The 5 Biggest Flops Since The 2016 WWE Draft

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the 2016 WWE Draft. Earlier we looked at the five biggest success stories since the roster split, now let’s examine the flops.

When WWE decided to split Raw and Smackdown again, the goal was to create more stars. With a smaller roster on each show, talent would have time to shine. While Braun Strowman, AJ Styles and others have prospered, there are those who have not been as lucky.

Out of the 59 wrestlers and tag teams who were drafted on that night, let’s look at the five acts whose careers have gone sideways since then:

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#5 Dean Ambrose

Ambrose went from WWE Champion to mid-carder in less than a year

As WWE Champion, Dean Ambrose was drafted as the No.1 pick for Smackdown Live.

Before he could start on his new brand, Ambrose had to defend the WWE Championship against his former Shield brothers and Raw recruits, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Ambrose pinned Reigns to retain the belt for himself and his brand.

When the Smackdown roster came out and lifted Ambrose on their shoulders, it was a sign that the 'Lunatic Fringe' was going to be the central figure on the blue brand. This was his time.

Curiously, his first WWE title defence as Smackdown’s king was against WWE booking victim, Dolph Ziggler. Ambrose got the win at SummerSlam in a mid-card match.

After that, Ambrose moved onto a feud with AJ Styles. ‘The Phenomenal One’ pinned Ambrose to win the WWE Championship in their first one-on-one match. Ambrose remained in a feud with Styles throughout the year but failed to win back the strap.

Ambrose defeated The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship on the first Smackdown of 2017.

It was a step down for the man who was WWE Champion just a few months ago. Ambrose fell even further; his IC title defence was moved to the pre-show of WrestleMania 33 at the last minute.

After less than a year on Smackdown, the number one pick for the blue brand was moved to Raw as part of the 2017 Superstar Shakeup.

‘The Lunatic Fringe’ spend the rest of 2017 mired in mid-card feuds before he tore his triceps in December. The injury could’ve come at a worse time; the time off allows Ambrose to come back with a fresh start.

Ambrose should come back as a heel; he hasn’t played the bad guy role since 2014. The way his career went in 2017, Ambrose has plenty of pent-up anger and resentment to tap into.

#4 Sami Zayn

Zayn won't be back until WrestleMania 35

Sami Zayn was considered someone who would thrive after the draft. He debuted on the main roster that same year but hadn’t yet shined as he did in NXT. Two years later and we’re still waiting for Zayn to stand out.

Zayn’s first real feud as a member of the Raw roster was against Braun Strowman. Unmistakably, this feud was designed to get Strowman over; Zayn was just the plucky underdog for ‘The Monster’ to devour.

Many felt – including Zayn himself - that he was better suited to Smackdown where underdog talent such as Heath Slater and Breezango were getting the chance to shine. Zayn got his wish and was moved to Smackdown during the 2017 Superstar Shakeup, and he preceded to do…nothing.

It wasn’t until a few months later when Zayn turned heel and aligned himself with former nemesis Kevin Owens, that Zayn finally got some screen time.

Owens and Zayn feud with Shane McMahon eventually grew to include Daniel Bryan. Owens and Zayn lost to Shane and the returning Bryan at WrestleMania 33. Again, Zayn was just a prop in someone else’s story – Daniel Bryan’s miraculous comeback.

Zayn and Owens found their way back to Raw this year. Zayn briefly feuded with Lashley; their feud was only noteworthy for the number of horrible segments they were involved. Lashley quickly defeated Zayn at Money in the Bank this year. Zayn went in for surgery to repair both of his rotator cuffs the next day having fulfilled his duty.

Clearly, WWE brass sees Sami Zayn as someone who gets other talents over.

Unless he drastically changes his image and looks, it’ll be more of the same for Sami when he returns.

#3 Sasha Banks

None of Banks four women’s title reigns lasted over 30 days

On the opening video package of the first Raw after the draft, the final superstar shown wasn’t Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins or Charlotte Flair, it was Sasha Banks. Further validation came when ‘The Boss’ won her first Women’s Championship on the same show from Charlotte.

