12 Wrestlers Who Benefited From Their WWE Release
It's not all doom and gloom for Cody Rhodes & co.
It’s been a busy year for WWE releases. Early May saw the release of Wade Barrett, Damien Sandow, and eight other on-screen talents, but the most surprising move came a few weeks later when Cody Rhodes officially departed WWE on May 22nd.
Frustrated by a lack of opportunities, mired in WWE’s midcard, and upset by management’s insistence on persisting with the stale Stardust gimmick, Rhodes wasted no time in announcing his next move. Dusty Rhodes’ youngest son Tweeted a post-WWE checklist and started taking bookings immediately: he’s already announced appearances in Evolve, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and England’s Preston City Wrestling, with more to follow.
Though questions persist over the release's legitimacy (especially after the revelation that WWE would be funding his Evolve appearances), his departure remains one of the most jarring WWE moments of 2016.
Being released from a WWE contract isn’t the death knell it’s made out to be. While the company’s “future endeavours” list is littered with wrestlers who’ve since fallen off the face of the Earth, and nobody can provide a payday or global platform like WWE in 2016, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
With the right blend of talent, application, and luck, there are plenty of career opportunities for recently departed WWE wrestlers. Whether through a stint in Japan, a tour of the indies, or a career outside of wrestling entirely, here are 12 wrestlers who’ve prospered since leaving WWE.
12. Kassius Ohno
The wrestler better known as Chris Hero will go down as one of the biggest missed opportunities in NXT history.
Originally pegged for Roman Reigns’ spot in The Shield, Hero was released from his WWE contract in late 2013 for a myriad of speculative reasons. He quickly returned to the independent circuit that made him famous in the first place, and immediately picked-up where he left-off.
His portly appearance means it’s unlikely he’ll ever get another WWE shot, but that shouldn’t matter. Chris Hero is a must-see attraction on the independent circuit, and he’s already produced a number of 2016 Match of the Year calibre clashes against the likes of Tommy End, Timothy Thatcher, and Marty Scurll.
Hero’s back to his best in his natural environment, and while it’s a shame he never made it in WWE, he’s in an excellent spot at the moment.