Ever since the rise of the major independents in the early 2000s following the demise of WCW and ECW, that time period that saw the founding of such major independent promotions like Ring of Honor (ROH), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Total Nonstop Action (TNA, now IMPACT Wrestling), CHIKARA, Beyond Wrestling and more, as well as the stabilization of international promotions like New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), indie fans have always lamented whenever the WWE signed away any of the top indie stars for their own use. Whether it be CM Punk to Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins to Adam Cole, Ricochet to Matt Riddle, there’s a constant flow of indie talents who have risen to the top only to get plucked from the scene and implanted into the WWE Universe, be in NXT or the main roster.
But something that is very rarely discussed with the same passion – but should – is the staggering amount of talent that WWE has had that have been released back to the indies, either voluntarily or involuntarily, who have gone on to have greater impact on the indies than they did during their WWE tenures. Talents that languished in developmental for years and had to return to the indies to reclaim their passion, or talent from the main roster that were stagnating due to a lack of direction or simply because “creative had nothing for them.”
With that in mind, here’s a look at many of the top stars on the independent scene who were once employees of the WWE – some huge main roster stars, some developmental rejects – who have not only survived in their post-WWE careers, but thrived. Some are talents that were within WWE’s wheelhouse but for whatever reason they decided to pass on. And in the end, it helped the current indie boom in the process.
Changed Minds & Eliminations
A look at the talents that were within WWE’s grasps but for whatever reason were never offered contracts (or had contracts withdrawn before they reported to developmental).
CHELSEA GREEN, 2015
Joined cast of the 2015 Tough Enough as an injury replacement…following her elimination, she toured Stardom in Japan, debuted in SHIMMER and signed with IMPACT Wrestling, becoming a Knockouts Champion as Laurel Van Ness…left IMPACT in early 2018 and continues to be one of the most popular women’s wrestlers on the circuit, including an appearance at All In, and recently debuted with Lucha Underground.
KENNY KING, 2002
Started his career trying to get a WWE job on the second season of Tough Enough…after being eliminated, worked on the indies before becoming a regular with Ring of Honor (ROH) in 2006…Was a regular with IMPACT Wrestling from 2012 through 2015…2x IMPACT X-Division Champion, 2x ROH Television Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion with Rhett Titus in The All Night Express.
MATT MORGAN, 2002
Eliminated from Tough Enough in 2002, but signed to WWE anyway…released after uneventful three year tenure…signed with IMPACT in 2008 and was a main event regular until 2013…2x IMPACT World Tag Team Champion
WILLIE MACK, 2014
Budding indie star when signed to a developmental deal by the WWE in 2014…Was released from deal before he reported to Orlando for supposedly failing his last medical…signed with Lucha Underground in 2015, gaining huge exposure and exploding on the indie scene…Current House of Hardcore Internet Champion and Championship Wrestling From Hollywood (CWFH) Heritage Champion.
MATT CROSS, 2010
Eliminated from Tough Enough in 2010 reboot after a 9-year career on the indie scene…after not being offered a deal, returned to indies and exploded, becoming the inaugural Smash Wrestling Champion, signing with Lucha Underground in 2015 as the masked wrestler Son of Havoc, and continues to wrestle for various promotions around the world, including the opening contest for All In against MJF.
TAYA VALKYRIE, 2012
Early into her career, was offered a WWE developmental deal just before she was heading to start working in Mexico…Before she could report, the offer was withdrawn…Spent next five years in Mexico with AAA, before joining Lucha Underground in 2015 and then IMPACT Wrestling in 2017…2x AAA Reina de Reinas (Women’s) Champion, including longest reign at 945 days.
MARTY THE MOTH, 2010
Another contestant on the 2010 Tough Enough, he was also eliminated and not offered a contract…Returned to the indies and eventually signed with Lucha Underground in 2014 as Marty The Moth…Is one of the emerging new stars whose stock is about to soar as he recently won the Lucha Underground Championship.
