10 Wrestling Stars Who Failed WWE Tryouts

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From DDP and Adam 'Hangman' Page to New Jack and Keith Lee, these are 10 Wrestling Stars Who Failed WWE Tryouts.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown,, and NXT), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@mspacely6521]

"Unless you're really, really, really good." Shows a pic of Shane 😂

[@diywrites8703]

Shane won an award that said he was the "best wrestler in the world"

[@ABD-pc3jf]

Awfully brave of you to disparage the leader of the Mean Steat Posse. If I were you, I'd be watching my back. Those guys are nothing to mess with.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

I wanna see you jumped off the Titantron

[@frommarswithmalice9174]

​@@EssexAggiegrad2011I wanna see you book a Rumble 😂

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

@@frommarswithmalice9174 KZbinrs can do it

[@christianouellette1006]

Wouldnt be mad to see part 2 or even part 3 of this 😊

[@smashpro1]

The Young Bucks! After they were released by TNA, Nick Jackson figured that "Young Bucks spotted backstage at WWE show" would be a good headline to build up their ROH return, so they went the next time WWE was in LA as local talent. William Regal recognized them and let them pick two other local talents to work a tryout match. The Bucks picked Scorpio Sky and Joey Ryan and worked the kind of matches they had in PWG. Regal told them to come back the next night before the Smackdown taping, and said "We've seen how well you can do spots, now let's see how you can bump", and had them work a 10 minute squash match with the Usos.

[@adamblake1]

😢

[@adamblake1]

DD Deere s 3:40 d

[@adamblake1]

T 3:55

[@adamblake1]

🎉h😮 you can 🎉

[@adamblake1]

Oh 😮 good g😅 End 😮t rt

[@packerpf]

I remember when Wolves had their tryout I was pumped, I said there's no way they can not sign them and then was so shocked when they didn't.

[@MarkieDood]

Some of these people, we should all be really glad WWE passed on them. Like what would the past 12 years of wrestling history even look like if 8-time WON "Best Booker" award winner Gedo was instead working in WWE as a midcard tag team guy or whatever?

[@randallguzik3764]

Jimmy Garvin had a failed announcing tryout as well

[@ibzanarroyo704]

Yup, fall of 92

[@tysheinin8733]

​@@ibzanarroyo704 and it was brutal lol

[@colerieger7300]

Yet it lives on in bizarre and confusing as infamy as the voice at the beginning of WrestleMania: the Album saying "I said "ARE YOU READY FOR THE SURVIVOR SERIES???"

[@harveymcelroy9332]

He didn't last long as a road agent either

[@WhiskeyBrewer]

I remember it being a huge thing when Triple H didnt sign Eddie and Davey. The pop they got when they appeared as MVP's new signings for TNA/Impact was amazing

[@ValiantWrestling]

Paul Levesque, not Cripple H.

[@jeffu.8053]

Alexander Hammerstone had several tryouts with them between 2015 and 2018.

[@namebrandrobots1248]

Omg! Imagine Hammerstone destroying Roman. And Brian cage as his tag team partner. And MJF..

[@jeffu.8053]

@@namebrandrobots1248 Hammerstone was actually in a group with MJF and a couple of other wrestlers a few years ago in MLW. They were known as the Dynasty.

[@anneferguson7352]

You could do a part 2 of this list easily. One of them being gargano.

[@Nbflowers1989]

Another fantastic list from a fantastic channel!

[@erictate5135]

The old wwf Studios had the Green screen room for the superstars and wrestling challenge tapings at the old wwf Studios in stamford Connecticut

[@user-vr7bs3ud1e]

Public Enemy had a try out match against The Smokin' Gunns before Survivor Series 1995. PE ended up going to WCW instead.

[@mrpink99]

And when their contracts were up in late 1998 the WWF held it against them even after signing them. They had something like two TV matches against the APA where Simmons & Layfield basically beat the shit out of them both times (one of many examples of Layfield being an unprofessional douchebag bully who nonetheless was constantly rewarded for it), and then they were handed their walking papers & crawled back to WCW with their tails between their legs.

[@airfixx_8952]

The idea of New Jack having WWE try outs as late in the day as 2004 sounds so weird. So does the idea of seeing him in a basic graps match with a worker like Venis.

