The Worst WWE Wrestlers of All Time
WWE has showcased legendary performers who’ve defined professional wrestling for generations. Icons like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker built the company’s reputation on athleticism and storytelling. But not everyone who stepped through those ropes should have. Between the bodybuilders hired for their physiques, the celebrity experiments gone wrong, and the friends-of-friends who got jobs they never deserved, these 10 WWE wrestlers had no business being in a wrestling ring.
Giant Gonzalez
Credit: Youtube
Nearly eight feet tall in his muscle suit, Giant Gonzalez remains one of WrestleMania’s most baffling sights. That ridiculous costume at WrestleMania IX would be memorable by itself, but his in-ring work made it so much worse. Every movement looked labored, and his strikes had no impact. The Undertaker tried everything to drag something watchable out of their feud, but Gonzalez couldn’t keep up. Their match ended with a disqualification because WWE had no other escape route.
Eva Marie
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Total Divas” made Eva Marie a reality TV star, but professional wrestling was a different challenge. Watch any multi-woman match from her early run, and you’ll spot the miscommunications and awkward moments that highlighted her inexperience. December 2015 brought one exception as Bayley worked magic in their NXT Championship match. By the time Eva’s career ended, she had generated heat, just not the kind WWE wanted.
Brakkus
Credit: Youtube
Vince McMahon saw Brakkus and probably heard cash registers. His chiseled physique, massive frame, and that bodybuilder aesthetic sounded like the perfect combo. His wrestling ability, though, was completely absent. ECW gave him a shot at CyberSlam 1998 against Taz, hoping the hardcore environment might hide his weaknesses. Instead, the much smaller wrestler outclassed him despite Brakkus getting all the power spots.
Nicole Bass
Credit: Youtube
When Nicole Bass arrived at the WWE, her imposing physique immediately drew comparisons to Chyna. Any similarities disappeared once the bell rang. Fans noticed opponents working around her rather than with her. She couldn’t execute moves smoothly and had no ring awareness. Both WWE and ECW specialized in turning misfits into stars during that era, but Nicole never connected with the audience.
Michael Cole
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Commentators stepping into the ring for storyline purposes rarely end well. Michael Cole’s 2011 heel run went spectacularly badly. Completely out of shape and hardly compelling, his matches required interference, special referees, and distractions to mask his limitations. The punishment fans wanted to see him receive never came because he couldn’t execute the basics of being a wrestler. Stick to the announcement table, Michael.
James Ellsworth
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
WWE brought Ellsworth back full-time because his cameo was so entertaining. That decision ignored the fact that he got booked as a jobber for a reason. He played his underdog role perfectly. Even so, he was nowhere near WWE standards. The novelty carried him for a while until WWE released him in 2018 after his character had run its course.
Big Daddy V
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
WWE kept bringing Big Daddy V back under different gimmicks because he used his limited opportunities. Weighing over 500 pounds, he used his size to generate genuine heat. That same weight became his biggest limitation in the ring. Moving required extra effort, and opponents couldn’t do much with him. Basic mobility matters even for super heavyweights, and Big Daddy V’s matches were painful to sit through.
Brodus Clay
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Brodus Clay transformed into the Funkasaurus, a dancing comedy character alongside the Funkadactyls. That gimmick gave him a solid run based on entertainment value, while his wrestling never improved. Crowds enjoyed his entrance and personality, which kept him employed far longer than his ring work deserved.
Gable Steveson
Credit: Youtube
Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalists should transition smoothly to professional wrestling. Sadly, Gable Steveson’s WWE run destroyed that assumption. His Great American Bash 2023 debut opposite Baron Corbin was catastrophic. Baron worked overtime trying to guide him through it, but Gable looked disjointed and uncoordinated, given his background. WWE gave him multiple matches on NXT and SmackDown until they cut him, and ended his expensive contract in 2024.
The Great Khali
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
As a World Heavyweight Champion who defeated The Undertaker in his first WWE pay-per-view match, Great Khali achieved more than almost anyone on this list. While his vice grip submission looked painful and his massive chops had impact, everything else was pretty terrible. He suffered from limited mobility, and opponents couldn’t execute complex sequences against him. The Punjabi Giant proved you can be a Hall of Famer despite poor in-ring performances.