11 Times Wrestlers Bet On Themselves (... And LOST!)
5. KUSHIDA Wanted To Try Out WWE, But Soon Learned NXT Wasn't The Place For Him
Joining KENTA on this list as another brilliant Japanese worker who just fancied giving that sports entertainment stuff a try, KUSHIDA finally opted to head stateside and took a chance on making a name for himself within the WWE landscape in April 2019.
Up to that point, KUSHIDA had done everything he could in NJPW's junior heavyweight division, picking up the IWGP Junior Heavyweight strap six times.
But after growing tired of not being given the opportunities he desired at heavyweight and reportedly having a heel turn pitch turned down, KUSHIDA professionally finished up in NJPW and eventually became a member of the NXT roster.
Despite Triple H and the gang giving the star a number of opportunities to show off his outstanding work-rate and even making him NXT Cruiserweight Champion for a spell, though, KUSHIDA never really caught fire in developmental - even pre-2.0 revamp.
The eventual move into more comedic waters alongside Ikemen Jiro as the Jacket Time team and WWE's new focus on investing in promising athletes under 30 rather than brilliant older wrestlers then left KUSHIDA feeling "redundant", as he told NJPW.
And by April 2022, the star knew his time was up with the promotion, leaving at the end of his deal before eventually re-signing with New Japan and putting pen to paper on a TNA deal, too.
At least he had a go, eh?