{"id":164800,"date":"2026-07-24T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=164800"},"modified":"2026-07-24T04:08:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:08:27","slug":"5-wwe-stars-fumbled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/07\/24\/5-wwe-stars-fumbled\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Talented Wrestlers WWE Are Dropping the Ball On"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the past few years, a new crop of stars was poised for greatness in WWE. Paying attention to the machine it operates, the company seemed all in on their potential. Yet in recent months, much of their pushes either stagnated or stopped altogether. Yes, there is still hope for some of them; that\u2019s why this article reads \u201cAre Dropping the Ball On\u201d and not \u201cHave Dropped the Ball On.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s still a chance for these stars to shine, but WWE needs to either accidentally make better decisions or wake up before their investments become just another face on the roster. As things stand, it seems much of the acquired talent was signed to prevent them from signing with AEW.<\/span><\/p>\n

No better is this flaw exposed than in the latest two seasons of Netflix\u2019s WWE Unreal. The old heads of the past, being in control of the careers of young talent, fumble their responsibilities often. It\u2019s a pattern that\u2019s become all too noticeable. I don\u2019t even think they\u2019re the sole reason for this frustrating trend. <\/span><\/p>\n

Carnies have always run rampant in the pro wrestling industry, and boy, do they know how to politick. A song as old as time; top talent keeping their banks full even at the expense of someone who could truly use the opportunity to carry the baton.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the easiest thing in the world to be a wrestling booker. I admit that. Being tasked with managing a plethora of people, making sure things go right and that everyone is as happy as possible, it\u2019s a weight almost as heavy as Atlas buckling beneath the world. But is relying on stars of the past always the best way to go? <\/span><\/p>\n

Do so many talents need to face adversity all the time before grasping the brass ring? Time is of the essence, and one can only hope WWE can correct course and develop a way for their rising stars to get over and stay over.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, who are the most affected victims?<\/span><\/p>\n

Oba Femi<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Brock
A SummerSlam 2026 graphic of Hell in a Cell between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is still hope for The Ruler. Once he gained momentum in NXT and TNA, crowds eagerly got behind him. On December 13, 2025, in his first main roster match opposite Cody Rhodes at WWE Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event, Femi got a loud, warm welcome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Femi quickly picked up steam again. Called up from the NXT roster, Femi marched into Raw and SmackDown, squashing talent after talent. He even lasted nearly 40 minutes in WWE Royal Rumble 2026! This saw him clash with a litany of talents, most pertinently Brock Lesnar. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now, I don\u2019t like Lesnar, mostly due to his part in the ongoing Janel Grant case, and I\u2019m not a fan of this rivalry he has with Femi. However, it\u2019s clear that he knows Femi is money, and the fact that they\u2019re on the third match of their trilogy so far shows he wants to keep that cash flowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

This brings me to the most irksome circumstance of Femi\u2019s current situation. Defeating Jey Uso at WWE Night of Champions 2026<\/a> on June 7, Femi won the King of the Ring Tournament in the finals. Normally, this would\u2019ve earned him a huge title shot at SummerSlam 2026 in Minnesota. <\/span><\/p>\n

After weeks of trash-talking Lesnar on the microphone following his loss to the Beast at WWE Clash in Italy, Femi\u2019s celebrations were cut short. Lesnar retaliated. Femi knew that either way, Lesnar would keep coming after him. So, he relinquished his title shot to lock up with Lesnar one last time in a Hell in a Cell Match.<\/span><\/p>\n

If they had Femi lay out this challenge and postpone his opportunity, that would have been fine. Instead, he gave it up, unless the general consensus is missing something. Why then didn\u2019t Lesnar cost him the King of the Ring Finals and end things at SummerSlam? Plenty of motivated and underserved wrestlers could\u2019ve taken that opportunity. No, that\u2019d be too simple. It\u2019s better to waste everybody\u2019s time rather than reward fan investment, <\/span><\/p>\n

I suppose. Femi will likely come out stronger after his Hell in a Cell bout, but for now, The Ruler looks a little silly for giving away the logical next step in his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bron Breakker<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"WWE
A WWE Night of Champions 2026 graphic featuring Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Primed as the next Goldberg and touting his Steiner lineage, Breakker instantly seemed poised for superstardom. He practically ruled NXT during his tenure on the developmental brand. When he aligned with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman after their post-WrestleMania 41 feud against Roman Reigns and CM Punk, things seemed to be on the up and up. <\/span><\/p>\n

In The Vision, the story seemed clear: Rollins gets the gold, Breakker accrues some residuals, and the pupil would then challenge the teacher in a heated dispute. For the most part, that seemed to be the case. The trio would then be joined by Bronson Reed, Logan Paul (for some reason), and Austin Theory. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Vision ousted Rollins amid an injury that popped up on its former leader, and Brock Lesnar would temporarily join the group for 2025\u2019s Survivor Series: WarGames.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, the predictable happened. WWE dropped the ball. Losing to CM Punk on the WWE Raw Anniversary special on Netflix began Breakker\u2019s downfall. He\u2019d fall short in the Royal Rumble months later after a hooded Rollins attacked, leaving Oba Femi to eliminate him, and in under ten seconds, too. <\/span><\/p>\n

