Professional wrestling is a delicate balance of proper booking, athletic ability, luck, and fan engagement. Some performers, such as The Rock and John Cena, are able to perfectly balance this equation in wrestling as well as other ventures. Most are able to find success only if they can balance the equation inside the ring week after week.
For each of the former, there are ten wrestlers who fit the latter category. Still, fewer are those who cannot balance the equation but have other skills which would be more beneficial to their success. While not everyone on this list meets those criteria, here are ten wrestlers who would be better off hanging up their boots.
10 The Miz
The Miz is a fantastic competitor inside the ring and we hope he remains active for a long time to come. That being said, his current status with WWE leaves a lot to be desired. A former WWE Champion and eight-time Intercontinental Champion, the Miz is currently booked as an occasional novelty act who does precious little work inside the ring.
Given his charisma and the moderate success he found acting in The Marine 4: Moving Target, as well as reality TV success, The Miz would likely find more satisfaction outside the ring. While not the "A-list" star his character portrays, The Miz definitely has a talent for theatrics which can't be ignored.
9 Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is a definite draw. Given her successes in the MMA world before joining WWE, Rousey brings a sort of legitimacy to the ring akin to that of Brock Lesnar. Beyond that, Rousey has seen great in-ring success, sporting a Raw Women's Championship on her resume.
Despite her successes in the ring, Rousey has been silent for most of 2019. Following her first WWE loss at WrestleMania 35, little has been heard from Rousey. The reason for her absence seems to be family and acting endeavors. Given the current landscape in WWE, there isn't a great landing spot for her to return to, begging the question of whether or not she would be best served to keep her focus where it is currently.
8 The Undertaker
The past three decades have seen "The Dead Man" captivate multiple generations. Through all of the changes WWE has seen since his debut, The Undertaker has been the one constant through and through. But it might be time for him to move on. Since the end of The Streak, Taker has diminished.
The pinnacle of his recession was on display at Super Showdown 2019, where Taker and Goldberg put on a match which marked low points in both men's careers. While Taker has had a successful match since then, no one is looking for him to stay on as a tag team competitor. What he would do outside of wrestling is a little unclear, but staying will only tarnish his legacy.
7 Mojo Rawley
Here's a name you haven't heard in a while. For most of 2019, Rawley has been absent from television. Having failed to make his mark with the promotion prior to 2019, the former NFL defensive lineman hasn't really accomplished very much in his professional wrestling tenure.
With XFL on the horizon, Rawley should consider returning to football with the league. Rawley possesses impressive physical conditioning and could make a mark in a semi-professional league. Given his lack of direction with WWE, it seems his two best options are NXT or football. Our money would be on Rawley having a more successful career in the latter.
6 Titus O'Neil
Here's another opportunity for XFL to bring talent from WWE into the mix.
Including NXT time, Titus O'Neil has been with WWE since 2010. Over nine years, Titus has enjoyed one WWE Tag Team Championship reign and one WWE 24/7 Championship victory, which ended before Titus could even exit the arena. Much like Mojo Rawley, Titus has seen next to no screen time in 2019.
Also like Mojo Rawley, Titus could benefit from the XFL's debut in 2020. The 42-year-old is in fantastic shape but his mic skills seem to indicate that he would be better served in some sort of commentary capacity. Whatever the case, Titus would be much better off leaving the in-ring competition, as he is barely an afterthought in most minds nowadays.
5 Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder's use on WWE programming has been almost criminal. Ryder's ability to win over fans through social media, independent of any television push, was nothing short of spectacular. In the ring, Ryder is a solid competitor who, if given the opportunity, could go toe-to-toe with the best.
Unfortunately, Ryder doesn't receive that opportunity. The pinnacle of his career is winning the Intercontinental and United States Championships, along with two tag title reigns. Zack would be better focusing on his outside ventures, including his wrestling action figure podcast with Curt Hawkins.
4 Curtis Axel
Speaking of "Curt's", when was the last time we saw Curtis Axel in the ring? The third-generation superstar has been a part of some of the funnier and more memorable moments of the past few years, primarily with his "AxelMania" run and his involvement in the Miztourage and B-Team.
Axel seems to be a funny enough guy that could find success in an acting or comedy career. With limited in-ring action, Axel could have a much better run in almost any venture than he is currently experiencing with WWE. Nonetheless, we will continue watching (and loving) anything he does inside the ring.
3 Jeff Hardy
Matt will not follow this entry, as he still has plenty of ring time left in him.
Watching the Hardy Boys since the 1990s, it seems that Jeff has given more of his body than his brother, which is far from an easy feat. At 42, one has to beg the question of how much longer Jeff can continue his established style of high flying action in the ring.
With outside endeavors in art and music, Jeff Hardy would be better served giving up his wrestling career to focus on those passions. It's too late to change his style and, given that Jeff is currently sidelined anyway, it is clear that the Hardy brother can no longer match the pace he established during his heyday.
2 Kane
The real-life Glenn Jacobs may currently be inactive, but he is still considered a WWE superstar. Whether it is an uncertain future or love for wrestling that holds him back from retiring outright, The Big Red Machine would do well to remove himself from the WWE roster.
Ignoring the fact that his match with The Undertaker against DX at Crown Jewel 2018 left a bit to be desired, the Kane character is low on the list of things Jacobs has going for him. Extremely popular in conservative and Libertarian circles, Jacobs has no reason to return to the ring. He will likely have a lucrative future in the political spectrum, even if elections stop closing in his favor.
1 Bray Wyatt
Here is an entry nobody wants to see, but one which can't be ignored. By all accounts, Bray Wyatt has had almost full creative control over his character since he re-debuted in 2019. Between the Firefly Funhouse segments and The Fiend, the real-life Windham Rotunda has shown a creative genius which falls well short of his in-ring success.
While his recent push will hopefully play out in a big way, there is no doubt that he could have found monumental success in any sort of guiding capacity, either in WWE's creative system or in movies. The wrestling world has been captivated with Wyatt lately, and that isn't only because of the man portraying the role.