6 underutilized wrestlers in WWE in 2018

There are times when a wrestling promotion seems to squander the talent at its disposal. It happened in WCW back in the 1990s, when promising stars like Billy Kidman and AJ Styles were put aside for aging wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

It happened in the 1980s WWF when the acquired the services of one of the south's greatest technicians, Terry Taylor, and turned him into the comical Red Rooster.

With social media's influence on wrestling, the criticism is at an all-time high. Warranted or not, the new breed of kayfabe-conscious fandom seems to have their favorites while WWE management seems to have their own.

Here are six wrestlers who many say are not being utilized to their fullest potential.

#6 Tye Dillinger

The latest in a long, proud line of rough and tumble Canadian ring technicians, Tye Dillinger seemed to be over with the NXT audience without effort.

Their enthusiasm carried over with him to the main roster, where he has accomplished... not very much. Tye seems to have become an afterthought on Smackdown. With the influx of talent from Raw and NXT, it remains to be seen if he can break out of the lower card slump he's been in.

One thing is for sure, many fans would like to see Dillinger pushed higher on the card, and have exciting matches with talent like Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles.

#5 Zack Ryder

The Long Island Iced Z is one of the most perennially underused talents in wrestling. Every year he seems to lose more and more of his loyal fanbase while he remains mired in go-nowhere feuds with lower tier talent -- when he's used at all.

So far Zack hasn't given up, and neither have a majority of his fans, who would still love to see him go on a tear to the upper card, perhaps even the main event. The wily veteran and charismatic social media star could serve in this role well if given the chance.

#4 Nikki Cross

Despite the fact that the Scottish Psychopath competed in the WWE's first ever Last Woman Standing match, she has all but disappeared from the women's wrestling scene since.

Part of the problem might be her stablemates in Sanity. With two huge men and an over the top personality like Eric Young, Cross seems to be lost in the shuffle.

Many fans would like to see Nikki Cross enjoy a reign with the NXT women's title and/or be called up to the main roster.

#3 Elias Samson

The Drifter made his main roster debut in 2017, working his way to Raw after nine years in the business.

While much emphasis has been put on Elias's musical abilities -- indeed, his entire gimmick revolves around it -- it hasn't led him to many victories or championships.

The fact is, Elias has a ton of potential. He possesses one of the most impressive physiques in pro wrestling, and is powerful enough to credibly stand up to men like Braun Strowman. His ring psychology is top notch, and stars such as Shinsuke Nakamura have complimented his work in the ring.

Many fans would like to see Elias climb the card, and perhaps even win the Intercontinental or United States championship.

#2 Jinder Mahal

Vince McMahon once said his favorite champion from 2017 was Jinder Mahal. With the Maharaja's powerful build and compelling interview presence, it's not hard to see why.

It seemed as if Jinder's troubles were over when he won the US title at Wrestlemania 34, but he then quickly dropped the belt to Jeff Hardy.

There is hope for his supporters, however, as Jinder was drafted to Raw, which is the unspoken 'main' brand of WWE.

#1 Dolph Ziggler

On the surface, it might seem inappropriate to include a former world heavyweight champion on this list. But Dolph Ziggler is the poster child for underutilized wrestlers.

Despite his unparalleled work ethic, insane athletic ability, nigh perfect timing and tremendous agility, the WWE just doesn't seem to want to bet the farm on Dolph Ziggler.

Many compare Ziggler to Shawn Michaels, and it's completely apropos. Both are smaller, faster men who can make nearly any foe look good.

Dolph Ziggler is believed by many to be worthy of inclusion in the main event picture.

Who else do you think needs more TV time than they are getting? Please comment and let us know.