7 Wrestlers WCW Gave Up On

After his WWE execution in the infamous double-crosshairs of the Montreal Screwjob, Bret 'Hitman' Hart arrived in WCW as the most talked about talent in town. Only, despite being handed the biggest pink and black gift horse in the world, WCW didn't seem to have any particular interest in their solar-hot commodity.

Case in point: Hart's first port of call in Atlanta was as a referee, just about calling the shots in the long-awaited showdown between Sting and Hulk Hogan at Starrcade '97. Although a component of what was supposed to be the company's apex, Bret came off as tertiary, hardly helped by the match's underwhelming delivery.

Though WCW did endeavour to position Hart more appropriately after his tepid debut - he was given a run with the top title and picked to lead yet another nWo reincarnation - it felt half-hearted. That's because it was; for as long as the Hitman was in the main event picture, he was always flanked by the old guard, made to look prominent but rarely essential.

WCW eventually let Hart go - just three years on from his huge signing - when a concussion suffered at the clumsy boot of Goldberg restricted him to promos. The company's closure months later made the decision immaterial, but it was telling how far they'd diminished his stock that he could quietly exit the industry so soon after making the biggest move in its history.