The Exiles
A look at the ones who were in the WWE’s wheelhouse at some stage of their careers but left to become an impetus of the indie boom before returning to the WWE Universe.
EC3, 2013
As Derrick Bateman, the man who would become Ethan Carter III in TNA toiled for five years in WWE developmental, first with Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and then NXT, before being released in 2013. He went to TNA and became the spoiled nephew of owner Dixie Carter, where his arrogance ushered in a new heel that became one of TNA’s brightest prospects and helped keep TNA afloat for the next few years, with two reigns as TNA World Heavyweight Champion. With TNA’s allowance of talent to work other indies, EC3 also showed up in Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), EVOLVE, Bar Wrestling, AAA, House of Hardcore and more, before making the decision to bring his new confidence and swagger back to WWE and NXT earlier this year.
KASSIUS OHNO, 2013
When Chris Hero arrived in FCW with his long time tag team partner Claudio Castagnoli, many assumed the duo would conquer the WWE’s developmental and then the Kings of Wrestling would become a main roster force for years. But instead, the duo was broken up, Claudio became Cesaro, and Hero – as Kassius Ohno – floundered for two years. He was granted his release in 2013 and returned to the indies to regain his form and became one of the hottest names on the indie circuit, capturing the EVOVLE Championship and dominating in singles action for the next few years. When he finally returned to NXT in 2017, he was at peace with his past and became a mentor to the NXT locker room.
DREW McINTYRE, 2014
One of the bright young stars of the British indie scene when he joined the WWE’s developmental in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in 2007, “The Chosen One” was pushed through the ranks quickly, in OVW and then FCW, before heading to the main roster. Pushed hard early, he would win the Intercontinental Championship early, but by 2014, his fire had faded inside his heart and his tenure had been reduced to comedic spots with 3MB. He departed the WWE in 2014 and headed back to the indies, where he dominated everywhere he went, working on every aspect of his game. He would go on to win the EVOLVE Championship, Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) World Heavyweight Championship, TNA Heavyweight Championship, WCPW (now Defiant) World Heavyweight Championship, Dragon Gate Open the Gate Championship, Scottish Wrestling Alliance (SWA) Scottish Heavyweight Championship and more in his three year run on the global indies, before returning to the WWE in 2017.
REY MYSTERIO JR., 2015
Already a legend in the industry when he departed from the WWE due to injuries in 2015, Rey Mysterio took the time to mend and returned to the indies with a bang, particularly in the world of lucha libre. He returned to Mexico and worked with the likes of AAA and The Crash Lucha, as well as joining Lucha Underground for the second season. He brought his star power to the British indie scene as well, working for the likes of WCPW/Defiant, Revolution Pro UK (RevPro), and World Association of Wrestling (WAW), as well as NJPW this year and main eventing All In. He’s recently re-signed with the WWE to make his return, but his return to the indies helped draw new eyes to new promotions around the world.
AJ STYLES, 2001
In early 2001, AJ Styles signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and within weeks, it was sold to the WWE. The WWE acquired his contract and used him as enhancement briefly before buying out his WCW deal. He was offered a developmental deal (that would have seen him join the OVW class that included John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista and Brock Lesnar), but refused, opting to head to Ring of Honor and then TNA instead. Becoming the face of TNA, Styles became TNA’s first homegrown star, winning the World title five times before departing TNA in 2013. He headed to NJPW in 2014 and joined Bullet Club, at the time becoming the highest profile main stream star to join the faction. He would capture the IWGP Heavyweight twice, arguably starting the shift of eyes from North America to the Japanese product that has since lead to a boom for NJPW, before finally arriving back in the WWE in early 2016.
The Current Crop
A look at the talents who were a part of the WWE – either in developmental or the main roster – who departed the company and are now a part of the rise of indie wrestling in North America and around the world.
