Former Champion Felt Underutilized In WWE

A former champion of the promotion has revealed that they were underutilized by WWE.

Raven had multiple stints with the company, first portraying Johnny Polo between 1993 and 1994. He left the company due to dissatisfaction with the progression of his character.

He subsequently joined Extreme Championship Wrestling, developing a new character called Raven, where he became a hardcore legend after featuring in numerous battles against the likes of Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, and Stevie Richards.

He returned to WWE in 2000, where he spent three years before being released.

In separate interviews, Raven has discussed forming a bond with Vince McMahon’s son, Shane, during this period, which earned him his boss’s wrath.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, he admitted to feeling underutilized by the company, stating that he could have been a strong mid-carder if not one of the main-eventers.

They should have pushed me. They didn’t really push me at all. I should have been used, at least as a strong mid-carder, if not a main eventer. But that’s me. I mean, I could be biased, and I’m sure I am, but looking at it objectively, I think I could have drawn money for them.

Raven Hated His First WWE Run

During his initial run in WWE between 1993 and 1994, Raven’s character as Johnny Polo was primarily a manager.

As a result, his time in the company was marred by limited wrestling opportunities despite his desire to perform inside the squared circle.

During an appearance on Wrestling Shoot Interviews, he claimed that Vince McMahon’s assessment cost him a viable position on screen.

(Vince) thought I was too small, I was only 220 pounds, other than 123 Kid, I was the smallest guy in the business basically. I was working in Memphis, and they were working with New York (WWE) and they liked my verbal skills and wanted to make me a manager.

He then recalled being taken off TV completely, adding to his frustrations, which is when he decided to part ways with the promotion.

It’s when they took me off TV completely that I quit. I was managing, but then they had me stop managing. I had been doing the commentary with Vince, they then had me stop doing the wrap-around segments I was also doing on the All-American show, and he (Vince) wanted me to just produce, and I was like ‘Nah, that isn’t what I got in this business for’.