10 Wrestlers WWE Regret Releasing

3. Christian

Christian TNA
impactwrestling.com

A former World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, and nine-time Tag Team Champion, Christian is one of WWE’s most decorated modern superstars. He’s a future Hall-of-Famer, and if there’s any logic to the company’s selection process, he’ll be inducted within the next couple of years.

Despite all his success, Christian’s WWE career wasn’t quite as glorious as it should have been. Like his partner Edge, he was the total package of charisma, mic skills, and wrestling ability, but he was never able to ascend to the same heights, and was let go from the company in 2005.

Christian signed with TNA, and soon became one of the company’s franchise players. He finally started fulfilling his main event potential without the WWE machine behind him, regularly headlined pay-per-views, and became a two-time TNA Heavyweight Champion. Simply put, Christian actively enhanced TNA’s product by appearing on their shows, and it soon became apparent that his WWE release was a huge mistake.

He eventually returned to WWE, and while Christian has two World Heavyweight Title reigns to his name, both were disappointing. Had WWE retained him in 2005, Christian could have become just as important to the company as Edge was. Instead, he’ll forever live in his former tag partner’s shadow.

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Channel Manager

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.