12 WWE Monsters That Failed
6. Lord Tensai
Having parted company with WWE in late-2004, Matt Bloom moved his career East, and after just under a year with All Japan Pro Wrestling, he'd arrive in New Japan and commence the creative and commercial peak of his career.
As 'Giant Bernard', Bloom was a revelation, with several IWGP Heavyweight Title near-misses and a a Tag Team Championship reign with fellow WWE castoff Tyson Tomko all within his first year working with the group.
More success would come when Bernard formed 'Bad Intentions' with Karl Anderson, with the team holding titles in New Japan, NOAH and winning the Wrestling Observer's Tag Team of the Year in 2011.
All of this meant a 2012 WWE return was hotly anticipated, and sure to be a far cry from his middling 'A-Train' days shortly before his release.
Reality bit pretty quickly for Bloom though, and an early winning streak was hugely unconvincing. Pinfalls over John Cena and CM Punk did more to damage the stars than enhance his failing gimmick.
Truthfully, Bloom's in-ring style didn't seem all that improved, nor lend itself to the killer they had portrayed him as.
A quick slide into comedy followed, before a brief 'Tons of Funk' pairing with Brodus Clay marked his final WWE stint before migrating to the Performance Centre as the company's new head coach.