10 WWE Stars Who Have Gone AWOL

"Machka" or missing?

by Jamie Kennedy
Rusev Lana
WWE

WWE's fear of losing talent to AEW, New Japan, ROH, Impact or any other promotion in this saturated wrestling climate means they're approaching WCW levels of roster gluttony. It's also presumably why there are so many stars currently sitting around twiddling their thumbs and doing precisely bugger all for their salaries.

Hey, nobody's judging, but it is a bit weird to have skilled players stagnating on the bench for so long.

Don't read too much into Triple H's recent comments questioning whether or not this is actually a wrestling war. It very much is, and WWE didn't get to the top by underestimating potential competition. They know full well that AEW has solid financial backing, has already stolen away big names like Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley, and could be a long-term threat when they land on TNT.

Internally then, it's anyone's guess what those wrestlers struggling to get on TV think. Others have become so disillusioned by WWE life that they'd rather chill out for a while, pursue side projects or assess their options during the second half of 2019.

Where are these people!?

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.