JUICE ROBINSON, 2015
As CJ Parker, he was a comedic peace loving hippy that seemed destined for enhancement status in his four year stint in WWE developmental from 2011 to 2015. He was granted his release in 2015 and headed to train in the NJPW Dojo where, as Juice Robinson, he’s since become one of NJPW’s brightest young stars and the current reigning IWGP United States Champion.
IVELISSE, 2012
A Tough Enough competitor in 2011, Ivelisse was signed by the WWE after the contest and sent to their developmental in FCW, where she became Sofia Cortez. Her stint last about a year and half, until she was released in the summer of 2012. She headed to Shine where she became the Shine Champion and then in 2014, signed with Lucha Underground, where she became a mainstream champion of intergender wrestling, winning the LU Trios titles on two occasions. She won the Shine title once again in 2016 and continues to be one of the top workers on the indies.
TANGA LOA, 2014
The son of WWE legend Haku, he spent six years with WWE’s developmental in FCW and NXT as Camacho, often paired with Hunico (who would become the second Sin Cara). He was released in 2014 and briefly showed up in IMPACT as part of Drew McIntyre’s new faction. But it was joining NJPW in 2016 that made him a star where, as Tanga Loa, he joined his brother Tama Tonga, not only in Bullet Club, but as the tag team Guerrillas of Destiny, becoming 3x IWGP Tag Team Champions and 3x NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Champions. With the Tongan side of Bullet Club hell bent on destroying NJPW (and the other half of Bullet Club), Tanga has never been hotter.
JACK SWAGGER, 2017
A highly touted amateur wrestler, Jack Swagger came into the WWE with high prospects in 2007, first with OVW and FCW, then on the ECW brand in 2008. He won the ECW Championship in 2009, then the World Heavyweight Championship in 2010, but it was all down hill after that. By the time he asked for his release in 2017, he was an afterthought with WWE creative. His indie start was slow, but in the past few months he’s picked up steam as one of the new stars on this season of Lucha Underground as well as part of the reboot for Major League Wrestling (MLW).
DAVEY BOY SMITH JR., 2011
In late 2005, Harry Smith, son of WWE legend “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith and Diana Hart, sister of Bret “Hitman” Hart and Owen Hart, made his debut with the WWE, splitting time as a main roster enhancement and working with FCW. In 2009, he was joined by his cousin, Natalya, and childhood friend Tyson Kidd to form the Hart Dynasty, capturing WWE Tag Team titles. Shortly after the Dynasty was disbanded in 2011, Smith was released and joined NJPW the following year. Paired with Lance Archer (another WWE throwaway), they formed the Killer Elite Squad and joined the Suzuki-gun faction, tearing up the tag team division in New Japan as well as Pro Wrestling NOAH (during a Suzuki-gun invasion angle), winning the IWGP Tag Team titles three times and capturing NOAH’s GHC Tag Team titles twice during their year long invasion. They continue to be one of the strongest presences in the New Japan heavyweight tag team division. In North America, he’s also part of MLW, where he’s in the new Hart Foundation stable with cousin Teddy Hart and Brian Pillman Jr.
CHRIS JERICHO, 2017
Chris Jericho is no stranger to coming and going from the WWE. He’s been doing it for the better part of the last decade. But before, he would always stay loyal to WWE even in his absence, just focusing on his band Fozzy. But last year, he showed up in a NJPW ring to attack Kenny Omega, leading to Jericho’s match against “The Best Bout Machine” at this year’s Wrestle Kingdom, followed by winning the IWGP Intercontinental Championship later this year. He’s got a cruise coming up with ROH and IMPACT wrestlers on board and rumors abound he’s set to appear for IMPACT at Bound For Glory. The mystery of Jericho – and where exactly he’ll show up next – has been a huge boost of star power to the indie revolution.
