10 Wrestlers Who Found Out WWE Wasn't The Promised Land
1. Big Van Vader
With wide eyes of disbelief, Jim Cornette recanted to viewers on Kayfabe Commentaries that Vince McMahon wanted to repackage Big Van Vader as 'The Mastodon'. Despite being instantly-recognisable to many wrestling fans around the world, Vader was not a name the WWF were particularly interested in using. Eventually, they'd give up attempts to rename their new signing.
Making his debut at the 1996 Royal Rumble, Vader took some time off afterwards to heal up injuries. The promotion were keen to make use of their new force however, meaning the wrestler never sufficiently healed before being rushed back into the ring as the WWF's top heel.
A feud opposite Shawn Michaels strangely failed to satisfy, even though Vader had worked successfully with wrestlers smaller than him before. Following a Fatal-4-Way at In Your House 13 in February, 1997, Vader was largely ousted from the WWF Heavyweight Title picture.
Leaving in late-1998, Vader's run in the company hadn't come anywhere close to the main event success he experienced in both WCW and Japan. Realistically, he should have been an incredible signing for the WWF.
What other examples can you think of when wrestlers found out that WWE wasn't all it was cracked up to be? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section below!