8 Wrestlers Who Couldn't Wait To Ditch Their WWE Gimmicks After Leaving
These guys embarked on big changes after leaving the WWE.
Matching the right gimmick to the right performer is a crucial component to securing the lasting success of a wrestler in the eyes of the audience. Sure, in-ring talent is important, but as Dean Malenko, and, more recently, Chad Gable can attest, technical prowess is only half the battle when attempting to win over fans.
Sometimes the right persona can see a wrestler reach all of their untapped potential and achieve true greatness the way Steve Austin did after being saddled as The Ringmaster. However, this also works both ways, and Vince McMahon has shown that his prowess for creating characters that will stand the test of time has been hit and miss, to say the least.
Of course, for the first time in nearly two decades, there are a variety of viable prospects for wrestlers who are looking to test the waters outside of the big show, meaning that talents no longer need to hold on to their WWE gimmick to ensure commercial success on the independent scene.
These wrestlers not only shed their WWE skin once parting ways with the company, but some even disparaged the gimmick they had once portrayed upon their depature.
8. Emma
Though WWE's women's divisions have been stronger than ever in recent years, it is fair to say the company hasn't always placed female wrestlers at the top of its list of priorities. However, during the dark period prior to the revolution, one of the leading lights of the women's ranks was Emma.
After an injury sidelined her in 2016, a plan was hatched to repackage the Australian with a new gimmick with a series of vignettes produced to hype the arrival of Emmalina, a stunning diva character reminiscent of the likes of Sable and The Kat.
Ultimately though, the rebrand would not work out as planned, and when Emma finally did return to regular action it was under her former persona, and she would be released less than a year later. Unsurprisingly, since her release Emma is yet to reprise the Emmalina character, which is honestly probably for the best.