One of the unfortunate drawbacks of the pro wrestling realm is that in order for some top stars to shine, others must fall by the wayside.
That's especially the case in WWE and All Elite Wrestling lately, where some major names have been struggling. Those struggles aren't a secret to onlookers and can fall in either the character or in-ring areas, if not both.
Whether it's a lack of notable feuds or card placement, or even just stuck in tag team purgatory without direction, there are some familiar and new names stuck in a rut.
Luckily for those stars, there are plenty of reasons to remain optimistic that the current setbacks are merely road bumps instead of immovable walls.
Here's a look at a handful of stars whose stock currently sits low yet won't remain that way for too long.
This isn't an uncommon take by any means, as Alexa Bliss has effectively become the mascot for pro wrestlers stuck in neutral as of late.
She came back from an absence to much hype, only for little to happen. The highlights of 2022 off the top of the head have been a brief run with the now-defunct 24/7 Championship and a quick stint as tag team champion more recently. She's still stuck in that tag realm for the foreseeable future.
If there's anyone who can break free of a rut like this in emphatic fashion, though, it's Bliss. There already seem to be hints of discord between her and current allies such as Asuka. And given her resume and talent, it wouldn't take long for her to contend for a top title.
Given past main event status and even unexpected, compelling things such as her involvement with Bray Wyatt, her current lost-in-the-shuffle status has been a letdown.
However, Bliss is right there as a main event headliner should Triple H's WWE finally attempt the layup.
The big reason: Past feuds and the groundwork for more.
It might seem odd to put a current champion on a list such as this.
However, with AEW bloated with too many titles right now, Jade Cargill standing as the current TBS titleholder doesn't prevent it (and WWE could tell many tales of mediocre midcard title runs anyway).
Cargill, though, feels a bit stale and overexposed at this point, and a promo on the November 30 edition of Dynamite featuring Bow Wow (you read that right) instead of her next opponent felt anti-climactic and a flop.
Luckily for the 30-year-old, she's just exiting a lengthy feud with Nyla Rose, which was entertaining. There is plenty of time to get things back on track, though Bow Wow in near-2023 probably isn't the move, no matter how much it gets traction on blogs and social media.
Wishful thinking? Maybe AEW wants to string things along until Kris Statlander returns or maybe there's even a Sasha Banks surprise in the pipeline. Right now, though, the promos and storylines aren't helping Cargill's momentum.
Finn Bálor feels like one of those wrestlers who should always be in the main event scene, or right on the outskirts of it, and anything less is a disappointment.
That might seem dramatic, but we're talking about one of the best in-ring performers in pro wrestling, a guy with a super-over, supernatural alter ego and a well-established presence as a former top champion.
And while Bálor has seen better booking since Triple H took over WWE Creative in late July, it's a little shocking it isn't even better given their history together.
Realistically, the Irishman has had roughly two notable singles matches since the start of October, both losses. Otherwise, he's been lost in tag team purgatory.
Yet knowing how good Bálor is, this could turn on a dime. He'd make a natural fit for either of the company's midcard titles, and it would be great to see The Demon some more.
All isn't lost, especially if he starts to see a solo push en route to WrestleMania 39.
This will irk some, and understandably so, but the Bray Wyatt saga since his return continues to plod along and become divisive.
On one hand, WWE investing in long-term storytelling properly is much needed and compelling. But since his return, Wyatt has had two months of extended spooky-lighting entrances and promos, and that's about it. Look up his record and he hasn't had a match since April 2021.
For a character trying to get back to just being a normal pro wrestler, he isn't doing a lot of actual pro wrestling. It sure wouldn't hurt to see Wyatt fend off an attack, leave clues that he was behind an assault or even have a quick squash match.
It's all about balance and this feels like an overcorrection from Wyatt's The Fiend run that ended in disaster because he became a top title contender.
WWE surely understands the need for better balance and will make it happen soon, because otherwise all involved run the risk of fans losing interest. Luckily, Wyatt is compelling and unique enough that they have gotten away with it for this long. He'll be fine, provided the excellent storytelling picks up in pace.
The big reason: Patience is a virtue in the new long-form storytelling era.
