10 Wrestlers WWE Gave Up On Too Soon

10. Elijah Burke

Elijah Burke was brought into WWE’s OVW developmental system back in 2004. He was fresh off a career as an amateur boxer (with a 103-1 record, nonetheless) and was a good-to-great wrestler blessed with outstanding charisma. Combined with a flashy moveset and a great look, Burke had everything the company look for in a competitor, but his WWE career never really took off.

After a spell managing the doomed Sylvester Terkay on SmackDown, Burke switched over to WWE’s ECW revival. Personally labelled “The Future of ECW” by Vince McMahon, Burke banded together with fellow newcomers Matt Striker, Marcus Cor Von, and Kevin Thorn to form The New Breed. They feuded with the ECW Originals (Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, RVD, and The Sandman) for a while, but were ultimately defeated in their most high-profile match together at WrestleMania 23.

A familiar downward spiral followed. The New Breed continued to pick up losses, and when the stable disbanded, Burke became an afterthought. He was released from his WWE contract in 2008, but found great traction with his D’Angelo Dinero character in TNA, where he currently works as a colour commentator.

Being stationed on the ill-fated ECW project likely didn’t help, but that doesn’t change the fact that Burke was never given a fair chance to succeed, even on the 'C' show. He had everything but size working in his favour, and his lack of mainstream wrestling success is a mystery.