Candice LeRae is the biggest babyface miss by the WWE in recent years

WWE missed its dream babyface in Candice LeRae. Fightful Select broke news on Friday that LeRae’s contract with WWE expired and she is a free agent. For an organization that recognizes how important babyfaces are as attractions and crossover stars, the company completely missed on someone that checks all the boxes.

It’s amazing but still not surprising to think that LeRae never had an opportunity to be the top face in NXT. She has all the tools necessary and that WWE demands when booking a top champion. Her wrestling abilities were among the best on the roster, regardless of gender. She’s shown that she can be a character that fans care about, both hilarious and believable along the way. Plus, she had her own storylines, both with her husband Johnny Gargano, and separate from him.

There were many instances where WWE Creative should have booked LeRae to become the champion and focal point of the women’s division. Her series of matches with Shayna Baszler and Io Shirai are two such examples. Even when she and Gargano were hamming it up as a part of The Way, which could have been a moment where she would have excelled as the women’s champion. Even the moment where she was champion, a 63-day run as tag champion with Indi Hartwell, wasn’t given the treatment necessary to make it worthwhile.

WWE’s main roster could certainly use a talent like LeRae today. Fresh matchups would have been possible with some of the top names on either WWE SmackDown or WWE Monday Night Raw but all those opportunities are no more.

LeRae and Gargano welcomed their first child back in February. During her pregnancy she remained on television, taking part in comedy skits in The Way. With Gargano’s departure from the company in December, there was a lot of speculation about whether she would stay within the company. Now there’s clarity around that piece, but still have no idea what’s next for one of the best wrestling couples in the business.

LeRae would be a massive benefit to any company. Of course, there’s going to be a loud call for her to join the AEW roster, just as there is for her husband. Anywhere she lands, if she chooses to return to wrestling, immediately gets a power player that can be central to any women’s division.

WWE has missed on a lot of top talent throughout the years. When putting together a list of all-time “misses,” Candice LeRae will be near the top of that list.