10 Wrestlers WWE Gave Up On In 2021
9. Kyle O'Reilly
For a time, it seemed as though Kool Kyle O'Reilly was destined to become NXT's latest golden boy in 2021. But as a ton of once-black and gold fans have come to terms with over the last 12-months, a great many plans were torn up when Vinnie Mac decided to go 2.0 with the developmental show.
O'Reilly likely sits as the most notable casualty of NXT being pumped full of multi-coloured freshness, with his drawn-out blood war with former UE pal Adam Cole eventually resulting in him becoming anything but the next face of the brand. Instead, stellar showings against former NXT Champion Finn Balor and a win in that programme against Cole paved the way for a disappointing follow-up.
Lumped together with Von Wagner on this paint-splattered revamp of a show, O'Reilly has gone from intriguing potential new NXT champ to painfully bland side-character in another performer's story. With the one-time NXT Tag Champion's contract reportedly coming up in December, don't be too surprised if O'Reilly follows in the Undisputed footsteps of his former pals and seeks pastures new in 2022, bay bay.