Banks and Charlotte headlined Raw numerous times, trading the Women’s title back-and-forth. The two became the first women to headline a PPV when their Hell in a Cell match went last on the titular PPV.

While Banks and Charlotte’s previous bouts had ranged from good to excellent, the HIAC match suffered from numerous miscues and botches. That bout marked the start of her downturn.

After losing the title for the third time, Sasha took a backseat. Banks managed to sneak in a fourth women’s title victory over Alexa Bliss but lost the belt back a mere eight days later.

Since the beginning of this year, Banks has been involved in a never-ending storyline with her friend/rival Bayley.

WWE has successfully done long burn storylines before - Savage/Hogan from 1988-1989 being a shining example, but this is not one of them. It seems WWE forget what they are doing week-to-week with both women, resulting in a convoluted mess of a storyline. At the time of writing, the two are friends again, but that will probably change as soon as this is published.

This storyline has become a joke. The sooner, Banks is clear from this, the quicker she can get her career back on track.

#2 Baron Corbin

Corbin has been spending more time on the mic since his move to Raw

Shortly before the draft, Baron Corbin made his main roster debut; winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale at WrestleMania 32. Not a bad way to start.

Corbin was assigned to Smackdown; his big break occurred when he won the Money in The Bank briefcase at the 2017 event. When ‘The Lone Wolf’ hoisted the briefcase, it was almost guaranteed that he would be WWE Champion soon.

At some point, Vince McMahon lost confidence in Corbin, and he joined Damien Sandow as one of only two wrestlers to lose their cash-in match. Corbin never got over the embarrassing loss.

Corbin did win the United States title later in the year, but it was a consolation prize. Ironically, the person he beat for that US title, AJ Styles, went on to win the WWE Championship.

Corbin moved to Raw during the Superstar Shakeup this year and has featured more prominently then he did on Smackdown in his last few months on the brand. He shaved off his receding locks and is rocking a waist jacket as Raw’s Governor.

‘The Lone Wolf’ is getting to show off his mic skills in the role; however, he still lacks that special something that will take him to the next level.

Whether this storyline will lead to a match between Corbin and General Manager Kurt Angle remains to be seen, but things could be worse for him.

#1: Big Cass

Cass was a part of the WWE system since mid-2011

Before the draft, Enzo and Cass were touted as future stars of WWE’s “New Era.” Two years later, neither of them is with the company.

Why Big Cass is considered a flop and not Enzo is because WWE expected far more from the 7-footer. When Finn Balor had to vacate the Universal Championship, Cass was one of the four participants in the elimination match to determine the new champion.

Cass was ejected from the bout first, but the fact that he got to headline Raw alongside Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens showed that the company had high hopes for him.

When it was decided to split up the duo, Cass easily defeated Enzo. The big man would’ve moved up the card if it wasn’t for the ACL injury he suffered in the summer of 2017.

Big Cass moved to Smackdown during the 2018 Superstar Shakeup. Millions groaned when Cass interrupted Daniel Bryan’s dream match with AJ Styles on the Smackdown after WrestleMania. Out of all the feuds the returning Bryan could’ve had, the fans didn’t want to see this one. By the end of this program. WWE didn’t want to see Cass either.

Much like, his former friend Enzo, Cass annoyed staff and talent with his behaviour. While it was a scandal that ended Enzo’s run, it was a culmination of things that caused WWE to send Big Cass packing - without even wishing him the best in his future endeavours.

Looking past Cass’s supposed backstage antics, in front of the camera, he didn’t display the poise and charisma that a top guy should. His in-ring style was basic, and his promo’s as a heel were run-of-the-mill stuff.

Unlike Enzo, who’s trying to rebrand himself as a rapper – Big Cass was a pro wrestling fan growing up. He may try his hand on the indie scene when his 90-day no-compete clause runs out.

Being 7-feet tall will certainly be an asset on the indies as most wrestlers on the scene are not even close to that height. As his former partner used to say, “You can’t teach that!” but if Cass wants to make it back to WWE, he’ll have a lot to learn.

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There you have it! What do you think? Anybody we missed out? Let us know in the comments below!