CARISTICO, 2014
In 2011, Mexican lucha sensation and CMLL superstar Mistico made global headlines when he signed with WWE. He was repackaged as the masked Sin Cara and made his debut, but for whatever reason, never truly felt comfortable in the world of “sports entertainment”. He skipped developmental and debuted on the main roster almost instantly, but never found his footing in the WWE Universe. The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and CMLL World Welterweight Champion seemed permanently damaged when he left the company in 2014, with his only achievement being a frequent star on Botchamania. He returned to CMLL, but due to another wrestler donning the mantle of Mistico, reinvented himself as Caristico. He’s since captured the Lucha Elite Middleweight Championship (which he’s now held over 850 days) and the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship in CMLL and has returned to form as one of the top luchadores in the world.
KIMBER LEE, 2018
Prior to joining the WWE in 2016, Kimber Lee was one of the top women’s wrestlers in the world. She made history the year previous, when she became the first female to win the top title in a major indie promotion, winning the CHIKARA Grand Championship. She joined NXT in late 2016 as Abbey Laith, competed in the first Mae Young Classic, and seemed on the road to becoming a strong component of the NXT Women’s division. But earlier this year, she was released from the company, and has returned to the indie circuit with a vengeance. She’s taking all comers – men or women – and is currently the All American Wrestling (AAW) Women’s Champion. A regular throughout the North American indies, she also made her Japan debut this year with Stardom.
BLACK LOTUS, 2010
In 2007, former CFL cheerleader Angela Fong auditioned for that year’s WWE Divas Search, but although she didn’t make the show, she was signed by the WWE and sent to their WWE developmental in FCW. Known as Savannah, she won the Queen of FCW (Women’s) Championship in 2009. Instead of being called up to be a women’s wrestler, she debuted in ECW in 2009 as a backstage interviewer and later became the ring announcer for NXT in 2010, just prior to her release. She worked the indies, including a tour of Japan that included Ice Ribbon, before joining Lucha Underground in 2014 as the mysterious Black Lotus.
LANCE ARCHER, 2010
Standing 6’8″ and 265 lbs. should have made Lance Archer a smash hit in the WWE Universe, but fate had other plans. After a 6-year run with TNA as Lance Hoyt (and later Lance Rock in the Rock N’ Rave Infection with Jimmy Rave), he joined the WWE in late 2009 and paired with Curt Hawkins. He lasted a year as Vance Archer, before departing the company in 2010 and headed to Japan. There he joined NJPW and in 2012 was partnered with Davey Boy Smith Jr., becoming 3x IWGP Tag Team champions in the Killer Elite Squad, and as one of the most stable tag teams in the NJPW tag division.
TRENT BARETTA, 2013
In 2007, WWE signed New York indie wrestler Trent Barreta and assigned him to FCW. He would join the main roster in 2009, first on the ECW brand and then on to Smackdown, where he was partnered in the tag team The Dude Busters with Caylen Croft. With his WWE career floundering, he departed in 2012. He entered the 2013 NJPW Best of the Super Juniors and hit the indie circuit hard, working for PWG, EVOLVE, Dragon Gate and more for a couple years, before signing on with NJPW full time in 2015, where he partnered with Rocky Romero in Roppongi Vice, where he became a 4x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Now partnering with Chuck Taylor in Best Friends, he continues to be a big star with NJPW and Ring of Honor.
CATRINA, 2012
The supernatural mistress who reigns supreme over Lucha Underground got her start with WWE’s FCW in 2009, as Maxine, followed by two years in NXT, until she was granted her release in 2012. She returned to wrestling in 2014, first appearing with IMPACT for the Knockouts PPV, One Night Only: Knockouts Knockdown, as Karlee Perez, then debuted with Lucha Underground as the villainous witch Catrina who controlled the zombie king Mil Muertes. She continues to weave her black magic with LU, trying to control the spirits and return Mil to LU gold.