[@jamesgroover4643]

When a door closes...a huge window may open 👍 For some, that Stamford staying closed was a blessing 😅

[@RageyRage82]

Cannot find the footage of DDP trying out as an announcer. Is it anywhere on KZbin? I have yo see this lol!

[@RubyRubyTV]

Seems like WWE could have done something with the Bischoff footage during the Monday night wars.

[@beep6437]

I'm so happy all these wrestler went somewhere else to make a name for them self

[@ShadowSabrewulf]

Triple H looking down on the wolves like that was a huge mistake and to have them get squashed by two nobodies like the ascension was a joke

[@stingrey1571]

I remember there were reports the nasty boys took liberties with drew, the rookie, during their tryout.

[@jarieldiccerson173]

the protection setup was wild creative

[@johnny5805]

DDP did commentary alongside Gordon Solie in Florida Championship Wrestling. He was great too.

[@dylanogg347]

All of these are frustrating. Except #2. That went as far as it should have.

[@M.G_001]

Hearing Adam's voice makes me all tingly....I'm a happy dude.

[@HyperActive7]

Taker was once told when he was in the indies that his style wouldn't fly in WCW and so they cut him after a match or two and the rest as they say is history with him ending up signing with WWE.

[@PBB469]

Except he worked for years in WCW

[@jasonh5547]

territories

[@JayLandon64]

He had more than a match or two as I remember. He was the original partner to Sid Vicious in the Twin Towers, but I thought Mean Mark Callous was there for more than a few matches. Then Mark left and Dan Spivey took over and the Towers weren't the same with Spivey. And Mark got a gig as an undead undertaker, named The Undertaker, with WWE.

[@tafua_a]

@@PBB469 He lasted mere months. He did have a contract, but he didn't last a year.

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Morishima kinda reminded me of a Japanese Terry Gordy a little bit back then .

[@randallw1977]

Morishima holding up that ROH belt reminded me of Terry Gordy holding the UWF title.

[@dylanthebiguy]

Eric trying out in wwe a decade ago sounds INSANE

[@bernhardwall6876]

Missy Hyatt and the Freebirds had WWF tryouts that I would call more shocking than most of these.

[@robfinlay8058]

Freebirds didn't have a tryout, they were in the promotion and working full-time before they got fired. Jimmy Garvin got a tryout in 1992.

[@thepunkrocker4093]

The Briscoes had a tryout in 2009 as well

[@claymathewselevator8121]

John Laurinaitis said they weren’t cosmetically pleasing was why he wouldn’t hire them 😞

[@zanethind]

Hagman Adam Page wasn't wrong WWE does give you good money

[@robfinlay8058]

DDP could have been Dok Hendrix

[@tonijoncevski8607]

I paid for Nord and NO, you can’t buy stuff from other countries. The Apps detect the VPNs.

[@zanethind]

When Kenny Omega was in WWE's training program in the 2000s but didn't sign with them or didn't get signed and he still doesn't want to go to WWE to this day

[@mrpink99]

Because he had an oversized ego & thought he knew everything; and pitched a fit when he wasn't put into the "A" group during a workout session (or was that at Harley Race's school, I can't remember?)

[@money5noodles]

That alot of people who didn't make the cut but still were successful in other company. The choices they made were good though. I believe keith lee was ready already they were tripping on that

[@michaelgriffith5747]

That undercut mullet page was sporting in the wwe segment was streets ahead of it's time.

[@jayceegenocide4402]

It is an 80's Haircut

[@thegarbagefly]

​@@jayceegenocide4402hehehe

[@tonythomas2391]

Vince didn't like Morishima? But I thought he liked big, sweaty men.

[@petesmart1983]

But only if there white

[@nathanaugenstein9469]

Vince loves big sweaty men, but nothing will ever replace his own personal Boy Toy.

[@dragoneye2010]

​@@nathanaugenstein9469hulk hogan right

[@nathanaugenstein9469]

@@dragoneye2010 No, Vinnie LOVES his Boy Toy!

[@MagicMike-rd8mz]

Goodnight sir You had forgot about Kenny King who tried out for Tought enough . James strom back in Days . And the the Young Bucks.

[@robertdesantis729]

I pay for no commercial you tube but these people stick the commercials in the video

[@dangerfeild4Life]

This video was really funny 😂

[@texasforever1894]

Welcome to the Island of Relevancy

[@ferqeez_e4514]

Video start at 2:30

[@jb888888888]

Jimmy Garvin had an announcer/color commentator audition.

