10 NXT Stars WWE Let Slip Right Through Their Fingers

10. Richie Steamboat

It's surreal to watch back old FCW footage on YouTube from years ago and realise just how many of those developmental stars are currently on the main roster. From Seth Rollins to Paige to Bray Wyatt, the better part of the current roster consists of FCW alumni. But the one former FCW standout you won't see on WWE TV is Richie Steamboat.

The son of WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Steamboat, Richie was a natural in the ring and was one of the brightest stars in FCW from 2010 to 2012, winning three titles throughout his tenure down in developmental. He eventually transitioned from FCW to NXT once the black-and-yellow brand became what it is today and had a handful of televised matches before suffering a serious back injury which sidelined him from action indefinitely.

Following his feud with Kassius Ohno, he likely would have been moved into the NXT Championship picture, but his back injury forced those potential plans to be scrapped. It was years before it was clarified by The Dragon that his son would be unable to wrestle again, preventing him from ever carrying on the Steamboat legacy.

This wasn't a case where WWE was at fault, but it's nevertheless disappointing to think what could have been with Richie Steamboat had injuries not ended his career prematurely.