10 Wrestlers Who Shouldn't Return For WWE's Brand Split 2016 This Week

9. Tommy Dreamer

rey mysterio
WWE.com

One of the most beloved ECW wrestlers of all-time, Tommy Dreamer wore-out his WWE usefulness a long time ago. His career’s best work came close to two decades ago, and while Dreamer will always deserve recognition for his incredible work ethic and helping to put ECW on the map, there’s little purpose for him on Raw or SmackDown post-draft.

WWE have regularly dipped into ECW’s legacy for nostalgia-based pops ever since the ill-fated Invasion angle. From the One Night Stand pay-per-views to their own ill-fated ECW reincarnation, Vince McMahon’s creative team aren’t shy of pilfering ECW for the sake of a quick buck.

This has cooled-off in recent years, but Dreamer was at the heart of the most recent example, having teamed with The Dudley Boyz and Rhyno as “Team Extreme” in a brief 2015 feud with The Wyatt Family.

Tommy’s still good for the odd one-off novelty appearance every now and then, but that’s about it. There’s absolutely no reason for him (or any other ECW original, for that matter) to be taking-up air-time ahead of younger, hungrier athletes whose best years are still ahead of them.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.