10 Worst Botchers in WWE History
Vince McMahon
10. Tonga Loa
Tonga Loa, who initially wrestled in WWE under the name Camacho during a brief, uneventful run, spent eight years in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where his work received mixed reception. His recent return to WWE as part of The Bloodline, however, brought him significant notoriety—not for dominance, but for a series of noticeable slip-ups that earned him the label of a meme wrestler. These included a low blow to Kevin Owens and a moment that appeared to be a missed high-five or acknowledgment during a match, both of which drew fan attention and amusement.
9. Nia Jax
Although Nia Jax showed substantial improvement after her 2023 return, the years before were defined by repeated reckless moments in the ring. She was criticized for being overly stiff with opponents, famously fracturing Becky Lynch’s nose. Other incidents included dropping Bayley onto the mat with her shoulder, resulting in potential injury, and accidentally crashing Sasha Banks’ neck into the turnbuckle. While these incidents were unintentional, their frequency led to widespread criticism from fans and contributed to her controversial reputation.
8. The Great Khali
By the time The Great Khali joined WWE in 2006, his knees were already severely compromised. This limited his movement and resulted in slow, lumbering matches that often frustrated audiences. Khali frequently botched due to general mistakes and buffoonery, such as accidentally eliminating himself from a battle royal or struggling with basic ring movements. Over time, these in-ring difficulties, coupled with WWE’s booking, shifted his portrayal from a fearsome heel to a comedic figure, undermining his original intimidating presence.
7. Alicia Fox
Alicia Fox spent more than a decade on the WWE roster as a reliable performer, yet during that time she amassed a notable number of in-ring errors. Her matches often suffered from mistimed spots, awkward movements, and miscommunications with opponents. One highlighted moment was a classic botch with Melina, which, despite the mistake, Fox comically cited as her favorite match. These repeated errors reflected the difficulty of maintaining consistency even for experienced talent.
6. Eva Marie
Eva Marie was fast-tracked onto WWE television despite minimal training and wrestling knowledge, primarily to promote the Total Divas reality show. This lack of preparation resulted in frequent botches during her matches, as she often appeared uncertain about what to do between the ropes. Notable incidents included awkward pin attempts and even reading a book mid-match in NXT, clearly illustrating her unpreparedness and inability to perform at a professional wrestling level.
5. Rosa Mendes, Jillian Hall and Kelly Kelly (Divas Era)
The Divas Era featured several wrestlers notorious for botched moves. Rosa Mendes often struggled with executing maneuvers, Jillian Hall showed noticeable coordination issues, and Kelly Kelly’s matches frequently lacked polish. Cameron was known for slow reactions and repeated missteps, while Tamina, who continued wrestling beyond the era, displayed similar tendencies. This period underscored a broader lack of precision and consistency among many female performers, contributing to the era’s reputation for sloppy in-ring work.
4. Late 1990's Botchers
Wrestling history also includes numerous performers outside the modern era who gained notoriety for in-ring mistakes. NFL Hall of Famer Steve “Mongo” McMichael frequently missed clotheslines, Virgil delivered awkward and unconvincing offense, and David Flair—often booked despite limited training—struggled with basic maneuvers like dropkicks. These repeated errors highlighted the difficulties athletes face when transitioning into professional wrestling without extensive preparation or experience.
3. Sabu
Sabu’s botches were largely the result of his high-risk, unpredictable wrestling style rather than incompetence. Known for his innovative crash and burn approach in ECW, he frequently missed high-risk dives, lost footing mid-sequence, and occasionally intentionally blew spots to engage the audience. His mistakes were therefore both a testament to his daring and an integral part of his unscripted, high-flying performance style, demonstrating that botches can coexist with creativity and spectacle.
2. Sin Cara
Sin Cara, originally Mystico in Mexico, entered WWE with high expectations but quickly experienced a career decline. His unfamiliarity with WWE’s style and inadequate adaptation time led to countless botches, including misjudged dives and awkward landings. Additional challenges included his refusal to learn English and a reportedly poor attitude toward training. Even Hunico, who later assumed the Sin Cara gimmick, experienced similar blunders, contributing to the perception that the character was cursed within WWE.
1. Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon, despite his muscular physique and willingness to endure punishment, is widely considered one of the worst athletes to step into the ring. He was notoriously uncoordinated, lacked agility and flexibility, and often turned matches into unintentionally comedic spectacles. His struggles included slipping on entrance ramps and awkwardly attempting wrestling moves, making his in-ring performance notoriously unreliable. While his storylines often engaged audiences, his wrestling skill remained extremely limited, with matches frequently described as absurd comedies rather than competitive bouts.
