10 WWE Disasters That Saved Themselves
6. Goldust
A perennial fixture on any credible "most underrated" list, Goldust debuted as a bold, provocative WWE character in 1995, and his early run was great, with 'The Bizarre One' pushing boundaries, delivering big between the ropes, and emerging as one of his era's most vital midcarders.
Then things went off a cliff. Fast.
Dustin Rhodes' performances depreciated to the point that it was hard to believe this was still the same performer behind the facepaint. This continued for years, as he left WWE in May 1999, returned for another run in 2001 highlighted by his hilarious alliance with Booker T and lowlighted by increasingly tried in-ring performances, before eventually rediscovering his awesome upon starting his penultimate run in 2008.
Visibly healthier, Goldust looked like a man reborn - inside the ring and out. His ECW run was low-key excellent and while never pushed particularly strongly, his performances were extremely consistent. Later, he'd further prove his worth by joining forces with brother Cody Rhodes, knocking it out of the park as his family raged against the authority, further enhancing his status as an underappreciated pro-wrestling gem.