WWE has a wealth of talent on the main roster, with many stars currently underutilized. One proven method of jumpstarting a performer’s career has been through a repackaging, giving overlooked wrestlers a fresh character or creative direction.
History shows just how effective this can be – legends like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and John Cena both began as middling mid-carders before transformations changed the trajectory of their careers.
Here are six current WWE stars who could be next in line for a repackaging.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura
Once presented as one of WWE’s biggest stars – and the winner of the 2018 Royal Rumble – Shinsuke Nakamura’s star has fallen considerably in recent years.
Currently on the SmackDown roster, he hasn’t appeared on television since June despite not being reported as injured.
Even before his absence, his sporadic appearances largely saw him taking pinfall losses, with only one victory to his name since January.
At 45, Nakamura may no longer be the in-ring worker he was at his peak, but his uber-charisma remains undeniable – suggesting a repackage could reignite his flagging career.
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5. Carmelo Hayes
Carmelo Hayes looked every bit a can’t-miss star during his NXT run – an outstanding in-ring worker with natural charisma and limitless potential.
His main roster run so far, however, can only be described as disappointing, with much of 2025 spent in a middling tag team alongside The Miz, leaving his talent largely untapped.
However, signs of a split between the pair have emerged, with Hayes and Miz showing storyline tension across the past few weeks of SmackDown.
Breaking free from The Miz could open the door for a repackage, positioning Hayes as the heroic, sympathetic babyface – and finally allow him to fulfil his full potential.
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4. Natalya
Natalya has been crying out to be repackaged for quite some time.
This year, she has taken matters into her own hands, appearing outside WWE in Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport and the NWA as Nattie Neidhart, showcasing a far more aggressive, shooter-style gimmick.
The change has worked effectively, with the veteran star getting over with audiences and delivering standout matches – particularly on Bloodsport.
There now appears to be a genuine chance of this new persona making its way to WWE, as Natalya recently appeared at the WWE-owned AAA’s Triplemanía event using the very same shooter gimmick – although it was only halfway done as she still had her usual theme music instead of Rage Against The Machine, and was still referred to as Natalya, not Nattie Neidhart.
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3. Apollo Crews
Apollo Crews has been off WWE television since suffering a torn pec back in January.
The SmackDown star has had a mixed career since signing in 2016, arriving with much fanfare as an indie standout during the mid-2010s boom, showing flashes of his potential in NXT before moving to the main roster where he captured both the United States and Intercontinental Titles.
Yet, we have, arguably, never seen his full potential realized: much of his time has been spent on C-level show Main Event, untelevised dark matches, or even a return stint in NXT when creative had little for him on the main roster.
Now 38 and unlikely to be pushed into WWE’s top tier, Crews is preparing for a comeback from injury, and a fresh repackage could be the perfect way to spotlight his still-undiminished talent – putting him back in the mix for a mid-card title like the US or Intercontinental Championship.
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2. Austin Theory
When Austin Theory was signed by WWE after only three years of in-ring experience, he was quickly pegged as a future top star.
His rapid rise through NXT reflected that expectation, as did defeating John Cena at WrestleMania 39 and winning the Money in the Bank briefcase in July 2022.
But just as quickly, the company seemed to lose faith – Theory became the only star to ever fail a cash-in at a secondary title when he unsuccessfully targeted Seth Rollins’ US Championship in November 2022, and he has since spent almost two years in a tag team with Grayson Waller.
Still only 28 and off television since July when his partnership with Waller finally ended, a repackaged return could give him another shot at finding success in WWE.
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1. Pete Dunne
Pete Dunne is arguably one of WWE’s most talented in-ring workers – hold-for-hold on the mat, few can match him.
However, he is another star who has been serially underutilized, most often seen on C-level shows alongside tag partner, fellow British standout Tyler Bate.
While rarely appearing on television, he has reportedly been working behind the scenes in AAA since WWE purchased the Mexican promotion, and along with Bate, appearing as underlings of El Grande Americano.
Only 31, Dunne has clearly not lost his love for wrestling – recently appearing on the indies with a standout bout against Jonathan Gresham at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport and making a surprise run-in at UK indie Riot Cabaret Pro-Wrestling on August 22 – and he seems far from ready to hang up his boots for a full-time backstage role, meaning a repackage could soon give him the renewed emphasis his skillset deserves.
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