Wrestlers Who Wasted Their Potential?

[Joe Neglia]

Mar 14, 2019 23:33:33 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Mar 14, 2019 23:03:21 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Buddy was around for years before he was brought into the Freebirds, a good ten-plus years older than the other two. By the time he joined the 'Birds, he had already spent a decade as part of the Hollywood Blondes, one of the top regional tag teams, and which held gold and main-evented in Mid-South, Florida, LA, Mid-Atlantic, and Continental. Not real sure any potential Roberts had was wasted.

Yes but Hayes and Gordy saw most of the money. Hayes got a sweet gig at wcw and wwe and Gordy was the f***ing triple crown champion.

Yes, but...is that really wasting potential? The only reason Buddy was there was to be the fall guy. His time on top(ish) was already over and nothing was expected of him beyond making the others look good. He didn't have the potential they did at that point in their careers.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Mar 11, 2019 21:50:18 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Heidenreich. He was essentially a Brock Lesnar clone who debuted in a program with Undertaker. Now he’ll only be remembered for raping Michael Cole and his rivalry with Alabama Doink.

He had no potential because while had the look, he was terrible in the ring.

[Deleted]

Mar 14, 2019 7:07:45 GMT -5 The 1Watcher Experience said:

I think it would have to be Sean O’Haire to me. He had a great look, solid build and he was decent in the ring. He had a good run in WCW but then they closed. They stuck him with Piper in WWE but had nothing for him once they released Piper for his comments on HBO’s Real Sports. He made one appearance in New Japan. He had one more dark match for WWE in 2006 and that was it. He also had an unsuccessful run at kickboxing and MMA. Then he battled alcoholism and got into a lot of fights. One fight resulted in him losing part of his vision. He also battled depression which unfortunately led to his suicide.

I wish he would’ve stuck with wrestling. He could’ve grinded it out in TNA for a bit and found himself. He was still young. I think he could’ve gotten better and went back to WWE eventually. I really thought O’Haire could’ve been a big star. I thought the biggest downside to him was his name. Sean O’Haire just isn’t a strong enough wrestling name. Sid Vicious never would’ve gotten over as big as he did if he was called Sid Eudy. Sid Vicious just sounded cool. Dingo Warrior only went so far. The Ultimate Warrior became a world champion and one of the most memorable and important wrestlers of the 90s. Presentation and image matters in wrestling. I think a more marketable name would have helped him.

I really think Sean O'Haire was a future WCW World champion.  I just got the feeling when watching him that they knew they had something.  One of my biggest regrets with WCW getting shut down is not getting to see the ascendance of their upcoming generation.  They had a really exciting roster in 2001. 

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Colt Cabana

Watch his feud with Homicide and tell me that’s not a wwe champion.

[Mozenrath]

Mar 14, 2019 7:07:45 GMT -5 The 1Watcher Experience said:

I think it would have to be Sean O’Haire to me. He had a great look, solid build and he was decent in the ring. He had a good run in WCW but then they closed. They stuck him with Piper in WWE but had nothing for him once they released Piper for his comments on HBO’s Real Sports. He made one appearance in New Japan. He had one more dark match for WWE in 2006 and that was it. He also had an unsuccessful run at kickboxing and MMA. Then he battled alcoholism and got into a lot of fights. One fight resulted in him losing part of his vision. He also battled depression which unfortunately led to his suicide.

I wish he would’ve stuck with wrestling. He could’ve grinded it out in TNA for a bit and found himself. He was still young. I think he could’ve gotten better and went back to WWE eventually. I really thought O’Haire could’ve been a big star. I thought the biggest downside to him was his name. Sean O’Haire just isn’t a strong enough wrestling name. Sid Vicious never would’ve gotten over as big as he did if he was called Sid Eudy. Sid Vicious just sounded cool. Dingo Warrior only went so far. The Ultimate Warrior became a world champion and one of the most memorable and important wrestlers of the 90s. Presentation and image matters in wrestling. I think a more marketable name would have helped him.

I feel like O'Haire's name was fine, his major problem was he had poor impulse control, which may have been tied into some of the demons that led to his death. He'd get into fights with people at clubs and bars, and was too chaotic for a company to get behind him in a major way.

He had a good look, talent even if he wasn't a prodigy or something, and was around in a good time for a guy with his skill set, but he would have been so much better off if he wasn't living the night life and getting into trouble. Also didn't help that his devil's advocate character wasn't really something that could translate to the ring much.

"My god, O'Haire's come to the ring, and he's encouraged the referee to cheat on his taxes! By god almighty, what a hellacious matchup!"

[hulksmash87]

Brian Christopher, when I first saw him in the uswa in 94 I thought he would be a huge star but his demons always seemed to get the best of him

[SirLucas]

Jeff Hardy...enought said. He could have had a longer run in the main event scene but doesn't seem to be reliable enough for the WWE to put their faith in him anymore as the face of the company.

