Over the years the WWE has many big names like a Hulk Hogan or a John Cena as well as several other superstars right on the cusp of that stardom. These elite wrestlers help push the entire WWE Brand forward. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and evening Triple H have all achieved megastar status too.
Unfortunately over the course of the history of WWE, there have been all kinds of stops and starts. As well as failed attempts at pushing superstars to the next level. Here are 10 potential top stars that the WWE mishandled.
10 EC3
Recently released as part of the mass exodus, EC3 will be better off. Every time he’s gotten to the WWE, he hasn’t be treated as someone they care about - a little odd given Vince’s love of chiseled physiques.
He had gained notoriety and championship in TNA. Whether he heads back there, AEW, or somewhere else, it already seems like EC3 is finding out a new way to reinvent himself.
9 Broken Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy’s “condeetion” and broken brilliance not only helped the Hardys find new characters and relevancy, but the intriguing premise created buzz for TNA for the first time in a long time, if ever.
The Broken Universe had the whole industry intrigued and all of WrestleMania 33 chanting “Delete” when the Hardys returned. While there was trepidation amongst some fans that Vince would never let the Broken Hardys on TV, it also would be money left on the table. But by the time “Woken Matt” appeared, all hope was lost that WWE would let Matt run with it.
8 Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt has a unique mind for the business. It’s a shame that nearly every time the WWE lets him try to use said mind, someone in the brass seemingly steps in to quell whatever momentum he has.
Now, as The Fiend, he’s so unstoppable that no one on the current roster can beat him, so they need 53 year old two-move Goldberg to do it.
7 Rusev
For all of the fans that feel Vince McMahon is grossly out of touch with the times, look no further than Rusev. As a monster in NXT and then his first year on the main roster, it all went belly up at WrestleMania 31 - aka the one where Rusev came out on a tank!
After John Cena handed the Bulgarian Brute his first defeat, Rusev’s stock dwindled very quickly. He then got “Rusev Day” over with minimal assistance from the office. With his recent release, hopefully Rusev shows the world what he’s actually capable of.
6 Zack Ryder
It seemed like a generation ago that Zack Ryder became an internet star, for himself over and it unfortunately wasn’t capitalized on fully.
He might not have gotten a firm run at the top, but at the after all of the work that he put in by himself to get noticed, WWE could have gotten behind him. Another victim of the mass release and it has been suggested that the Zack Attack arrives in AEW sooner than later.
5 Dolph Ziggler
As a character, Dolph Ziggler is a throwback to Shawn Michaels. Look wise, it’s Mr. Perfect. In ring skill - Bret Hart plus HBK and Hennig.
At any other time, Ziggler rules the roost and should be a central character to the promotion. Instead he’s just a solid hand and company man who does whatever is asked of him.
4 Dean Ambrose
When the WWE was hellbent in making Roman Reigns the mega monster babyface of yesteryear, Dean Ambrose was the WWE Universe’s choice. Now fans are getting to see exactly what Ambrose is made of on AEW.
Partially because he felt stifled, WWE had actually pulled the trigger on him, but it was whenever Roman wasn’t around or on another show.
3 Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is indeed a star and one of the big focal points of the company. But any goodwill Roman had built up at the 2014 Royal Rumble was long gone by the 2015 show. It was clear the WWE brass wanted him to be at Cena level and the fans had no interest in it.
It’s not a knock on Roman, most fans do genuinely enjoy his work, but there were bad feelings that it took years to actually get him over with the fans and sadly he had to go away to fight leukemia once it happened.
2 Cesaro
With unspeakable strength and a ton of skills in the ring, plenty of fans respect the Swiss Superman, Cesaro. In 2014 it seemed like the company was going to do something with him.
He won the first André battle royal was paired up with Paul Heyman. It seemed like he was on track to a singles push. However, he’s been used as a supporting character or tag team specialist in several tag teams.
1 Nakamura
With a ton of hype surrounding him and all did in and did for New Japan, the WWE Universe was waiting with bated breath to cheer Nakamura on. He debuted in NXT at Takeover: Dallas, and the crowds have been singing along to his theme song ever since, doing all they could to show Vince that they’re solidly behind him.
It seemed like he heard the fans as Shinsuke won the 2018 Royal Rumble and faced off against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34, but to date, world championship gold and super stardom as eluded the Artist.