Wrestling Forum banner

List of "flopped" WWE stars these past 4 years?

8K views 70 replies 53 participants last post by  Annihilus 
#1 ·
* Note that Potential to recover later in their career is not taken into account. At this moment in time, these superstars are to be considered a flop, relative to their push, overness, significance, impact and most importantly inability to meet fans expectation(Paige/Batista/Emma etc..) and position on the WWE roster.

1. Tensai
2. Drew Mcintyre
3. Curtis Axel
4. Fundango
5. Del Rio
6. The Miz
7. Christian
8. Ryback
9. Paige
10. Emma
11. Wade Barrett
12. Swagger
13. Batista
14. Zack Ryder
15. Sin cara
16. Tamina Snuka
17. Titus O'neil

Do you agree with all 17 names?
 
See less See more
#67 ·
1. Tensai - Yeah.
2. Drew Mcintyre - Sort of I guess
3. Curtis Axel - Yeah p much
4. Fandango - Not really. He was established as a midcard act like he was needing to be. Maybe he's slid a little lower than he should have though, but not to the extent where he's an out and out flop.
5. Del Rio - goes without saying. Although again, he's delivered a lot of quality in his tenure so he's not a complete waste
6. The Miz - Surprisingly, no. He was never really good enough to be a main eventer but it's a testament to him that the only reason he fell from grace was because of a systematic WWE dismantling. As soon as Rock/Cena was set up they wanted to make it transparent that he absolutely did not belong in that main event scene.
7. Christian - again, what? WWE were never really behind him. His injuries have been unfortunate for us, but even while healthy it's not like he would have gotten anywhere anyway. Because of how he's viewed, not because of his worth as a talent.
8. Ryback - nnnnh, kinda.
9. Paige - she debuted a month ago. You're jumping the gun.
10. Emma - another one that still has a lot of time and potential in her. I really think it's ridiculous that people are calling the newest female talents flops, this early in the game.
11. Wade Barrett - No. Nexus should have made him, and would have, had his booking been executed correctly.
12. Swagger - yeah I suppose. Looked like he was meant to be a top guy at a point.
13. Batista - good one lol
14. Zack Ryder - you can only use the phrase "systematic dismantling" so much before it gets boring. But no one personifies it more than Ryder
15. Sin cara - yeah
16. Tamina Snuka - no
17. Titus O'neil - Absolutely not. PTP were a fun unit while they were around. Titus never got a singles push so I don't know what you're implying.
 
#35 ·
excuse me... Christian a flop????

World Heavyweight Championship (2 times
ECW Championship (2 times)
WWE Intercontinental Championship (4 times)
WWE Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWE Hardcore Championship (1 time)
WWF European Championship (1 time)
World Tag Team Championship (9 times)
Twenty Third Triple Crown Champion
Eleventh Grand Slam Champion

(not to mention he still found time to get injured like hell AND go win a couple of TNA world titles in between)

I think you may have been slightly off the mark on that one my friend
 
#68 ·
I can only agree with Cara and Rio (to a certain degree) They didn't really dig deep with Rio and his first couple runs where a joke, but he was just a MASSIVELY over pushed guy that WWE didn't really put much effort into, just SEVERELY over pushed.

All the other guys, WWE just fucked with them royally.
 
#7 ·
Well I'd disagree with a lot of this list based on the fact that people "flopping" has more to do with the way WWE booked them - as in, killed all of their momentum through terrible ideas and crappy storylines.

I'd say the only true "flops" the past 4 years would be Tensai, Sin Cara, Del Rio, Miz & Kharma. The reason I say that is because they were all given relatively consistent or high-profile opportunities & never did much with them. I'll probably be the last defender of Ryback on this board, but terrible booking cost him the chance to be a permanent main eventer. Go back to the latter part of 2012 & just listen to the reactions for him, that's all you need to do.
 
#57 ·
Well I'd disagree with a lot of this list based on the fact that people "flopping" has more to do with the way WWE booked them - as in, killed all of their momentum through terrible ideas and crappy storylines.

I'd say the only true "flops" the past 4 years would be Tensai, Sin Cara, Del Rio, Miz & Kharma. The reason I say that is because they were all given relatively consistent or high-profile opportunities & never did much with them. I'll probably be the last defender of Ryback on this board, but terrible booking cost him the chance to be a permanent main eventer. Go back to the latter part of 2012 & just listen to the reactions for him, that's all you need to do.
I thought Kharma got pregnant and then fired right after she came back? I wouldn't call that flopping, more like bad luck.

Oh and as long as i'm around, you will never be the last defender of Ryback, that man is GOLD.
 
