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Post by The American Daydream on Jun 6, 2023 13:56:41 GMT -5
I was going to post this on the classic wrestling section of the forum but didn't want to limit it to a certain amount of years so putting it here. If that's wrong feel free to move it.
As the title suggests, I want to know who you think the greatest case of squandered potential has been throughout wrestling history. Not someone who booking ruined but someone who had booking going their way, was given every chance to succeed and had the tools to do so but in the end didn't because they were their own worst enemy. Basically someone who squandered great potential whether it be due to substance abuse, injuries, injuring someone else, backstage antics or even quitting.
I will toss Perry Saturn's name in the ring as one that's probably not thought of that much. He was an Army Ranger, part of the Radicalz and could actually wrestle while also being a brick sh-t house of a man. I can't really recall him having anything to write home about as far as mic skills go but man I feel like he could have been something special had he not had his own demons and had he not been given the mop gimmick for shooting on someone in the ring. Also watching some of these highlights of WCW I want to say (sorry if this is blasphemy to some) The Flock were getting some bigger reactions than the NWO on certain nights. I don't think he'd be WHC like some of the other Radicalz would end up becoming later in their careers but he could have been a much more solid upper mid-carder than he was imo.
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Post by JokerFC on Jun 6, 2023 14:04:13 GMT -5
Saturn is a good one. Malenko & himself should have been tagged up more & maybe given a run with the belts. Vinnie missed a trick there imho
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Post by BoJack Hogan on Jun 6, 2023 15:00:25 GMT -5
Cody in 2012 or 13…after breaking away from Team Rhodes Scholars he should have won the case from Sandow, but it just went nowhere, and then Stardust happened, which for anyone other than Cody would’ve been a career killer.
Also Barrett from Nexus all the way up to the arm injury. Nexus should have gone to Wrestlemania and Barrett should’ve gotten a run with the belt. I’d have done either a ten-man winner take all tag or a scoring system of WWE vs Nexus matches where if WWE won more then the Nexus would be forced to disband and be fired. It would come down to the Title match at the end, and obviously WWE would win. Then a year or two later Barrett had the pre-BNB run, where it looked like they were going with him until he got that arm injury that sidelined him for like 8 months.
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Post by CM Tusk on Jun 6, 2023 15:23:12 GMT -5
Velveteen Dream could have been one of the top stars in the company easily. Charisma, a good look, great in the ring, and good on the mic. He stood out. A piss poor attitude and most likely trying to hook up with minors killed his career before it really began. Imagine having all the tools and flushing all that away because you’re just a piece of sh**.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Jun 6, 2023 15:30:12 GMT -5
DDP could have been a big star in 01/02… ffs
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Post by Codyverse: Tag Team Champion on Jun 6, 2023 16:36:15 GMT -5
Velveteen Dream could have been one of the top stars in the company easily. Charisma, a good look, great in the ring, and good on the mic. He stood out. A piss poor attitude and most likely trying to hook up with minors killed his career before it really began. Imagine having all the tools and flushing all that away because you’re just a piece of sh**. This. Dude had money written all over him and decided to make horrible decisions. It’s a shame |
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Post by The American Daydream on Jun 6, 2023 16:57:23 GMT -5
I was going to put Enzo Amore in here as he caused himself a lot of issues backstage but in the end it's on WWE for letting him go without waiting for the case to be dropped. Not saying either are right or wrong or that the something happened or didn't, just think he was way too over to be as problematic as he was. Guy coulda been a heel you'd really love to hate. Had a unique look, was over as rover and could talk his arse off. Too bad he couldn't wrestle a lick or stay out of trouble.
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Post by Codyverse: Tag Team Champion on Jun 6, 2023 17:23:45 GMT -5
I was going to put Enzo Amore in here as he caused himself a lot of issues backstage but in the end it's on WWE for letting him go without waiting for the case to be dropped. Not saying either are right or wrong or that the something happened or didn't, just think he was way too over to be as problematic as he was. Guy coulda been a heel you'd really love to hate. Had a unique look, was over as rover and could talk his arse off. Too bad he couldn't wrestle a lick or stay out of trouble. I actually thought about Enzo earlier today while listening to a podcast where they were talking about Big Bill. Both guys I’d say are squandered potential |
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Post by JokerFC on Jun 6, 2023 17:29:40 GMT -5
Enzo & Cass were over HUGE. Vinces fetish for busting up teams was on full salute here.
