10 WWE Disasters That Saved Themselves

4. CJ Parker

Dean Ambrose Inoculations
WWE

Perhaps CJ Parker's eco-warrior gimmick could have worked under different circumstances. The performer's look fit the act, he drew heat in Full Sail University, and he was obnoxious as hell, but WWE weren't interested in promoting him as anything other than an enhancement talent. Thus, he struggled to make an impact, with accidentally breaking Kevin Owens' nose in KO's TakeOver: R Evolution debut his most memorable moment.

Parker saved himself by becoming Juice Robinson. He joined New the New Japan dojo just six months after escaping developmental hell. With his career in the toilet, he grafted through the most intense educational system in wrestling, spending the rest of 2015 competing and learning as a Young Lion, before slowly, surely working his way through the card's lower tiers, finding himself as both a wrestler and a character.

New Year Dash 2017 provided a key turning point for Robinson, who scored a shock pinfall on NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto that night. He hasn't looked back since, continuing to grow as an expressive, charismatic midcarder with two IWGP United States Championship reigns under his belt, and his journey far from over.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.