10 Massive WWE Babyface Pushes That Were Doomed To Failure
1. Diesel
If there's one performer who gets far too much criticism for WWE's horrendous shortcomings under his stewardship, it's Diesel. Box Office figures, television ratings and every other traditional metric of a superstars success rate stands up to the received wisdom, but a more nuanced look at his tenure reveals a more complex conundrum.
Kevin Nash was Vince McMahon's latest post-Hulk Hogan gamble in late 1994 after yet again electing not to stick with Bret Hart as the industry at large continued to slump and a choice sibling rivalry with brother Own ultimately failing to move the needle.
The logic checked out. As Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion throughout much of the year, Diesel had proved he was more than a lumbering giant in excellent battles with Clique comrades Razor Ramon, Shawn Michaels and The 123 Kid, all supported by a stellar Royal Rumble display and a eye-opening brawl with Bret Hart at June's King Of The Ring.
1995 represented the year where all he had was gradually stripped away. An ice cool demeanour was defrosted by a glistening turn-of-the-year grin on the front cover of WWE Magazine. The hunter became the hunted by odd choices bigger or bulkier than him in the form of Sid, Mable and Davey Boy Smith.
His efforts (and they were absolute efforts) were lost to bad reviews and sinking company fortunes. He never stood a chance.