The year 2025 gave WWE fans many strong shows and memorable moments. Under the leadership of Triple H, several new stars stepped up and impressed. Names like Carmelo Hayes and Stephanie Vaquer clearly made the most of their chances.
However, not everyone met expectations. Some wrestlers were pushed heavily, featured in big matches, and placed in major storylines, yet failed to leave a strong mark. Their performances, character work, or direction simply did not click with fans.
Here are five WWE stars who struggled to live up to expectations in 2025.
5. Jey Uso
Jey Uso started 2025 with a shocking Royal Rumble moment when he eliminated John Cena. That moment created huge buzz, but things quickly went downhill.
Despite being pushed in main event stories, Jey lacked clear direction. His character felt confused, with no strong motivation. Big matches against top names did not help either, as he struggled badly in the ring. Missed moves and visible mistakes turned fan excitement into frustration.
His mic work also failed to improve, making his overall run feel flat despite WWE backing him strongly.
4. Nikki Bella
Nikki Bella returned to WWE earlier this year and received a warm welcome. Fans hoped for strong promos and solid matches, especially after her long break.
Unfortunately, her comeback failed to deliver. Even with major feuds against top women stars, her promos felt forgettable. In the ring, her performances lacked energy and flow.
Her match at Clash in Paris became one of the most criticised bouts of the year due to sloppy execution. Over time, fan connection faded, making her return feel disappointing.
3. Jacob Fatu
Jacob Fatu entered 2025 with high hopes after a strong rookie year. He had big matches, a title reign, and even a babyface turn.
Still, something felt missing. His appearances were inconsistent, and long breaks hurt his momentum. Even when placed alongside top stars, his character never truly stood out.
While his in-ring work was decent, it was not enough to justify the hype. By the end of the year, Jacob Fatu felt lost in the shuffle.
2. Tiffany Stratton
Tiffany Stratton began 2025 as the WWE Women’s Champion. Early signs were positive, but her title run slowly lost steam.
After WrestleMania, she had no clear storyline. Her matches lacked excitement, and other women outperformed her on big stages. Fans started losing interest, and criticism around her booking grew louder.
Eventually, she dropped the title and went on a break, ending what many saw as an underwhelming championship reign.
1. Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns remains one of WWE’s biggest names, but 2025 was far from his best year.
Despite facing major opponents, his storylines felt repetitive. Long breaks between appearances hurt fan interest, and his promos lacked passion. It often felt like he was present without fully committing.
Questions around his future grew as his character failed to evolve. For a star of his level, 2025 felt like a missed opportunity.
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