10 Indie Wrestling Heroes Who Flopped In WWE
3. Low Ki
Low Ki is a savage. Ruthless, stiff, and technically sound, he wrestles with unparalleled intensity, and his early-2000s work with Ring of Honor remains some of the finest independent wrestling ever committed to tape. He’s utterly dedicated to wrestling as a serious competition, and it’s hard not to wince whenever he clobbers an opponent with one of his trademark strikes.
As Low Ki, he’s one of the most captivating performers around, but as Kaval? Not so much.
Ki just didn’t want to play ball in WWE. He signed with the company as a former ROH and PWG Champion in 2008, and debuted through NXT’s second season after two years in developmental. Rebranded as Kaval, he won the competition that August but floundered on SmackDown’s roster, and was released from his WWE contract just four months later.
Unfortunately for him, Low Ki just didn’t know how to compromise. Signing with WWE meant toning down the hard-hitting, brutish style that had made him successful in the first place, and he soon fell-out of favour with company officials who saw his approach as dangerous. Moreover, his creative direction grated heavily: WWE didn’t know what to do with a man of his skillset, and when he departed, it was the best move for both parties.
Some wrestlers just aren’t built for the WWE style, and Low Ki is one of them. He’s since found success in TNA, but if you can’t change your game to fit WWE’s mould, you’re doomed.