10 Wrestlers WWE Gave Up On In 2021

The fact that a star responsible for choking the life out of another given-up-on performer's push has still somehow found a way onto this list tells you all you need to know about WWE's booking strategy in modern times. To summarise: They don't have one.

If they did, then the absolute can't-miss, bombastic powerhouse that was Karrion Kross wouldn't have wound up being met by indifferent jeers or being stripped of everything that once made him a considerable asset down in NXT.

After going on an absolute tear through developmental, picking up two NXT Championship reigns in the process, Kross arrived on the main roster sans Scarlett and the heavily theatrical entrance that had once set the stage for his often dominant in-ring displays. A shock defeat at the hands of Jeff Hardy did little to endear him to fans on his Raw debut, and set the tone for an ill-thought-out push going forward.

Surprisingly, after already shifting his character twice in his short time among the red brand, reports state that WWE were preparing yet another character change for Kross. But said plans were ultimately never to be as they cut their losses due to "budget cuts" in November.