10 Wrestlers WWE Pushed Way Over Their Heads
Steve Austin, these guys most certainly were not.
Whatever you think of him as a booker, that Vince McMahon had a hand in creating some of wrestling's biggest megastars is undeniable. Sure, WWE's star making machine isn't as efficient as it used to be, but they've struck gold plenty of times throughout Vince's 35 years in charge.
Hulk Hogan was the perfect, larger than life superhero for the 1980s. Steve Austin capitalised on Generation X's disenfranchisement and distrust of authority to become the Attitude Era's biggest star. Even the oft-maligned John Cena became a transcendent star in his own right, anchoring the company's main event for over a decade.
WWE's track record is far from immaculate, though. For every main event success story, there are at least two or three spectacular flops, and while failure comes in many forms, Vince's propensity to push wrestlers far beyond their capabilities is one of the most common reasons.
Presence, charisma, a good look, in-ring ability: it takes a near flawless skillset to succeed in this role, and many have been found wanting. It's not their fault, and the level of disdain they receive is often unwarranted - but that's what happens when the boss throws you in at the deep end.
10. Big Cass
Poor old Big Cass. Just when it looked like the seven-footer was being prepped for a main event push, disaster struck. The former 'Realest Guy In The Room' took a nasty bump while wrestling Enzo Amore on Raw, and now looks set to miss up to nine months of action, potentially taking him out of the picture until May 2018.
There's nothing good about such a crushing injury, but WWE may seize this opportunity to rethink their strategy with Cass. His split from Enzo has been a complete flop. The big lad is just as lost without his mouthpiece as Amore is without his brawny partner, and while their feud has produced a handful of memorable promos, the matches stunk, particularly SummerSlam's shark cage bout.
Cass' size meant that WWE were always going to push him over his head. Vince McMahon has demonstrated his fondness for tall wrestlers countless times over the years, with Cass the latest beneficiary. He was immensely popular as a tag wrestler, but his lack of charisma was even more apparent without Enzo, and he's still developing in the ring. That's not to see he can't be a star in the future, but his push came far too soon.