10 WWE Wrestlers PROMISED Titles (That Never Got Them)
William Regal proved he was WWE Champion but life had other plans.
There's much to be said about wrestlers who put in all the work and don't get their moment in the sun. Wrestling championships might just be props, by nature of the sport being pre-determined, but having your name etched into the lineage is a way to make sure your legacy lasts forever.
It seems unthinkable that the likes of Mr Perfect, Jake Roberts, Ted DiBiase and so on never got the chance to reign at the top of WWE's card... but there's only so much space for champions and not everyone can have their go.
But what about WWE stars that were not just considered for the title but were fingertips away from actually grabbing it? The history books would've been totally different if original plans had been been seen to fruition.
For some, it must be crushing to be promised the top prize in pro wrestling and then not see it play out. Then again, in the WWE's land of broken promises and false offers, there are many men and women who were told one thing and lived something else entirely.
10. Wade Barrett - WWE Championship
In 2010, The Nexus debuted on main roster WWE TV and instantly became the leading story in the company due to their propensity for abject destruction. At the top sat the charismatic Wade Barrett, who proved time and time again on the microphone that he was a born top heel.
When the group was resoundingly beaten at Survivor Series by Team WWE, led by John Cena who pushed backstage to come out on top, Barrett went onto two losses to then-WWE Champion Randy Orton. If the Nexus had succeeded in their first major outing, would Barrett have been pushed to champion status?
Regardless, it wasn't the only time Barrett was on track to the top.
In 2011, it seemed that Wade was primed for a solid solo push. He had left the failing Corre stable, dropped the Intercontinental Title and was part of the Money in the Bank ladder match. In an interview with WhatCulture in 2016, Barrett revealed that not only had he been picked to win the briefcase but they had even rehearsed it. This was apparently changed an hour before the show.
Considering that at this time nobody had failed a cash-in, this very well could have been Barrett’s redemption but ultimately became yet another chance slipping through his fingers.