10 Wrestlers WWE Gave Up On In 2017
4. Rusev
Now a certified internet darling, Rusev is a main event-level talent stuck playing jobber to the stars. He's charismatic, athletic, and skilled between the ropes, yet WWE seem dead-set on keeping him rooted in the midcard, with the problem worsening as 2017 has progressed.
'The Bulgarian Brute's' year started with the conclusion of his awful feud with Enzo Amore and Big Cass. He then lost a horrendous match with Big Show at Fastlane, before joining SmackDown in the Superstar Shake-Up. Losses to Randy Orton and John Cena followed, and Rusev has since formed a low-level tag team with Aiden English: a fun double-act, but one that offers little forward momentum.
WWE have lost interest in pushing Rusev on a number of occasions throughout his career, but his most recent fall is the most stark. The previous year at least saw him hold the United States Championship for over 120 days and engage in a lengthy feud with WWE's strongest pushed wrestler, Roman Reigns. 2017 has offered no such opportunities. Rusev remains one of SmackDown's more enjoyable acts, and he always makes the most of his terrible booking, but his career is going nowhere.