10 Amazing Wrestlers WWE Fans Will NEVER Love

4. Dean Malenko

Logan Paul Shocked
WWE.com

Technical wrestling genius Dean Malenko was never a great fit for the WWF when he jumped over from WCW as part of The Radicalz group in early-2000. His fondness for combining excellent mat work with faster-paced Cruiserweight stylings clashed with the promotion's product, and he'd quietly retire by mid-2001.

Deano went on to work as a road agent/producer for the next 18 years, and only left WWE in 2019. Since then, he's become a senior producer in AEW, and is well-respected by everyone who crosses his path. So, why doesn't Malenko get more adulation from the WWE masses?

It's a bit of a mystery, because he's another who hatched blueprints for most things hardcore company fans adore these days. Dean worked a realistic in-ring style, and he had a no-frills presentation that was arguably too bland for the raunchy WWF in 2000.

It'd be sweet if he was honoured properly, but that'll probs never happen.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.