7 WWE Stars Who Deserve Better Following a Poor Start to 2026

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#7 and #6. Nathan Frazer and Axiom

The former NXT Tag Team Champions have been on SmackDown since their main roster call-up. However, they haven’t left as much of a mark on the tag team division as hoped. Fraxiom has yet to hold either of the tag team championships, and they have been booked very poorly in 2026.

With several tag teams being released over the past few weeks, the division itself is crumbling. However, Fraxiom has the talent and deserves much better booking than it has had over the past five months. The creative team needs to have them win the WWE Tag Team Championship soon, or else they risk losing their credibility entirely.

#5. Bayley

Bayley has been paired up with Lyra Valkyria on WWE RAW for the last few months, and they have been in the tag team division. However, they haven’t been booked as credible threats to the Women’s Tag Team Championship at any point.

Despite being a multi-time former world champion, Bayley’s booking has left a lot to be desired. The women’s tag team division is packed with major names, but The Role Model has been used as an enhancement talent at several points. Not to mention her brief program for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, where she put over AJ Lee after she dethroned Becky Lynch.

#4. Lyra Valkyria

The last time Lyra Valkyria was booked prominently was her feud with Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. However, she was buried completely after being barred from challenging for the title again.

Despite The Man winning the title two more times since then, Valkyria has not returned to the title scene at all. While she did win the Women’s Tag Team Championship with Lynch at WWE WrestleMania last year, her booking has been lackluster since, and her momentum has stalled significantly. She is very skilled in the ring and can be a strong babyface when needed. However, her booking has simply not been good enough for fans to get on her side.

#3. Ilja Dragunov

The Mad Dragon lost the United States Championship to Carmelo Hayes during one of his open challenges and has been sparsely booked since. Dragunov’s last appearance was in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale, where he was eliminated rather quickly.

Despite being one of the most intense superstars in the ring, Dragunov hasn’t been able to regain his momentum since losing the US Title. His booking in 2026 has been truly shocking, considering how well he was placed after returning and winning the championship from Sami Zayn last year.

With Zayn now potentially out of the US Title picture against Trick Williams, perhaps Dragunov could find his way back into contention once again.

#2. Carmelo Hayes

Carmelo Hayes’ booking on the road to WrestleMania 42 was truly shocking. Despite elevating himself and the United States Championship on SmackDown through his open challenges, he was booked to drop the title to Sami Zayn and missed WrestleMania 42 altogether.

Hayes hasn’t been seen on television in weeks, and fans have been left scratching their heads about his sudden disappearance. It seems like a wasted opportunity to let all of his momentum go to waste after such a strong run with the championship. His booking over the last few months has been frustrating by all means, but there is still time to fix things.

It could start as soon as this week with a potential return to the United States Championship picture on WWE SmackDown.

#1. LA Knight

After having the most matches in the company last year, LA Knight was written off television in the tail end of 2025. He returned to television at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, but things haven’t been the same for him.

Knight was involved in a program with The Usos against The Vision for WrestleMania 42, and hasn’t been booked in a prominent storyline since then. At one point, not too long ago, the WWE Universe was strongly in favor of him becoming a world champion. However, his booking over the last few months has completely derailed that sentiment among passive fans.

He still gets a strong reaction from the fans whenever he appears on TV. However, it seems clear that WWE has completely fumbled LA Knight this year by not even booking him in a singles feud since his return to the company.