[@DaManEX1983]

Didn't Benoit have some tryout matches also?

[@pauldavis6232]

I think the story goes was that it went fine and he was planned to be Owen Hart's tag partner in 1995 but Benoit didn't think the push would last and saw more upside staying in Japan until that sweet WCW money came six months later.

[@johnbostic2682]

Yeah but he choked….

[@desmondnaugler4452]

Ralphus is still the greatest bodyguard /security a wrestler has ever had...

[@TheJuliet316]

Wow, did not realize DDP had a tryout as an announcer way back when before he started his wrestling career.

[@pauliewalnuts829]

I thought that was Brian Pillman in the thumbnail.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I still can’t believe WWE released Keith Lee

[@offthecouchwithjordan8128]

But not Omos

[@yeahsssa8114]

If you see him now you will realise why they released him.

[@ryanmckeon5107]

A funny fact is Vince McMahon did give someone a job to just get rid of them and it totally backfired James Ellsworth was one of them

[@joelbrown2782]

I thought the best protection was the APA

[@robertfrazier6563]

What was WWE was thinking not letting Jado, Gado, The Wolves, Morishima in their ranks! Funny it all work out seeing them in different wrestling companies ( although I think WWE is watch them for years having success in Impact, AEW, etc ).

[@steveg2251]

I'm guessing too small too Asian and a tag team.

[@robertfrazier6563]

@@steveg2251 sad that WWE don't look at them as athletes

[@blakenewdarbie7433]

Goochie sidetrack could've been big. Went by the name Eric Arndt.....or some shit. Enzigo, benjango, or the special hyena from Lion King.

[@user-ys9fg4ol9s]

Ha Bischoff!😂 Anyways, how about The Briscoes? They received a try out and were not signed?

[@bryandonnelly1986]

God Morishima was so good. 9:16

[@Spitfirethedragon]

I wonder if any of the G.L.O.W. ladies tried out for WWE besides Ivory? Like Mountain Fiji and Matilda The Han

[@michaelcooper4986]

New Jack would have been a cival suit waiting to happen if he went to wwe

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Jerry Sags is Cody Rhodes uncle via marriage

[@ValiantWrestling]

So is Typhoon/Tugboat.

[@randyfreeze789]

What about Roddy Piper in 1978 after they stuffed his bagpipes with newspaper?

[@joshuahansell9194]

For WSX they just had to wait it out

[@jonvia]

New Jack was pretty obvious

[@filthiestfish]

Keith Lee sure was more well-rounded 😂

[@mrpink99]

If by well-rounded you mean rotund, then yes, you are correct.

[@knicksprop]

I'm glad New Jack didn't get in. There are few wrestlers who excel at hardcore matches: New Jack is one of them. Stick with the classics.

[@mathewbarrie]

New Jack was garbage.

[@knicksprop]

@@mathewbarrie this comment was so necessary. thanks for your contribution.

[@mathewbarrie]

@@knicksprop it's true, he didn't "excel" at anything.

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Thank For The Top 10 Video And God blessed You 🙊🤯🥰😍😁💗💐🌟🥇🏆😇🙏🏿🕊️✝️💟☮️🤍🌟🥇🏆

[@michelnewcomb9860]

New Jack being a sadistic PoS severely limited his career.

[@igorivanov299]

"Aliens shaking hands with the presidents"? What's that referring to?

[@jb888888888]

_Weekly World News_ had cover "photographs" of aliens shaking with Clinton and Dole and GWB at various times. IDK if that's specifically what is being referred to but that's what came to my mind.

[@jameswaites3719]

I enjoyed this

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@Coyote-wm5op]

Wwe did DDP dirty with being a stalker. He was over in wcw and had a lot of fans

[@kvinche8120]

That guy looks like an Asian Terry Gordy😂

[@lilpoetat]

Thanks 🙏

[@TheSmashcrash]

nord vpn... best invention of 2022.... ROFL wtf VPNs have exsisted for a long time....

[@jthetreasurefiend201]

How about the greatest all around wrestler in the world today, MJF? And you know it!! 😆 🤣 😂

[@jovauhngarcia5414]

Skip to 2:30

[@SANTAS80Gaming]

in my opinion Nord vpn isn't as good as it sounds... it slowed my Wi-Fi speed dramatically almost too a stand still.... Also i had a hell of a time getting a refund even thou I only had it 2 and half weeks

[@jasonsabbath6996]

How may guys like Keith Lee and Samoa Joe had wasted runs in WWE because Vince didn't like their body types? Vince has pushed many guys who had great bodies but couldn't wrestle worth a damn! Vince is almost always wrong and still thinks he can force guys down our throats who can't get over.

