5 Underutilised Superstars In WWE

In terms of talent across WWE's brands Raw, Smackdown, 205 Live and NXT, there has possibly never been a better crop of star power under their umbrella. 2017 produced one of the most memorable years in WWE history, with some new talent making a great impression, past talent making welcome returns, and what a great year it was in terms of exciting matches.

But for every new or returning talent, there is a talent that simply slips further down the pecking order. While many of these guys may be at least doing something creatively, they could be better utilized. This list gives five wrestlers that WWE could be utilizing better.

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5. Pete Dunne

WWE should be doing more with it's United Kingdom Champion

Pete Dunne had one of, if not the best year of any British wrestler in 2017. He was involved in one of the best matches ever seen at NXT TakeOver: Chicago, defeating Tyler Bate in the process to become the WWE United Kingdom Champion. He's made the move to WWE's NXT brand, debuted on Raw, he remains incredibly popular with the WWE Universe, and the demand for him to appear on other shows is high. So why have we not seen Dunne as a more regular fixture on WWE television?

WWE seem to be failing to make better use of the asset they have in their champion. Dunne is one of the best technical wrestlers in the world and can have a great match with just about anyone. He has taken the responsibility of being WWE United Kingdom Champion on his shoulders and made that title mean something, especially on the UK scene. I would love to see him as a more regular fixture on NXT, where he could not only help grow the WWE United Kingdom brand but also play a huge part in helping to take NXT as a whole to even greater heights. While the future of the UK brand remains undecided it would be great to see Dunne have the opportunity to prove himself further on a bigger stage.

4. Rusev

Rusev deserves to be better utilized

One of the most over gimmicks in WWE right now is the Rusev Day gimmick. Seriously, it gets one of the best reactions on WWE television every week. What started out as something from Bulgarian tradition (as shows on the latest season of Total Divas) has made the WWE Universe sit up and take note that Rusev is actually a pretty great talent. The gimmick probably wasn't supposed to get over the way it has, but when you have someone like Rusev, who we see a different and more entertaining side of through Total Divas, it's hard not to want to get behind him.

It's crazy to think that when he joined the main roster, Rusev was a dominant monster who simply could not be stopped. He won the United States Championship and was destined for more until he was inevitably fed to John Cena at Wrestlemania 31, and he never fully recovered from this for sometime. What Rusev Day has done is bring him back to the front of the WWE Universe's minds, showing that he can be entertaining. Fans want to see him back in a bigger role. Rusev has all the talent to go on and become a world champion in WWE, and hopefully, the Rusev Day gimmick can be the catalyst that fires him into that opportunity sooner rather than later.

3. Apollo Crews

Apollo Crews is destined to be a next level star

Pound for pound, Apollo Crews is without a doubt one of the most gifted athletes on the entire WWE roster. Apollo Crews is a promising Superstar and can compete with the best the WWE has to offer. But despite all this, Crews just can't seem to get himself to that next level. When he joined the SmackDown brand in 2016, he looked like he was being positioned to become one of the companies next top stars, seeing him involved in a chase for the Intercontinental Championship. Yet Crews still finds himself unable to break through the proverbial glass ceiling almost eighteen months on.

Since becoming a part of Titus Worldwide, we have at least seen Crews take on a more prominent role and get himself over with the WWE Universe. Crews has all the talent in the world to go on and become one of WWE's next top main event talents if he is given the chance. You only have to look back at his work on the independents as Uhaa Nation to see what he is capable of. Perhaps WrestleMania 34, and the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal would be a good place to mark the real break out of Apollo Crews.

2. Finn Balor

Balor is a former Universal Champion

Finn Balor is without a doubt one of the most popular and talented Superstars on the WWE roster. He made a huge impact in NXT when he arrived there in 2014 and went on to be one of the greatest champions in NXT history. When he moved to the main roster in 2016 he became the first ever WWE Universal Champion but had to relinquish that championship the night after SummerSlam through injury. And since his return in April 2017 there hasn't been much of a push to get him back into that picture, which seems baffling when he is so over with the WWE Universe. Yes he lasted an impressive fifty-seven minutes in the 2018 Royal Rumble match, entering second and being eliminated towards the end by John Cena, and he's now got the Balor Club gimmick going, but a man with the talent of Balor should be doing so much more.

As it stands it seems unlikely Balor will get the opportunity to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34, with speculation being that Roman Reigns will get that spot. What we'd like to see is Balor Club become a dominant force on Raw, with Balor at the forefront of the main event picture. For that to happen I feel Balor and the Balor Club have to go heel, a role in which I believe he would flourish. For Balor not to be a main event talent, if not the Universal Champion, by the end of 2018 would truly be a missed opportunity as he is a once in a lifetime talent who deserves to be a multiple time world champion.

1. Dolph Ziggler

Ziggler is incredibly talented and worthy of being better utilized

Dolph Ziggler's name has probably appeared on these lists more times than anyone would care to remember. This guy has it all; he can cut an incredible promo, he has the look, and is one of the best in-ring performers of his generation, leading him to be compared to one of all time greatest performers, Shawn Michaels. Yet despite all his accolades and achievements over the years, Ziggler still remains one of the most underutilized performers in WWE. Let's not forget he is a former Money in the Bank winner, former multiple time Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion, and a former two time WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Concussions have unfortunately been one of the reasons Ziggler has seen some of those opportunities abruptly ended, but now he seems to be used as nothing more than a guy who simply helps to elevate new talent.

Ziggler's lack of use by WWE in the main event picture is probably one of the most disappointing things fans have witnessed over the last couple of years. When Ziggler can basically go out and have the best match with anyone on a show, and cut some of the best promos you will hear from anyone, but still get overlooked, then you have to ask yourself what more can this guy do? It's a genuine shame WWE is literally wasting a talent like Ziggler, and would rather have him bump like crazy and lose than book him as a guy who is a top-tier talent. He recently returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble, and can hopefully look to get his career back on the right track in 2018. But don't be surprised if Ziggler is the one name on the list that just simply doesn't get the opportunity he so greatly deserves.