8 Former Midcarders Who Could Returns As WWE Main Eventers In 2016

8. Evan Bourne

It's fair to say that Evan Bourne didn't quite live up to the hype during his time in WWE. Sure, he had his moments, such as his match with Chris Jericho at Over the Limit 2012 and his breathtaking display in a couple Money in the Bank ladder matches, but he was pretty much just a guy in tights that did athletic stuff and was fun to watch. There's nothing wrong with that, true, but the upshot was that the immensely talented Bourne only rose to Tag Team Title level (remember Air Boom?). He was always fighting an uphill battle due to his size and smiley babyface character, but two Wellness Policy violations and an almost career-ending foot injury didn't help matters. Bourne was actually released while convalescing from said injury. He hadn't been on TV in over two years, anyway. Once he'd fully recovered, the 32-year-old quickly set about finding work and has been a regular for Ring of Honor, Dragon Gate, PWG and New Japan Pro-Wrestling over the past year-and-a-half. If his superlative performances in those companies are any indication, it's clear that Bourne has fully recovered from his injuries and could contribute on the grand stage once again. Is he WWE Title material? I doubt he'll be challenging Roman Reigns for the belt anytime soon, no, but he could certainly be brought back into the fold as a Daniel Bryan-esque plucky underdog/surprise challenger. With Bryan's in-ring career in ever-increasing doubt, it opens up a spot for an undersized and likeable performer. Bourne fits the bill.