5 WWE Superstars from the 2010s who should have been World Champion

From 2010 to 2019, 30 Superstars won a world title in WWE. Despite that high number, WWE relied a lot on usual suspects like John Cena, Edge, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar, passing world titles like hot potatoes. They also gave title reigns to legends such as The Rock, Triple H, Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Big Show and Kane during that period.

WWE’s main problem - at least recently - has been their failure to create new megastars. During the past decade, Superstars like The Miz, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Jinder Mahal, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Christian, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt and Kevin Owens all won a world title but they were not elevated to megastar levels as WWE went back to nostalgia for more fan interest. Kofi Kingston’s win last year was more of a feel-good moment rather than building for the future.

However, it was not all bad since Roman Reigns, A.J. Styles, Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins are all top superstars expected to carry WWE into the next decade. CM Punk and Dean Ambrose would have also made an impact in the 2020s for WWE, but are no longer with the company.

We take a look at five WWE superstars from 2010 to 2019 who should have won a world championship. It should be noted that Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman are not on this list because they finally won the WWE and Universal championships, respectively. They both should have won it around 2018-2019, sure, but at least it eventually happened. The superstars on this list are either out of the company or still with the WWE but positioned on the lower card.

#5. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes had a stint with WWE from 2007 to 2016 but he was not used to his full potential. Rhodes had the pedigree and the potential to become world champion but WWE never seemed to look at him as nothing more than a midcard wrestler. After his release from WWE, Rhodes went on to be successful in several promotions such as Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling before becoming one of the top talents and executives of All Elite Wrestling.

When Cody Rhodes Should Have Won: 2013

After Legacy was disbanded after WrestleMania XXVI, Cody went on to have one of the best runs of his career with his "Dashing" gimmick. From late 2010 to 2012, he was one of the best young talents in WWE and he should have been elevated to new heights.

In 2013, Cody was primed to win the Money in the Bank briefcase but it was his former tag team partner, Damien Sandow, who won it. During their feud, Rhodes started to get over with the crowd and it seemed like he was going to get a proper push. He was facing the likes of Randy Orton and The Shield, even winning the tag team titles with Goldust.

But despite the momentum he had, Cody was stuck with Goldust in the tag team division. He even underwent a gimmick change and became Stardust. From that point on, Rhodes was never the same as he never had the same success he had. In an interview last year, Cody revealed that he was supposed to win the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2011 and 2012 before plans changed on the day of the shows.

I'm so far removed now I can give you a little bit of detail on this, and I hold no grudges and I'm not sour over it. But the two years prior to that Money in the Bank [2013], I was told I was winning Money in the Bank. This is two years in a row. Two years in a row I was told in advance I was winning Money in the Bank and both times, it changed on the day.

#4. R-Truth

There is no doubt that R-Truth is a loyal company man. He is one of the longest-tenured Superstars on the WWE roster today along with The Miz and Kofi Kingston. Truth has been a comedic wrestler for the most part of his WWE career but there was once a time that Truth should have won a world title.

When R-Truth Should Have Won: 2011

After WrestleMania 27, R-Truth became the number contender for the The Miz’s WWE title along with John Cena. He lost that opportunity to John Morrison but Truth had one of the best runs of his career. He turned heel and introduced his “Little Jimmy” gimmick, attacking stars like Morrison and Rey Mysterio.

Truth then set his sights on then-WWE champion John Cena and he earned a title shot at Capitol Punishment. It would have been the perfect time to give Truth the WWE championship but the company had their sights set on a John Cena-CM Punk feud. Despite failing to capture the WWE title, Truth was still on a tear until Survivor Series of that year.

If Truth had become WWE champion, he’ll likely have been a transitional champion to bridge Cena and Punk. WWE initially botched that rivalry when Triple H, Kevin Nash and Kevin Nash’s quads intervened. Luckily for Punk and the WWE Universe, they got it right as the Era of Punk began. Unluckily for Truth, his momentum, along with The Miz, was used to put over Cena and The Rock. Afterwards, Truth was suspended for violating the Wellness Policy and that was it for his main event career.

