10 Wrestlers WWE Gave Up On In 2017
8. TJP
Though his lack of microphone ability was always going to be a hinderance on the main roster, TJ Perkins felt like a star coming out of the Cruiserweight Classic. The competition's reality-based presentation and in-ring focus let him get over organically, and he had bags of momentum after taking the trophy, but WWE soon derailed him in the revived division.
Rechristened TJP in May, he fell out of the spotlight a long time ago, though the company didn't truly give up on him until earlier this year. He was at least playing a regular televised role throughout the spring and summer, but this changed as the year progressed. TJP found himself falling into the losing column with increasingly regularity. Soon, he was lucky to even make it onto a house show card, and he was working just an average of two bouts a month prior to taking some time off in October.
Perkins' career is gathering mothballs. 205 Live's evolution into a more character-based show under Enzo Amore torpedoes his chances of ever becoming a featured performer again, and he's a strong candidate for release in 2018.