WWE is known with hitting home runs with their talent. As seen with the recent signing of Jade Cargill, WWE has an eye for talent and knows how to market them to become successful. In the Golden Era, we watched as WWE transformed Hulk Hogan to a popular culture icon. During the New Generation Era, WWE transitioned tag team specialist Shawn Michaels into the best performer in the world.
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Then in the Attitude Era, WWE took WCW reject Steve Austin and turned him into the biggest draw of all time. Yet, even in the 1980s and 1990s, WWE missed on some of the talent they had under contact. WIth these stars, what might have been, will always be a question.
10 Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor looked like a future WWE main event star while developing in Mid-South Wrestling in the mid 1980s. Yet, when WWE signed Taylor in 1988, a main event star is not what they promoted. Originally promoted as Scary Terry Taylor, before turning heel and creating the Red Rooster gimmick. Terry Taylor was given manager Bobby the Brain Heenan, but his strutting and red mohawked mullet did not catch on to WWE fans. The climax of his career was defeating Heenan in 30 seconds at WrestleMania 5.
9 Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich looked more like a future WWE main eventer than Terry Taylor before arriving in the promotion. Von Erich came in as a former NWA World Champion and 5 time NWA American Heavyweight Champion. In 1984, Von Erich was named Most Popular Wrestler of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. With his 6'2, 250 pound chiseled bodybuilder frame and second generation pedigree, Von Erich should have been huge in WWE. Instead, Von Erich lasted 2 years in WWE as the Texas Tornado. While he would win the Intercontinental Championship, he would lose the title back less than six months later.
8 Luna Vachon
Second generation superstar Luna Vachon would have two stints in WWE during the 1990s and would be vastly underutilized in both. Vachon would debut at WrestleMania 9 as the manager of Shawn Michaels. Vachon would start a rivalry with Michaels' former manager Sensational Sherri. Before long Vachon was paired with Bam Bam Bigelow in a romantic angle before she left WWE. Vachon would come back to WWE in 1997 to manage Goldust and help put over Sable.
7 Akeem
As One Man Gang, wrestler George Gray was a tough, hard nosed professional wrestling heel. Billed as 6'9 and 450 pounds, One Man Gang held his own in any pro wrestling match. Yet, in 1988, Gray would turn into Akeem the African Dream to very little fanfare. As Akeem, Gray was poorly utilized on the WWE roster. His gimmick was culturally offensive, and his tough One Man Gang persona was quickly forgotten. Akeem faded away as the 1990s got started.
6 Bart Gunn
As part of the Smoking Gunns, Bart would win 3 WWE World Tag Team Championships during the New Generation Era. Yet, when the "brothers" went their separate ways, WWE would fail Bart Gunn. First, by teaming him with Bob Holly to make the New Midnight Express and then by entering him into the Brawl For All. The legitimate shoot fight would see Bart win the whole thing, and WWE had no clue what to do with him. Therefore, WWE had him fight professional boxer Butterbean, which Bart lost in 35 seconds.
5 Miss Jacqueline
The 14 time USWA Women's Champion was brought in to WWE to help build Sable, in a similar fashion as Luna Vachon. Jacqueline was legitimately one of the best female wrestlers on the planet, but her skill set did not matter in Attitude Era WWE. Jacqueline was used in bikini contests to show off her physique and put over Sable. By the end of the 1990s, Jacqueline was in the all-female faction Pretty Mean Sisters, yet the group accomplished next to nothing in WWE.
4 Tatanka
Tatanka gave off Ultimate Warrior vibes in the New Generation of WWE. The Native American Warrior would have a long undefeated streak that led to absolutely nothing in WWE. His large muscles, colorful attire, head dress, face paint and tassels made him jump off the WWE screen, especially to kids of that era.
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Yet, other than a Slammy due to his 1994 heel turn, Tatanka never won anything of significance in the company. He is easily one of the stars that WWE did not capitalize on. What a missed opportunity.
3 Powers Of Pain
The Powers of Pain were larger than life musclemen that looked tremendous when they arrived in the Golden Era of WWE in 1988. The Barbarian and Warlord were fresh off a JCP feud with the Road Warriors, when the face painted duo debuted as faces in WWE. The duo would quickly steal Demolition's manager, Mr Fuji and turn heel. The heel turned seemed destined to bring them tag team gold, but it never did. The talented duo would not get pinned until their last tag match together in WWE in 1990.
2 Bam Bam Bigelow
The WWE would underutilize Bam Bam Bigelow in the 1980s and in the 1990s. Bam Bam Bigelow was one of the best and most agile big men of all time. At 6'4 and near 400 pounds, Bigelow could do anything in the ring. Bigelow would wrestle on pay-per-views, and even main event pay-per-views in both the 1980s and 1990s, including main eventing WrestleMania 11. Yet, with all that press, Bam Bam Bigelow never won a title in WWE.
1 Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig is a 2 time Intercontinental Champion and 2007 WWE Hall of Famer, yet he was severely underutilized in WWE. In 1988, Hennig would become perfect, Mr Perfect that is. As Mr. Perfect, you had the ......well perfect heel for 1980s professional wrestling.
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Hennig was so good as a heel at a time when WWE rarely crowned a heel the World Champion, yet he was so deserving. Even as a roster member during the New Generation, Hennig was severely underutilized by the company. Hennig is a legend, but he could have been even greater!
