5 Wrestlers with huge potential that are mostly forgotten

Sometimes things just don't work out for wrestlers.

They might have a great look, or sick mike skills, or be a technical wizard, but for some reason, they just can't seem to become true wrestling stars.

Often times the problem is their own ego; The wrestlers know they are good and become insufferable backstage, constantly complaining to management and the other talent that they deserve more than they are getting.

Other times outside influences, like injury or family strife will derail a promising career before it really starts.

And still other times, a wrestler will get every opportunity and still somehow fall flat with the audience.

Here are five wrestlers who had a ton of potential but mostly just fizzled out.

#1 Cody Deener

With good size and above averge ring skills, Canadian wrestler Chris Gray already had a lot of potential.

When you factor in his fantastic character acting as Mussel Shoals's favourite son, Cody Deener, it seems like a no-brainer that he would be at least working for a major company in 2018.

Sadly, that is not the case. In spite of being undeniably entertaining in his TNA run, Deener was released from his contract and hasn't made it out of the indies since. Deener had a few tryouts with WWE but they failed to offer him a contract, either.

What held him back: Deener isn't as large as WWE likes their heavyweights, while still being too big for the cruiserweight division. In TNA he seemed to almost have been forgotten by management, who failed to give his unique character anything interesting to do.

#2 The Natural Born Thrillers

During one of WCW's many, many reboots during its fading years, management decided that they needed to push younger talent.

They put together a stable of seven young men who looked great, and in the case of O'Haire and Palumbo, could really go in the ring. Above Average Mike Sanders possessed fantastic promo abilities and came across as really natural on the mike.

Fast forward to today, however, and almost none of them are involved in the wrestling business, and those that are have failed to make any lasting impact.

What Held them back: It was a case of too much, too soon. In spite of being trained by Paul Orndorff and being quite athletic, the Thrillers were terribly green, and it showed in the ring.

Even after members like Chuck Palumbo gained more experience, they never seemed to click with the audience. Spending more time in the indies honing their craft may have saved the Thrillers from the taste of failure later in their careers.

#3 Simon Diamond and Big Dick Hertz

Simon Diamond was coming, and he brought his big Dick with him.

Trained by the legendary Dean Malenko, Simon Diamond was smooth as silk in the ring and had an easy, free demeanour on the mike.

Big Dick Hertz was big, looked great, and...that was about it. But paired together, the duo became stronger than the sum of their parts. They certainly stirred up controversy at the time, including making their network (The Nashville Network at the time, later re-dubbed Spike TV) very nervous and uncomfortable.

Dick Hertz faded quickly, but Simon Diamond seemed like he might still make something of himself for awhile. After a largely-forgettable TNA run, he was re-hired as a road agent and has spent the rest of his career working backstage.

What held them back: Diamond isn't as large as the major promotions want their wrestlers to be. Dick Hertz was clumsy in the ring and couldn't cut a promo to save his life. Also, playing a 'gay' character may have hurt his chances with the WWE, who swung toward a PG rating in recent years.

#4 Ezekiel Jackson

Everyone knows that Vince McMahon likes his wrestlers on the big and brawny side, and they don't come much bigger or brawnier than Ezekiel Jackson.

Big Zeke had a great look, possibly one of the most intimidating looking men who has ever set foot between the ropes. Add in the fact that he's not half bad in the ring and can speak articulately and well and you have the recipe for a superstar, right?

Wrong, because Zeke was released by the WWE and hasn't done much since except a sting for Lucha Underground.

What held him back: At the end of the day, Big Zeke just failed to resonate with the fans. They couldn't identify with him enough to cheer him as a face, and for whatever reason, he made a poor heel.

#5 Billy Kidman

Billy Kidman turned a lot of heads in WCW when he joined Raven's Flock and started appearing on television regularly.

Possessed of tremendous agility and timing, Kidman quickly stood out from his stable mates, and was one of the first to leave the group and break out on his own. He had multiple reigns as Cruiserweight champion and was in the Filthy Animals faction with Eddie Guerrero and Rey Misterio--two men who went on to unparalleled stardom.

Kidman also feuded with Hulk Hogan, which should have sealed his main event status for life. However, he moved slowly back down the card, and when he joined WWE after McMahon's purchase of WCW he never seemed to gain any lasting momentum.

What held him back: Kidman's high flying style took its toll on his body, limiting his in-ring work in the later stages of his career. Also, he was never the best interview, and couldn't really get the fans fully on his side. Jealousy of the fact that he was dating Torrie Wilson probably didn't help in that regard.

There you have it; Five wrestling acts with all the potential in the world who almost nobody remembers.

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