#5 Ryback: former WWE Superstar from Las Vegas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcqtBYsX_aU
As much as WWE fans might want to rag on Las Vegas native Ryback for his multitude of backstage incidents, or even for supposedly telling Vince McMahon that he was the next John Cena, it s pretty obvious that he never got the respect he deserved. Furthermore, WWE s current problem with creating new talent implies that the Las Vegas native was merely a victim of the system around him. Of course, this doesn t mean all his actions are suddenly excusable, but let s take a look at this from another lens.
Rewinding to 2012, and Ryback was actually on a 38-match winning streak. No one could beat him. He was built up as a monster heel that could carry the company for years to come. Unfortunately for Ryback, WWE eventually put him in an unwinnable position by booking him in a match with then WWE Champion CM Punk inside Hell in a Cell.
This is where Ryback s career would take one of the worst turns in WWE history. Not only did his winning streak come to an end at the hands of Punk, but a rogue referee also hit him with a low blow. With that being said and the monumental amount of crap that Ryback was subjected to afterward, he was an underrated talent and deserved more than what he ultimately got. He would be released from WWE a few years after this ill-fated match and never wrestle again.
#4 Reilly Smith: Las Vegas Aces right-wing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTXR3-O27IY
Reily Smith has been a primary contributor to the Las Vegas Golden Knights during their injury-plagued 2021-2022 season, and he deserves some credit for keeping things afloat. All and all, he currently sits with 13 goals, 19 assists, and three power-play points for Las Vegas. He also has managed to stay out of penalty trouble and hasn t suffered an injury yet this season. He is honestly one of the only solid pieces in the Las Vegas Golden Knights and really has done his part trying to keep the team in playoff range.
#3 Kurt Busch: Las Vegas NASCAR driver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYzkz4UgMQ8
Believe it or not, Las Vegas native Kurt Busch was once a NASCAR Cup Series Champion and one of the most polarizing drivers in the entire support. Despite the fact that he still hasn’t won a championship in years at the time of this writing and has bounced around from ride to ride, his consistency is unmatched in several areas. He’s considered a veteran presence in the sport, which is part of what landed him the job at 23XI Racing with Bubba Wallace as his teammate.
In the end, Busch sits with 33 wins, including a Daytona 500, 156 top fives, and 331 top-tens throughout his 21 year Cup Series career. Again, he pales in comparison to guys like his brother, Kyle, who has captured two championships and 59 victories, but he still has finished well with several different teams around the league. His staying power is just tremendous.
#2 Las Vegas Aces Forward Dearica Hamby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNb5_UOntCc
Dearica Hamby might not have started many games for the Las Vegas Aces over the course of her time there, but her presence from the bench has been powerful. It all started in 2017 when Hamby was traded to Las Vegas and averaged seven points a game despite not getting one start that year. She also had a .526 FG% making her a consistent shooter.
Fast forward a few years later and she started nine games in 2019, averaging 11 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a .321 three-point percentage. Again, these numbers weren t enough to set the world on fire, but she complemented the all-star combination of Liz Cambage and A ja Wilson perfectly. She also served as a great relief player when the others needed rest.
#1 Las Vegas Raiders Quarterback, Derek Carr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8iD3eVcC7o
Does Derek Carr ever get the respect he deserves? Between rumors constantly flying that he isn’t what the Las Vegas Raiders are looking for in a long-term Quarterback, to some in Las Vegas sports calling for his release, it seems we don’t know how good we have it. Remember, this man went top five in passing yards last season when he didn’t even have several of his best weapons. He also had a less than stellar running game, making the pass his only option.
Now, this doesn’t mean that Carr is perfect by any means. He’s known to choke or get shut down on occasion, but it honestly feels like some Las Vegas fans don’t realize what they have with him. If he had the right parts around him, he could lead the team to a Super Bowl.
