10 ECW Flops In WWE That Should Have Been Huge
1. Raven
If wrestling careers were judged solely on the number of titles accumulated, Raven would be the most decorated champion in WWE history. Unfortunately, each of his 27 championship reigns was with the Hardcore Title, with many lasting less than a day.
Raven previously worked for WWE from 1993-94, but didn’t really make his name until leaving the company. Joining ECW in 1994, he developed the dark, sociopathic, Edgar Allen Poe-inspired character that would make him a huge cult favourite throughout the ‘90s, with his masterful promos, ring psychology, and character work marking him as a superstar.
Raven was unique, and a perfect embodiment of the decade’s nihilistic spirit. He signed with WWE in 2000, injecting himself into Tazz’s feud with Jerry Lawler, but as is often the case when Vince McMahon gets his hands on a nuanced, three-dimensional gimmick, the character was dumbed down. Raven became an insufferable moaner outside the ring, and a faceless hardcore scrapper inside
This led him down a path to nowhere, and while Raven featured prominently in the hardcore division, his biggest storyline came as Terri Runnels’ love interest in the dreadful Perry Saturn/Moppy angle. Raven was eventually released in January 2003, joining TNA shortly after.