10 Wrestlers Who VANISHED When WWF Became WWE
Those talents who disappeared out of sight following the WWE rebrand of 2002.
While WWE likes to paint the company's name change of 2002 as Vince McMahon deciding to freshen up the organisation, the truth is that the pandas had come home to roost.
With disputes with the World Wildlife Fund dating back to 1992, McMahon's World Wrestling Federation was legally forced to change its WWF logo and name. Thus, 5 May 2002 was the formal rebranding of the organisation to World Wrestling Entertainment or simply WWE. For those pondering why that date may ring a bell, it's actually the exact same date that the infamous Plane Ride From Hell took place.
Alongside the ham-fisted "Get the F Out" campaign, May 2002 was a time of clear change for WWE. Away from the new logos and TV presentation, Attitude Era golden child Steve Austin was in and out of the company, The Rock was flirting excessively with Hollywood, and there were a batch of developmental hopefuls chomping at the bit to get their shot in the big time.
As the WWE continued to evolve, this time was the last we'd ever see of certain superstars on a stage as big as McMahon's promotion. For some, 2002 would see them quit the business entirely, whilst others would opt to try their hand in other smaller promotions - never again to compete in a WWE ring.
With that in mind, then, here are ten talents who vanished from the WWE spotlight after the company rebrand.
10. Shawn Stasiak
On paper, Shawn Stasiak ticked so many of the usual WWE boxes. A jacked 6'4" 250 lbs frame? Check. Second generation? Check. A good looking son of a gun? Check. The problem was, Planet Stasiak wasn't all that great between the ropes and never managed to put the whole package together.
Despite having two spells with Vince McMahon's sports entertainment giant, Stasiak's dreams of following in his father Stan's footsteps and claiming the company's biggest prize never came to pass. Instead, Shawn had to make do with 15 reigns as Hardcore Champion.
Having already have a stint in the promotion as PMS' Meat, Stasiak returned to the then-WWF as part of the WCW buyout.
The whole WCW Invasion angle had long died a death by the time WWF formally became WWE in May 2002, and Shawn found himself either doing quick jobs on TV or being absent from programming entirely. In the aftermath of that company name change, Stasiak lost 15 TV matches in a row - largely on Sunday Night Heat - before asking for his release in September '02.
Realising that the wrestling business wasn't for him, the three-time WCW Tag Team Champion has only wrestled at four independent shows - the last of which was in 2010 - since departing WWE. To his credit, Shawn has crafted a career for himself as a notable chiropractor and motivational speaker.