10 Wrestlers Who Proved Naysayers Wrong

From Dominik Mysterio and Braun Strowman to DDP and The Miz, these are 10 Wrestlers Who Proved Naysayers Wrong.
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[@benediktwindisch2778]

The Miz is the most inspiring man in that list. Everybody rejected him, fans, colleagues, announcers but he pushed through and still there on such a high performance level. Future Hall of famer

[@joeywrestling9536]

Totally agree with the Miz. The guy is one of the most underrated performers of this generation.

[@OffDeGanja]

​@@joeywrestling9536idk who gets ignored more him or dolph both are fantastic

[@jay.a.9683]

agree with that statement too. very under rated. in my opinion one of the best heels of all time. as the miz says. he is AWEEEEESOMMMMME!

[@nolivesmatter1354]

Really? Hes definitely a PG Heel, can't imagine him displaying a serious heel, only these whacky, scooby doo villain things

[@Sci1211]

I agree however I think the criticism at the start was justified. When he first started he wasn’t ready to be on WWE TV, he wasn’t good enough in the ring, he didn’t look like a pro wrestler, he hadn’t earned his spot. He’s now improved his in ring work cuts great promos and they have found a way for his character to make sense to his strengths and his flaws.

[@robertoazuaje9279]

Did everyone just collectively forget about The Bar's existence? Sheamus and Cesaro kicked ass as a team, and it was that run which started making people change their minds about Sheamus. For some reason when people discuss him earning the fans' respect they tend to forget that part.

[@nonXist3nt]

Yeah i was gonna say, i started liking Sheamus during his best of 7 series with cesaro which led to the bar. The bar was like the second best tag team for that time main roster

[@NyxTheScary]

​ill say the best of 7 is probs my fav stuff he has done.

[@SaintPhoenixx]

Maybe my memory has failed me but I feel like Sheamus was over and wasn't thought of as untalented before then. Granted it pushed him on and he has become more respected since then, but he'd had several title reigns, high profile feuds and big PPV matches. I think this list is more about wrestlers being written off from day 1, not 8 years into their career.

[@LEGACY.2001]

For me and a lot of people Sheamus was the other half of the bar. I was wrong but that’s how it was back then

[@Sci1211]

Can’t believe the Rock isn’t on this list

[@Molson-xg9hs]

That’s a good call…from Die Rocky Die to hated heel to people’s champion to even more hated heel to Hollywood star…didn’t see it coming in 1996.

[@joyceschouten8727]

Agreed!!

[@dmdeign7116]

Absolutely, it's crazy how far he went from his beginning as Rocky

[@amzieamo3534]

Well the promo on the rocks wrist said he was not gonna make it 😂😂😂

[@sashalove83]

@@amzieamo3534 Oh..that didn’t hit like you thought it would. Better luck next time😉

[@Gcool243]

AJ was literally too good to be ignored by Vince. I’m just glad he saw them

[@jackwells8107]

So was Cesaro, and yet.... Of course, I hate to admit it, but AJ also gives a damned good promo when he wants.

[@willg1088]

@@jackwells8107 r y really comparing aj to cesaro ?

[@jackwells8107]

@@willg1088 Total package? No, AJ is way better. But in ring - we rarely got to see everything Cesaro could do. Go back and look at some of his ROH matches.

[@_Pauper_]

Still, that program with Shin in the Fed🤢

[@TheThird1977]

The Cena US Open Challenge-era was so damn good and a testament to that is how often WWE (and other promotions) have tried to recapture its magic. That said, Miz (for me) should have been #1. The dork in the dorky hat with the lame outfit and even more lame finisher should have been a flash-in-the-pan, especially after the locker room turned on him too. But him persevering, honing his craft, establishing his act, and (after a brief stint as The Calgary Kid) getting serious, set him up for life. When you have the ability to be slotted into any position on the card and make it work, you are valuable, and Miz is priceless when you couple that with his knowledge of how to handle media appearances, etc.

[@Beavie]

Sheamus' good will with fans honestly started around the time of The Bar forming. There he was having bangers before he made it his catchphrase where he and Cesaro/Claudio held up the tag division on either show they were on. But him as a solo act did start to pick up steam around the time of his matches with Drew.

