One of WWE’s biggest mistakes was never putting the title on Paul Orndorff. In the days of WWF, with the beginning of Hulkamania and the start of what would be the greatest run in company history, Orndorff never wore the gold.
The shame of it is Orndorff was a solid star, a great performer and a clean voice on a promo. Why Vince McMahon never gave him a run in between title reigns of Hulk Hogan is unfathomable.
Orndorff isn’t the only one. Look at WWE (or WWF’s) roster over the years and you can make an argument there are performer and superstars who should have worn the company strap and never got a chance. Tito Santana, Pat Patterson, and Don Muraco come to mind as well. Add Greg “The Hammer” Valentine to the list as well
While they were all great competitors and took full advantage of the wrestling machine in Stamford, they were the leader coming out of the locker room.
Today, there are still characters who look the part, act the part and perform the part – but they will be misused and misguided. Here is a look at five wrestlers who might have been the most wasted talent in company history.
5. Jerry Lawler
After his jump to WWF, Lawler used as “The King” gimmick. The former owner of CWF in Memphis with Jerry Jarrett and a solid star in the south in his younger years, Lawler joined WWF in 1992 and has held more titles in his career than any WWE superstar today, but he never held a title outside the NWA.
Lawler is a one-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and a three-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. Like many NWA stars who made the jump to the outfit in Connecticut, Lawler got lost in the shuffle.
4: Cody Rhodes
The son of the son of a plumber was a solid wrestler in his time in WWE. A multiple tag team champion and Intercontinental Champion, Rhodes made his own way first as the son of Dusty Rhodes and then as a tag team partner with brother Goldust and later as Stardust. Rhodes had the look and the ability to be more. It never materialized.
Rhodes left WWE in the early part of this year due to being misused and a lack of push by management. He should have been a main-event star but instead, he was more a cartoon character than anything else.
3: Wade Barrett
My friend Sarah might tell you Barrett was the most underappreciated wrestler WWE has ever had. A big, strapping British brawler, Barrett came up from NXT as the ring leader of the Nexus. He has a nice feud with John Cena, proving he could remain a main-event talent. He also did well in a program with CM Punk over control of the stable Barrett helped to create.
Despite being an Intercontinental Champion and a King of the Ring, Barrett was held back by bad storylines and injuries. His feud with Randy Orton may have been his best work. At the end of his time with WWE, Barrett was nothing more than a jobber in the mid-card.
He was one of the men who was chosen by The Undertaker himself to break the streak, but for some reason, Vince McMahon convinced The Deadman and forced him to not retire.
Read more: 5 Times The Undertaker's streak was booked to end and changed
2: Rowdy Roddy Piper
As odd is this is going to sound, Piper wasn’t used properly when he was in the WWF. The talented wrestler and equally challenging talker was one of the best to ever get in the ring, but he never wore the company’s top title.
While he was a perfect opponent for Hulk Hogan at the beginning of WrestleMania and helped to usher in Hulkamania, there are many who believe, including Hogan and myself, that Piper could have been the guy for a time in the company and carry it well. Piper was equally popular in the NWA but never held the brass ring as well.
1: Ivan Koloff
Ivan Koloff served as the bridge between Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales. As a top heel and one of the best Russian gimmicks in wrestling history, Vince McMahon Sr. should have used him in a better role. He carried the WWWF championship a total of 21 days in 1971.
He still remained a top tier wrestler, but never held the belt again. He left the promotion in the later part of the year. He wrestled up north for a total of two years before moving on to the NWA.
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