10 Wrestlers Who Left WWE & Became World Class

There was some hope for the then-CJ Parker in NXT. He was never going to be NXT Champion, but regardless, the guy had the makings of a quality wrestler. He was - or rather, is - a cracking talent to watch in-ring. Being stuck with the hippie gimmick is what held him back. People simply didn't like the character.

Juice Robinson, on the other hand, is well-received.

Juicy Baby wasted no time when he was let go from Vince McMahon's empire on 3 April 2015, making it to the semifinals of Combat Zone Wrestling's fourteenth Best of the Best tournament just eight days later. Add in teaming with the legendary Katsuyori Shibata for his Pro Wrestling NOAH debut, entering Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's 2017 International Gran Prix, and becoming a regular for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and you've got a bonafide star.

It was in New Japan that Robinson picked up some mammoth victories that are now lost in history. In the same year, he pinned Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito, and Kenny Omega, ultimately leading to his capture of the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, which he held twice.

Somehow, Juice Robinson completely rid himself of anything to do with WWE and CJ Parker. That he's also a great in-ring wrestler only adds to his excellence.