10 Great WWE Stars Who Struggled on the Mic

Shelton Benjamin and Rey Mysterio

10. Jeff Hardy

The Rainbow Warrior was naturally cool and charismatic, which led to a World Title run based on his unique look, crazy stunts, and spectacular in-ring work. His work on the microphone, however, was a different story. While fans can recall countless iconic Jeff Hardy matches and moments, it is challenging to remember a single one of his promos because he just wasn't a strong talker. His delivery often looked like bad acting, requiring his older brother, Matt Hardy, a much more confident talker, to typically carry the load for the team.

9- Billy Kidman

Billy Kidman was a genuine star and homegrown success story in WCW who later had a solid career in WWE. A multi-time Cruiserweight Champion, he's best remembered for his exciting high-flying matches, his tag teams, and his involvement with The Flock. While he was a dab hand in the ring and typically had exciting matches, his work in segments and promos was considerably less remarkable. He was never the guy to deliver an impassioned monologue or talk you into buying a pay-per-view, instead relying on his in-ring prowess to get over with the audience.

8. Lance Storm

Lance Storm was a very good, technically sound professional wrestler who was smooth and made an impact across Japan, ECW, WCW, and WWE. He was known as a reliable worker who could have a good match with just about anyone, regardless of their skill level. When it came time to talk, however, Storm's monotone delivery was a turnoff for many. Though well-spoken, his dry delivery led to him being labeled as someone who lacked charisma. WWE famously leaned into this by having Steve Austin roast him for being boring, and his lack of charisma kept him mired in the mid-card.

7- The British Bulldog

Having gained vast experience across England, Canada, and Japan, The British Bulldog knew exactly what he needed to do in the ring upon joining WWE. Wrestling, however, was only part of the package, and whenever Davy Boy was required to talk on the mic, the results were inconsistent. He had confidence and a rough idea of his message, but his delivery could be comical, perhaps due to his thick northern accent. His promos often used era tropes like finger-pointing, flexing, and starting sentences with "let me tell you something," but something was always a little off about them.

6- Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio is one of the very best to ever do it, a revolutionary high-flyer who broke down barriers and achieved a level of success few predicted for him. Since he was exciting in the ring with his innovative moves, intricate spots, and cool mask, he didn't need to be a world-class talker to get over. While he did improve on the mic as his career went on, his linguistic skills do not compare to most other main eventers. Rey connects with audiences primarily because of his wrestling style, selling, and the natural charisma that comes through in his performances.

5- Lita

Like her Team Extreme partner, Jeff Hardy, Lita had an undeniable cool factor that cannot be taught. She stood out due to her originality and willingness to take serious risks, and she played her role perfectly when she turned heel and became an iconic pairing with Edge. Although her natural charisma and in-ring willingness were praised, her mic skills were not matched by her ability to cut a winning promo. Her interviews and commentary performances sometimes came close to ruining the illusion, and she will ultimately not be remembered for her talking ability.

4- Sabu

Sabu was steadfastly against speaking in public, reportedly due to his mother's wish that he not be on TV ranting and raving like his uncle, The Sheik. Far from holding him back, his decision not to talk actually enhanced his aura, making the ‘Human Highlight Reel’ seem even more mysterious and dangerous. On the few occasions he spoke, he was clearly uncomfortable. In ECW, manager Bill Alfonso and tag partner Rob Van Dam cut his promos, and his forced, pre-taped promos in WWE were disliked by Vince McMahon as well.

3- Shelton Benjamin

Among the star-studded OVW Class of 2002 (which included John Cena, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar), Shelton Benjamin stood out to trainers as perhaps the best pure athlete. A former amateur wrestler and coach, his incredible athleticism translated to a tremendous WWE career across two runs, winning multiple titles. Despite his amazing matches and jaw-dropping moments, the Gold Standard was routinely criticized for his weak promo skills. Although he had charisma and swagger, he struggled to express himself on the mic, leaving one to wonder what heights he could have reached had he been more self-assured.

2- Chris Benoit

Few were better than Chris Benoit when it came to the bell-to-bell portion of wrestling. Idolizing the Dynamite Kid, the Crippler focused all his energy on becoming the best in-ring performer, which he perfected in Japan. This focus meant he never fully developed his promo game. When he was required to talk more in the United States, the results were not pretty. He struggled to go tip for tat with someone more charismatic than him. In WCW and WWE, he was often surrounded by great talkers like the Four Horsemen or given a manager like Shane McMahon to compensate.

1- Dean Malenko

Dean Malenko, the ‘Man of a 1000 Holds,’ was a man of substantially fewer words. Like Chris Benoit, he dedicated most of his time to the actual wrestling, honing his craft in Japan. His job was to walk into the ring, put on a clinic, and then leave. While his technical skills were captivating, he struggled to show his personality in segments or interviews. Despite being one of the funniest guys in the locker room, his dry sense of humor never really showed in front of the camera. His promo work was often criticized for being bland, which is why promotions rarely gave him the opportunity to talk.