MATT SYDAL, 2014
Matt Sydal was an emerging indie star, a former ROH Tag Team Champion and star with Dragon Gate, PWG and others, when he signed with the WWE in 2007 and headed to OVW. In 2008, he made his debut with ECW as Evan Bourne, and soon became a high flying star on the WWE main roster. In 2011, he won WWE Tag Team gold with Kofi Kingston in Air Boom, but his star began to dim in the WWE Universe, and by 2014 he was gone from the company. He headed to Japan and formed a tag team with Ricochet, winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles twice in NJPW, as well as returning to Ring of Honor. In 2017, he signed with IMPACT Wrestling, where he’s captured the X-Division and Grand Championship, and continues to shine as one of the veterans of the X-Division and IMPACT’s resurgence.
TENILLE DASHWOOD, 2017
Australian star Tenille Dashwood came over to Canada in 2009 to train with Lance Storm and worked the Canadian and US indies (including ECCW and SHIMMER), until the WWE came knocking in 2012. She started in FCW, then NXT, as Emma, becoming of the most popular stars in the women’s division. She was called up to the main roster, but her dancing character failed and she returned to NXT to reinvent herself. She once again one over the Full Sail crowd, this time as a heel, and was called back up again in 2016, but shortly after her call up, she was injured and missed several months of action. A failed repackage as Emmalina lead to a loss of position in the pecking order and in late 2017 she was released from the company. She’s since signed as one of the faces of Ring of Honor’s Women of Honor division, as well as becoming a major player in the women’s indie scene.
BRIAN CAGE, 2010
Brian Cage was only a couple years into his wrestling career when he signed with the WWE in 2008 and started with FCW as Kris Logan. But by 2010, he was gone, and soured from the experience. He slowly worked the indie circuit, breaking out with PWG as part of the tag team Unbreakable F’n Machines with Michael Elgin, capturing PWG Tag Team gold. He got a major breakthrough when he debuted with Lucha Underground in 2014, and has been on a tear ever since, working with every indie promotion you can think of. He made his debut with IMPACT Wrestling this year and is the current reigning X-Division Champion, as well as the reigning WrestleCircus Ringmaster Champion and WrestleCircus Sideshow Champion.
SU YUNG, 2012
The wife of Rich Swann actually beat her husband to the WWE by five years. Early in her career, she was signed by the WWE to a developmental deal and assigned to FCW in 2010. As Sonia, she worked for FCW for two years before being released in 2012. She immediately hit the indie circuit, debuting with SHIMMER, Shine, Queens of Combat (QOC), and more, as her bubbly character slowly began a fast track to madness into the “Undead Bride” that she’s come to be famous for. She debuted with IMPACT Wrestling earlier this year and captured the Knockouts Championship early, establishing herself as a main event player with IMPACT.
RICH SWANN, 2017
Speaking of Rich Swann, the talented and athletic high flyer for nearly a decade, with the likes of Dragon Gate, CZW, PWG and EVOLVE before he signed with the WWE in 2015. He started in NXT, then following a big performance in the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic, joined the rebooted WWE Cruiserweight division and it’s new show, 205 Live. He was pushed heavily, capturing the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. He departed the WWE in early 2018 and has since returned to the indies, finally showcasing his aerialist potential with the likes of IMPACT Wrestling and MLW.
PCO, 1998
One of the indie scene’s greatest comeback stories has been that of a former WWE Superstar who left the company back in 1998, after winning the WWF World Tag Team titles three times as part of the Quebecers. Since then, Pierre Carl Ouellet headed to Germany’s wXw, All Japan, and Canadian indies, before talking a leave from the sport in 2010. He returned quietly in 2016, but this spring his match against WALTER at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 2 became a “must see” moment, elevating PCO to superstar status in the indie world. “Not Human” PCO is now the monster of the indie circuit, performing feats that many men half his age can’t do.
