9 Early 2000s WWE Failures The Company Had Huge Plans For

2. Mordecai

Opinion is divided on whether Mordecai was a gimmick with huge potential or whether it was utter dross, a cheesy leftover from a bygone era. One thing's for sure, though, and that's that WWE had big plans for the character and big plans for the man behind the character, Kevin Fertig. Fertig, who performed as Seven (based on the seven deadly sins) in OVW, began working dark matches in late 2003 and early 2004 and clearly impressed the right people, as he was given a heavily-pushed religious zealot character complete with expensive-looking vignettes and a big entrance. The Pale Rider's first televised match was a solid but unspectacular match with Scott 2 Hotty at Judgement Day. The following month at the Great American Bash, he was given a convincing win over tough vet Hardcore Holly, and continued to espouse his religious doctrine on TV while also beating up jobbers on a regular basis. The character, clad all in white, was clearly heading for a showdown with The Undertaker. But that showdown never happened, as Fertig was taken off TV and sent back to OVW for further seasoning. There were rumours that his involvement in a bar fight and a potential lawsuit may have had something to do with it. He was fired in July 2005 along with a host of other lower level talents.