25 WWE Storylines That Deserved a Better Payoff
25. LA Knight’s Recent Run
LA Knight debuted with a strong fan response due to his promo skills and charisma. Despite his popularity, WWE has yet to give him a significant world title reign. His recurring presence on major shows and social media buzz kept momentum high initially. However, a clear championship push or main event storyline did not materialize. Knight’s momentum has slowed without a strong championship angle, and his storylines remain midcard focused. Although he has won the United States title in the past, that still reflects a promising start that has yet to reach a major payoff or sustained booking.
24. Braun Strowman’s Monster Push
Braun Strowman debuted as a dominant force with rapid ascension and high-profile matches back in 2017. He won the Money in the Bank contract and feud opportunities but failed to secure consistent world championship reigns. His banger matches with Roman Reigns, title match with Brock Lesnar and Survivor Series dominance were some of the bigger moments. However, WWE’s booking frequently shifted in the years followed, weakening his character build. His momentum dipped post-initial push, and he moved between mid- and main-event levels inconsistently. This trajectory shows a strong start that did not maintain long-term main event presence as he has been released twice now and is no longer in the WWE.
23. Asuka’s Dominance
Asuka had an undefeated streak extending over 900 days, firmly establishing her as a top contender. She achieved the NXT and Raw Women’s Championships during this phase. Following the streak’s end against Charlotte at WrestleMania 34, her booking became inconsistent. Her prominence faded amidst sporadic title reigns and minor storylines. WWE failed to sustain the initial formidable dominance, with needless downtime. Despite recognized skill, her momentum faded due to lack of continuous pushes.
22. Sami Zayn’s Underdog Story
Sami Zayn rose through NXT as a technical wrestler with an underdog appeal. His initial pushes included the NXT and the Intercontinental titles on the main roster. Despite strong fan support and memorable feuds, WWE’s creative use of him declined over time. His storyline momentum faded with inconsistent booking and sporadic main card presence. Zayn’s early trajectory highlighted rising star potential that was never fully capitalized in the main roster. Although he had a bright phase associated with The Bloodline, his underdog tale is done and dusted in 2025.
21. Apollo Crews’ Push
Apollo Crews arrived and showcased flexibility combining power and agility. Initial pushes included winning the United States Championship, marking him a top midcard prospect. However, inconsistent storylines, character changes, and minimal title opportunities impeded his progress. WWE’s creative direction shifted between face and heel roles without clear long-term narratives. His character development stalled, affecting momentum started upon main roster entry.
20. Finn Balor’s Demon Persona
Finn Balor’s “Demon King” character was introduced with dramatic presentation and success in NXT and early main roster appearances. Infact, he was the first-ever WWE Universal champion and was meant to be the next big thing in the company. Initially positioned as a strong contender with a unique gimmick, Balor’s momentum dropped with sporadic booking and injuries. Variable use of the Demon character prevented full storyline realization. Currently, Balor’s old gimmick is long gone as he finds himself stuck in the Judgement Day.
19. Bayley’s Heel Turn
Bayley’s character shift from fan-favorite to dominant heel began strongly in 2019 during her SmackDown Women’s Championship reign. This turn was praised for versatility, heightening division tension. However, inconsistent booking, fluctuating face/heel turns, and brief pushes limited long-term momentum. The storyline’s initial intensity gave way to repeated directional shifts and lower-profile storylines. WWE struggled to build on Bayley’s turn consistently, causing diffusion of early promise.
18. The Usos’ Family Feud
The Usos started as iconic tag team champions, engaging in family-driven storylines with the Bloodline faction. The initial storyline offered strong emotional undercurrents of loyalty and betrayal. Over time, their involvement diminished amid fluctuating faction focus and less screen time. Booking inconsistencies led to stagnation in storyline development. Although respected tag competitors, their family feud narrative lost relevance. WWE has failed to capitalize fully on the early, compelling setup with prove being their lackluster WrestleMania 40 bout.
