The first WWE run of Juan Rivera was not an impressive one as he was cast as masked ninja named Kwang.  When that persona thankfully ended, he was given the name of Savio Vega and embraced his Puerto Rican roots.  The fit was perfect and for years, Savio Vega was a solid mid card performer for the WWE.  After Vega left the WWE, and rehabbed his injuries he would again become a star in the Caribbean where he started his career.   Vega is still performing, but he has reached the end of his runs in the American spotlight.  Should Vega use his skills outside the ring (which he is more than capable of) on a higher profile, he could sneak into WWE Hall contention.

El Canek may not have made a dent in the United States, but he was the primary star for Mexico’s UWA promotion for nearly two decades.  As the multiple Heavyweight Title holder for UWA, Canek holds victories over a diverse group of Lou Thesz, Vader, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.  In fact, he is one of the few who can boast body slamming the French giant.  Had Canek’s star shone outside of Mexico (like Mil Mascaras) or if the UWA was still around, perhaps the legacy of El Canek would have extended towards current WWE fans.

Although “Superstar” Bill Dundee was undersized and was rarely used in a National promotion, he was a huge star in the Memphis area and a great ally and foil of Jerry Lawler there.  The Superstar could be flashy, arrogant or modest depending on what character was needed in the area at the time.  His biggest taste on the big stage was a largely unremarkable performance as “Sir William”, Steven Regal’s manager in WCW where he barely spoke, and it is a shame that he was essentially muted in that role as he was a decent speaker.  If there was a Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame of Memphis, Dundee would be elected on the first or second ballot.

Prior to his career in the squared circle, the “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez played football at West Texas and was a legitimate tough guy.  He took this manly resume into the world of pro wrestling where he proved to be a natural for the business.  He looked tough, acted tough and could cut a mean promo when needed.  Fernandez became a star in Mid Atlantic and parlayed that into a NWA World Tag Team run with Rick Rude.  Had Fernandez ever had a WWE run, it is possible that he could have done something special there, but those who saw him perform knew they were seeing a star.