10 Times Wrestlers Bet On Themselves (... And WON!)
2. Cody Rhodes (2016)
It happens all the time, wrestlers leaving/getting released from WWE, but their success on the indies is never guaranteed.
Damien Sandow was all the rage when he was cut in 2016. A brief, yet enjoyable run that he himself said reignited his passion for the business saw the real-life Aron Stevens in IMPACT and subsequently the NWA, but the buzz wore off after a few months, certainly before he arrived in the Billy Corgan-helmed NWA. The same goes for Wade Barrett, released in the same 6 May batch; he didn't even bother with an indie run, bar the odd non-physical role, as he adapted to a quieter life. Alex Riley, who was nothing but a good theme song in WWE, only returned to the ring this year in what can't even be described as a wrestling match.
Then, there's Cody Rhodes.
Asking for his release on 21 May and having it granted a few days later, the artist formerly known as Stardust embarked on an era-defining indies run, made late-2016 IMPACT noteworthy, became a major star in both ROH and NJPW, co-promoted the revered All In pay-per-view, and helped found All Elite Wrestling, a promotion in which he became a focal point.
And breathe.
It was a generational run for a second-generation talent that won't ever be replicated.