17. The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus)
Formed in 2016 as a resilient tag team, The Bar received immediate tag championship success. Despite positive reception and strong matches, WWE’s booking failed to sustain the team long term. Their split occurred without significant storyline culmination. Attempts at reunions lacked momentum, relegating members back to singles competition. The Bar’s initial strength faded due to WWE’s shifting creative priorities, showing an abrupt end to a promising tag team debut.
16. CM Punk’s Pipebomb
Punk’s “Pipe Bomb” promo in 2011 launched a major storyline by breaking kayfabe and challenging WWE’s status quo. It reignited fan interest and led to his WWE Championship reign. However, following storylines lost cohesion after Punk’s sudden WWE departure in 2014. Moreover, 'The Summer of Punk' narrative was not done properly and despite quitting the company after winning gold, he returned to Raw just 2 weeks later. That phase could have been utilised by having him work on the independent scene, defending his title. The creative momentum dissipated without continuation or payoff. However, Punk’s initial storyline impact remains unparalleled, though the overarching narrative ended abruptly due to real-life circumstances.
15. The Wyatt Family
The Wyatt Family debuted as a menacing cult-like group in 2013, captivating fans with their dark tone and character work. Bray Wyatt led the group through feuds with top stars. Individually, members found varied success. WWE eventually broke the group apart with fragmented storylines. Their initial impact diluted as solo pursuits and inconsistent angles took precedence. Although Wyatt became a world champ thanks to his Firefly Fun House and The Fiend, the group as a whole did not have a smooth sailing after breaking up.
14. Daniel Bryan’s “Yes!” Movement
Daniel Bryan’s popularity peaked during the “Yes!” Movement, an organic fan-supported storyline culminating in his WrestleMania XXX world title win. Although WWE embraced fan enthusiasm, later storylines struggled to maintain his main-event status due to injuries and booking shifts. His momentum drastically slowed post-championship reign. Despite his popularity, the company's inconsistent direction reduced the storyline’s longevity. The initial explosive rise wasn’t matched by continuous storyline growth owing to Bryan's string of serious neck injuries.
13. Rusev’s Rise and Fall
Rusev debuted as a dominant heel with patriotic Bulgarian identity and U.S.-bashing persona. Early successes included winning the United States Championship. After losing the gold to John Cena at WrestleMania 31, his dominant momentum faded as WWE relegated him to comedic roles or sporadic pushes. Key storylines became inconsistent. Although a skilled wrestler, WWE’s booking dampened his potential main-event rise. He left the company for AEW but has since returned. However, his character still illustrates a promising heel run with stalled progression.
12. The Shield’s Formation
The Shield’s debut in 2012 was impactful, showing tactical unity and dominance. The faction renewed WWE’s focus on team-based storylines, eventually splitting into successful singles careers. After initial dominance, momentum plateaued as storylines shifted toward individual members. Though still regarded highly, the storyline’s cohesive power faded over time. Their early impact was significant, with later fragmentation causing loss of group-focused momentum.
11. The Nexus vs. WWE
The Nexus’ debut in 2010 was explosive, attacking top WWE stars. Their storyline initially posed a real threat to WWE’s status quo. However, booking inconsistencies and internal faction changes quickly softened their impact. The group lost momentum after losing to Team WWE at SummerSlam 2010 which resulted in the group splitting up shortly after. The storyline dissipated without a solid conclusion or recurring dominance, illustrating faded booking of a strong start.
10. The Miz's Dad Protects His Son
The storyline involving The Miz’s father was introduced to add emotional depth. Early appearances stirred interest with family themes, but limited appearances and lack of follow-up caused it to fade quickly. WWE did not continue developing the angle beyond brief segments. The storyline did not extend into lasting plot lines, making it a short-lived narrative.