[@troyv2472]

People said the miz couldn’t wrestle for the longest time but he is one of the best wrestlers of the pg era

[@petesmart1983]

Wouldn't say he was great wrestler but one of the best characters

[@benvlerick8303]

Aight I wouldn't go that far 😂

[@troyv2472]

@@petesmart1983 your probably right I meant like most reliable if that makes sense

[@josephmorgan831]

​@@troyv2472 definitely reliable. Practically injury proof, a great character and almost botch free.

[@NyxTheScary]

​@@troyv2472 he was good enough to slot in through out the card. Im not a fan of most of his work but cant deny he was a work horse for a bit

[@jamalvargas6146]

EC3 Was One Of The Best Things During a Dying TNA and he was quite The In ring performer

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Loved EC3 in TNA

[@claymathewselevator8121]

EC3 and Rockstar Spud we’re hilarious in TNA

[@timothyjenkins1876]

He is okay in the ring but he has the character down

[@pk2508]

Vince was so impressed with AJ’s rumble debut that when he came back stage Vince said he regretted not hiring him 15 years ago.

[@devinphillips9704]

Anyone who wants to disparage Miz would do well to take a look at the clip from that 2004 Tough Enough where he participates in a "Body Slam Challenge" from Big Show. Of that entire contest lineup (including the future Ryback), Miz was the only guy who knew how to take a body slam CORRECTLY - you see him "post" to help Show stabilize and control the momentum, he bumps properly, he SELLS it properly, and he rolls out of the way. Everybody else either didn't know how to do it right or deliberately tried to sandbag Show (which led to a few of them getting rather painful receipts from the big man). Bottom line, Miz knows what he's doing, and he always has. And he works his ass off. The only guy who's ever had more "do whatever's asked of him" work ethic is Cena. Die mad about it.

[@jackwells8107]

I will agree with almost everything you said, EXCEPT --- do you really think Ziggler doesn't belong up there with Miz on the 'do whatever's asked of him' front?

[@devinphillips9704]

@@jackwells8107 Oh no, I would absolutely agree with that. I would definitely put Dolph up there as well. But I don't think Dolph gets as denigrated by fans as Miz does, know what I mean?

[@jackwells8107]

@@devinphillips9704 Okay, I will definitely give you that.

[@kevinprendergast839]

It’s so wholesome when I see two people finding common ground through a disagreement over something inconsequential on the internet. Big ups to both you gents, no cap.

[@bodegaboy3106]

I think we need more time on Dom personally. We still need to know what he's gonna do with the heat he's getting.

[@JeffBOSA]

Yeah

[@k.konczak3291]

No.

[@Molson-xg9hs]

Trish Stratus is one I would have thought to see here. The latest in a list of valets without wrestling training gets thrown in with Stephanie…and somehow have an absolutely amazing match and she never slows down from there. She could have been The Kat in the ring…but she put in the work and overshot everyone’s expectations.

[@ismailkhan_v3820]

Everyone loved Trish. There wasnt anyone who had any issues with her. Even in her early days , people were willing to give her a chance in the ring.

[@mackisbrocklesnar]

Trish was never a flop. She was just an eye candy when women division was about eye candies

[@nightstreak]

Shemus is the only guy who went from being compared to a jar of mayonnaise, to the guy you wanna drink a pint with

[@CrankingItWithJeffToobin]

Dom Dom is one of my favorites. The whole judgement day is just so cool

[@tommyguerrera]

I think Sheamus also started to get some love during his feud and tag team with Cesaro

[@thetruej7872]

Dominik Mysterio, Alexa Bliss, and The Miz are the best examples of proving the naysayers wrong.

[@Dearagon]

Dominik is still in the proving phase though, for me personally I think if he wins MITB or cut a promo like Miz did on Bryan but that's just me

[@titoalgaba4794]

​@Dearagon that miz promo was cringe he sounded like he was whining

[@SimoSensaiUK]

People were doubting Bliss? I remember seeing her in NXT and knowing it wouldn’t be long until she was on the main roster. She’s a great heel.

[@joecastro6959]

@@Dearagon You are also with me. You can't prove naysayers wrong yet if you were the "WEAKEST MEMBER" of the faction. I get cringed whenever he cuts a promo but maybe that's just me, not a fan of what he's doing.

