10 Wrestlers Who Never Recovered From Their WWE Release

8. Brad Maddox

Rikishi 2000 Royal Rumble
WWE.com

Brad Maddox had a baffling WWE career. Starting-off as a referee in 2012, he rose to prominence by low blowing Ryback to help CM Punk retain his WWE Championship at the Hell in a Cell PPV. Maddox later revealed that his actions were self-motivated and driven by the desire to become a WWE wrestler, but he was thrown from pill to post by Ryback and Randy Orton, ultimately failing to win a wrestler’s contract.

A brief “free agent” story followed, before Maddox was appointed Raw’s Assistant Managing Supervisor in 2013, then the show’s general manager a few months later. He was eventually relieved of his duties after months of routine embarrassment, and was released from his WWE contract after swearing at fans during a dark match.

Though he’s generally regarded as one of the limpest authority figures in WWE history, Maddox was featured incredibly prominently early in his WWE run, and through his spell as GM. He has since seemingly fallen off the face of the Earth despite announcing his intentions of touring the indies as “Mad Braddox” (how inventive), and it’s unclear whether or not he even exists in the wrestling universe any more, aside from his prowrestlingtees.com store.

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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.