10 WWE Releases That Actually HELPED A Wrestler
1. Cody Rhodes
Honestly, there might not be a list like this without Cody Rhodes.
Sure, people have let WWE and thrived away from the market leader before, but few have achieved the levels of success that Cody did after leaving in 2016. Whether he was 'Dashing', touting his Legacy, a Rhodes Scholar or just painted up as Stardust, it was clear that Rhodes wasn’t going to get a real opportunity as even an upper-mid-card wrestler.
So, in 2016, Cody began a 3-year run wrestling all over the world, competing with and against countless stars that either no longer or never had been part of WWE. He became a bigger star in the process. In September 2018, Rhodes and The Young Bucks also staged the original All In as a direct response to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer stating that he didn’t believe Ring Of Honor could sell out a 10,000-seat arena.
That show opened the door to the creation of All Elite Wrestling, which immediately became the number 2 wrestling promotion in the United States. Cody helped to launch the company as an executive Vice President. He would then win the TNT Title 3 times before requesting his release in February 2022.
Had the story ended there, Rhodes’ journey would have been deemed a rousing success. He'd successfully ditched the crummy Stardust gimmick to become a bonafide superstar on the independent circuit, and founded the first serious non-WWE promotion in the US since WCW folded.
However, we all know Cody’s story wasn’t finished.
His return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 kicked off an incredible run that has seen him main-event 4 consecutive WrestleManias, win the WWE Championship 3 times, and oversee a renaissance of WWE that elevated the company to heights not seen in more than 15 years.
Rhodes talks about being "QB1" for WWE. He's a leader who takes his role at the top of the company very seriously. Literally none of this would have been possible had he not bet on himself and left WWE nearly 10 years ago to the day.