[Ben Wyatt]

Mar 16, 2019 1:50:50 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Mar 14, 2019 7:07:45 GMT -5 The 1Watcher Experience said:

I think it would have to be Sean O’Haire to me. He had a great look, solid build and he was decent in the ring. He had a good run in WCW but then they closed. They stuck him with Piper in WWE but had nothing for him once they released Piper for his comments on HBO’s Real Sports. He made one appearance in New Japan. He had one more dark match for WWE in 2006 and that was it. He also had an unsuccessful run at kickboxing and MMA. Then he battled alcoholism and got into a lot of fights. One fight resulted in him losing part of his vision. He also battled depression which unfortunately led to his suicide.

I wish he would’ve stuck with wrestling. He could’ve grinded it out in TNA for a bit and found himself. He was still young. I think he could’ve gotten better and went back to WWE eventually. I really thought O’Haire could’ve been a big star. I thought the biggest downside to him was his name. Sean O’Haire just isn’t a strong enough wrestling name. Sid Vicious never would’ve gotten over as big as he did if he was called Sid Eudy. Sid Vicious just sounded cool. Dingo Warrior only went so far. The Ultimate Warrior became a world champion and one of the most memorable and important wrestlers of the 90s. Presentation and image matters in wrestling. I think a more marketable name would have helped him.

I feel like O'Haire's name was fine, his major problem was he had poor impulse control, which may have been tied into some of the demons that led to his death. He'd get into fights with people at clubs and bars, and was too chaotic for a company to get behind him in a major way.

He had a good look, talent even if he wasn't a prodigy or something, and was around in a good time for a guy with his skill set, but he would have been so much better off if he wasn't living the night life and getting into trouble. Also didn't help that his devil's advocate character wasn't really something that could translate to the ring much.

"My god, O'Haire's come to the ring, and he's encouraged the referee to cheat on his taxes! By god almighty, what a hellacious matchup!"

The fact he was total asscheeks on the live mic didn't help him any.

[Surfer Sandman]

Mar 13, 2019 12:26:43 GMT -5 El Pollo Guerrera said:

I'm going to add Abyss to the running list, considering that he's had chances to go to the WWE and become a solid mid-card player with a good paycheck, and stayed with Impact.

In my opinion, he was and still is trash. A lame Mankind ripoff.

[Joe Neglia]

Probably already said, but...Bam Bam Bigelow. He was set to be one of the biggest things to happen to the business in the mid-80s but quickly gained a reputation for not being dependable, bouncing from promotion to promotion to promotion. I fully believe Bigelow getting his shit together and staying stable would have changed everything for him.

[Ultimo Gallos]

Chris Colt..dude was so good. But various issues kept him from ever reaching his full potential.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

Mar 16, 2019 1:50:50 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Mar 14, 2019 7:07:45 GMT -5 The 1Watcher Experience said:

I think it would have to be Sean O’Haire to me. He had a great look, solid build and he was decent in the ring. He had a good run in WCW but then they closed. They stuck him with Piper in WWE but had nothing for him once they released Piper for his comments on HBO’s Real Sports. He made one appearance in New Japan. He had one more dark match for WWE in 2006 and that was it. He also had an unsuccessful run at kickboxing and MMA. Then he battled alcoholism and got into a lot of fights. One fight resulted in him losing part of his vision. He also battled depression which unfortunately led to his suicide.

I wish he would’ve stuck with wrestling. He could’ve grinded it out in TNA for a bit and found himself. He was still young. I think he could’ve gotten better and went back to WWE eventually. I really thought O’Haire could’ve been a big star. I thought the biggest downside to him was his name. Sean O’Haire just isn’t a strong enough wrestling name. Sid Vicious never would’ve gotten over as big as he did if he was called Sid Eudy. Sid Vicious just sounded cool. Dingo Warrior only went so far. The Ultimate Warrior became a world champion and one of the most memorable and important wrestlers of the 90s. Presentation and image matters in wrestling. I think a more marketable name would have helped him.

I feel like O'Haire's name was fine, his major problem was he had poor impulse control, which may have been tied into some of the demons that led to his death. He'd get into fights with people at clubs and bars, and was too chaotic for a company to get behind him in a major way.

He had a good look, talent even if he wasn't a prodigy or something, and was around in a good time for a guy with his skill set, but he would have been so much better off if he wasn't living the night life and getting into trouble. Also didn't help that his devil's advocate character wasn't really something that could translate to the ring much.

"My god, O'Haire's come to the ring, and he's encouraged the referee to cheat on his taxes! By god almighty, what a hellacious matchup!"

Since his death it's also come out from a few other wrestlers close to him that he was homosexual, back when that still wasn't as accepted as it is now. I could see that playing a factor in him being a bully and a troublemaker outside the ring with him picking fights with people for seemingly no reason in that he was probably insecure about it and as a result would overcompensate in trying to come across as a tough guy.

Even though there's stories of him being an a-hole, there's some good ones too as several guys have described him as being someone who could be pretty generous outside the ring. Kevin Fertig/Mordecai, who was just starting and making little money, was roommates with him and said that O'Haire paid all the rent for them when he didn't have to as he understood Fertig's situation. Doesn't seem like he was a bad guy but just someone who had a lot of insecurities and unfortunately I think it led to him taking his own life. As far as his career goes I honsestly think he's the biggest waste of potential ever. Other then having talent the guy just had IT and really carried himself like a star.

