10 Next Big Things In Wrestling That Totally Flopped

Has Roman Reigns flopped?

He's nominally a babyface, and yet, when not flanked by Shield brethren Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, fans almost universally despise him, and a Universal Title run is not likely to change anything, once the novelty pops simmer down.

The rejection is strange. It seems indirect.

He no longer spouts lame nonsense like "sufferin' succotash" or "tater tots". He doesn't bury opponents out of ineptitude nor malice, as predecessor John Cena at times seemed to revel in. Even his fans, however, must bristle at the sheer lengths WWE go to in their ironic quest to "protect" the character. He absorbed a ridiculous amount of punishment at WrestleMania 34. Ridiculous. Ultimately, that's probably it; everything about the push is so contrived that it hardly matters how good he actually is. WWE is so concerned with telling us that Reigns is The Guy that, even when he shows it, the all-out assault undermines him.

Reigns ritually generates the desired volume - and it doesn't matter that it's more cacophony or harmony. He works great matches, but that's the bare minimum for a man in his position. He is a star - but he's no John Cena in the drawing department yet.

The verdict is inconclusive - but as a general rule of thumb, unless you're Brock Lesnar, the 'Next Big Thing' tag is the proverbial kiss of death...

Drew McIntyre was, famously, Vince McMahon's 'Chosen One' - onscreen and off.

His presentation was at odds with his ability level. McIntyre was a product of Florida Championship Wrestling, and it showed: nothing separated him from his peers mechanically, and he struggled to project his idealised character to arena-sized crowds. One killer entrance theme did not a killer act make. Drew was slender, effete and a product of favouritism - drawing unfavourable comparisons to Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Just as quickly as we were asked to accept him in a position above his status, he was buried well below the centre of the earth following a sordid furore involving then-wife Taryn Terrell and a hotel room episode. Recast as a comedy jobber in 3MB, McIntyre was a walking punishment.

Happily, Drew - as Drew Galloway - subsequently transformed himself, in fittingly Triple H-like fashion. As he developed a more bruising no-nonsense sh*t-kicker persona on the Independent circuit (and a winningly believable catchphrase in "You're f*cked"), he piled on the muscle to reinforce that new act.

McIntyre was a flop, but Galloway was a phoenix - and the man is now surely immune to further burials.