10 Hottest Free Agents In Wrestling Today
8. Stu Bennett
The man formerly known as Wade Barrett (that name is "dead and 'buried,'" according to Stu Bennett himself on Twitter - with added emphasis on the last word) has been more active online than he has in the wrestling ring as of late. Earlier this year, rumors swirled that Bennett would not be renewing his WWE contract once it ended in June. Just after WrestleMania, he was written off TV, and in May, he and the company came to terms on his early release.
Bennett is a classic example of how bad booking can cripple a talent. He's tall with a good look, an excellent promo, and quite capable in the ring - he's got all the ingredients that should make a superstar. Nevertheless - and thanks, in-part, to a too-soon push that exposed some of Bennett's weaknesses before he had a chance to improve upon them - Bennett got a reputation as a guy who couldn't crack the company's upper echelon. Plus, even when it seemed like the creative team wanted to rebuild his momentum, he picked up far more losses than wins.
There were rumors prior to his departure that Bennett was leaving the wrestling business altogether, but he confirmed in a statement that he would "be back in the ring when the time is right."
Wherever Bennett winds up, his employers will be lucky.