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Although they have taken a slight backseat in WWE in recent years, factions have long been popular in pro wrestling. From the Four Horsemen to the NOW to the Bullet Club, factions have always been top attractions when booked right and given a chance to find their footing.
Stables have helped create some of WWE’s biggest stars, the best modern day example being Evolution, the stable that gave us Randy Orton and Batista. However, in wrestling as in life, plans often change and the original ideas and members of factions also change.
Here are 6 wrestlers who almost joined a top WWE faction.
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6: CM Punk and Chris Hero in The Shield
The Shield debuted in late 2012, taking the WWE by storm and quickly becoming one of the most dangerous trios in WWE history. Their early appearances mostly revolved around helping then-champion CM Punk in his feuds against Ryback and later, The Rock.
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Punk has often been described as the brainchild behind the original idea for The Shield, and he himself pitched Chris Hero (now Kassius Ohno) to be in place of Roman Reigns. Punk was initially planned to be the leader of this faction but in the end, The Shield ended up being a separate entity altogether.
5: Chris Benoit in the Million Dollar Corporation
The Million Dollar Corporation seemed to be a good idea on paper but with the group consisting of Sid Vicious, King Kong Bundy and Nikolai Volkoff (apart from leader and mouthpiece Ted DiBiase), they failed to take off with none of the members bringing much in-ring prowess to the table.
One person who was seemingly in line to join the group early on was a young Chris Benoit who worked for WWE on a trial basis in the mid-90s. Benoit was led to the ring by Ted DiBiase in a number of house show appearances but in the end, they amounted to nothing.
4: Triple H in the NWO
Triple H is one of the biggest stars in WWE history and is now one of the big decision-makers backstage, bringing his vision for modern wrestling to NXT.
The NWO revolutionized pro wrestling in the mid to later 90’s in WCW. When Hogan, Nash, and Hall returned to the WWE in 2002. However, the NWO storyline didn’t catch fire like WWE officials had hope and there were rumours that Triple H was being considered to join the iconic stable to really put some wind beneath their wings.
However, after Kevin Nash got injured, WWE decided to cut their losses and had Triple H enter into an iconic feud with the returning Shawn Michaels.
3: Baron Corbin in The Wyatt Family'
It’s not hard to believe that Baron Corbin was considered to join the Wyatt Family during his time in NXT, even though it would have been the exact opposite of the Lone Wolf persona he’s known for.
Corbin reportedly tried out for a role in the Wyatt family soon after joining developmental, including shooting a number of promos, as WWE figured out if he was suitable for the role. Eventually, Corbin didn’t get the part but it can be argued that he’s done better for himself as a singles star that former Wyatt Family members Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.
2: Dan Severn in the Ministry of Darkness
Dan Severn’s time in WWE is a strange one. A legit shoot fighting champion, Severn never really found a footing in pro wrestling. It didn’t help that Severn had no real interest in the more theatrical and choreographed elements of pro wrestling.
With Severn’s WWE career floundering, WWE management came up with a radical idea to save him, one that Severn himself has stated that he wanted nothing to do with, and this ended up hastening his departure from WWE.
Officials made a pitch to Severn for him to move to Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness and tattoo 666 at the back of his head. Severn found this offensive and wanted nothing to do with the idea.
1: Mark Jindrak in Evolution
Mark Jindrak was initially chosen for Batista’s place in Evolution along with Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton. He even shot some vignettes with the group but WWE eventually made the decision to replace Jindrak with Batista who had been wrestling in OVW under the name Leviathan at the time.
It wasn’t all bad for Jindrak although he left WWE soon after. Jindrak headed south of the Mexican border after his WWE release and is now one of the top foreign stars in Mexican wrestling and is even married to a Mexican soap opera star.
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