10 WWE Wrestlers HYPED Vince McMahon Is Gone

8. Ricochet

Ricochet WWE Intercontinental Title
WWE.com

Winning the Intercontinental Championship amidst reports that WWE considered him SmackDown's number two babyface offered brief hope of a prolonged Ricochet push this year, though those flames were quickly extinguished. By the time Gunther had dethroned him as SmackDown's secondary champion, the generational high-flyer had already dropped back down to square one.

That Vince McMahon didn't get Ricochet isn't a surprise. Vince was never going to get him. A video-game athlete capable of dazzling feats no human should be able to accomplish, Ricochet's strengths were the opposite of what the deposed CEO and Chairman looked for in his dated model of a "top guy." Becoming Intercontinental Champion ultimately meant little to an ill-fitting cog in Vince's machine.

Pro wrestling success means hiding weaknesses and highlighting strengths. Triple H is all too familiar with Ricochet's strengths, having helped chart an eyeball-popping course through NXT that may now be repeated on SmackDown.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.