BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 16,976
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Post by BRV on Oct 17, 2022 13:03:43 GMT -5
In sports like football and basketball, we can easily identify the top prospects who went belly-up and become historic busts. Guys like JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf in the NFL or Anthony Bennett or Kwame Brown in the NBA, for one reason or another, were total flops in their respective sports when everyone expected them to become stars.
So how about in the world of professional wrestling? Who are the so-called "top prospects" or the wrestlers who were identified, either internally by their companies or externally by the fans as "can't miss," yet somehow missed?
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Post by kingoftheindies on Oct 17, 2022 13:32:36 GMT -5
Not that long ago David Starr was a matter of when not if he'd be signed by a top promotion. While the Speaking Out movement was the nail in the coffin to his wrestling career (deservedly so) even before that his dissent into erm... being Super Woke (for lack of a better term) got him on the bad side of a lot of wrestlers and promoters so he'd likely have seen himself gone one way or another.
While he is a meme now, there was a time Manu/Afa Jr was seen as a big time prospect. Attitude did him in... of course when your dad books you as the guy in a fed since you were 16 bound to happen I guess.
You could honestly just say WWE developmental from 2004 to 2010. So many wrestlers that people thought had a lot of potential but never got a shot
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Post by ppl591 on Oct 17, 2022 13:34:20 GMT -5
The apter mags always pushed Adam Windsor trained by dory funk Jr as a future superstar
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Post by Mike Bockwinkel on Oct 17, 2022 13:37:24 GMT -5
Richie Steamboat
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tafkaga
Samurai Cop
the Dogfather
Posts: 2,124
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Post by tafkaga on Oct 17, 2022 13:50:30 GMT -5
David Sammartino
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Post by Ultra Magnus Black on Oct 17, 2022 13:50:43 GMT -5
- Half the OVW roster 2003-2006 were lauded as the next breakout star & fizzled out & faded into obscurity. Notable examples would be Brent Albright/Gunner Scott, Johnny Jeter & Ken Doane.
- Velveteen Dream was at one point being groomed for superstardom but *allegedly* preferred a different kind of grooming.
- Magnum TA maybe? Had an 8-year run & picked up a few titles including the NWA US Championship twice but my all accounts was on the cusp of being a world champion & perennial main eventer before his car accident.
- Katsuya Kitamura had a unique look (for Japan) and was clearly being positioned as the premier Young Lion in his class before mysteriously being cut. He appeared to be making a comeback of sorts recently before his untimely death last week. RIP.
- I may be in the minority, but Sam Houston looked like he had a lot of potential & was always talked up big as a young up-and-coming superstar but never really went anywhere.
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Post by Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby on Oct 17, 2022 14:03:49 GMT -5
Sean O'Haire is a big one, there were a few rounds of "Oh man this guy is going to be big" that never panned out - WCW, OVW, Devil's Advocate vignettes.
Seconding almost everyone of note from 00's OVW, though. Matt Morgan was a big one who was pegged as a future big deal who just never got good enough.
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Post by Deputy Muscle on Oct 17, 2022 14:10:11 GMT -5
Sean O'Haire is a big one, there were a few rounds of "Oh man this guy is going to be big" that never panned out - WCW, OVW, Devil's Advocate vignettes. Seconding almost everyone of note from 00's OVW, though. Matt Morgan was a big one who was pegged as a future big deal who just never got good enough. Just beat me to it with Matt Morgan. Vince would have strapped a rocket to him if he showed anything vaguely above below average.
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Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
Posts: 46,162
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Oct 17, 2022 14:34:01 GMT -5
Plenty of disappointing wrestling sons you could throw in there.
Wes Brisco Dakota Darsow Ted DiBiase Jr. Brian Pillman Jr.'s on his way to being one, too.
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Post by ThankGodForSidJustice on Oct 17, 2022 15:11:42 GMT -5
Tom Magee. One of the strongest man in the world, a gymnast, martial artist, 6'4", physique chiseled out of stone, flowing locks. If you were to build a wrestler in a laboratory it would be this guy. Just one problem. He had no clue how to work. Vince thought he was going to be his next Hogan and he never made it to TV.