Momentum would return to Breakker when he returned to cost Rollins his WrestleMania 42 match against Gunther, and he\u2019d defeat Rollins at Backlash. The creative team\u2019s stagnancy would return as well, with Breakker having naught to do but co-hold the WWE World Tag Team Championship with Theory following Logan Paul\u2019s arm injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rollins then came back with a vengeance, alongside Street Profits and Joe Hendry, leading to Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford becoming the new tag team champs on the June 22 episode of WWE Raw. Come June 27\u2019s Night of Champions, Breakker took on Rollins in a steel cage<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

This could have easily been the chance for him to be reheated as a big deal. This was too tall an ask for WWE, as Rollins soundly defeated Breakker and left The Vision in the rearview. Paul Heyman soon distanced himself from the faction before finally departing from them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout Summer 2026, Theory courted Alpha Academy\u2019s Maxxine Dupri, much against Otis and Akira Tozawa\u2019s wishes. Meanwhile, Logan Paul and Joe Hendry\u2019s beef continued. The Vision did win the WWE World Tag Team Championship, with Breakker and Theory still holding at the time of writing. Nevertheless, Breakker, once groomed to be the star of the show, now feels like a minor supporting character. <\/span><\/p>\n

During the obligatory weekly televised makeout sessions between Theory and Dupri, Breakker stands like a background fixture. There\u2019s a vacant expression on his face, as though his life has careened off the rails and he\u2019s too powerless to stop it. Breakker was a monster, with vicious spears and animated promos. Now, he\u2019s lifeless.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giulia<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"A
A WWE SmackDown graphic of Giulia and Tiffany Stratton. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You would be forgiven if you were new to Giulia and didn\u2019t think she\u2019s a big deal at this point. While her booking has improved steadily since June, the Japanese-Italian wrestler has changed her look and made a babyface turn. No longer is she paired with Kiana James. Giulia is more active as of late, but can she regain her shine?<\/span><\/p>\n

Long ago, Giulia was one of the top faces of World Wonder Ring Stardom, with her legendary rivalry against Tam Nakano guaranteed to generate moneymaking matches. Clips of her would spread across social media, showcasing her brutal and stiff nature. Once WWE acquired the former Donna Del Mondo leader, they paraded her around as a huge signing. And she was! She was. Another recent signing would catch more eyes, though. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ex-CMLL wrestler Stephanie Vaquer, equally as rough as Giulia, got over swiftly. Vaquer\u2019s finisher, Devil\u2019s Kiss, proved a crucial formula in popularizing her. Booker T chanting \u201cAh! Ah! Ah!\u201d, gear that accentuated her physical features, and cameras catering to the male gaze catapulted her into superstardom.<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t Giulia\u2019s fault fans resonated with Vaquer more. Nor was it Vaquer\u2019s, as she had the talent to justify her spot. This was primarily due to the creative team’s error, particularly on the main roster. A SmackDown talent, Giulia rarely garnered much television time until taking Kiana James on as her valet. <\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019d win the WWE Women\u2019s Intercontinental Championship a couple of times, with little to no substance, before floundering. A few months went by where WWE placed James at the forefront, believing her to be the bigger star of the two, and fans made their disdain known.<\/span><\/p>\n

The treatment of Giulia should not have been what it was. Nobody was expecting her to come in, guns-a-blazing, taking down Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, or Becky Lynch from the get-go. But for her to have gone from a highly sought-after free agent to the WWE equivalent of an earthworm fell short of everyone\u2019s expectations. Thankfully, she’s parted from James<\/a>, hopefully leaving both in a better place in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no defense of this malpractice, period, as the trajectory of talents largely rests upon the booking and the creative. She\u2019s done her job, as best she could with the limitations imposed upon her. Fortunately for her, it seems she might have some light at the end of the tunnel if her babyface turn sees a significant push.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jacob Fatu<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Our
A WWE Raw graphic featuring Jacob Fatu and Roman Reigns. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Samoan Werewolf, upon signing, had a tidal wave of hype following him. The Summer of 2024 seemed to be solidifying that. Joining Solo Sikoa\u2019s version of The Bloodline alongside Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, Fatu\u2019s story of breaking from Sikoa\u2019s shadow made his story compelling. Commentary spoke of Fatu like they would a horror movie monster.<\/span><\/p>\n

A singles run for Fatu normally would\u2019ve indicated big things for him. Colliding with Drew McIntyre kept Fatu in relevance, as the Scottish Psychopath vied for Cody Rhodes\u2019s Undisputed WWE Championship. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the October 17, 2025 episode of SmackDown, Fatu cost Rhodes his championship, mid-Steel Cage match with McIntyre. Once Rhodes regained his belt, Fatu and McIntyre set their sights on WrestleMania 42 in an Unsanctioned Match, which was far less violent than the stipulation led many to believe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Victorious after WrestleMania, Fatu appeared ready for something huge, something big. That would come in the form of Roman Reigns, who had won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from CM Punk at the Showcase of the Immortals. <\/span><\/p>\n

