10 Main Event Superstars That Failed In WWE

5. Vader

There may be no bigger example of misusing talent than what WWE did to the legendary Big Van Vader during his WWE career. Vader was incredibly successful in both Japan and WCW, and had just come off a run against the industry's top superstar (Hulk Hogan) when Vince McMahon acquired the Colorado native's services. Initially, he was built up great by destroying various superstars in the '96 Royal Rumble and even roughed up the previously untouchable Federation president, Gorilla Monsoon. His downfall came at SummerSlam 1996, where he was originally scheduled to take the WWF Championship from Shawn Michaels. Michaels used his political power to get the outcome changed to him retaining after a couple start-and-stop DQ and countout finishes. Vader was still set to take the strap at Survivor Series, but the reactions generated by newly-returned Sycho Sid were far louder than anything Vader was receiving and the call was made to use Sid in The Mastodon's place. This proved to be a death blow to Vader's WWE character. He would stay on with WWE through most of 1998 before finally leaving in October, his stock significantly reduced from what it was before he came in. His days in the WWE will always be remembered for what he didn't accomplish.