[@sashalove83]

@@joecastro6959 Your not the only one. He would have to stand on his own to prove the naysayers wrong.

[@esukyd2328]

DDP was one of my faves during the Monday night wars. His feuds with Macho Man and Raven were perfect. Hell, he was the first one to give Goldberg a proper "5 star" match.

[@BadBoyV1]

The Bar was when Shamus was appreciated, long before Drew

[@k.konczak3291]

Who's Shamus?

[@BadBoyV1]

@K. Konczak a hat 👒

[@daltonpinell6251]

I think another wrestler who could've gone on this list is Tiffany Stratton, many fans (myself included) thought she'd be just another piece of eye candy, but MAN, she has proven herself to be one hell of an athlete

[@ABD-pc3jf]

Developmental

[@Molson-xg9hs]

Reminds me so much of Trish in every way. I had a lot of doubts about NXT’s new approach, but you can see how they’re molding people for future main roster success from the beginning.

[@anthonyr.9605]

I also plead guilty to this my man

[@jamalclark4846]

True. It's a little early tho

[@theharv1490]

@@Molson-xg9hs This I agree with. Idk why people thought Mandy was the next Trish

[@synsay]

People forget how over the bar we’re back in the day I feel like that’s when he initially got his respect

[@namenamename390]

I just can't get over how much heat Dominik can generate week after week. On pure crowd reaction, he has to be one of the greatest heels, possibly ever.

[@OneWorldOrder33]

The Undertaker was told from the head ups in WCW that NO ONE would pay $$ to watch him wrestle. He walked into the future as the character of The Undertaker and NEVER looked back.

[@kristopherruiz7644]

1:44 All Dominick's life has been one long online argument, with half the people going "Actually his connection to Eddie and Rhea was all a work" and the other half going "Shut up, no it isn't" and I think that's beautiful.

[@DevilSurvivor69]

One slight disagreement I have here is that saying Cena pushed at the expense of other more popular wrestlers and not qualifying that with "internet fans", is not really accurate because was definitely the most popular with kids and probably women.

[@jackwells8107]

And honestly, I loved Cena when he first appeared - that match he had with Angle was incredible. I think Cena started okay and was pushed to be unpopular.

[@ThePhenomenalEX]

I would say that Sheamus really started getting over as The Bar with Cesaro. They were super entertainimg as a tag team and honestly, "WE DON'T SET THE BAR. WE ARE THE BAR!" was a great catchphrase.

[@markg3105]

Excellent vid but I don't agree with the sheamus one I'd say he's been over since the bar days him and Cesaro changed themselves around with their storyline

[@jonbruce6766]

Awesome job on the video Adam 👍

[@MichaelTaylor-qp2xf]

"I am Irish and I like to kick people" seems deeper than most WWE stars we get nowadays.

[@_Pauper_]

😆

[@LordBarros]

Also The Rock, JBL, Batista. Die Rocky Die is so famous it's in every video about wrestlers who overcame bad gimmicks. JBL went from mid card tag teamer to main event overnight and no one thought he had 'it' but he did. And Batista started out as Deacon Batista as the 2nd fiddle to Reverend Devon. But I get it, you had to limit it to 10.

[@pauliewalnuts829]

I'd throw MJF in there too. People think he can't wrestle. Probably because he doesn't do a hundred flips a match. The dude went toe to toe with Danielson for like 65 minutes.

[@hvywghtheaver]

Would Dom be considered third generation because of his great uncle Rey Sr?

[@dizzy1369]

I've been a fan of beaker, err I mean Seamus, since the beginning. Especially his look changes. 😂🤣🤣

[@sashalove83]

They can try but it will never be another Latino heat & Mamacita. Damn I miss Eddie

[@Dr_1212]

We need to prove every1 wrong that says we can't get rid of Vince

[@RolfWrenWalsh]

Miz definitely for me. I HATED him as a singles guy, but when he and Morrison teamed up he really won me over. Dirt Sheet was AMAZING as well. Always loved it when Morrison would start the show with some silly random fact about himself, and there was more than one occasion Miz looked like he was gonna walk off set and roll his eyes in disgust over whatever ridiculous thing Morrison had said. It was hilarious.

[@louisverdie4829]

Sheamus in the bar is criminally underrated, he was so cool

[@alexubel]

I can't think of literally one person that didn't think Dominic wasn't going to make it as a wrestler.

