10 Failed WWE Wrestlers Who Became Cult Classics
7. Mark Henry
It seems harsh to call Mark Henry a failure in light of a tenure WWE deem worthy of a Hall Of Fame ring and secured future as a trainer. For the longest period though, he was their greatest shame.
Over-excitedly signing him to a decade-long deal in 1996, Vince McMahon tried to chase him out for years with various humiliating gimmicks and storylines that would have victimised others. Henry, showing remarkable range for somebody from a legitimate sporting background, pulled off all sorts of abysmal moments that gradually wove themselves into the grim fabric of the Attitude Era to the point where he was able to forge a normal wrestling career on the other side.
In terms of the support he's latterly received, "cult" perhaps feels most appropriate here. The fanbase for Mark Henry's best work (two very small windows over a two decade run) has already shrunken from its 2013 salmon-jacket apex. But at its loudest, it helped ensure the 'World's Strongest Man' got a run with one of the organisation's top titles, immortalised as much by his "Hall Of Pain" and faux-retirement as his actual one several years later.