Who are the 5 most underutilized performers in WWE? With all of the talent on the main roster, you would think that the WWE would dip their toes into the pool often, but unfortunately some of their very best wrestlers are very underutilized.
Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks is one of the greatest Divas in recent memory. She has taken NXT by storm since her debut, having an impressive NXT Women’s title reign, which featured classic matches with Becky Lynch, Charlotte, and Bayley. She also, with Bayley, was one of the first women to main event an NXT (or even WWE) special. Given the year she’s had in NXT, it only made sense for her to be “called up” to the main roster several months ago as part of the “Divas Revolution”.
Since her debut on Raw, she has been in a team with fellow Divas Naomi and Tamina, also known as Team B.A.D. (Beautiful and Dangerous). Her colleagues from NXT, Charlotte and Becky Lynch, teamed up with Paige, while there was Team Bella, consisting of Nikki, Brie, and Alicia Fox. The main roster scene for the Divas has revolved only around Team Bella and Team PCB, with Team B.A.D. only showing up for occasional matches or backstage segments. This has led the crowd to constantly chant “We want Sasha!” during other Divas’ matches, just so the higher-ups will understand the market that Sasha Banks has. There is already proof that Sasha has the mic skills and the in-ring skills, and now it’s time for viewers of the main roster to see that.
Zack Ryder
Ah, Zack Ryder. He had gotten himself over with the fans tremendously with his show on YouTube, while still losing on a regular basis. Eventually WWE realized how much the crowd liked him, so they gave him a United States title win over Dolph Ziggler. After the push to the United States title, he lost it a month later and got a literal push off of the stage, removing him from our televisions. Ever since, seeing Zack Ryder on Raw has been a rarity, and when he does he gets fed to Rusev or someone else looking to gain momentum. Currently, he is working in NXT with Mojo Rawley as one half of the Hype Bros. He is a good enhancement talent for NXT, so up-and-comers can gain some credibility by competing with an established superstar. With the United States champion Alberto Del Rio needing someone to defend his title against, perhaps Zack can pursue a title that was once his.
Speaking of superstars that get themselves over, it seems like the harder Damien Sandow works to get a gimmick over, the harder he is being knocked down. He debuted as the Intellectual Saviour of the Masses, and he was a great arrogant heel who you loved to see win, or loved to see get beaten up. After that character seemed to get stale, he changed every week, coming out as a character that would relate to where they had Raw or whatever current events were going on. After weeks of cycling through personas, he ended up being the stunt double to the Miz, who’s known for his “acting”. Miming everything Miz did in the ring, he got himself over huge with the comedy gimmick. After he turned on the Miz (which has won him a Slammy Award), he hasn’t been on WWE television since. We want him back.
Neville
Even though he was just voted the Slammy’s breakout star, Neville had so much promise after joining the main roster, but WWE has failed to deliver. He has a different move set than practically anyone else on the roster, with furiously fast-paced kicks, incredible speed, and the ability to pull off great aerial maneuvers. This started gaining “The Man That Gravity Forgot” some attention, especially with his finishing move, “The Red Arrow”. Unfortunately, the Man That Gravity Forgot is also “The Man Who The Scriptwriters Forgot Too.” After having consistently great matches on Raw every week, he just got shuffled into the mix. The closest he came to becoming United States or Intercontinental champion was during the John Cena U.S. Open Challenge, in which he almost pinned Cena to gain the title. Since then, we haven’t seen Neville other than in a few throwaway matches. With someone once called “The New Sensation”, there is a lot to offer to add variety to Raw.
Wade Barrett
After winning the King of the Ring, WWE decided that “Bad News Barrett” should really change his persona. Now King Barrett would come out and act like royalty, and although winning the King of the Ring tournament is a great accomplishment, having it be your entire personality is a bit much.
WWE superstars connect best with the audience when the audience can say something along with them. Just look at Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Daniel Bryan, or the New Day. All of them are immensely popular and have some sort of interaction with the crowd. Once Barrett became “King Barrett”, this opportunity was lost. Since the crowd didn’t have a reaction to him anymore, he didn’t go anywhere. After a several week long feud with R-Truth, he’s now a member of the League of Nations, a stable of people WWE decided to just throw together. The former Nexus leader has the capability and credentials to be a viable solo champion, while still being interesting, and bringing us some bad news.
Hopefully the WWE is listening to their own universe, although we know better by now, and we can start to see these 5 most underutilized WWE performers used much more in 2016!
