10 Wrestlers Who Found Out WWE Wasn't The Promised Land
4. Taz
Just like Mike Awesome, Taz was the man in the original ECW. Successfully cultivating a persona of menace and foreboding threat, he was dubbed the 'Human Suplex Machine' by fans. Taz's hard man gig was convincing in Paul Heyman's group, it was a good fit for the atmosphere of the promotion.
At the 2000 Royal Rumble, Tazz (complete with added 'z') made his in-ring debut for the WWF. Choking out the undefeated Kurt Angle, it was a promising start to life in the bigger pond for the man. Things wouldn't progress naturally from there, and Tazz's lack of physical size was part of the reason.
It's a shame that Tazz will be remembered more for his run as an announcer in the WWF/WWE than as a wrestler. At his peak, he had a lot to offer the company. Things just didn't pan out that way. Less than 6 months after his arrival, Tazz was feuding with Jim Ross and Jerry 'The King' Lawler.
What should have been the start of something special did pave the way for a successful commentary career, but Tazz must have been hoping to make a splash inside the ring.