10 WWE Wrestlers Who Went On To Better Things

3. Kenny Omega

Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, The Outsiders
NJPW1972.com

No professional wrestler generates more buzz than Kenny Omega right now. The current IWGP United States Champion has always been a tremendous athlete, but his game has gone through the roof since joining NJPW on a full-time basis in 2014.

Now the company's biggest gaijin, the Bullet Club's 'Cleaner' exploded into mainstream consciousness following his stunning six-star match with Kazuchika Okada on 4 January.

He has maintained a similar level of quality throughout the year, and at least matched that performance in the bout's two sequels, as well as in his G1 Climax final with Tetsuya Naito. A genuine wrestling genius, Omega is finding outrageous levels of success in a company that truly appreciates him, building a level of popularity that would've been unfathomable even 12 months ago.

Not bad for a guy who lasted under a year in WWE developmental: Omega achieved nothing in Deep South Wrestling, and has been immensely critical of the time he spent there.

WWE could never have predicted he'd explode like this, and they've made several approaches to bring Omega back to the company over the past few years, but Kenny has spurned these advances. A wise move, as Vince McMahon would never place him on a pedestal like NJPW have.

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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.