11 big WWE signings that flopped

#3 Dusty Rhodes

Vince McMahon's philosophy - if they don't have the body of an Adonis, make them dance!

Dusty Rhodes earned a major name for himself in Jim Crockett Promotions and in World Championship Wrestling in the 70's and 80's. His World Championship feuds with Ric Flair and Harley Race were absolutely legendary, spawning several classic matches and promos from all three men. Not only was Rhodes a celebrated wrestler, but he was also known for his innovative booking. He was a valuable asset to any company he was a part of, both behind the scenes and within them. When he signed with the WWF in 1989, everyone expected his success to translate over.

But it didn't...

Instead, Dusty Rhodes showed up in yellow polka dots and danced around the ring, calling himself the "Common Man". Some say that this gimmick was meant to humble Rhodes for having previously competed so fervently with his new employer. His only arguably-memorable feud in the promotion was with Randy Savage and Sensational Sherri, whom he wrestled (alongside his manager, non-wrestler Sapphire) at WrestleMania VI.

Though he and Sapphire won the match, it was a short and forgettable match-up. After he was jobbed out to Ted DiBiase and betrayed by Sapphire at 1990's SummerSlam, he got rid of the polka dots and started dressing more like he did in the JCP days. Unfortunately, he still did nothing of note before leaving the promotion after the 1991 Royal Rumble, which saw him and a debuting Dustin Rhodes lose to DiBiase and Virgil.

Likely discriminated against for his size and reviled for working with rival promotions for so many years, Dusty Rhodes was not the star that he could've been for the WWF.