This year we finally saw Daniel Bryan receive the push that he deserved. All it took was rabid fan reaction for months, CM Punk leaving the company, the outright rejection of the Daniel Wyatt storyline, and Batista absolutely failing as a babyface. It really is dumb luck that he got to main-event WrestleMania, and not some master plan that was set up. Still, hes near the top of the company where he belongs. While WWE tried their best to hold him down, it just didnt work. Who else could break out and make a difference if they were given an honest chance? There are plenty of men and women who have been overlooked for far too long. Some are stuck in meaningless tag teams, others are cast as forgettable mid-card singles acts who don't receive any character development. While you could make a case for virtually anyone on the roster deserving a better push, there are a few that absolutely stand out. Here are the top 10 WWE wrestlers who deserve better...
10. Cody Rhodes
When Cody Rhodes was fired as part of a storyline, he cut the promo of his career on the way out. He showed a genuine passion that we didnt even know he possessed. His initial run with Goldust, where they struggled to get their jobs back, was one of last years best storylines. Then Dusty Rhodes put his hand in Stephanie McMahons face in an unscripted moment, and the Rhodes boys push has never been the same. Now, I cant say for sure that the hand-face incident is what did The Brotherhood in, but it sure didnt help them. Ever since that time, the two were virtually storyline-less. Even when they had the titles, theyd come out, have a good match, and then head to the back. The process was repeated for months. Cody is still only 28, but hes been on the main roster for almost seven years. Thats a long time for fans to see him stuck in the same position on the card. Because of our familiarity with him, and after seeing him lose so many times, it may be hard to ever take him seriously as a potential main-eventer. Maybe some time away from the company to be repackaged wouldnt be a bad move on WWEs part. His character needs an edge, and hes already displayed hes capable of cutting a captivating promo when motivated. Right now, he looks to be headed for that long rumored feud against his brother Goldust, but with the way the two have been booked lately, its going to be hard to believe it will get the attention it deserves. And speaking of Goldust...
As Rust Cohle from True Detective said "Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you're good at."
Sadly, I can't solve a murder like Rust...or change a tire, or even tie a tie. But I do know all the lyrics to Hulk Hogan's "Real American" theme song and can easily name every Natural Born Thriller from the dying days of WCW. I was once ranked 21st in the United States in Tetris...on the Playstation 3 version...for about a week.
Follow along @AndrewSoucek and check out my podcast at wrestlingwithfriends.com