9. Becky Lynch’s Rise
Becky Lynch’s shift to “The Man” persona led to an explosive rise, culminating in the first women’s WrestleMania main event in 2019. Despite the strong initial push, injuries interrupted momentum, causing her storylines to pause. WWE’s creative unpredictability post-injury led to a temporary decline before her eventual return to prominence. The initial ascent was remarkable but represented a storyline that temporarily lost pace.
8. Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection
In the 1980s, the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection fused pop music and wrestling to attract new audiences. Early success propelled WWE into mainstream entertainment. However, over time, the hype receded as the crossover novelty wore off. Though foundational for WWE’s growth with introduction of stars like Cyndi Lauper and Lou Albano, the storyline’s initial excitement gradually faded from mainstream attention as the 1980s rolled on.
7. The Rhodes Family Legacy
Cody Rhodes and Goldust were at their peak in 2013, highlighted by their emotional Battleground victory over The Shield, with their father Dusty Rhodes playing a key role. However, WWE soon lost direction with their story, and Cody was burdened with the lackluster Stardust gimmick, leading to his 2016 departure. He later made a triumphant return at WrestleMania 38, beginning a far more rewarding chapter in his career.
6. Shawn Michaels’ Redemption
Shawn Michaels’ redemption arc, marked by overcoming injury and personal challenges, peaked with emotional high-profile matches after returning in 2002. Later booking, however, sporadically placed him in less central storylines. His world title win at Survivor Series 2002 was a high note but losses to Triple H thereafter stalled his momemtum. His return story had strong initial impact but lacked consistent long-term storyline continuation. However, that changed gradually with stellar WrestleMania matches until his retirement in 2010 after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26.
5. Dominick Mysterio Supporting Rey Mysterio
Dominick Mysterio’s role as Rey Mysterio’s son added family dynamic elements early on. Initially featured in storylines protecting and aiding Rey, Dominick’s involvement declined with limited storyline development. WWE did not position Dominick in significant long-term arcs as a babyface, reducing storyline prominence after early build. The initial family focus cooled shortly after introduction. However, his heel turn changed things for him with The Judgement Day as he is now reigning as the Intercontinental and AAA Mega title holder at the same time.
4. Booker T’s Failed WrestleMania 19 World Title Opportunity
Booker T, a multi-time world champion in WCW, struggled to secure WWE’s top title despite high-profile matches. At WrestleMania 19, his world title challenge ended in defeat against Triple H. WWE’s booking did not capitalize on his star power long-term, relegating him primarily to mid-card status. His momentum stalled post-losing the title shot and was never fully revived. This storyline highlighted a missed opportunity for sustained main-event positioning in WWE.
3. WCW vs. WWE Invasion
Following WWE’s acquisition of WCW in 2001, the Invasion angle aimed to pit former WCW/ECW wrestlers against WWE. Initial intrigue was high, with many top stars involved. However, due to roster limitations and absences like Goldberg and Sting, the storyline lost credibility. Booking errors and fragmented storytelling caused a gradual loss of interest. The angle ended with WWE firmly prevailing at Survivor Series 2001, but is considered an underwhelming payoff.
2. The Brothers of Destruction
The Undertaker and Kane were presented as monstrous, supernatural half-brothers dominating WWE storylines. Their initial pairing and feuds drew large fan interest in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Over years, however, booking inconsistencies and overuse led to diminishing returns. The fascinating family drama was diminished by poorly executed angles, especially in their trilogy of matches in 2010.
1. The Bloodline Saga
Roman Reigns and the Bloodline started with dominant, widely praised storylines around family loyalty and championship control. The initial intrigue involved complex character work and faction dominance. Over time, some elements of the storyline saw decreased viewer engagement amid criticism of narrative repetition. Side stories and faction conflicts sometimes lacked clarity owing to Reigns' mega 1316 day title reign, leading to periods of audience fatigue. Nevertheless, the Bloodline remains a central but sometimes uneven storyline due to fluctuating creative focus.