#10 ·
Oh god, I didn't even notice Paige on the list. I don't agree with that either, she's been getting decent reactions, showing us her skills and she loses one match and people think shes a flop? She can't be the goldberg of the divas division, she lost a match deal with it.
 
#14 ·
Considering the ineptitude of the WWE on talent building in recent history I am not sure how much blame it would be fair to place on any of these guys, not like in the past where they were more free to preform to their own standards. When we see people who are getting over with the crowds who don't fit in the "plan" getting crushed year after year I feel the WWE has little to no credibility to blame anyone but themselves as to why people fail. They have lost the ability to let talent develop naturally and until they relearn it, it will be the mess it is now.
 
#21 ·
1. Tensai Absolutely
2. Drew Mcintyre Again, yep, had his chances and failed
3. Curtis Axel Spot on again sir
4. Fundango Who? Disagree anyway, you may not like the gimmick but he got over and they cut his legs off
5. Del Rio Great talent, but agreed. Big flop
6. The Miz Depends really, he shouldn't have main evented Mania but he has talent and I wouldn't class him as a flop
7. Christian Absolutely not. One of the most talented Superstars of the last 15 years NEVER given a chance to succeed. Still got over
8. Ryback Not really tbh, he got over and they gave up on him. His work was bad I guess, he seems a dick backstage as well. If they'd had kept pushing him as a babyface he'd have stayed over though so harsh to call him a flop
9. Paige Far to early to say. Give the girl a chance
10. Emma Again, see above. She's been saddled with a goofy gimmick
11. Wade Barrett MASSIVELY disagree. He's brilliant any time he's given a microphone. FAR from a flop, the company has failed him time and time again. hHe'd be the most over heel of this generation if given the chance. Controls the crowd effortlessly. He'd probably get over huge as a face too if given the chance
12. Swagger Agreed
13. Batista This run? Yeah, flopped big time. Overall career? No way
14. Zack Ryder Nope, he got over, he's still selling shit loads of merch
15. Sin cara Yep
16. Tamina Snuka She's never on TV so she can't be a hit nor a flop
17. Titus O'neil Never been pushed seriously. Shows charisma and personality when given a chance. Not a flop by any means. Could be much more if given the opportunity
 
#29 ·
Where's Ryder's MITB, World Title and top match at Wrestlemania?

Yeah, Swagger is on tv because Vince likes him, he's still a flop. He fucked himself out of the World Title because he got caught driving high, he couldn't get over as a heel despite having Zeb Colter do a tea party gimmick for him. Worked like crazy for Cesaro though, wonder why...

Zack Ryder is not a flop, when he was given a chance he got over. Hell, he got over without a chance. He isn't on TV because Vince thinks he's a GEEK, which he is, he's not a flop though. If anything, he's an overachiever.
 
#26 ·
1. Tensai-Flop he was giving a monster push and he didn't last.


2. Drew Mcintyre-Flop. He only got one upper mid-card push as the chosen one and that's it. His one push flopped but unlike Wade Barrett he hasn't had multiple pushes. Could see him being something if giving mor oppurtunity.


3. Curtis Axel-His only push flopped. Like Mcintyre hasn't had the luxury a Barrett has of multiple pushes.


4. Fundango-Not a flop. How can he be. His character is exactly what it is meant to be.


5. Del Rio-Not a flop. Multiple World Title reigns as now being used to put people over. He's been a solid hand.


6. The Miz-Not a flop. Main Evented wrestlemania and now can be used when you need to plug someone in on the card. Makes a great transitional champion.


7. Christian-Not a flop. Has had a great WWE career. Another sold hand who can be used to put people over.


8. Ryback-Not a flop. At one time was the most over guy on the roster. His pushed was sacraficed so Cm Punk could keep the belt warm for The Rock. Still around working shows doing his job. Another solid hand.


9. Paige-Incomplete. Not been there long enough to know yet.


10. Emma-See Paige.


11. Wade Barrett-Not a flop. Has not worked out as a Main Eventer but, is in his fourth reigns as IC Champion and in the midst of his third upper mid-card push.


12. Swagger-Flop. At this time last year appeared to be headed to the World Title and messed it up outside the ring. He deserves better than what he's been given but for a guy who appeared on his way to the World Title and screwed it up himself kinda disappointing.


13. Batista-Flop. This current run he was brought in to win the title at Mania as a babyface and fans rejected him as a babyface. He's still playing a role in the WWE but it seems beneath him.


