Many wrestlers aspire to join WWE above all other wrestling organizations due to its size and the impact it has on talent who grew up watching it. Recently, Mariah May and Stephanie Verker noted that WWE sometimes offers smaller contracts for the dream roles than other promotions. Sadly, many wrestlers come to realize that WWE doesn’t always have a place for them.
After working with various promotions, some wrestlers were effectively blacklisted by WWE, often fired and told they were no longer wanted. To revive their careers, these wrestlers had to prove WWE wrong. The following wrestlers managed to redeem themselves despite WWE seemingly writing them off permanently.
Cody Rhodes: Initially stuck in the Stardust gimmick tied to his brother Dustin’s Goldust persona, Cody requested a release in 2016. He became a major star outside WWE, boosting his profile in Ring of Honor and New Japan before returning to WWE with a massive fan following, winning multiple top titles like the WWE Championship and Universal Championship.
Shane Douglas: Struggling to find success in WWE and WCW with an unsuccessful Dean Douglas character, Shane’s WWE career faltered partly due to backstage politics. He redeemed himself in ECW as a main event heel and became a key figure in that promotion, though he never returned to WWE.
Mustafa Ali: Praised for his ring style and promos in WWE from 2016 to 2023, Ali’s progress was hampered by injuries and being edged out by others. After demanding his release, he thrived on the independent scene and in TNA, becoming a standout talent post-WWE.
Raven: Let go by WWE in 2003 following a dip in confidence, Raven helped improve TNA’s early roster, winning the NWA Heavyweight Championship and playing a major role in the promotion’s growth. He never returned to WWE.
Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder): Spending 15 years under WWE contracts mostly in low or mid-card roles, Ryder reinvented himself post-WWE as Matt Cardona. He developed a heel persona on the independent circuit, gaining more recognition by building his own brand outside WWE.
Sting: Despite criticism over his poor WWE booking and an injury-induced retirement, Sting wanted a meaningful conclusion to his career. AEW gave him that opportunity, allowing him to make a remarkable comeback and extend his wrestling legacy.
Drew McIntyre: After being surprisingly fired in 2014, McIntyre flourished with TNA, PWG, and other promotions before WWE brought him back. His return saw him win top WWE titles and solidify himself as a main event star.
Jeff Jarrett: Fired on air by Vince McMahon due to contract disputes, Jarrett started TNA when returning to WWE seemed impossible. Eventually, he resolved differences and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame before moving to AEW.
Toni Storm: Seen as a top prospect in WWE but mistreated on the main roster, Storm left the company and found real success in AEW, becoming a prominent figure in women’s wrestling there.
- Randy Savage: Forced into premature retirement by WWE in the transition from the golden era to the new generation, Savage revived his career in WCW. There, he won more titles and had some of the best feuds of his career, proving WWE wrong by continuing his legacy.
Fan Take: This lineup highlights how WWE’s sometimes rigid approach can overlook or undervalue talent that eventually flourishes elsewhere. For WWE fans, it’s a reminder that great wrestling isn’t confined to one company, and the sport thrives when talent is nurtured in diverse environments before possibly making triumphant returns.