TESSA BLANCHARD, 2017
Ok, this one is a bit of a cheat. Technically, Tessa Blanchard has never signed a WWE deal, developmental or otherwise. But now that she’s the most in-demand women’s wrestler in the world not signed by the WWE and one of the indie circuit’s top stars (man or woman), it’s worth noting that WWE had plenty of opportunities to sign the third generation grappler. Like many indie stars of either gender, Tessa has worked for the WWE in an enhancement role. Early into her career, she worked a few matches in NXT, putting over the likes of Carmella, Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss. Last year, she was part of the inaugural Mae Young Classic, losing in the first round to the eventual winner, Kairi Sane. Clearly, she’s on WWE’s radar. But while the WWE used her for enhancement, IMPACT Wrestling signed her to become a Knockout and is now their Champion. She’s also signed with Women of Wrestling (WOW) and works for SHIMMER, RISE, WrestleCircus, Beyond Wrestling, Smash Wrestling and many more promotions on a regular basis, dominating women’s divisions (and intergender wrestling) everywhere. Tessa is currently the women’s champion with SEVEN promotions – IMPACT Knockouts Champion, WSU World Champion, The Crash Lucha Feminil Champion, Phoenix of RISE Champion, PCW ULTRA Women’s Champion, Zelo Pro Women’s Champion and WrestleCircus Lady of the Ring Champion. WWE’s decision not to sign Tessa earlier has lead to her becoming one of the ring generals leading the charge in the current indie revolution.
AUSTIN ARIES, 2017
Austin Aries was a world renowned wrestler before he joined NXT in 2016. A 6x IMPACT X-Division Champion, TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and 2x ROH World Champion, Aries transitioned from NXT to the main roster, but found himself on the cruiserweight show 205 Live during its painful infancy. Although he had a great feud with WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville during that time, the program was still finding its legs and both men felt under appreciated. When Aries left the WWE in 2017, many wondered where someone like Aries would fit back into the indies. Turns out, quite well. He returned to IMPACT and has won the IMPACT World Heavyweight title on two more occasions and became the Belt Collector, winning the Defiant World Championship and IPW:UK World Championship in the UK, World Series Wrestling (WSW) Heavyweight Championship in Australia, and the DEFY Championship on the US indies, solidifying himself as the new Champion of Champions. He continues to main event IMPACT weekly as part of the company’s amazing 2018 resurgence, and has crossed over with ROH and many indies globally.
JOHN MORRISON, 2011
In 2011, John Morrison departed the WWE due to burnout, having been one of their most worked (and decorated) Superstars in his six full years on the main roster – 3x WWE Tag Team Champion with Joey Mercury in MNM, 2x WWE Tag Team Champion with The Miz, plus singles gold in the ECW Championship and a 3x Intercontinental Champion. For the next couple years, Morrison would take it easy, working the occasional smaller indie, but in 2014 he took the plunge back to television when he joined Lucha Underground as Johnny Mundo. Since then, his love for the sport has been reignited and he’s worked around the world, with AAA, PWG, HOH, AAW, MLW, PCW ULTRA, the UK, and more. Last year he joined the roster of IMPACT Wrestling (as Johnny IMPACT), where he continues to shine. A former Lucha Underground Champion, AAA Mega Champion, WSW Heavyweight Champion, PCW ULTRA Heavyweight Champion, AAA World Cruiserweight Champion, AAA Latin America Champion and currently the inaugural Blackcraft Heavyweight Champion, Morrison (or whatever he calls himself in his multiple promotions) has emerged as one of the indies must see Superstars.
SAMI CALLIHAN, 2015
One of the Midwest’s top indie stars, former 2x CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan was one of the rising stars signed by NXT in 2013. Restructured as Solomon Crowe, he went through a couple years of inconsistent booking and character reboots, but never seemed to find the right chord in NXT. In 2015, he was granted his release back to the indies and he hit the road with a vengeance. He rejoined his former stable Ohio Is For Killers (OI4K) alongside the Crist Brothers (Dave & Jake), and worked more promotions than he’d ever worked before. He hit familiar haunts like PWG, wXw, AAW, Rockstar Pro and others, as well as taking to the UK with the likes of PROGRESS, SWE, and more. In 2015, he joined Lucha Underground as the demented Jeremiah Crane. With the new regime at IMPACT Wrestling, the Crist Brothers arrived in the summer of 2017 and in the fall, they were finally joined by Callihan, with the group rebranded as OvE (Ohio Vs. Everything). It didn’t take long for Callihan’s commanding presence to captivate the audiences and in 2018, he’s become of the biggest global heels. A riot maker, an antagonist, and an all around instrument for chaos, Callihan has brought back an element of danger that has made him one of the top stars in the indies.