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Jun 6, 2023 19:14:02 GMT -5
Enzo & Cass were over HUGE. Vinces fetish for busting up teams was on full salute here. Big letdown |
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Post by BSR on Jun 6, 2023 20:23:23 GMT -5
Curtis Axel.
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Post by RuthlessFigs on Jun 7, 2023 9:02:48 GMT -5
Wade Barrett
He was only rising up & up through 2011, and it really seemed like he'd finally break out and become a Main Event World Champion in 2012... Then he got that unfortunate dislocated elbow during that Battle Royal.
While he did have some good success after returning, and was always featured in good spots, he just never really hit that peak again. Which is a shame, because 2014 Bad News Barrett would have been a hit as World Champion. Even King Barrett through 2015 - 2016 would have made a good champion.
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fabulous1971
Mid-Carder
Insert Price is Right losing horn here. :)
Joined on: Apr 1, 2022 12:29:07 GMT -5
Posts: 416
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Post by fabulous1971 on Jun 7, 2023 11:09:50 GMT -5
I think Sean O'Haire could have been really big with his "devils advocate" gimmick. As much as I love Piper, Sean did not fit well with him. Also all of Ravens WWF run. Imagine the fun stuff that could have happened with a feud vs Taker.
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Post by JokerFC on Jun 7, 2023 12:21:25 GMT -5
I think Sean O'Haire could have been really big with his "devils advocate" gimmick. As much as I love Piper, Sean did not fit well with him. Also all of Ravens WWF run. Imagine the fun stuff that could have happened with a feud vs Taker. Yes....O Haire could have been huge I felt. |
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Zincdust
Main Eventer
WF 20+ Year Member
WF Day 1 Member
Redefining "Old Toy Weirdo"
Joined on: Dec 18, 2001 15:13:21 GMT -5
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Post by Zincdust on Jun 7, 2023 12:29:28 GMT -5
William Regal.
Especially after winning the KotR. They seriously had him primed for success. I honestly believe that he would have become World Champ, had he not derailed himself with his vices.
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Post by Scott! on Jun 7, 2023 12:38:23 GMT -5
Sean O'Haire is a big one for me, I'd have loved to see him go places in WWE.
If we're just talking WWF/E, then DDP's run was doomed from day 1 with the whole Sara stuff but that's well written about. For me, DDP should have been higher on the card as soon as he first debuted but by the end of the Alliance story line he was doing that "it's not a good thing" (which for the record, was actually entertaining) and I always wished he'd have had a main event run in WWF before he hung up the boots.
Christopher Nowinski actually had an entertaining character, and I think it might have played out well in a mid card run but he got his injury and moved on.
Enzo and Cass, they got 5 minutes on Raw and got split up. Worked out great, didn't it?
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Deleted
Joined on: May 15, 2024 7:18:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2023 14:51:25 GMT -5
Sean O’Haire. He was the best of the bunch of young wcw guys they brought in but they really did nothing with him despite him having a great look and being pretty good in the ring
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Post by John Zero on Jun 7, 2023 16:18:11 GMT -5
William Regal. Especially after winning the KotR. They seriously had him primed for success. I honestly believe that he would have become World Champ, had he not derailed himself with his vices. My memory of things happening sucks, but the image of him on the throne is burned into my brain. I loved that moment. |
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Post by ASR (therockisback) on Jun 7, 2023 18:06:36 GMT -5
Wade Barrett He was only rising up & up through 2011, and it really seemed like he'd finally break out and become a Main Event World Champion in 2012... Then he got that unfortunate dislocated elbow during that Battle Royal. While he did have some good success after returning, and was always featured in good spots, he just never really hit that peak again. Which is a shame, because 2014 Bad News Barrett would have been a hit as World Champion. Even King Barrett through 2015 - 2016 would have made a good champion. Barrett should have won the big one a few times |
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on Jun 7, 2023 19:14:35 GMT -5
Enzo & Cass. Over as hell and big merch sellers. They didn't have to be good wrestlers, their popularity was enough for them to succeed.
Jesse & Festus. Another team who was over with the crowd and should've been multiple tag champs.
London & Kendrick. Possibly one of the best teams of the 00's, but I felt at times they were hugely underrated. First of they should've been given a team name and should be remembered today as one of the companies legendary tag teams.
Wade Barrett. As Bad News Barrett he could've been a top player.
Billy Gunn. Feeding him to The Rock and DX's reunion spoiled his push. He never recovered from that.
Perry Saturn. I could certainly have pictured him as a solid mid/upper carder.
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