Being the main event is the most coveted spot in wrestling - and the hardest to achieve. The main event spot usually means top money. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more money you draw, the more main events you will get, the more money you make. The formula is as old as wrestling.

Modern times have changed that formula a little: major companies now guarantee a certain base amount and television shows often do not feature the biggest names in matches, so PPVs are the standard bearer for main event drawing power.

Following are ten wrestlers who, despite an increase in PPVs and multimen matches, somehow never main evented a PPV in the 2000s. This list spans WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA, however the Royal Rumble and TNA's weekly PPVs are not included.

Dustin Rhodes Was Struggling With Personal Demons

A Dark Decade For Goldust

• Wrestled for WWE, WCW, TNA And In Japan In The 2000s
• Struggled With (And Overcame) Addiction Issues

Beginning the new millennium in WCW, Dustin Rhodes was a journeyman: WCW, WWE, TNA, back to WWE - all without the biggest success. He seemed to be a shadow of himself for long periods. It was only in the new decade and with the help of WWE's wellness program, that Dustin got back on hid feet. In the ring, it was his run from 2013 onward that put him back on the map, and he hasn't looked back since.

An Early Sign Of Kofi-Mania

Kofi Kingston Got Over Quickly After His Debut

• Debuted As A Jamaican
• Quickly Won The IC Title From Chris Jericho And Feuded With Randy Orton

It may sound obvious that Kofi never main-evented a PPV in the 2000s. After all, he only debuted in WWE in 2008. However, Kofi quickly got noticed by fans and the office and seemed made for a multimen main event. Alas, it didn't happen in time. He got a main event push against Randy Orton in late 2009 but his main event run would have to wait another ten years.

Despite A Promising Start, Shelton Benjamin Couldn't Escape The Midcard

Midcard Act Through And Through

• Was Pushed After Splitting From Charlie Haas
• Never Got Passed The IC Title Level

Splitting from his partner Charlie Haas during the WWE Draft in 2004, Shelton Benjamin made headlines by beating Triple H in the main event of Raw - clean as a whistle. What followed was a notable Intercontinental Title run, followed by a heel turn - and another IC run. It was not meant to be.

Much like Kofi, one would expect Shelton to appear in a multi-man main event match but it never happened.

Nigel McGuinness' Forgotten TNA Run

• Former RoH World Champion
• Got A Decent Push Initially Which Eventually Fizzled Out

After a notable career on the independents, former RoH World Champion Nigel McGuinness signed with TNA in 2009. In major-league fashion, he was given a new name: Desmond Wolfe. He got a decent push and feuded with Kurt Angle. Despite the initial push, he was never put in a PPV main event. He eventually fell down the card and was released in June 2011.

Matt Hardy Never Quite Got There In His Prime

In The Shadow Of Brother Jeff Hardy

• Had Main Event Level Feuds With Edge And Brother Jeff
• Won The TNA World TItle In 2015

By 2003, the Hardy Boyz were pretty much established singles stars and, initially at least, Matt surprisingly seemed to get the better spot. V1 was gaining in popularity while Jeff was floundering in Raw's undercard. By the end of the decade though the roles had been reversed. Matt, who had been a hot babyface for a few weeks in the fall of 2005, thanks to an affair between his girlfriend Lita and best friend Edge, found himself in the midcard while Jeff was winning World Titles in WWE. Matt would find success in Impact Wrestling (TNA) and win their World Title, but not until the 2010s.

John Morrison Reigned In The Midcard - And ECW

World Champion Without A Main Event

• Held IC, Tag Team, and ECW World Title
• Main Evented Extreme Rules 2011

Debuting as Eric Bischoff's assistant in 2003, John Morrison made his real first impact as Johnny Nitro as part of the MNM tag team on Smackdown in 2005. John quickly rose to the Raw midcard, winning the IC title and feuding with Jeff Hardy. In 2007, Nitro moved to the ECW brand and won their World Title. However, the title was not treated as a World Title and so Morrison never headlined a PPV before moving on to Smackdown.

MVP Didn't Reach The Mountain Top

(Al)Most Valuable Player

• Debuted On Smackdown In 2005
• Held US And Tag Team Title Before A Losing Streak Storyline Derailed His Push

Montel Vontavious Porter debuted on Smackdown in 2005. Touted as the hottest free agent in sports entertainment, MVP was immediately pushed into the upper card and feuding with Kane. By late 2007, had become almost synonymous with the US Title and a main event push seemed almost inevitable. But then, everything went wrong. A losing streak storyline lead to a babyface turn and that was it.

MVP's career stagnated in WWE and any main event aspirations were over.

Mr. Kennedy Was Destined For Greatness Until He Wasn't

Not A Real McMahon After All

• Debuted On Smackdown In 2005 And Was Quickly Pushed Up The Card
• Injuries And Suspensions Derailed His Push
• Later Won The TNA World Title In 2011

When he debuted in WWE in 2005, Mr. Kennedy was seen as the next big superstar. He defeated a number of former World Champions and won the Money in the Bank briefcase at Wrestlemania 23. However, Kennedy's luck would soon end. He lost the briefcase due to an injury and a storyline that would have revealed him as Vince McMahon's illegitimate son was changed after a suspension. Kennedy would remain in WWE until 2009 when he was released after botching a suplex against Randy Orton on Raw. Kennedy would later win TNA's World Title but that all happened from 2010 onward.

Lex Luger's Career Winded Down

The Total Package Takes A Step Back

• Main Evented Multiple Shows In The Eighties And Nineties
• Suffered A Spinal Infarction In 2007 That Ended His Career

The name may be a bit of a surprise, but Lex Luger was still a big name at the beginning of the decade. Still active in WCW, Luger main-evented television shows but his time as a top draw were over. After WCW folded, Luger found a semi-regular home in TNA but was gone by the time the company reduced their PPVs to the traditional monthly specials. In 2007, Luger suffered a spinal infarction from which he never fully recovered and that ties him to a wheelchair to this day.

It Just Never Worked Out For William Regal

The Best To Never Headline?

• Held Multiple Titles In WWE
• Main-Evented Television Broadcasts, But Never PPVs

Whenever the discussion comes up about the best wrestlers who never won a World Title, the name William Regal is usually mentioned. However, unlike most of the other nominees, Regal never even headlined a PPV. He was due for a push in 2008 after winning the King of the Ring, but a suspension canceled all plans. Therefore, Regal holds the distinction of possibly the greatest wrestler to not only never win a World Title, but to also never headline a PPV.