10 Wrestlers Whose Careers Started In The Worst Way Possible
1. Rocky Maivia's Universal Rejection
Not even The Rock's presence could save Roman Reigns from the WWE Universe's bile and hatred after winning the 2015 Royal Rumble, but 'The Big Dog's' grim victory scene was mightily similar to one his cousin may have faced himself back in the '90s.
Rocky Maivia was a creative disaster. Debuting as the sole survivor in a traditional eight-man match at Survivor Series '96, he was rejected for his corny, outdated 'Blue Chipper' babyface persona, with the hostility towards him amplifying with every passing victory. A few months after arrival, Maivia was being showered with chances of "die, Rocky, die!" and "Rocky sucks" on a nightly basis. The company's plan to get him over was a systematic failure, and it looked like the project had crashed and burned.
Salvation came in the form of a heel turn. Maivia joined the Nation Of Domination, became The Rock, and spawned the flashy persona that would establish him as a major player in WWE's most successful era. The character would continually grow and evolve over the years, flipping between face and heel several times, eventually spawning the sport's biggest mainstream star.