14. Zack Ryder-Not a Flop. Got a little internet following and a mid-card push that wasn't sustained but still exceded where he should be. He is where he should be honestly. Jobber to the stars


15. Sin cara-Huge Flop for the orginal. Brought in as an international superstar and debuted as Rey Mybotchieo. Hasn't lived up to Misticio.


16. Tamina Snuka-Not a flop. Solid worker who plays here role well.


17. Titus O'neil-Incomplete. Has he even had a push?
 
#28 ·
1. Tensai- Completely agree, that guy seemed promising when he returned in 2012. And over time, they've just slowly killed any credibility he had. From pinning John Cena clean to only appearing as an NXT commentator under a new name in under two years. His push flopped- though not because of him.

2. Drew McIntyre- I assumed when he first got his push with the IC Championship that he would be a future world champion. He's flopped... just sort of stagnated in 2010 and now is little more than a punching back in the (albeit entertaining) 3MB. I reckon they should just give 3MB a few wins here and there, or have them get into a state like Sandow is on his losing streak. I reckon if they turned these guys into the plucky, babyface jobbers they could get pretty over.

3. Curtis Axel- Unfortunately, yes. I had high hopes when he was repackaged- going from the absolute bottom of the roster to a "Paul Heyman guy". What really ruined it for me was him being a fourth-wheel in a drawn-out Punk/Heyman feud that he just couldn't recover from.

4. Fandango- I heard he was going to win the IC Championship at Payback last year until he suffered a concussion. Had that not happened, I reckon he'd still be a credible guy- and he wouldn't be in this discussion. His character is gold, but pretty much anything he's been involved in since Summerslam has been interminable.

5. Del Rio- I don't think so. His resume reads better than his actual career, granted, but he's been pretty over as both a heel and a face. He's fallen far this year, but otherwise I'd say his career is only a notch below Sheamus'.

6. The Miz- 2010 was the year of The Miz. He looked poised to be a major star. And that all just fell to pieces in 2011. Why he was the third wheel in his WrestleMania feud, or why he faced Jerry Lawler for the WWE title at Elimination Chamber I will never know. He's still a pretty well recognized guy, and I reckon they could restore him-- but his push flopped.

7. Christian- Not sure why Christian's on the list. He had a pretty boss run carrying ECW in 2009 and has been a reliable upper-mid carder when he's not injured. He's never had a super push, but his work with the likes of Orton and Del Rio were entertaining.

8. Ryback- He could've actually been the number one babyface in the company had WWE just not completely screwed up. He could've been absolutely massive had he defeated Punk, or at the very least never have entered the Hell in a Cell match and kept his streak a little while longer. The damage could at least have been reversed if he beat Henry at WrestleMania, was in Orton's shoes when The Shield had their first lost and never turned heel.

9. Paige- Too early to say yet. Her push can't have flopped, it's only just started.

10. Emma- Yes, WWE dropped the ball once again by teaming her with Santino Marella with little to no storylines or character development.

11. Wade Barrett- At first, considerably. His current push has been his most successful since all the way back in 2010. Had the handled the Nexus storyline better, he could've been a legitimate main eventer for several years.

12. Swagger- His World Heavyweight Championship left little to be desired. As much as I like Swagger, I think he's a case of someone who belongs as a mid-carder.

13. Batista- Erm, no? He main evented WrestleMania 21 opposite Triple H... was the lead babyface on Smackdown for a number of years and was a main event talent up until his departure in 2010. His babyface push derailed quickly in January, but since then he's been on a streak of arguably two match of the nights. He's probably the most overrated talent on the roster today, but that's evidence of how his push has not flopped.

14. Zack Ryder- Why WWE chose not to stick with him I'll never know. Genuinely talented guy, one of the best babyfaces they had in 2011 and was a safe worker. He looked and acted like the perfect PG era main eventer. He had a good look, a safe style, a goofiness that endeared him to child audiences but a talent that won hardcore fans over. WWE dropped the ball with him big time.

15. Sin Cara- Yeah, when he was first signed it seemed like a pretty big deal. He's paled in comparison to all of the hype. Mistico just couldn't adapt to the new environment and they did virtually nothing interesting with him once they arrived. I reckon that's a case of booking and the wrestler both severely missing the mark on what they were trying to do with the guy.

16. Tamina Snuka- I can't recall her ever getting a major push. She's one of the few WWE divas with talent, and I reckon she should've turned on AJ properly. A missed opportunity, but not a derailed push...

17. Titus O'Neill- He has yet to do anything since splitting from Darren Young, so I reckon it's difficult to say. If WWE were truly get behind him I reckon it could pay dividends. So far though, the ending of PTP has been completely useless and in fact damaging to a dying (how many times have we said that?) tag team division...
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top