10 WWE Wrestlers DOOMED Without Vince McMahon

5. Ezekiel

Ezekiel WWE
WWE.com

The Ezekiel project would have bottomed out within its first few weeks if not for Kevin Owens, who breathed life into a one-note gimmick with his typically watchable performances opposite the former Elias. KO remains one of WWE's most valuable television characters for his ability to elevate lacklustre material - and should be in line for an elevation under Triple H.

Ezekiel, on the other hand, will struggle. His character is a surface-level novelty act that merely flirted with getting over when positioned across from Owens. Now that Kevin has left his orbit (and new foe Seth Rollins has resumed his feud with Riddle), Ezekiel has lost what made people pay attention to him in the first place.

The 34-year-old's previous gimmick, Elias, was neither deep nor complex but stayed over whenever he was regularly given the opportunity to strum his guitar and sing a few verses. But that he found greater success on Vince McMahon's main roster than in Triple H's NXT is another warning sign for a wrestler who must now expand his range.

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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.