10 WWE Debuts That Were DOOMED From The Start

10. Gable Steveson

Brock Lesnar was an NCAA Division I Champion who had a physique that was built to blow minds, and had Paul Heyman as a mouthpiece and loyal supporter behind the scenes. Kurt Angle was an Olympic gold medalist with natural charisma to burn, with more layers to his act than anyone could have predicted. 

With previous success stories like this from the world of amateur wrestling, it was easy to see why WWE would conclude that 2020 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson was a home run in waiting. However, they couldn't have been more wrong.

The world of pro wrestling is bombastic in every sense. Steveson had all the flamboyance of a cardboard sandwich and couldn't get close to translating his considerable amateur wrestling talent into a WWE ring.

After extensive training, a WrestleMania 38 appearance, and being drafted to Monday Night Raw in October 2021, Gable's only match in WWE came over 18 months later at NXT Great American Bash 2023. Poor Baron Corbin tried his best to get anything out of Steveson, but this was completely futile. Fans can smell when they're being sold something rotten, and Gable was booed out of the building, while Corbin was cheered on despite being in the midst of a heel run.

Gable Steveson never appeared on WWE television again.