Assessing Future Of 10 WWE Stars Who Didn’t Make Royal Rumble 2017 Cut 

2. Curtis Axel

It's depressing to think that not even the great Paul Heyman could change WWE's opinion on Curtis Axel. When he was riding high as Intercontinental Champion in 2013, Axel was still missing something that made him feel like a star. Not the most charismatic of performers, the son of Mr. Perfect struggles in the shadow of his famous father.

Not being a top guy is nothing to be ashamed of, Curt Hennig didn't win the World Title either. Still, WWE have to find some way of pulling worth from Axel, he drifts from one pocket of television time to the next without truly finding his place.

It's damning that the man hasn't moved forward one bit since being horribly cast as Michael McGillicutty on NXT in 2010. Intercontinental Title run and brief association with Heyman or not, Curtis Axel is not an important name on the current WWE roster.

Axel wasn't involved in the Royal Rumble because - much like many others here - he would have been a wasted slot. It's WWE's responsibility to either get him off the roster completely or find a role that gives Axel purpose.