10 Risks That Could’ve KILLED WWE Careers
These WWE stars could've ruined EVERYTHING by risking it all, but they survived.
Every gimmick change, heel/babyface turn or new direction is a risk to WWE success. What if fans outright reject what they're being fed and it has a terminal impact on someone's career? What if the wrestler sprinting down this bold new path enters halfhearted performances because even they don't really believe in what they're doing?
There's a lot to think about here. Wrestling fans, bless 'em, are a fickle bunch who often take a lot of winning over when something new is plonked on their laps. That's not someone throwing stones - this writer is the same, and he was there bleating to friends about some of these risks when they happened.
At least everything worked out well in the end, eh?
Every worker here has carved a legacy for themselves in some form or fashion. Some are still smack bang in the middle of it, whilst others can put the slippers on, fetch a pipe and reminisce about days of yore. Oh yes, these were definitely risks worth taking, because they redefined careers.
Not everyone looked at things that way back when WWE took the plunge though. Some even thought careers were ruined forever...
10. Kofi Kingston Ties Himself Down
This is a sneaky one for starters that you might not even think about.
By 2014, Kofi Kingston was already a made man in WWE's scene. No, he wasn't a World Title-winning top liner, but he was a stalwart of the midcard and that wasn't going to change. Yearning for something different, Kingston tied himself to younger stars like Big E and Xavier Woods, and New Day was born.
That was one hell of a risk for Kofi. Woods and E weren't exactly household names in the company, and there was a general feeling that Kingston was lowering himself somewhat to form a faction with them. Of course, as the history books show, Kofi was absolutely right to make this move and form the group he did.
The pressure was on Kingston - more than people might realise. Had New Day flopped hard (which was kinda expected at the time), then he would've shouldered the blame and probably been cut free alongside his new pals eventually. Kofi should be praised for going out of his comfort zone and elevating fresh names in the process.