#3. Wade Barrett

Wade Barrett carved out a decent career in WWE from 2010 to 2016. He was five-time Intercontinental champion and a former King of the Ring. Barrett had several gimmicks, most notably Bad News Barrett and King Barrett, making it work and getting over. He had the size and look of a champion with fans predicting that he would be the first ever English-born WWE champion.

When Wade Barrett Should Have Won: 2010

Barrett burst onto the scene as the first winner of NXT and immediately made an impact on his WWE debut in June of that year. Along with the other seven participants in NXT’s first season, Barrett led them on a path of destruction for a couple of months and they were called The Nexus.

Barrett and The Nexus were the hottest thing that summer and it looked like the United Kingdom would have their first ever WWE champion.

However, WWE made a poor booking decision when Nexus lost their first ever big match as a stable at SummerSlam against Team Cena. They tried to re-establish The Nexus, mainly Barrett, by giving him several shots at the WWE Championship. His best chance to win the WWE title was against Randy Orton at Survivor Series but John Cena interfered.

From there, Barrett lost his eventual feud with Cena and he was kicked out as the leader of the Nexus by CM Punk. It was bad decision after another by WWE at that time in regards to Barrett. They used an up-and-coming Superstar to put over an already established superstar in Cena. WWE’s lack of star-power heading into the 2020s can be attributed to their failure to create new megastars in the past decade.

#2. Cesaro

Cesaro is often considered by many as one of the most underrated Superstars of his generation. He is one of the most talented wrestlers on the roster, being able to work with small and big guys, as well as being a great tag team wrestler. He should have been WWE champion by now but instead, he’s a tag team champion with a third different partner.

When Cesaro Should Have Won: 2014

At WrestleMania XXX, Cesaro was a surprise entrant in the first-ever Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Earlier in the night, Cesaro and Jack Swagger, then-known as The Real Americans, broke up after failing to win the WWE Tag Team championships.

The Swiss Superman went on to win the battle royal by last eliminating the Big Show by body slamming him over the top rope.

The pop he received at that moment was great and it was obvious WWE had a star on their hands. Hulk Hogan even went on to put over Cesaro after winning the battle royal. Cesaro then became a "Paul Heyman Guy" and many believed that it was the right decision. He was having great matches with the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton, and he was on the cusp of the main event.

However, Cesaro was never able to break through despite becoming a fan favorite organically. Later in 2014, Vince McMahon was asked by Stone Cold Steve Austin, in an interview, as to why Cesaro was not being pushed as a top guy. The WWE chairman said that Cesaro was too Swiss or European while also lacking charisma, verbal skills and the “it” factor. That line from McMahon was the nail in the coffin for Cesaro potentially becoming a world champion in WWE.

#1. Rusev

Rusev was one of the most popular WWE superstars in the later part of the 2010s. He went from being an Anti-American, Bulgarian powerhouse, to the fun, loveable and charming superstar who called every day Rusev Day.

Rusev was released last April 15 due to the budget cuts from the COVID-19 crisis. He left WWE as three-time United States champion but someone who should have been world champion at least once.

When Rusev Should Have Won: 2015 and 2018

“The Bulgarian Brute” made his WWE debut in 2014 and went on an undefeated streak. Rusev eventually became United States champion by bulldozing through opponents such as Big E, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Big Show and Sheamus. He then entered a feud against John Cena heading to WrestleMania 31.

Many felt that Rusev should have defeated Cena, not necessarily at WrestleMania 31, but their overall feud. WWE created an unstoppable force in Rusev for him to just put Cena over.

It was a poor decision by WWE since they could have used a heel Rusev to help Roman Reigns be more popular. Instead, they put him in a dull love triangle storyline with his real-life wife Lana and Dolph Ziggler, which did not help his career.

Fast forward three years later and Rusev was able to become popular once again. Rusev went from being the Bulgarian Brute to a charismatic Superstar that the fans loved. He was entertaining and fun to watch with fans chanting "Rusev Day" every week.

Rusev got his first ever WWE title shot against A.J. Styles but he failed to win it. He was a Superstar that WWE did not capitalise on, but hopefully he can come back some day or be successful wherever he signs for next.

Edited by Nishant Jayaram