Sean O'Haire. Size, athleticism, look, charisma. Dude had it all. Unfortunately apparently he wasn't the most mentally stable guy outside the ring which hurt him. WCW closing also didn't help as you could tell they saw big things in him.
Ted Dibiase Jr. was good in the ring, had movie star good looks, and a wrestling pedigree. Unfortunately he was lacking in the charisma department. He was so highly thought of that at one point he was rumored to be the guy to end Undertaker's streak. Instead he was out of the business about four years later and was left in the dust by supposed side kick Cody Rhodes whose had a way better career.
Emma/Tenille Dashwood has to be one on the women's side. Real good looking girl who could also go in the ring which is usually a combination that is a recipe for big success. Also came up with all the other really talented women who would become big stars (Paige, Becky, Charlotte, Bayley, Sasha) but yet never came close to being a star herself with her only major company accolade being just one Tag Title in Impact.
Chris Masters was someone who seemed destined for big things around 2005. Awesome look, was showing progress in the ring, and seemed to have the backing of the company. Unfortunately after a few failed wellness policies they seemed to completely lose interest in him as he was demoted and eventually released. Even after getting rehired a few years during a run where he put it all together in the ring they would never push him as he never got above low midcard status before getting released again.
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Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Oct 17, 2022 15:23:52 GMT -5
Teddy 'Freakin' Hart. He was the youngest ever talent signed to the WWF at the time of his first signing, he blew it. He blew his chances to rebuild his reputation on the indies, but despite that, he was re-signed, given his cousins, Tyson Kid and a returning Bret as a manager, being lined up for another big push...aaaand he blew it before they made the main roster. He returns to the indies and things spiral, Impact didn't want him, ROH certainly didn't so that left MLW and that ended when all the allegations surfaced.
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Post by Feyrhausen on Oct 17, 2022 15:28:51 GMT -5
What about the guy Stephanie was super horny for? Daniel Rodimer. He was apparently going to debut as an enforcer for Rated RKO but was too green even for that.
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Post by Natural Born Farmer on Oct 17, 2022 15:31:16 GMT -5
Davey Boy Smith and Ted Dibiase Jr.
Decent looks, could work (at least DBS could), pedigree for the business, but neither one of them amounted to much in WWE.
Hell, they brought DBS back once seemingly just so they could fire him again without a single TV appearance. I know he had some success in Japan, but that still had to sting.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Oct 17, 2022 15:33:12 GMT -5
Sin Cara?
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Post by karl100589 on Oct 17, 2022 15:39:57 GMT -5
Sean O'Haire is a big one, there were a few rounds of "Oh man this guy is going to be big" that never panned out - WCW, OVW, Devil's Advocate vignettes. Seconding almost everyone of note from 00's OVW, though. Matt Morgan was a big one who was pegged as a future big deal who just never got good enough. Just beat me to it with Matt Morgan. Vince would have strapped a rocket to him if he showed anything vaguely above below average. I quite liked Morgan in TNA. A solid upper midcard hoss.
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Post by ANuclearError on Oct 17, 2022 16:10:39 GMT -5
Hmm, from a WWE-perspective, it's definitely a solid suggestion. However, I think this achievements in Mexico are large enough that "prospect" can't really be a suitable term.
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Post by A Platypus Rave on Oct 17, 2022 16:13:37 GMT -5
Sean O'Haire is a big one, there were a few rounds of "Oh man this guy is going to be big" that never panned out - WCW, OVW, Devil's Advocate vignettes. Seconding almost everyone of note from 00's OVW, though. Matt Morgan was a big one who was pegged as a future big deal who just never got good enough. Just beat me to it with Matt Morgan. Vince would have strapped a rocket to him if he showed anything vaguely above below average. and Cornette tried desperately to show that no no he's a superstar for like 10 years after >_>
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Post by Citizen Snips Has Left on Oct 17, 2022 16:28:54 GMT -5
19 year old Kenny Dykstra
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Post by Alice Syndrome on Oct 17, 2022 16:35:31 GMT -5
Does Hernandez count? TNA tried line 8 different ways with that guy but he sucked, and then Lucha Underground tried, until they fired him because he was reckless and he still sucked.
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XIII
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 18,570
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Post by XIII on Oct 17, 2022 16:48:44 GMT -5
19 year old Kenny Dykstra The LeBron James of the WWE! LOL
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