3 WWE 2nd generation stars who surpassed their parents (and 3 who didn't)

#5 Didn't Surpass - Shawn Stasiak

Shawn Stasiak was occasionally accompanied to the ring by Stacy Keibler

Shawn Stasiak is perhaps the saddest story on this list. Shawn is the son of Stan Stasiak, a former WWWF Champion who defeated Pedro Morales to win the belt before losing it 9 days later to Bruno Sammartino.

Outside of the WWWF, Stan was a prolific champion in the NWA, winning Heavyweight titles in Texas, Canada, Georgia, and the Pacific North-West territories. In 2018, Stan Stasiak was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a part of the Legacy section alongside El Santo, Boris Malenko, and Lord Alfred Hayes.

Shawn signed a developmental contract with the WWF in 1998, and would eventually be called up in 1999. His first gimmick was "Meat", a boy toy for the Pretty Mean Sisters stable. He would eventually be used as a jobber for the promotion, and eventually dropped the unfortunate Meat gimmick and instead reverted to using Shawn Stasiak.

Stasiak was released by the WWF in December of the same year. He then wrestled for WCW where he was taken more seriously until that company was purchased by the WWF.

Shawn was a part of the Alliance angle and portrayed a clumsy goofball. After returning from injury, Shawn would claim to be from "Planet Stasiak" and acted strangely as a part of his new gimmick. During this time he would have a few runs with the Hardcore title under the 24/7 rules before asking for his release in 2002.