the fans.