10 Best Modern Day Superstars To Never Be WWE Champion
When you think of the greatest past WWE stars to have never been WWE Champion, the list usually reads like 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, Owen Hart, Mr. Perfect, the British Bulldog, Ted DiBiase Sr., Razor Ramon, Brian Pillman and more.
And rightfully so, as these are among the greatest superstars of all-time, let alone the greatest to have never been on top. However, over the past 10, 15 and even 20 years, I like to think that there has been another crop of very talented superstars to pass through WWE and despite having all the talent in the world, were somehow never pushed to the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship.
With so so so many incredibly talented superstars having been with WWE over the past two decades and not reach the top, I think it is time we take a look at the top 10 more modern day greatest superstars to never be a World Champion in WWE.
#10 Maven
WWE Tough Enough Season 1 male champion Maven was a very talented superstar. Unlike most talent, both winners and runners up, to get signed by WWE following Tough Enough, those who would make it to WWE TV will usually do so after about one or two years in developmental, including the like of The Miz, John Morrison, the Velveteen Dream, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and others.
Yes, they all went through developmental - all but Maven. By the time Season one of Tough Enough had aired on TV, Maven had already mastered the basics and made his WWE TV debut in late 2001. It was pretty clear early on that WWE had big plans for him as he gave arguably the best and most shocking Royal Rumble elimination in history in 2002 when he dropkicked The Undertaker over the top.
In the weeks that followed the Rumble, Maven would pin The Undertaker in a match for the WWE Hardcore Championship, and then challenged Chris Jericho for the WWE Championship the following week. Maven would go down with an injury shortly after and spent most of the rest of the year on the shelf. Maven would also be plagued by back to back injuries in 2003.
Maven was finally given his monster push back as he teamed with Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit to take on Triple H, Batista, Edge and Snitsky in the main event of Survivor Series. Although he would challenge for the World Championship on RAW, he then had a misguided heel turn that ruined his career, and he was released in 2005.
Maven has done nothing of note in wrestling since. It really is a shame because he was very talented and skilled, and good put on a great performance. I like to think that a possible Word Championship run wouldn't have been out of the question.