5 international superstars who failed to live up to their hype in the WWE

Professional wrestling has gone through various transitional periods in the last century. From the mighty Stanislaus Zbyszko to Lou Thesz, and then from Harley Race to Hulk Hogan – professional wrestling evolved from generation to generation. During the 70s and 80s, professional wrestling became mainstream and witnessed the fans in the United States embracing the “sport”.  Europe and Japan too followed this trend, as fans ardently followed the industry.In the 80s when Vince McMahon Jr. carried out his vision to globalize the then WWF, and in the process blurred the lines between reality and kayfabe, he wanted to enter the markets throughout the globe. From Canada to the United Kingdom, Vince McMahon successfully globalized his promotion, and in the process, employed some of the greatest talents from around the world. The likes of Bret Hart and Dynamite Kid are just a few examples of the international stars the WWE were able to bring in, to create more interest and buzz among their fan base, but it didn’t always pay off.In this article, we take a look at five international superstars who failed to live up to their hype in the biggest global entertainment organization.

#5 Nathan Jones

 

With a history of serving rigorous jail sentence and participating in the World’s Strongest Man contests, Nathan Jones seemed to be the answer for WWE’s quest to penetrate the Australian market. Before joining the WWE, Nathan Jones also participated in MMA contests, and with his impressive physique and strength, Jones was everything WWE looked for in a superstar. However, the only hindrance was his lack of prior experience in professional wrestling, but WWE went ahead by signing him to a contract.

The WWE then started airing several vignettes, and Nathan Jones eventually made his debut, and it was immediately obvious that Jones wasn’t ready yet for the big leagues. WWE tried to cover his weaknesses by pairing him with The Undertaker, but with Jones being very green in the ring, he was sent to OVW to work on his in – ring skills.

Jones was then called up to the main roster, as the WWE once again pushed him with the “Colossus of Boggo Road” gimmick, as he worked with the likes of Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. However, WWE’s gamble with Jones didn’t pay off, as Jones quit the company because of the constant traveling, and WWE’s search for a star from down under still continued.