10 Most Shocking WWE Roster Cuts EVER

7. Zack Ryder

There was a time where WWE wouldn't have thought twice about firing Zack Ryder. 

They made it very clear that they didn't give two hoots that he'd gotten himself over in the early 2010s. The fans dug their heels in, though, and through sheer willpower, he was elevated to a prominent position on the card. 

Though it was clear that he'd never be a world champion, Ryder's popularity with the hardcore faithful meant that he would always have a place in the company, right? Unfortunately for the Long Island Ice Z, the axe eventually fell in 2016, which sparked one of the most unexpected career rebirths in wrestling history. Ryder, now going by his real name of Matt Cardona, totally reinvented himself on the indies. He became a deathmatch specialist and one of the most in-demand heels on the planet. He was so popular that, almost a decade after they got rid of him, WWE were forced to bring him back. 

It looked like Ryder was set for a lifetime of mediocrity in WWE. His took his unexpected release as a chance to change everything and that risk paid off.