10 WWE Wrestlers Who Went On To Better Things

4. Cody Rhodes

Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, The Outsiders
Twitter/@CodyRhodes/ROH

Cody Rhodes isn't the independent scene's flashiest, most athletic, or skilled competitor. Quite the opposite, in fact: he's a bog standard WWE-style worker who's never bad, but rarely exceptional.

He's good enough to get by, but Cody will never be a true in-ring standout, which makes his post-WWE success in the world of high-workrate 'dream match' promotions all the more remarkable.

Rhodes is the independent wrestling scene's hottest commodity. A classic territory-style heel, he has rebuilt his career with a tireless work ethic and genius marketing strategy, making him a considerable draw in his home country, and a pushed import almost everywhere he goes. Sure, the current Ring Of Honor Champion hasn't gotten over in NJPW, but he has provided the perfect blueprint for other wrestlers to follow upon leaving WWE, though it'd take a Herculean effort to replicate his success.

Nobody predicted this from Cody. He was never anything more than a midcarder in WWE, and his prosperity since leaving the company shows just how badly the writers held him back. If he can accomplish this on his own, without the support of a major wrestling promotion, imagine what he could've achieved had Vince McMahon not saddled him with the Stardust gimmick?

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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.