10 Failed WWE Pushes One Tweak Away From Excellence
1. Rikishi
Why it failed: A joyous and dynamic midcard act as a singles star or alongside friends in Too Cool Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmasta Sexay, Rikishi was one of the many success stories birthed by the Chris Kreski era in a prosperous 2000 after two failed attempts to get over huge in the decade prior.
Increasing in size along with popularity, he became defined by his giant a*se but in the most charming way imaginable. A misguided heel turn was designed to make him a star following a feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, but it ultimately hijacked his momentum. Without a logical opponent after his disappointing feuds with 'The Rattlesnake' and The Rock, he had nowhere else to go before a return to the babyface fold.
One Tweak: Don't make him the driver.
One of the more straightforward hindsight statements in wrestling history perhaps, but it holds true nearly 20 years removed from the moment Mick Foley pointed his finger at the samoan star. Running over Austin might have looked like a golden ticket, but to Rikishi, it was a poisoned chalice.