10 Wrestlers Who Revived Their Careers On The Indies

For better or worse, WWE is still the ultimate goal for most aspiring superstars.

The company's huge market share essentially means that they control the wrestling world, and nobody can match their reach, exposure, and financial clout. WWE have no serious competition, and this gives them unparalleled power in the labour market, allowing them to sign almost any free agent on a whim.

Leaving the company is therefore considered a huge blow, and you need only look at recently released wrestlers like the floundering Adam Rose to see why. Surviving on the independents isn't easy, and while WWE's gruelling travelling schedule is well known, the weekly grind of driving hundreds of miles to compete at smaller shows for less money can be just as taxing.

Departing a major company isn't always the death sentence it's made out to be, however. Some wrestlers embrace the grind, and thrive under their newfound freedom, no longer hindered by their previous employer's restrictive rules and regulations.

Few things generate buzz like a great independent run, and countless wrestlers flipped the negative into a positive, using their release to rebuild their ailing careers and take their name value to incredible new heights...

A dazzling high-flyer whose incredible athleticism made him a big hit among WWE fans, Evan Bourne was with the company for seven years prior to his 2014 release. Unfortunately, he was never able to ascend beyond midcard status, and incurred two Wellness Policy violations throughout his stint. A serious car accident saw him removed from programming in March 2012, and he was let go without re-appearing on television two years later.

Bourne was already a celebrated independent wrestling talent by the time he signed with WWE, and reverted to his old ring name at his release. 'Reborn' Matt Sydal re-emerged in Dragon Gate USA, having wrestled just a single match since 2012, and was soon blazing through promotions like PWG and ROH en route to a stunning career renaissance.

He resumed his role as one of the indies’ hottest commodities, and while Sydal was recently let go by NJPW, he debuted with Impact Wrestling last month, having concluded his ROH contract.

Early signs suggest he’ll play a prominent role in his new employers’ resurgent X Division, and while age (and injuries) have curbed his high-risk style somewhat, Sydal has ultimately benefited from his WWE release.