8 Best Second Act WWE Careers Ever

8. Finlay

In the 1990s, Dave "Fit" Finlay appeared in WCW as the Belfast Bruiser, working an intense series with William (then Steven) Regal. However, as with most of WCW's talented undercard workers, his skills were consistently overlooked in favor of innumerable nWo rehashes. In 1999, a terrible nerve injury suffered in an ill-conceived junkyard match derailed what momentum he did have, and when the company folded, Finlay quietly retired to work as a road agent and trainer for the WWE.

As it turned out, Fit Finlay was pretty awesome at his job. His work as the mentor of the Divas division resulted in its so-called Golden Age; Victoria, Trish Stratus, Molly Holly and Gail Kim have credited much of their success to Finlay's support and guidance. This excellence engendered so much goodwill with the company that Finlay -- at 48 years old -- was allowed to return to the ring. Finlay had a vicious feud with Bobby Lashley, undoubtedly the best of the latter's career, culminating in a US championship win for the so-called "Fighting Irish Bastard."

Finlay even defeated two reigning world champions in this period -- Booker T and Rey Mysterio -- in non-title encounters. A far cry from the man whose career was supposed to have ended in a junkyard seven years prior.