[TGM]

Which wrestlers have said was O'Haire gay? Agreed he had much potential, I was very excited for his Devil's Advocate run. He had a great theme too.

As for the question in the OP I'll say Mark Jindrak. He was a better worker than Batista, Cena and Orton were when they were on the roster together and I'm sure they must have all spent time in OVW together. The landscape of WWE might be very different today had Jindrak actually made it into Evolution and been taken under HHH's wing.

[IgnahtaSempria]

Mar 17, 2019 9:45:13 GMT -5 TGM said:

Which wrestlers have said was O'Haire gay? Agreed he had much potential, I was very excited for his Devil's Advocate run. He had a great theme too.

As for the question in the OP I'll say Mark Jindrak. He was a better worker than Batista, Cena and Orton were when they were on the roster together and I'm sure they must have all spent time in OVW together. The landscape of WWE might be very different today had Jindrak actually made it into Evolution and been taken under HHH's wing.

Dude's been a pretty headline star in Mexico for the last decade or so, so I wouldn't exactly call him "wasted potential". Plus, his lack of screen time in WWE wasn't exactly his fault. He's another guy in the Lost Generation who WWE misused. I'd say Jindrak has lived up to his potential, he just had to leave WWE and become Marco Corleone to do it.

[jason1980s]

Wasn't Sean O'Haire over for a little while with Roddy Piper doing the talking for him, then they changed storylines, I think split with Piper, and when Sean started doing his own promos it didn't go very well?
If that's so, I wouldn't blame Roddy Piper for it going wrong but how many times did Roddy just up and leave a promotion or I think in this case wound up being let go? I know Roddy was a great man overall and a great family man but for all the love he gets from Vince McMahon and WWE, he sure didn't stay loyal very often it seems. I would imagine Vince loved him so much because Roddy wasn't so loyal.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

How about PCO? Good look, size, good in the ring and agile as hell and he made the mistake of letting Jacques Rougeau tell him what to do, so he fell foul of the Kliq and spent his physical peak bouncing around, getting short stints in major promotions with Jacques but never really coming close to fulfilling his potential. Would he have been world champion? No, but he should have been an upper midcarder.

[Joe Neglia]

Mar 17, 2019 13:32:04 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Wasn't Sean O'Haire over for a little while with Roddy Piper doing the talking for him, then they changed storylines, I think split with Piper, and when Sean started doing his own promos it didn't go very well?
If that's so, I wouldn't blame Roddy Piper for it going wrong but how many times did Roddy just up and leave a promotion or I think in this case wound up being let go? I know Roddy was a great man overall and a great family man but for all the love he gets from Vince McMahon and WWE, he sure didn't stay loyal very often it seems. I would imagine Vince loved him so much because Roddy wasn't so loyal.

Exact opposite. O'Haire was doing the Devil's Advocate promos and was getting over huge just on them but WWE suddenly switched gears (because his live promos without a hundred takes were ass) and just stuck him gimmickless with Piper as almost a bodyguard type, and all interest in him was gone.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Mar 17, 2019 13:56:38 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Mar 17, 2019 13:32:04 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Wasn't Sean O'Haire over for a little while with Roddy Piper doing the talking for him, then they changed storylines, I think split with Piper, and when Sean started doing his own promos it didn't go very well?
If that's so, I wouldn't blame Roddy Piper for it going wrong but how many times did Roddy just up and leave a promotion or I think in this case wound up being let go? I know Roddy was a great man overall and a great family man but for all the love he gets from Vince McMahon and WWE, he sure didn't stay loyal very often it seems. I would imagine Vince loved him so much because Roddy wasn't so loyal.

Exact opposite. O'Haire was doing the Devil's Advocate promos and was getting over huge just on them but WWE suddenly switched gears (because his live promos without a hundred takes were ass) and just stuck him gimmickless with Piper as almost a bodyguard type, and all interest in him was gone.

It also didn’t help that he face kicked a woman in a bar apparently.

[Joe Neglia]

Mar 17, 2019 14:55:32 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Mar 17, 2019 13:56:38 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

Exact opposite. O'Haire was doing the Devil's Advocate promos and was getting over huge just on them but WWE suddenly switched gears (because his live promos without a hundred takes were ass) and just stuck him gimmickless with Piper as almost a bodyguard type, and all interest in him was gone.

It also didn’t help that he face kicked a woman in a bar apparently.

That didn't happen until three months after he left WWE.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

Mar 17, 2019 9:45:13 GMT -5 TGM said:

Which wrestlers have said was O'Haire gay? Agreed he had much potential, I was very excited for his Devil's Advocate run. He had a great theme too.

As for the question in the OP I'll say Mark Jindrak. He was a better worker than Batista, Cena and Orton were when they were on the roster together and I'm sure they must have all spent time in OVW together. The landscape of WWE might be very different today had Jindrak actually made it into Evolution and been taken under HHH's wing.

Mordecai said he was and I think one or two others did too but can't remember who. If I remember he said he liked styling hair and was constantly rejecting the advances of attractive women. O'Haire never admitted it to him but I guess after a while it was easy to pick up on.