2001
1. Hardy Boyz: When they were mega over and feuding with Austin and Triple H. Jeff Hardy even beat Triple H for the Intercontinental Championship, only to job it back six days later. Instead of pushing a fresh feud, and building up the Hardy Boyz to the top of the card the WWE decide to give the push to BikerTaker and Kane. It was the begining of the end for the Hardy Boyz, in my opinion.
2. Kane: The one positive to pushing BikerTaker and Kane into feuding with Austin and Triple H was that it gave Kane some credibility. Kane beat Triple H for the Intercontinental Championship and was on a role with the fans. Only, for it to be destroyed when Kane jobbed the Intercontinental title to Prince Albert, a month later Kane is tag teaming with Spike Dudley.
3. Kurt Angle: They actually pushed Kurt Angle and built up his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin well but they never fully capitalized on Angle's popularity. Instead of running with Kurt Angle being the top guy, they turned him face then heel then face then heel and people stopped caring.
4. Rob Van Dam: Man, the WWE really fucked up here. I do not know how you fuck this up. If they would have only given RVD a one on one match with Stone Cold Steve Austin for the title and have RVD go over they could have made a lot of money. RVD was as over as the Rock or Stone Cold at the time.
2002
Chris Jericho: He was the Undisputed WWF Champion, then he jobbed to Triple H. Instead of their feud being about the title or a grudge between Jericho and Triple H, they turned it into a feud about Stephanie and Hunter. It is also noteworthy, that Jericho never had a match following his Wrestle Mania main event loss to Triple H. He then jobbed again to HHH in Hell in a Cell at Judgemtn Day, and at the next PPV Chris Jericho was jobbing John Cena. Please note that John Cena had only been on the roster for a month, not too mention he did not even have his wigger gimmick or popularity. This was back in 2002, so any logical person when they think about it, should know that there is no chance in hell that Jericho is going to defeat John Cena this Sunday, in 2005, when John Cena is the most popular guy on the roster.
Kane: Again, Kane shows up on the list of guys who could have made a splash but did not really end up doing much of anything. He was mega over when he returned from his injury but then he jobbed to Triple H. Losing most of his credibility, Again.
Rob Van Dam: Once again RVD shows up on this list. RVD was starting to push the envelope and started getting half way there to regaining his 2001 popularity. His match with Jericho at KOTR, and feud with Brock Lesnar made it look like RVD was the only one who could beat Brock. Jobbing to Triple H, being left off the Armageddon 2002 PPV, and not having another singles match on PPV until Armageddon of 2003 really hurt him, he's still mega popular though.
2003
Chris Benoit: He had his match with Kurt Angle in January at the Royal Rumble was the match of the year. Then he was just stuck in tag teams and feuds with hosses for 10 months.
Booker T: He was not mega over but he was over enough with the crowd. I doubt his ability to draw BIG but he could have made the product HOT and entertaining but instead he jobbed to Triple H at Wrestle Mania.
Goldberg: Within weeks of his WWE debut Goldberg was cutting long promos, wearing Goldust's wig, and laughing it up with all the babyfaces in the locker room. A recipe for disaster.
Kane: For the third time Kane makes the list of superstars who could have become majorly popular. When he lost his mask and was detroying wrestlers everywhere and blading each night he actually looked like a MONSTER. Then, as you all know the long drawn out feud with the bosses son killed most of that.
2004
Randy Orton: So, over with the crowd. The Intercontinental, Heel, Legend Killer gimmick made him the standout of every RAW episode. They fucked that up by having him lose the Intercontinental title, turning him face, and going against his Legend Killer gimmick, all within a month. He was World Heavyweight Champion for a month, until he jobbed to Triple H.
Alright, I know most of you already know all this but I like to beat a horse until it is beyond dead.
And I am sure there are a few others wrestlers in there that I have forgotten (like Guerrero) but the WWE has a major history of NOT pushing the stars who are getting the loudest cheers or jeers. I would even say that I think Christian is more over than RVD was in 2001. Christian could be the man if given a chance.
But unfortunately Christian is just another victim on the list.