10 Former WWE Failures Who Would Succeed In 2015

8. Derrick Bateman

Derrick Bateman, alias EC3, was a veteran of WWE's developmental system. He's done time in OVW, FCW and, yes, NXT. Bateman was selected to be a member of the fourth season of the NXT 'reality show'. He didn't win and was used as a jobber from then onwards before being released on May 17th 2013. Bateman clearly didn't have 'it' in WWE's eyes. Why else would he spend an eternity in developmental (2007-2013) and then get unceremoniously dumped after his appearance on the NXT TV show? Anybody who has seen Bateman's work as Ethan Carter III in TNA will know that he very clearly has 'it'. TNA might have been in a somewhat shambolic state over, well, the last couple of years at least, but EC3 has always stood out as a rare highlight. He has presence and confidence on the microphone, is a good hand in the ring and has the superstar look (that NXT haircut was definitely a mistake). If Carter walked into the performance centre today he would undoubtedly be viewed as a top prospect. At only 32 years of age, there's still time for him to make it back to WWE. Given TNA's current perilous position it wouldn't be surprising.