8 Returns WWE Dropped The Ball On
5. Scott Steiner
With Big Poppa Pump, WWE had already dropped the ball before Scott Steiner made his return in 2002.
To the casual eye, it’s easy to point out that Steiner was a shell of his former self upon re-debuting for WWE. The thing is, WWE set themselves – and Steiner – up for a fall by signing the multiple-time WCW Champion even though they knew he was injured.
For a year prior to his signing, WWE doctors made regular checks on Scotty and he was diagnosed with drop foot. That meant his foot was paralysed due to nerve issues, and Steiner was in the midst of taking time out to resolve this.
Still, WWE wanted Steiner - who had previously been a WWE Tag Team Champion with his brother Rick - to come in and feud with Triple H, and so they offered Big Poppa Pump a contract that he couldn’t turn down.
To make things worse, when Steiner and Hunter did indeed have a match, Hunter himself had returned early from a partially torn quad. So what was the best way to disguise the limitations of these limited performers? Why, you give the pair an 18-minute match at the Royal Rumble.
A rematch would occur at the following month’s No Way Out – another stinker – and then Steiner would be put into a tag team alongside Test.
By signing a Scott Steiner who the company was aware needed more recovery time, they set themselves and The Big Booty Daddy up for failure.
Sure, the 2002 Steiner wasn't going to be the worker he was in 1992 or 1999, but if WWE held off on having him re-debut with the company for a few more months, they would’ve at least afforded Steiner a better chance of being taken seriously.