The storytelling element of professional wrestling makes it possible for romantic couples to become part of the show. Much like with movies or television shows, the romantic element of storytelling can add to the overall product. Legendary couples like Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth, Edge and Lita or Triple H and Stephanie McMahon showed how much success can come from having such roles together.
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We will, however, look at the couples that have fallen under the radar throughout the years. Not every romantic storyline has the same end game or momentum to leave an impact with the audience. The ones in question range from entertaining duos to pairs that just didn’t work out. Take a trip down memory with former WWE couples that most wrestling fans forgot about.
15 Kane and AJ Lee
WWE realized AJ Lee’s acting range could have her involved in main event storylines. Following her relationships with Daniel Bryan and CM Punk ended, she was involved with Kane for a short while. All three wrestlers feuded for the WWE Championship with Lee as the biggest variable. Kane and AJ’s time together ended once he lost his title shot and was removed from the storyline.
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14 Rusev and Summer Rae
The relationship of Lana and Rusev was split up for the first time in WWE with Lana dating Dolph Ziggler and Rusev becoming an item with Summer Rae. WWE had hopes for both couples, especially with Summer having great heel charisma. The relationship ended when Rusev and Lana’s real-life engagement was leaked by TNA to ruin the moment.
13 Daniel Bryan and Gail Kim
Daniel Bryan was given a strange storyline with both Bella Twins attempting to take his virginity in a love triangle storyline. The big reveal was that Nikki and Brie confused the word virgin with vegan and that Bryan was already dating Gail Kim. WWE barely utilized Bryan and Kim together despite their great in-ring skills leading to the angle dropping without a payoff.
12 Enzo Amore and Nia Jax
WWE tried to put together an odd couple of Enzo Amore and Nia Jax falling in love in backstage segments. Jax even became part of the short-lived 205 Live house shows with Enzo in the main events. WWE dropped the angle within a few weeks when firing Enzo for multiple negative stories coming out about him.
11 Beth Phoenix and Santino
There was some short-term success for Beth Phoenix and Santino when getting placed together in a romantic storyline. Beth’s intimidating presence in the women’s division and Santino’s comedy made them work perfectly together. They even defended the Women’s Championship and Intercontinental Championship together in mixed tag team matches on PPVs.
10 Ted DiBiase Jr. and Maryse
WWE had massive plans for Ted DiBiase Jr. once the trio of Legacy ended their time together. DiBiase received a bigger push than Cody Rhodes with Maryse becoming his love interest and manager. The lack of chemistry between DiBiase and Maryse saw them both struggling in the new roles. WWE ultimately quit on DiBiase and canceled his push for how things worked out here.
9 Billy Gunn and Torrie Wilson
Billy Gunn always thrived most in the tag team division for WWE, but he always fell short in the singles role. The hope was that a relationship with Torrie Wilson would get him over the hump on the Smackdown brand. Fans loved Wilson, but they still didn’t react well enough for Gunn to move up the card.
8 Zack Ryder and Eve Torres
The fan support for Zack Ryder in 2011 led to him getting consistent television time. A short-term romantic storyline with Eve Torres ended in heartbreak when she made a move on John Cena to turn heel. Eve’s new character gave her the best success of her career while Ryder fell back into obscurity.
7 X-Pac and Tori
Tori became a constant part of WWE when joining the company in 1999. A huge storyline with Kane ended with her betraying him to date X-Pac and join D-Generation X. Tori and X-Pac received a lot of heel heat and found success together until an injury removed her from the picture. Both careers suffered without the other moving forward.
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6 Primo and AJ Lee
Primo initially joined WWE’s main roster to form a tag team with his brother Carlito, but the latter left the company when refusing to attend rehab for violating the wellness policy. WWE struggled to use Primo on his own and tried him in a romantic storyline with AJ Lee. They never had chemistry and Lee was better off once the angle ended.
5 Jeff Hardy and Trish Stratus
WWE tried to run a storyline of Trish Stratus and Jeff Hardy dating after a few moments together backstage. The timing saw Trish teaming with Lita during the Invasion when Lita dated Matt Hardy. It was an easier sell for all four to be linked, but WWE ended the couple upon realizing Trish and Lita were better on their own.
4 The Great Khali and Natalya
The Great Khali and Natalya were placed together in a comedic storyline as an odd couple. Natalya needed a new storyline and Khali was struggling in the face role to get this angle together. Fans never connected with them and Natalya was better off when WWE ended the couple before it completely doomed her career.
3 Carlito and Torrie Wilson
WWE badly wanted to add something to Carlito’s act to get him over as a more popular face. Carlito had a few romantic segments with Trish Stratus, but she retired shortly after to end the plans. Torrie Wilson became the new romantic interest of Carlito. Fans still didn’t connect with Carlito and he eventually turned back heel to end the relationship.
2 Spike Dudley and Molly Holly
One of the more underrated WWE couples of the Attitude Era saw Molly Holly and Spike Dudley together when their families of the Holly cousins and Dudley brothers feuded. Spike received huge pops when standing up to a heel Steve Austin for insulting Molly. There was more that could have been with this couple, but WWE ended it early to have Molly align with The Hurricane.
1 Randy Orton and Stacy Keibler
Randy Orton’s face turn in 2004 after leaving Evolution saw him struggling to gain fan support. WWE placed him in a relationship angle with the popular Stacy Keibler. The two never showed much chemistry and Orton continued to flop as a face. It ended when Orton turned heel by hitting the RKO on Stacy to prove he has no weaknesses during his feud with The Undertaker.
Sources: Wrestling Observer, PW Torch
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