10 Wrestlers Who Jumped Ship (And Ruined Their Careers)

9. Monty Brown (TNA To WWE)

Bret Hart WCW WWE
ImpactWrestling.com

As a charismatic, exciting, hyper-athletic prospect with an awesome finisher (seriously, why don't more wrestlers use the Pounce?), Monty Brown looked like a sure-fire sports entertainment hit, but it didn't work out for him in WWE.

The former NFL linebacker jumped ship from TNA in 2006. Re-christened Marcus Cor Von, 'The Alpha Male' became part of the fledgling New Breed stable on the ECW brand, joining Kevin Thorne, Matt Striker, and Elijah Burke in a WrestleMania 23 feud with ECW Originals Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and The Sandman. They triumphed, but while Cor Von would eventually face CM Punk in an ECW Title tournament a few months later, he soon fell out of the limelight.

The Punk bout turned out to be his last. Granted time off for "family issues" in June 2007, Cor Von was released from his contract three months later, having never returned to television. Though he was reportedly given an open door should he ever want to return, 'The Alpha Male' opted to retire instead.

Perhaps he'd have enjoyed a more fruitful run had WWE introduced him on Raw or SmackDown rather than their flimsy ECW imitation, but we'll never know.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.