[@thematiasmadness7010]

Me

[@alexubel]

@@thematiasmadness7010 Sure ...

[@thematiasmadness7010]

@@alexubel I thought he was pathetic

[@k.konczak3291]

If you're not going to use his right name, Bust, and use the wrong name, at least spell it right it's Dominik, not Dominic.

[@k.konczak3291]

​@@thematiasmadness7010 He still is.

[@himanshugahlawat09]

Dominic hasn't proved anything yet he has s long way to go to be good

[@EmpireGamingWynter]

8:43 speaking of time going too fast, the Angry Miz Girl is probably between 18-22 now

[@ryanprior1294]

I find this fitting This came up as i was watching that edge promo on raw where he was calling everyone wrong Just after no way out 2009 if anyone is curious

[@TheMatsuoo]

Rocky starting to "Die Rocky Die" chants to become ya know, The Rock, and isn't on this list? Number 1 no less

[@tuckermitchell7869]

I’d say his run in The Bar was when Sheamus finally started clicking.

[@Ascisana]

Really enjoy the Dom heel bits

[@Nbflowers1989]

Dom is the best. I LOL'd at Prison Dom. 😂 1:36

[@heyimhound]

I feel like you could make another video with 10 new wrestlers like cody, trish, and kofi. So many stars have formed over the years

[@andrewberenson5717]

You forgot about the Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. Remember Rocky Maivia? Many people forget. But hey. He became the People's Champion. Do you smell what I am cooking?

[@jasonjimerson7046]

I personally loved Sheamus the first time I saw him wrestle, which was at a house show the night before he debuted on the main roster.

[@thecircumcisedheartofricha7344]

2:25 I loved when he debuted and used a hanging choke

[@THEREELTJP]

Sheamus was always my favorite, from his ECW debut till now...i did doubt him when he changed his look 😅

[@RedCloudGawdian]

The Bar is the reason Sheamus got over with the fans.

[@larryiscreating]

Dominick just isn’t technically strong in the ring. At this point in his career he’s better leaning toward his strengths doing character work as a sleazy heal that doesn’t need his actual mat work to be that good.

[@InkedupT-raw]

When i think of this question! Miz, and cena come to mind automatically

[@JaimeD.]

5:38 I honestly didn't see much of a big deal from the Hangman when he was recruited to the Bullet Club in 2016 and became part of the Elite. It was when the Elite had their inner civil war, BTE bits, All In, the rise of AEW, and the Cowboy Sh*t arc that Adam Page grew on me and saw everything in his story until he finally won the AEW World Championship at Full Gear ⚙️ 2021.

[@arcusangelus]

Still left to be seen, but currently I'm feasting on humble pie in regards to Dom.

[@rhcwpeps]

Sheamus definitely had turned around the best of 7 series with Cesaro. It happened a few years ago instead of just 2020.

[@Paulie-ep3hn]

Finally miz getting some love on a video

[@John_TalksGiants]

Paccitti is the man. Thank you for your commentary. Endlessly entertaining 🔥🔥🔥

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Thank For the top 10 Video 🧾🙊🤯🥰😍😁💗😻💐🌟🥇🏆😇🙏🏿🕊️✝️💟☮️🛐♾️🤗👍🤍🌟🥇🏆

[@zanethind]

Aj said Vince didn't know what to do with him after his Royal Rumble appearance but thank God Vince actually got Aj coming to WWE right

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@babyt5322]

I get nobody was a big fan of Sheamus but he has always been my favorite.

[@youtubis]

No The Rock? The dude who went from “Die Rocky Die” to biggest name in the business within 6 years?

[@lilpoetat]

Thanks 🙏

[@SidneyMosley]

People are starting to realize Dominik is reliving the Eddie Guerrero X Chyna run with Rhea Ripley...

[@darkrequiem-yr1qq]

Good on ya Dom Mysterio who've showing people how good you are really good as a heel and as a wrestler so 😊

[@peterdoberstein8290]

Saying Dominic has made it is being very very generous. I don't think he has proven much of anything in the ring. Outside of the ring a little bit yes. But not in it.

