Professional wrestling has seen some iconic factions over the years, with many groups dominating promotions, being littered with gold, and housing some of the biggest stars the business has ever seen. Every stable has a limit though, and aside from a few minor exceptions, there is a life expectancy on how long a faction can continue being effective, enjoyable, and in the spotlight.
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Even some of the most iconic factions from the likes of WWE, WCW, NJPW and AEW have ended up becoming shells of their former selves. Whether it be bad booking, repetitiveness, or a change and overhaul in members, the following groups eventually became (or currently are) shadows of their previous selves.
Judgment Day
The Top Stars Have Now Left The Group
- Judgment Day had a rough start under the leadership of Edge
- They transformed into RAW’s top act in WWE
- The exits of Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley have damaged the faction
The Judgment Day took a little while to truly get going, but the iteration involving Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh saw the group at its peak, dominating RAW and holding several titles. However, 2024 saw both Priest & Ripley kicked out the group, with the likes of Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez and Carlito drafted in.
The group feels lethargic and lacks star power with the newer members, and it feels as though the members would be better going their separate ways at this point, as they are unrecognizable in terms of star power and standing on the card.
Inner Circle
This Group Led AEW Early On
- The Inner Circle was AEW’s number one heel act
- Ther babyface turn wasn’t overly enthralling
- By the end, the group were hanging on for dear life
On the very first episode of Dynamite, The Inner Circle faction formed with AEW World Champion Chris Jericho at the forefront, becoming AEW’s number one heel faction. As bad guys they proved to be very entertaining, and they helped to carry AEW through its first year. However, the group eventually became babyface, started doing their own things, and ultimately became a shadow of its former self.
When they reunited fully for feuds, fans didn’t really care too much and all of their antics began to feel forced. AEW eventually recognized this and had Jericho tear the group apart.
Sanity
Their Transition From NXT To The Main Roster Was Poor
- Sanity were a popular force in NXT
- They lost Nikki Cross upon their call up
- The group became jobbers
The faction of Eric Young, Killian Dain, Alexander Wolfe and Nikki Cross were a hit in NXT, with their wild and unhinged nature standing out as something different. They won tag titles, competed inside WarGames, and looked like the next iteration of The Wyatt Family with their darker personas. However, the main event roster didn’t see the vision.
Sanity were called up without Nikki Cross, losing a key piece to the puzzle, and were then booked like glorified enhancement talent. Their aura and presence depleted, and they were a complete shell of their NXT selves.
The Elite
AEW’s Premier Act Are No Longer The Same
- The Elite helped to shape AEW
- The current iteration is lifeless and weak
- AEW need to move on from The Elite
The Elite offshoot of The Bullet Club were a huge reason as to why AEW came together (evidently, since it is in the name), with the likes of Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Adam Page, and Cody Rhodes coming together to lead a new era of wrestling. This group had star power, charm, likability, and felt like a beacon of hope and change.
The Elite today consists of a heel Bucks, a less serious Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry. They are completely different to what they were, and although the newest version of The Elite isn’t necessarily bad, it is a shadow of the former group.
The Nexus
WWE Botched The Booking Of This Faction
- The Nexus arrived in WWE with a bang
- John Cena buried the members countless times
- The ‘New’ Nexus was a waste of time
The debut of The Nexus is one of the most iconic of all time, as Wade Barrett led a group of rookies to cause mayhem on the main roster and feel like a very real threat in the process. However, like many promising heel acts of the era, John Cena stood up to them and proceeded to take them down.
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This spawned the genesis of “The New Nexus”, led by CM Punk. With some new members, a different direction, and a lack of their original goal, this group was a shadow of the original Nexus that took over RAW in a wild segment less than a year prior.
The Dark Order
AEW’s Super Popular Act Are A Shadow Today
- Dark Order debuted in an unsatisfying manner
- The group managed to become super over with fans
- Today, the act is unrecognisable
The original Dark Order wasn’t too impressive, but when Brodie Lee became their leader and the act began to showcase more personality, they became a hit with AEW fans. The tragic passing of Lee saw a babyface turn for the group, and the audience became super invested in every member, especially with their involvement in Adam Page’s world title challenge.
Today, the Dark Order has only three members, losing the majority of the group over the years. The fans hardly react to them, they aren’t involved in AEW storylines, and they have lost their charm.
Undisputed Era
They Feel Like A Parody Act
- Undisputed Era carried NXT for years
- Their reunions in AEW have fell flat
- They no longer have the star power that once had
The team of Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong ruled the roost in NXT for years, getting their hands on all the gold and serving as the top act whether it be as heels or babyfaces. The members all eventually drafted over to AEW, and the initial “Undisputed Elite” were doing pretty well, until several injuries cut their run short.
Cole, O’Reilly and Strong have reunited as part of the Undisputed Kingdom, but they couldn’t be further away from the momentum and star power they carried during their initial NXT run. In truth, they feel like a parody of themselves.
Hit Row
Without Their Leader, Hit Row Failed
- Hit Row were a popular act in NXT
- They were released from WWE very quickly
- They reunite without Isiah Swerve Scott
Hit Row were popular in NXT, and they felt like a modern-day act that could create some change when they moved to the main roster. Unfortunately, Vince McMahon didn’t see their value and quickly released the faction. Triple H would then bring them back, though without their leader and star of the group, Isaiah Swerve Scott (Swerve Strickland).
Without him at the center, Hit Row were a shadow of their former selves and dropped down the card very quickly, before then disbanding once again.
Bullet Club
NJPW’s Powerhouse Act Is Not The Same
- Bullet Club were majorly over for a non-WWE act
- This faction has had way too many members
- They are not the same group any longer
Bullet Club were a sensation in the 2010s, helping to bring about a boom period for NJPW and creating many big stars in the process. The act was renowned for housing a lot of members and going through leaders like new shoes, but eventually it became a little too silly.
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The fact that Bullet Club is still ongoing today is a sign that they are likely a shadow of what they used to be, with various sub-groups and a whole host of new members. They are still going fairly strong, but it is below the level of the Bullet Club’s former glory.
NWO
WCW Ruined The nWo… And WWE Buried It
- nWo helped to give WCW momentum in the 1990s
- WCW didn’t know when to give up on the group
- WWE’s version was a complete failure
Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash changed the industry when they created the nWo, turning around WCW’s momentum and putting them briefly at the top of the whole professional wrestling world. The group brought in a lot of members over the years, and eventually lost who they were. WCW did not know when to end the nWo, leading to creation of other groups such as nWo Wolfpac and nWo 2000.
They were already a shadow of their former selves, but things got even worse when WWE brought in the nWo following their purchase of WCW. Even though it was with the original members, the older, slower and toned down version of the group felt like a parody act.
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