10 Failed WWE Pushes One Tweak Away From Excellence
9. Mason Ryan
Why it failed: Mason Ryan was massive, good looking and part of a stable that once upon a time would have ensured his weaknesses were hidden behind more talented members whilst he sharpened his edges for the day he broke free. Unfortunately, this was 2011, the stable was The New Nexus, and his trajectory was snakebitten like just about every other member of the group.
Other than being CM Punk's big mate in that year's Royal Rumble, he never looked half as threatening as his size suggested until he was back working within the company's developmental system a couple of years later. The main roster stink ultimately lingered too much for him to shake off.
One Tweak: Make him the agent of change Punk perpetually promised.
As leader of The New Nexus, 'The Straight Edge Superstar' gave his cult leader schtick a shake off in yet another attempt to propel himself to the top of the card and the company to the heights he believed it hadn't yet reached. But WWE bookers only saw a star and his goon squad. None of this impacted Punk himself, but Ryan and the rest of the also-rans were lost to the creative indifference.