10 WWE Disasters That Saved Themselves
7. Mark Henry
History will be kind to Mark Henry, whose Hall of Pain spell is genuinely one of the most compelling heel runs of WWE's decade, with the former Olympian finally finding a menacing aura to compliment his simple, impactful power-based in-ring arsenal. At his peak, the big man felt like an indomitable wrecking ball. Years later, he'd find further (albeit fleeting) success on the back of his "salmon jacket" moment with John Cena, after which he should have become WWE Champion.
More than just a great gimmick change, the Hall of Pain was a full-on career rehabilitation. His reputation had improved from his grim early days, but for the most part, Henry was still seen as an expensive disappointment.
Famously signed to a mammoth ten-year contract after competing in the 1996 Olympics, Henry's size and power caught the eye, but he was clumsy, out of his depth, and pushed way over his head. The big fella was sent back to developmental for further training twice. Make no mistake, it took him a long, long time to get it together, shake off his old reputation, and finally soar as a monster. Embracing the Hall of Fame was key to this.