10 Indie Wrestling Heroes Who Flopped In WWE
4. Teddy Hart
With a surname like that, you’d think Teddy Hart would be far better known in the wrestling business, but no. Sadly, Teddy has largely been the architect of his own demise throughout his career, and his self-destructive tendencies extend to the present day.
In 1998, Teddy became the youngest person to ever sign a WWE developmental contract. He was 18 years old at the time and assigned to train with Dory Funk, Jr., but it didn’t last. Teddy came from an impressive lineage, but his immaturity and unprofessional attitude saw WWE cut him loose a few years later, and he was forced to hone his craft elsewhere.
Hart entered the independents, but his reputation had already been dented. His notoriety grew further by endangering his fellow performers by executing a number of high-risk moves they weren’t prepared for during a 2003 show, and was fired from TNA after a restaurant altercation with CM Punk in 2004.
Despite his behaviour, WWE opted to bring Teddy back in 2006. Working for OVW and FCW, he was largely able to keep his nose clean at the start, but again found himself released for poor conduct in 2007. Now 36, Hart remains an incredibly talented wrestler who still pops-up every now and then, but has burned way too many bridges for a consistent run with a major company.