[@mrpink99]

Right, because Lee has really set the world on fire in AEW

[@diablosportscreme]

Keith Lee is hot garbage. Vince is a genius. Way more hits than whiffs.

[@mrpink99]

And I would argue Joe's main roster run in WWE was better than he's been used so far in AEW. Hopefully that changes with the move to Collision and getting thrown into the mix with Punk, FTR, Juice & Jay White, aka guys who actually take their jobs seriously as wrestlers, and who knows he might actually help turn White & Juice into legit mainstream superstars (as opposed to being top guys in Impact, which is akin to being the tallest midget)

[@samgonzalez1687]

Page could use some training

[@SeanKDLA]

I'm a Lord Alfred Hayes guy.

[@rahamanroberson4333]

Takako is pretty but IO Sky❤❤❤

[@user-ys9fg4ol9s]

I have been watching Io Sky closely during her latest push with Bailey... she is beautiful which I didn't really notice in NXT.. and of course she is the best Wrestler in the Women's Division

[@rahamanroberson4333]

I love all the women's roster, WWE has come a long way and almost every one of them can put on a good match. That said IO is so gorgeous😍

[@Himmy_edits]

W

[@mishaoosterhuis5260]

W

[@Himmy_edits]

W

[@chrisxavier3147]

RIP New Jack, he was way too crazy for WWE!

[@kimwaddell4218]

Adam Page, The Wolves, WWE what is wrong with you?

[@alext5340]

WWE knows how to find talent but doesn’t know how to develop them.

[@mringram]

Yep

[@shannonkeys8594]

There's only 1 easy e so please don't refer to bischof easy e

[@bobbyfagan7760]

Wish Adam page would have quit be honest

[@darrencole97]

WWE is free here in the USA lol

[@SirJoelsuf1]

NordVPN: Online security starts with a click...unless we got a data breach. Then we're just gonna take your money and give you nothing back. Cultaholic makes good stuff but sorry, I'm disliking this one.

[@killingragethrowback]

Make Vince regret it Hangman!

[@ValiantWrestling]

The only person who should regret Hangnail is little Tony Khan for signing the jobber in the first place.

[@tanaka7341]

Im probably gonna be of them

[@agustinval1508]

Good luck buddy. Dream big

[@Dr_1212]

Vince is a failure No genius Just the luckiest dumbest worst wrestling promoter in history 😂

[@MrMarcodarko]

Vince is a hero and scholar

[@eternalblasphemy6526]

Ian Rotten would beg to differ.

[@RE-sc9bz]

Mannish wrestler woman mad and bitter at cutie japanese girl.. many such cases.

[@billcary30]

hhh is a joke. he's gotten himself over for years being first part of the cliq then being married to stephanie. he should have been out along time ago. he does a worse job burying people than vince ever did. now i get the go home thing if he feared an injury or was mad about the botch, but if it was a botch let them work around it if everyone's ok. clearly they were or they couldn't have continued. secondly ascenscion wasn't even over so why not put the blame on them for the botch. they're the ones under contract shouldn't they have more responsibility for following orders? so the team of up and comers gets screwed the homeboys don't get nothing and hhh is putting himself over again. why not punish ascenscion they're the veterans they're the ones going over apparently. all hhh did was send a loud clear mesage i'm the boss i don't have to have a reason. there's alot of guys that won't work for wwe because of him or never will again. i hope aew goes over huge and turns into a wcw and we have competitive ratings war again. probably won't but hey i can dream.

[@kaitlynleehagar1148]

I'm sorry but due to the fact that they were legends NO the nasty boys should not have been forced to try out.

[@JesusChristmyMESSIAH]

Cena vs New Jack woulda been crazy a.f

[@MrMontythemouse]

Video starts at 2:30....your welcome.

[@larrykiser7335]

Keith Lee toldally sucks always will one of the wrost ever

[@chrissalem3747]

Less pacitti. More Ross and Jack plz

[@SirRavixofFourhorn]

Dominik needs Rhea. Take the group away and he's a bootleg Eddie that's nowhere near as good on the mic or in the ring.