WWE You’ve made the mistake countless times of hiring a name you think is going to make big numbers for the company that never seems to work. It could be someone who was a top prospect and signed a ridiculous deal that just didn’t end with the crowd as expected, or a name that just hasn’t been seen on TV except for a few appearances.
The contracts of these wrestlers are not an indication of their ability in the ring, most of these stars have proven that they are really great at what they do, their talent was apparently wasted or they were picked up at the wrong time with little to no training and back. them. So let’s take a look at some of the most wasted contracts WWE has ever awarded.
Faceless
Sin Cara was a star while working in the CMLL under the ring name Mistico. So once WWE saw him, it wasn’t long before he became part of the WWE roster. Mistico would sign a contract with the company in 2011 after a large press conference announcing the signing that took place in Mexico City.
It became a running joke of Sin Cara’s work in WWE, with the superstar often botching moves, sustaining multiple injuries and violating the wellness program. Sin Cara would be a part of the promotion from 2011 to 2014, but she would not find much success before leaving and returning to Mexico.
nathan jones
Nathan Jones was the spitting image of the type of fighter Vince McMahon would want on his roster. Jones would go on to have an impressive track record before joining WWE, becoming a multiple-time powerlifting champion and gold medalist. He would sign with WWE in 2002 and cartoons promoting his arrival immediately began airing.
Hopes were high for “The Colossus of Boggo Road” before WrestleMania plans changed for him and Jones eventually grew tired of the rigorous schedule and travel WWE stars endure. Nathan Jones would quit just a year after debuting and would retire from wrestling soon after.
Buff Bagwell
Buff Bagwell would have a decent career in WCW working alongside the New World Order and teaming with Scott Steiner on a regular basis. After WWE purchased WCW, Bagwell would agree to the termination of his contract and signed with WWE in 2001.
Buff would only have a few appearances, including a tryout match to make WCW a brand within WWE against Booker T before being fired. Bagwell would be told he would be fired due to behavioral issues and allegations that he faked an injury to get some time off. He would only last in the company that year and has not been seen on WWE screens since.
david hart smith
It might come as a surprise to find out that one third of the former Hart Dynasty, David Hart Smith, actually returned to WWE in 2020. He would appear on The Bump and After The Bell talking about his father, The British Bulldog, joining WWE. . Hall of Fame.
He would go on to wrestle a dark match with SmackDown in July 2021, signing a contract with the company right after. Smith would be released in November of that same year before getting a chance to wrestle on television.
vader
WCW legend Vader would finally make his WWE arrival in 1996. Vader would be promoted during the weeks leading up to the 1996 Royal Rumble, where he would eliminate four Superstars before being eliminated by eventual winner Shawn Michaels.
Vader would take time off due to a shoulder injury before returning and wrestling at WrestleMania and having a show with Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship. Vader would accomplish nothing of note in the company before leaving and returning to All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he would quickly win the Triple Crown title.
karma
One of the most influential and important Knockouts in Impact Wrestling history would join WWE in 2011 as Kharma. She would debut and begin attacking Michelle McCool and others, before announcing that she was pregnant and needed to get away from the company for a while.
Upon her return, she would be the third woman to enter the men’s Royal Rumble with her appearance in 2012. She would confirm that WWE fired her, she only had one match under her belt for WWE, but stated that she was interested in returning.
scott hall
Scott Hall would return to WWE along with his nWo partners Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash in 2002. The nWo would attack Stone Cold Steve Austin, resulting in Hall getting a match against Rattlesnake at the showcase. Hall would suffer his first loss at WrestleMania to Austin before being drafted to Monday Night Raw after the event.
Hall would be part of the infamous “Airplane Ride From Hell” altercation in which he was accused of inappropriate behavior toward flight attendants. Hall would be fired after the event due to ongoing issues over his substance abuse issues.
gable steveson
Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson would sign a contract with WWE in September 2021 after making a quick appearance at SummerSlam the previous month. Former WWE/Impact Wrestling star Mr. Kennedy confirmed that he was training with Steveson in July 2022.
Steveson was part of the 2021 WWE Draft that moved to Monday Night Raw, but didn’t appear until WrestleMania 38. Despite signing with the company two years ago, Steveson has yet to have an official match with the company.
mark henry
Mark Henry’s initial deal with WWE didn’t start off on the best foot. After competing in the 1996 Summer Olympics, Henry signed a ten-year contract with WWE, beginning with a match against Jerry Lawler. Within his first year, he would have to take a long break from WWE to recover from injuries and train some more.
Upon his return, the Nation of Domination storyline would begin and would eventually become Sexual Chocolate. Things changed when he was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to improve his wrestling skills in 2000. WWE wouldn’t start to see a real return on investment until 2002, when Henry won the 2002 Arnold Classic Strongman competition.
last warrior
Ultimate Warrior’s early run with WWE was highly successful, bringing Warrior to Hogan levels of popularity with fans. His 1996 comeback would be where mistakes were made between the two parties. Warrior would return at WrestleMania 12 defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley in 1:39 before moving on to a match with Intercontinental Champion Goldust.
Warrior would be released from the company later that year after failing to appear at multiple house show events and arguing with Vince McMahon over merchandise percentages and money owed. Warrior would not appear in WWE until his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2014.