10 Times WWE Got "The Guy" Wrong

WWE is constantly looking for their next top stars.

And at time of writing, both the present and future look generally bright for the biggest wrestling organisation on the planet when it comes to main event players.

The likes of Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and more are currently hugely popular, top-of-the-card acts - and then you have your Bron Breakkers, Ilja Dragunovs, Jade Cargills, and a fresh class of exciting NXT talents all looking to take up the spots of WWE's key players in the coming years, too.

And while you may assume that the criteria stars need to meet in order to be considered a genuine megastar of tomorrow is relatively obvious - a good look, high-quality performances in-between the ropes, undeniable charisma - history has shown that WWE have had a habit of sometimes choosing poorly/stupidly when the time comes to anoint a new "chosen one".

Over the years, despite there being far stronger candidates on show across the roster, this promotion has foolishly chosen to fully get behind everyone from lumbering giants to personality-devoid prodigies - and the end results were inevitably all kinds of disappointing...

At a glance, Austin Theory seems like a guy who possesses a good number of the qualities needed to be a serious player in WWE.

He definitely looks the part, possessing an undeniably impressive physique. And he can hold his own in-between the ropes, too. (Though he does possess a rather flat finisher in his A-Town Down weapon of choice.)

That match-ender perhaps encapsulated the overall vibe of the former United States Champion during his 2022/23 top guy push under both Vince McMahon and Paul Levesque, with that run highlighting the major flaw holding the 26-year-old back from being a future WrestleMania main eventer: his lack of any real personality.

His work on the mic was extremely uninspired and forgettable. He never once truly captivated an audience, and Theory's Money in the Bank victory brought more dread than excitement, with fans never once buying the uncharismatic talent as a soon-to-be World champ as he carried around his bright green opportunity.

Despite failing to successfully bring home a belt via his cash-in, becoming the only person to challenge for a midcard title with his case and still bloody lose (!), WWE still didn't give up hope on their Austin Theory: Top Guy project.

A victory over John Cena on The Grandest Stage also couldn't convince people to take Theory seriously as the next big thing, though. 

So, WWE wisely opted to wave their white flag and dump him into the tag team ranks alongside the colourful Grayson Waller instead, a move that has actually done more for the lad than those high-profile victories and singles pushes ever did.