10 Indie Wrestling Heroes Who Flopped In WWE
2. Matt Sydal
Though an immigration issue means he’s now likely on his way out of NJPW, Matt Sydal is one of the most prominent non-WWE wrestlers in the world. Now 33, he’s still capable of pulling-off the sublime high-flying moves that built his reputation, but age has forced him to slow down and adopt a more methodical gameplan. The result is an incredibly well-rounded pro-wrestler who can adapt to any scenario, and whose inclusion all but guarantees a great match.
Sydal was a bona fide indie hero when he signed for WWE in 2007. Building his reputation in ROH and Dragon Gate, he continued his wrestling education at OVW and FCW, before eventually being called-up to ECW in 2008. Bourne quickly became a popular babyface on the brand, with a series of exciting performances drawing favourable comparisons with Rey Mysterio.
Sadly, like Neville today, Bourne struggled for a consistent push on the main roster. He became a Tag Team Champion with Kofi Kingston but injury problems and two Wellness Policy violations severely hampered his progress, and he left the company in 2014.
Sydal’s Wellness violations effectively cost him his job, but he was rarely given a fair shake of the stick. A lack of natural charisma and size likely hampered him, but he was hugely popular with the crowd through most of his run, and WWE never found a way to take advantage of that.