[@randylynch4330]

Miz, Rock, Roman, Dom, Mark Henry, Logan Paul are musts for the list

[@Blackgold1155]

I gained a lot of respect for Dominik when he took a brutal beating by Brock Lesnar and then the kendo stick whipping by Seth Rollins on live TV to pay his dues since he didn’t grow up on the indies.

[@dennistrusty5145]

The only people I didn't believe in was Hangman, Bryan, and Strowman. All the other guys either I was too young to think for or I never thought they were bad.

[@Kris_Toffer]

I completely forgot Jack Whitehall was on AEW for a second for some reason.

[@shisir1791]

The debuting Braun Strowman is the best and most dangerous version of Braun.

[@THEREELTJP]

I've been a fan of Dom from Day ☝🏽

[@MetalED]

How is The Rock not on on this list?

[@LeoNxL2Hx]

Hey, I think you’re wrong about Shamus, I think it was his tag team in the Bar that made people think differently about him

[@jackwells8107]

Biggest surprise on this list was finding out that Dominik is only second generation. I had to look it up to learn that Rey Mysterio Sr. was this Rey's uncle, not his dad.

[@k.konczak3291]

If you're not going to use his right name, Bust, and use the wrong name, at least spell it right it's Dominik, not Dominick.

[@Midragor]

The Bar was also a huge part of fans turnover on Sheamus

[@philipguerra6269]

I still think Dominic should have changed his last name to Guerrero during his feud with Rey

[@christianu9159]

Miz is a sports entertainer not a wrestler he wouldn't make it outside of wwe, hes good in his role for wwe

[@jackadams3587]

Miz should absolutely be number one

[@ipv-gachaedition103]

Roman Reigns litterally made us acknowledge him and his God Mode; and we blame him? This man litterally looks like Giga Chad!

[@markpet9796]

I can’t believe that in the list there isn’t The Rock…

[@akale2620]

I'm disappointed seth didn't reference the whipping he gave dumdum with Murphy Murphy couple of years back

[@B4SH24]

Is it me or is Adam paciiti sounds more slower than the previous top 10’s?

[@metalheadjake3339]

Honorable Mentions: Eddie Guerrero Chris Benoit Edge Rey Mysterio The Rock CM Punk

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Always loved Sheamus

[@otflonglivetharoys8294]

Miss you everyday Eddie as a kid your death messed me up I'm mad happy wwe doing right for rey and dom

[@edwardtorai3545]

Nice lil durk pfp

[@romeokoroma3341]

Please do the return of the undertakers American badass in judgment day 2000.

[@stevethestickguyproduction4847]

I would have also added The Rock people hated him and thought he was crap untill he turned heel and Joined the nation and proved them wrong

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Juice Robinson going from CJ Parker in NXT

[@aaronplaz6761]

I kinda disagree with you when you say that it took until 2020 for people to start realize that Sheamus had a lot of talent. In mid 2010's Sheamus killed it as an individual star with his 7-match series against Cesaro and killed it again as a tag-team start when Sheamus and Cesaro joined to form The Bar

[@wanderlustwarrior]

People came around to Sheamus at least since The Bar!

[@mhuh]

Tribal Chief is just a Samoan HHH...

[@sashalove83]

Perfect comparison

[@thecircumcisedheartofricha7344]

Cena's strength and football grit would beat down Bryan's understanding of what a match "should" look like but never is.

[@mspacely6521]

I think teaming with cesaro made a lot of people care about Sheamus again

[@PJP1112]

Daniel Bryan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock

[@dilated2020]

they said only wwe could sell over 10000 seats for a wrestling show. then cody and the bucks filled in the sears center for all in. kinda missed a huge one there

[@mukitulislam3533]

There is a lot of Eddie in Dom

[@j.p.walkman9671]

Dominik: I kind of saw his potential when he helped his dad REY MYSTERIO fight Brock Lesnar after that I knew he's going to be a star or at least a decent midcarder, during this Judgment Day I can actually see him as a top heel down the line. Sheamus: With Sheamus it should of been earlier. His feud with Cesaro that ended up with them turning into a Tag Team known as The Bar is when he turned me around.

[@KombatW0mbat]

In 2015 John cena woke up and suddenly decided to wrestle

[@Lil_king297]

Domdom vs Kenny omega

[@trevorkenny]

Dom is the most hated Heel out there right now.