10 WWE Stars Who Came Out Of The Wilderness

The Land of Opportunity wasn't just the slogan for SmackDown LIVE from 2016 to 2019: it also rings true for WWE as a company and has done for as long as it has been televised as a product.

If you take your chance and seize the moment, you're probably going to make a star out of yourself and make the company a whole lot of money.

But, what happens when a once marketable superstar decides to burn their bridges with the biggest company in all of pro wrestling?

Apart from occasionally taking a dig at a once contracted wrestler (Triple H at this year's Hall of Fame springs to mind) the WWE tend to take the approach of treating these discarded talents as if they had been sent into the wilderness.

Many of these wantaway stars become huge successes in other companies or opt for a new career entirely. Some even start up their own companies, so don't expect Cody Rhodes to disappear off the WWE blacklist any time soon.

Regardless of how long it takes - if the money is right for both parties - you better believe the boss will drop a grudge if it is 'best for business'.

How They Entered The Wilderness:

In 2004, WWE was Brock Lesnar's oyster and he could choose to do whatever he wished with it.

Amassing a stellar repertoire of victories over Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, The Rock and The Big Show, Lesnar had lived up to the billing of Next Big Thing and then some. He also managed to become - at the time - the youngest world champion in the company's history.

Then he decided he'd had enough. The schedule was too rough and he simply didn’t have a passion for pro wrestling anymore. Without warning, he opted to leave at the end of his contract in a losing display at WrestleMania XX. Lesnar gave the informed fans (and WWE in general) the finger on the way out and looked to never be seen again.

How They Came Out:

After eight years away from the world's leading pro wrestling organization - winning an IWGP Heavyweight Championship and kicking some legitimate ass in the UFC - Lesnar shook up the landscape in 2012 and returned to F5 John Cena into oblivion.

Lesnar and McMahon had come to a 'special attraction' agreement, meaning that The Beast showed up less but still got paid the big bucks.

It worked and the now seven time world champion is still seen as one of the only genuine stars in WWE because of his lack of exposure to the Universe.