5 Most improved WWE Superstars in 2021

WWE is considered the major league of professional wrestling. Just having a spot on the roster is reason enough to be praised. Superstars can make a leap from one year to the next, whether through working on their craft or just through sheer opportunity, there is sometimes a drastic improvement in a superstar's fortune.

In the early 90s it was Bret Hart who became the main event performer. Shawn Michaels took the step up and became a star in the mid 90s and everyone remembers Steve Austin’s ascension into superstardom. Triple H, Edge and John Cena emerged from the Attitude Era into the stars of the Ruthless Aggression Era.

Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins became household names after the Shield emerged and, of course, there was Daniel Bryan's dream run.

In today’s WWE, there have also been examples of amazing improvements. In 2019, Kofi Kingston emerged as a true singles superstar following Jinder Mahal's ascension to the WWE Title in 2018. Bayley’s emergence as a heel turned her career around after her babyface persona grew old. History has shown that the glass ceiling in the WWE can be shattered.

Let's take a look at the most improved wrestlers of 2021.

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#5 WWE RAW Superstar Liv Morgan

Liv Morgan got her break in the WWE as one of three members of the Riott Squad, along with Sarah Logan and Ruby Riott. The group had moderate success before being disbanded. Since the group separated, Morgan has worked on her own craft and stood out as a singles superstar.

When Ruby Riott returned from injury, Morgan and Riott teamed up to reform the Riott Squad as a duo. While the development was met with excitement from the WWE Universe, the duo never took off and Riott was soon released, which ultimately left Morgan on her own again.

Morgan has made the most of her opportunities as a solo. She was initially placed on SmackDown and found herself on the losing end of matches against Carmella.

However, the WWE Universe favored Morgan and her underdog persona as she redeemed herself by earning a spot in the Women’s Money in the Bank match.

Morgan was the clear crowd favorite in the Money in the Bank match and, although she didn’t win, the WWE could see her popularity amongst the fans in defeat.

Morgan was drafted onto WWE RAW this fall and once again had to prove herself. Carmella was again the woman who stood in her way, as she defeated Morgan in the Queen’s Crown Tournament. In November, Morgan was finally able to win a Fatal 5-Way match on RAW to earn the #1 contender’s spot for Becky Lynch’s RAW Women’s title. While Morgan lost her title match on the December 7th edition of RAW, there has already been support for her to get a rematch.

Liv Morgan’s time in the WWE has come and she has truly earned it.

#4 WWE All in the Family: Jey Uso

For the majority of his WWE career, Jey Uso has been defined as two things: one half of the Usos tag-team and the son of WWE legend Rikishi. His family has long been part of the WWE’s fabled history. Until this year, it looked like Jey Uso would always be linked with his brother and be remembered strictly for being one half of one of the best tag teams in WWE history. Then, Jimmy got hurt and Jey Uso got a new opportunity in the WWE.

Jey Uso didn’t just grab the brass ring, he tore it off and stuck it in his pocket. Jey ended 2020 with two memorable singles matches against his cousin and Universal champion Roman Reigns. Those matches elevated him in the eyes of WWE fans; he was no longer just a tag team specialist. These matches could have also just been passed off as an example of good chemistry with a family member.

In 2021, Jey proved that these matches were not a fluke and he was truly capable of being a singles threat. In February, Uso competed in the Elimination Chamber match with the winner immediately getting a shot at Reigns’ title. Uso excelled in the match and was the last man eliminated by the winner, Daniel Bryan. Uso would go on to win his first major singles accolade when he won the WWE Andre the Giant Battle Royal, eliminating another established star in Shinuske Nakamura.

By the summer, Jimmy had returned from injury and the Usos were reformed to further The Bloodline's story in the WWE. Jey proved he could be a star in his own right with excellent matches against a variety of opponents.

The WWE still hasn’t completely resolved the storyline with Roman, Jey and Jimmy. If the group does disband, Jey Uso is ready to make the leap as a true singles superstar.

#3 WWE Title Journey: Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley has always had the look of a star. He even got the push of a star more than a decade ago in 2007. He never managed to capture the hearts of the WWE Universe during his time as ECW Champion despite having a prominent role at WrestleMania. Lashley’s stay on top didn’t last and he was out of the WWE by the end of 2008.

Lashley returned to the WWE to much fanfare the night after WrestleMania 34 in 2018. However, his star quickly faded and Lashley looked like he would spend the remainder of his career in midcard purgatory. He won the Intercontinental Title in 2019, turned heel and had forgettable feuds with Braun Strowman and Rusev. The Rusev feud was particularly bad as it involved Rusev’s real life wife Lana and was a poorly executed love triangle angle. It looked as though the WWE had given up on Lashley, and after his loss to Aleister Black at WrestleMania 36 it looked like his run was coming to an end.

As MVP and The Hurt Business came along, Lashley’s star was on the rise. He held the US title for 175 days at the end of 2020. After losing the title, he brutalized Drew McIntyre, which allowed The Miz to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase and win the WWE Championship. Lashley eventually defeated The Miz on an episode of RAW to win the title.

He went on to defend his WWE Title against The Miz, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Goldberg and Randy Orton. Lashley would not lose the title until Big E cashed in the WWE Money in the Bank briefcase on the September 13th edition of WWE RAW. Lashley was champion for 196 days and established himself as a dominant force in the WWE. Along the way, Lashley proved that you’re never too old to improve.

#2 Xavier Woods: It’s Good to be King

In 2020, Xavier Woods returned from a nearly year-long injury and resumed his role as part of one of WWE’s greatest ever tag-teams, The New Day. Big E began a singles push, leaving The New Day comprised of just Woods and Kofi Kingston. Kingston's injury in early 2021 left the door open for Woods to become a singles star.

Woods entered the WWE King of the Ring tournament in October. After defeating Ricochet and Jinder Mahal, Woods would defeat Finn Balor at WWE Crown Jewel to become the WWE’s new King of the Ring. It has been the perfect marriage of character and crown. Woods’ mic work, humor and charisma have shined through as king and he has also excelled in the ring.

After some excellent matches with Roman Reigns as a WWE singles performer, Woods has shown he belongs as a singles star. With 2022 on the horizon and WrestleMania not far behind, it will be interesting to see what direction the WWE takes with King Woods. His majesty deserves a chance to shine on his own on the grandest stage of them all in WWE.

#1. The E in WWE now stands for Big E

2021 has truly been the year of Big E in the WWE. After stepping away from The New Day and working on his singles career, Big E has shot up through the ranks and sits on top of the mountain as WWE Champion. His charisma, popularity and skills on the mic have made him an ambassador for the WWE brand and one of the faces of the company.

The slow build of his renewed singles career began in July of 2020 following Kofi Kingston’s injury. Big E went on to capture the Intercontinental Title at the end of December 2020. In January’s Royal Rumble, Big E was an elimination machine and was the breakout star of the event. He was eliminated illegally by the giant, Omos, which only fueled the WWE fans’ fever to see Big E succeed.

After losing the Intercontinental title to Apollo Crews at WrestleMania 37, Big E’s star rose as he was able to secure the Money in the Bank contract. The crowd's reaction to his win told the story of a wrestler on the rise. When Big E won the title by cashing in on Bobby Lashley on September 13th’s episode of WWE RAW, his ascension was complete.

Since his title win, Big E has become a media darling. He has represented the WWE at a variety of events and has looked the part of a true WWE Champion. He has the look, personality and ring style to be a fixture in the WWE Title picture for years to come.