At Backlash, Fatu lost both the title match and his temper<\/a>. Unable to compose himself, he leaped after the OTC time and again, until they agreed to a Tribal Combat Match at Clash in Italy. Either of these could\u2019ve been the Samoan Werewolf\u2019s crowning moment. But they weren\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suffering his loss in the Tribal Combat Match, Fatu got down on one knee and swore fealty to Reigns. Again, Fatu is a lackey to someone else. WWE tried to reverse course by indicating Reigns saw Fatu as an equal above The Usos, but the damage was done. <\/span><\/p>\n

Turning Fatu into a tamed, submissive puppy evaporated the aura Fatu carried. So long as Reigns lets Fatu operate as a killer, Fatu may once again reach the heights he\u2019s meant to. Until then, he\u2019s left to acknowledge his Tribal Chief.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dishonorable Mentions<\/span><\/h2>\n

Someone I believed would\u2019ve been a huge deal coming into WWE was none other than former TNA Wrestling knockout Jordynne Grace. Her appearances in the 2024 and 2025 Women\u2019s Royal Rumble Matches were treated as a huge deal; she lasted quite long in both stacked royales. Furthermore, she enjoyed a brief stint in NXT in 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Debuting on the main roster in January 2026 for SmackDown, Grace received modest hype with the potential for more before an injury in a match with Alba Fyre on Main Event put her on the shelf. She\u2019s recently been cleared for action as of April, in a losing effort to WWE Women\u2019s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton. <\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from that, no further appearances on the main roster. At this point, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if she doesn\u2019t make it past 2026 in the company. A shame, since WWE proudly spotlighted her before she even put pen to paper. Now they forget she exists when she could easily add depth to the SmackDown shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

Her fellow NXT alum, Jacy Jayne, has been a huge spotlight on recent SmackDown episodes. Still leading Fatal Influence, her teammates Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid sustained their popularity as a heel act. On promos and in the ring, the trio is a huge asset. Though it was understandable that Jayne would lose to WWE Women\u2019s Champion Rhea Ripley this early in the Australian\u2019s reign, the loss came from a disqualification, which is a tad frustrating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That won\u2019t be enough to deter her, but she had a chance at a solid rebound following Ripley\u2019s injury in May. In a qualifying match to contest for the WWE Women\u2019s Championship, she came up short against current WWE Women\u2019s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton. Stratton already has a title; did she even need to be in the picture? Regardless, Jayne\u2019s soon to bounce back, I believe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Baffling as it may be that WWE struggles to keep hype generated for talents they\u2019d fumble over themselves to brag about, most of these included stars can still be salvaged. The two I\u2019m most optimistic for are Oba Femi and Jacy Jayne.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

If Femi defeats Brock Lesnar in the SummerSlam Hell in a Cell Match, he\u2019ll have cemented a top spot for himself if he can retire the beast. Jayne has so much ahead of her to do, and her losses aren\u2019t enough to derail her at this juncture. I mean, she defeated Charlotte Flair of all people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob Fatu\u2019s charisma and in-ring ability can\u2019t be diverted for long. Fans are magnetized to him, and he\u2019s far more likable as an intense babyface at this point in his career. With the knowledge of how kind he is away from the squared circle, he\u2019s forged that connection. The most interesting thing they can do with him is to break away from Roman Reigns at some point and defeat him once and for all, numbers game be damned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giulia and Jordynne Grace, I\u2019m confident, can rise back if the creative can stop twiddling their thumbs and give them something juicier than what they\u2019re given. Regarding Bron Breakker, it was indicated in Season 3 of WWE Unreal that the creative team feared fans would feel he was being shoved down their throats at the 2026 Men\u2019s Royal Rumble Match. <\/span><\/p>\n

That was THE match he should have won, if they were serious about him. Instead, Roman Reigns, the poster boy of being shoved down fans\u2019 throats, won. That excuse doesn\u2019t hold up and underscores how the booking in WWE is currently falling short.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pro wrestling industry is begging for its next breakout star, and WWE has the tools to do so, if only they could stop shooting themselves in the feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the past few years, a new crop of stars was poised for greatness in WWE. Paying attention to the machine it operates, the company seemed all in on their potential. Yet in recent months, much of their pushes either stagnated or stopped altogether. Yes, there is still hope for some of them; that\u2019s why […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5361,"featured_media":142964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2,2192,3,320],"tags":[7986,5900,3006,8023,2422,8734],"class_list":["post-164800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wwe","category-featured","category-wrestling","category-wwe-universe","category-wwe-women","tag-bron-breakker","tag-giulia","tag-jacob-fatu","tag-jacy-jayne","tag-jordynne-grace","tag-oba-femi"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5361"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164800"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164834,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164800\/revisions\/164834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}