We all love it when a new superstar or a superstar who has been treading water is given a push. As its happening we imagine the possibilities and wonder if that superstar can make it to the top and become a big time player. Sometimes a push works and sometimes it doesnt. There are also times when a push suddenly and inexplicably comes to a screeching halt. For this thread I want you to think about a past wrestler who looked like he was about to achieve greatness only to have his star fade before it really got the chance to shine.
For my pick Im going to take you back to the summer of 1999. A young Stephanie McMahon had recently made her television debut and we all looked at her as the sweet innocent daughter of the evil Mr. McMahon. Stephanie was a good looking young lady and drew the attention of one of the up and coming new stars in the WWF. On an episode of Raw Test formally asked Stephanie McMahon out on a date. She accepted which infuriated her brother Shane. For storyline reasons Vince was off tv at this time so it was up to Shane to do what he thought was best for his baby sister. Along with his childhood friends The Mean Street Posse, Shane attacked Test every chance he got making it clear he was to stay away from Stephanie. Of course this did not deter Test and he and Shane would finally settle it in a love her or leave her match at SummerSlam. The stipulation was if Shane were to win Test would stay away from Stephanie and if Test were to win Shane would stay out of their business. Despite interference from the Posse Test came out the winner and Shane honored the stipulation.
Over the next couple months Shane grew to respect Test and accepted his relationship with Stephanie. When Vince returned to television even he approved of Test for his daughter. Test proposed to Stephanie and they were to be married (in the ring of course and only about four months after their first date). All was good in McMahon land. Now we know it wouldnt be a true wrestling wedding without some sort of interruption. During the ceremony Triple H appeared and revealed he married a drugged Stephanie a few days earlier in Las Vegas. Stephanie was horrified and Vince, Shane, and Test were furious. You would think this would lead to a major feud between Test and Triple H. You would be wrong as instead we got Vince vs. Triple H at Armageddon. During the match Steph turned on her family and revealed that she was with Triple H all along. She wasnt drugged during the wedding and knowingly agreed to marry him.
With this betrayal you would think Test would be all set up to gain revenge on Triple H. Once again you would be wrong. Logically Test would be furious at both Triple H and Stephanie and would begin a personal and bitter feud with them. Somehow this never happened. Test looked like he was being groomed to be the next breakout star in the WWF but was completely overshadowed in an angle that should have centered around him. I dont even remember him getting a match with Triple H. I assume they at least wrestled each other on Raw, but seeing as Im not even sure it obviously wasnt anything memorable. Triple H went on to regain the title from The Big Show and feud with Mick Foley and The Rock while Test quickly fell down the card. When we got to WrestleMania Stephanie was escorting world champion Triple H to the ring for the main event while Test was teaming with Albert against Al Snow and Steve Blackman. Let that sink in for a minute. Four months earlier Test was about to be married to Stephanie when Triple H interrupted the ceremony and now he was in a low card tag team filler while Triple H was successfully defending the world title. For some reason Tests push was dropped and he looked foolish letting Triple H steal his woman and letting Steph betray him without ever doing a thing about it. He would have a decent mid card run but would never reach the heights many assumed he would.
What other examples are there of a superstar on the verge of a major push only to have the rug jerked out from under him? You dont necessarily have to come up with your own if you simply want to comment on my example.
For my pick Im going to take you back to the summer of 1999. A young Stephanie McMahon had recently made her television debut and we all looked at her as the sweet innocent daughter of the evil Mr. McMahon. Stephanie was a good looking young lady and drew the attention of one of the up and coming new stars in the WWF. On an episode of Raw Test formally asked Stephanie McMahon out on a date. She accepted which infuriated her brother Shane. For storyline reasons Vince was off tv at this time so it was up to Shane to do what he thought was best for his baby sister. Along with his childhood friends The Mean Street Posse, Shane attacked Test every chance he got making it clear he was to stay away from Stephanie. Of course this did not deter Test and he and Shane would finally settle it in a love her or leave her match at SummerSlam. The stipulation was if Shane were to win Test would stay away from Stephanie and if Test were to win Shane would stay out of their business. Despite interference from the Posse Test came out the winner and Shane honored the stipulation.
Over the next couple months Shane grew to respect Test and accepted his relationship with Stephanie. When Vince returned to television even he approved of Test for his daughter. Test proposed to Stephanie and they were to be married (in the ring of course and only about four months after their first date). All was good in McMahon land. Now we know it wouldnt be a true wrestling wedding without some sort of interruption. During the ceremony Triple H appeared and revealed he married a drugged Stephanie a few days earlier in Las Vegas. Stephanie was horrified and Vince, Shane, and Test were furious. You would think this would lead to a major feud between Test and Triple H. You would be wrong as instead we got Vince vs. Triple H at Armageddon. During the match Steph turned on her family and revealed that she was with Triple H all along. She wasnt drugged during the wedding and knowingly agreed to marry him.
With this betrayal you would think Test would be all set up to gain revenge on Triple H. Once again you would be wrong. Logically Test would be furious at both Triple H and Stephanie and would begin a personal and bitter feud with them. Somehow this never happened. Test looked like he was being groomed to be the next breakout star in the WWF but was completely overshadowed in an angle that should have centered around him. I dont even remember him getting a match with Triple H. I assume they at least wrestled each other on Raw, but seeing as Im not even sure it obviously wasnt anything memorable. Triple H went on to regain the title from The Big Show and feud with Mick Foley and The Rock while Test quickly fell down the card. When we got to WrestleMania Stephanie was escorting world champion Triple H to the ring for the main event while Test was teaming with Albert against Al Snow and Steve Blackman. Let that sink in for a minute. Four months earlier Test was about to be married to Stephanie when Triple H interrupted the ceremony and now he was in a low card tag team filler while Triple H was successfully defending the world title. For some reason Tests push was dropped and he looked foolish letting Triple H steal his woman and letting Steph betray him without ever doing a thing about it. He would have a decent mid card run but would never reach the heights many assumed he would.
What other examples are there of a superstar on the verge of a major push only to have the rug jerked out from under him? You dont necessarily have to come up with your own if you simply want to comment on my example.