Who believed they would be boss but fell short?

Joey Gallo is definitely on this list and probably Sonny Black.

Who else we got?

The first example coming to mind is when the kleptomaniac Jack Licavoli became boss of Cleveland while everybody expected Lonardo to be chosen. But then, maybe Scalish did in fact want Lonardo to step up, Milton Rockman allegedly lied to be able to place a "puppet" on the "throne", since he couldn't become boss himself, with no Italian blood. What I don't get is why did the whole family hierarchy allow Rockman to be alone with Scalish in such an important moment, when he was dying and naming a successor? Or did Scalish ask so himself, not expecting Rockman would "cheat"?

Joey Gallo? Really? He was a retard, he was barely boss of President Street? Sonny Black, the best that he could do was watch cartoons with Donnie Brasco. Try again.

Seems like nick corrozzo was set to become boss in 1996 but was indicted got A bunch of time. He gets out in 2005 is about to become boss again but instead is inducted for some old murders. Now when he gets out he'll be to old.

I don't know if he expected to be Boss,but certainly Neil Dellacroce was considered a shoe-in by a lot of the Gambinos after Carlo' death. And I don't know if this is in keeping with the topic of falling short,but Tony "Bananas" Caponigro believed he would be made the new Philly Boss

buddy luongo..is a speculation

Tony Bananas Caponigro?

Aniello Dellacroce?

Correct me if I'm wrong,but after his conviction, didn't John Gotti propose Jr. as Boss (either on his own,or as co-Boss with uncle Pete)only to experience a reality check when the other Families refused to even meet or talk with him?

Seems like Junior was in the same class as Bill Bonanno and "Allie Boy" Persico

Clearly the Corrozzo brothers has those goals

Vic Orena of the Colombos. Carmine Galante of the Bonanno family.
Tony Caponigro and Peter Casella of Philadelphia. Joseph Fino of Buffalo.

Doesn't he suits the no 2 position ?

Daniel Marino of the Gambinos.