8 WWE Flops Who Went On To Bigger Things

6. CJ Parker

Few could have predicted that NXT's resident dreadlocked hippie CJ Parker would go on to become IWGP United States Champion just over three years after departing WWE. It's happened though, and Parker (as Juice Robinson) is now somebody the promotion are linked with bringing back.

It's funny how things turn out, eh?

Parker, a solid mic man during his run in NXT, clearly always had the skills to be more. He wasn't going to be that when playing the one-note free spirit gimmick WWE had in mind for him however. No, Juice Robinson is everything that WWE rookie always wanted to be, and more. Today, he doesn't need his former employers, and that must be liberating.

Juice has gone on to much bigger things outside WWE. His New Japan run has been peppered with promising moments, like a confidence-boosting win over Kenny Omega last August in the G1 Climax Tournament. Now he's IWGP US Champ, Robinson has no need to consider WWE's offer if he doesn't want to.