1. Derrick Bateman
To be perfectly clear, Derrick Bateman is not an NXT failure, it was NXT that failed Derrick Bateman. Hes a wrestler that had the look, the charisma and the wit to go all the way in professional wrestling, and time after time WWE dropped the ball with him. He first came to mainstream attention on the fourth season of NXTs game show incarnation, where he was paired with Daniel Bryan as his pro. Together, they were lovable, goofy buddies working the system, but always staying within the established rules of the game. He was brought back to the game show as part of NXT Redemption, where along with Kaitlyn, Johnny Curtis (Fandango), and Maxine, was one of the most entertaining things in WWE at the time. When NXT became what it is today, Bateman transferred there but only had a small handful of matches before being released. Since then, hes taken TNA by storm as Dixie Carters conceited nephew, Ethan Carter III. As EC3, hes proved that hes easily main event material and is constantly the highlight of every episode of Impact Wrestling, whether its in the ring or on the mic. Ethan Carter III is still only thirty-one years old, and has years ahead of him in the ring. WWE could, and should, easily swoop in and pick him back up as soon as possible, because more than anyone theyve released in recent years, hes the one that got away.