CODY RHODES, 2016
When the grandson of a plumber left the WWE in 2016, many wondered how a career WWE employee would fare on the independent circuit. While his father had toiled the territorial days of grinding it out in the 1960s and 1970s, Cody had spent his entire pro wrestling career under the net of the WWE Universe. Turns out, it was the best move of his career. He became one of the hottest free agents of the year, establishing a new record for appearing for all the major marquee events in one year – WWE WrestleMania, IMPACT Bound For Glory, ROH Final Battle and NJPW Wrestle Kingdom. He joined Bullet Club and became part of one of the most intriguing storylines of the past year, as he and Kenny Omega fought for control of Bullet Club. But it all culminated in his role (alongside the Young Bucks) in pulling off All In, the indie supercard that drew 11,000 to an indie event this past September 1, where he topped off his indie run by winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
PAC, 2018
The most recent departure from the WWE has yet to make an impact on the indie scene, but don’t worry, he will. Prior to joining the WWE in 2012, PAC was one of the innovators of the new British indie scene with IPW:UK, as well as some groundbreaking work with Dragon Gate in Japan and wXw in Germany. He joined NXT in 2012 as Adrian Neville (later shortened to just Neville), becoming NXT Champion and 2x NXT Tag Team Champion, before debuting on the main roster in 2015. In 2017, he entered the Cruiserweight Division as a heel for the first time in his WWE run, capturing the WWE Cruiserweight Championship twice and stealing the division. But last October, Neville walked out of the WWE and hasn’t been heard since. He’s finally gotten his release from the WWE and will be sure to looking to regain his legacy and take full control, and you can bet there will be every major promotion in the world looking to acquire his services.
KENNY OMEGA, 2006
He’s “The Best Bout Machine”, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, the #1 wrestler on the PWI500 this year, and a man that many consider to be the greatest pro wrestler in the world. New Japan’s Kenny Omega has become an absolute show stealing sensation since he assumed the leadership role in Bullet Club, and helping to lead NJPW’s expansion into the United States. And at one time, he was a WWE prospect. An emerging star from the Canadian indies, Omega joined WWE’s developmental in Deep South Wrestling (DSW) in 2005. He left the WWE in 2006, jaded and disenfranchised and headed to Japan, first starting with Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) Pro in 2008, as well as hitting US indies like ROH and PWG. In 2010, he made his debut with NJPW, entering alongside his DDT tag partner Kota Ibushi in the Golden Lovers and working the 2010 Best of the Super Juniors. Over the next few years, he would rise the ranks of New Japan, winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag titles, 2x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and IWGP Intercontinental Champion. In 2014, he joined Bullet Club, and following AJ Styles departure in 2016, he assumed the focal point position in the stable, leading it to it’s biggest mainstream popularity ever, alongside his Elite co-horts The Young Bucks. His feud with former IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada captivated fans for over a year, until he finally captured the title this year.
WWE will constantly be on the look out for the best talent in the independents and other global promotions, but they are also constantly cutting ties with members of their own roster to make the space. And as history has shown, many of these released men and women have returned to the indies with a new fire in their bellies and a determination to prove something – sometimes to the WWE, but mostly to themselves – that they have what it takes to be successful in the pro wrestling world. And sometimes in those personal journeys of redemption, they create sparks that light fires in those around them. And those fires have created a revolution in pro wrestling that has never burned brighter outside of the WWE than it is now.
