10 Times WWE Gave Us Something Awesome (...And Immediately RUINED It)

9. Vader’s Debut

Vince McMahon CM Punk Rey Mysterio
WWE.com

The WWF knew that incoming WCW monster Big Van Vader wasn't fit when they introduced him at the 1996 Royal Rumble. He debuted on that pay-per-view in the titular match, then got eliminated by eventual winner Shawn Michaels after approx 12 minutes. OK then?

Admittedly, the company booked a killer angle by having Vader attack onscreen authority figure Gorilla Monsoon the next night, but all of this was avoidable. His elimination by Michaels and the eventual gap between appearances softened excitement for Vader in the WWF.

Management should've waited until he was 100% so he could really make his mark.

They didn't though - federation chiefs elected to have Vader work at half speed on the Rumble show, then write him off TV. By the time he returned in February to launch into a proposed WrestleMania feud with Yokozuna, interested had cooled significantly. Missed opportunities would sum up Vader's two-year stint with the group.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.