10 Wrestlers Who Turned Down WWE Contracts

9. Kota Ibushi

Sting Darby Allin
WWE.com

After Kota Ibushi starred in the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic, made an unexpected NXT cameo and even pledged himself for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, it seemed a virtual guarantee that the former DDT darling would soon become a permanent fixture in WWE.

Unfortunately, Triple H and co. didn't consider the fact that Ibushi is a man who very much sails by his own wind. WWE engaged in pained negotiations to sign the Japanese independent star to a contact, but were met with constant rejection. When asked by Tokyo Sports in 2016 whether he'd go full-time in WWE, Ibushi finally put the question to rest:

"Zero chance. Absolutely not," he told the paper. "These one-shot deals are an absolute plus for all concerned. If I can be the precedent for this kind of deal, it opens the doors for a lot of Japanese talent in WWE."

The opposite occurred. With the emergence of AEW, WWE started stockpiling talent to lengthy, watertight contracts, guaranteeing they couldn't use their platform as a way to gain exposure and leverage deals elsewhere. Ibushi himself eventually resisted overtures from AEW, signing a 'lifetime contract' with former employers NJPW.

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Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.