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When thinking of forgotten WWE Superstars, it's important to remember that, so vast is the roster in Vince McMahon's company, there's are always a number of talented individuals who are overlooked.
Whether there's a lack of ideas for some, or others just happen to not be the flavor of the month for any number of reasons, there are always instances where fans see stars they once saw in prominent positions, now barely being used at all. From former world champions only just about getting matches at house shows, to those once closing the show now being forced to open it, we see Superstars losing favor quite commonly in WWE.
Admittedly, there is only so much television time in any one week with RAW and SmackDown but, even so, there will be plenty of those who feel that some deserve more time on our screens than they're getting at present.
Here we highlight 5 underused, forgotten WWE Superstars that the Creative team has seemingly forgotten about as 2020 continues.
#5 Robert Roode
Now, before you raise your hands and object, I'm fully aware that Robert Roode is currently not featuring on WWE television owing to the travel restrictions that are in place not only in the US, his homeland Canada, and the rest of the world.
However, my issues with the use of the man I still think of as Bobby Roode dates back much further. It seems that long gone are the days that the arrogant, elitist Roode was dominating NXT as the NXT Champion, and the brand's biggest name. Take NXT TakeOver: Toronto for instance. Roode battled Tye Dillinger in a meeting of two hometown heroes and received a thunderous reception, the crowd loudly singing every word of his "Glorious" entrance theme.
Roode has been a major name in Impact Wrestling - where he was their World Champion for a while - before joining WWE in 2016. Despite being a big player on the Black and Gold brand, he's never quite been able to match those achievements on the 'main roster' following his SmackDown debut a year later.
Granted, he has had a fleeting run as United States Champion and a couple of flurries as a tag team champion, but Robert Roode's career in WWE is currently little more than that of a henchman and sidekick to Dolph Ziggler.
He's capable of so much - especially as a singles heel - and I really believe there's still money to be made by getting behind Robert Roode, but, for now, he's one of the most prominent of the forgotten WWE Superstars.
#4 Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin has been back in the WWE fold for over 18 months, but he's had little of note to get his teeth stuck into since then, and no real major moments except for a brief face to face with Brock Lesnar.
Benjamin is, undoubtedly, one of the most experienced members of the roster, and that experience adds massive value to the company. Not only has Benjamin captured numerous singles and tag team championships during his entire WWE career, but he has also excelled for the likes of Ring of Honor, too.
It is a shame then, that he has been involved with barely any storylines of note this second time around in WWE. Granted, WWE may feel that the stage is better set for younger Superstars to assume the mantle these days, but there isn't a young and upcoming star anywhere in the world that wouldn't benefit from some time in the ring, on screen, and behind the scenes with Benjamin.
So whether it's on RAW, SmackDown or NXT, I want to see much more from the Gold Standard as 2020 rolls on.
#3 Curtis Axel
In my heart, I genuinely believe that the underuse of Curtis Axel during the majority of his WWE career is probably one of the biggest crimes that WWE Creative has committed.
The son of the late WWE Hall of Famer 'Mr. Perfect' Curt Hennig, Axel has been part of the WWE roster for some 12 years. It's my view, though, that Axel's potential now remains unfulfilled.
Don't get me wrong, there's no doubt that, as a former NXT star, a member of Nexus, a part of the Social Outcasts and a former Intercontinental champion, Curtis Axel has enjoyed a solid WWE career.
Midway through 2017, Axel and his tag team partner, Bo Dallas, began calling themselves the B-Team, and briefly became tag team champions. Sadly, that has been Axel's lot. My fear is that, at 40 years of age, this hugely-talented wrestler is being lost in the pack with so many new talents arriving in WWE on a regular basis.
Even if it were one last hurrah before he transitions into some form of coaching role that would suit him perfectly, I'd like to see Curtis Axel being given a crack at some singles action.
#2 Shorty G/Chad Gable
Chad Gable is undoubtedly one of the many WWE Superstar who failed to build on their NXT moment once they transitioned on to the 'main roster'.
As part of American Alpha alongside Jason Jordan, Gable was one of the most respected performers in NXT, as one half of arguably its best tag team. Thanks to his impressive collegiate background, he is naturally very gifted. With tremendous speed and power, he easily beats many other members of the roster in those areas, while his strength is equally as impressive for an athlete lacking in height.
On the 'height' point, there's no getting away from the fact that being repackaged as 'Shorty G' a while ago certainly did his career no favors. Yes, it kept him on screen for a while and as we mentioned earlier, that's vital in its own right, but all it did was detract from his incredible physical attributes.
Let's get Chad Gable back where he belongs - in the ring, wrestling in great matches and telling stories with his astonishing ability.
#1 Bo Dallas
When you think of Curtis Axel, the chances are that you think of his B-Team member Bo Dallas as well.
Indeed, just as you wouldn't remember first of all that Axel was formerly an Intercontinental Champion, you might also not recall straight away that Dallas once beat Big E, now of The New Day, for the NXT Championship.
That was some seven years ago, and many of Bo's supporters would say that it was probably the highest point of his career - despite him having been on the main roster for many of those seven intervening years.
After joining the RAW roster as a motivational figure with the mantra of 'Bo-lieve', he went about annoying fans and fellow wrestlers with his character, before drifting more or less into the abyss - with the exception of one RAW tag team title reign with Axel.
The B-Team faded away from weekly television not long after losing the titles and, in terms of meaningful action, Dallas hasn't been seen since. Maybe it's time to part him from Axel, repackage him, and bring him back to prominence?
