Leaving WWE has launched some of wrestling’s biggest names into even bigger roles, in Hollywood, in rival companies or in politics. “Bigger” is a matter of opinion, and several names below later returned to WWE. Here are 10 who grew after walking away.
Stars Who Found Fame Outside Wrestling
- Dave Bautista. A top WWE main eventer, he became one of Hollywood’s best-known big men, with a breakout role as Drax in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films.
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He turned wrestling fame into one of the biggest movie careers of any wrestler, though he still returns to WWE occasionally.
- Jesse Ventura. After WWE, he became Governor of Minnesota in 1998, a rare step from wrestling to politics.
Stars Who Grew in Rival Companies
- Cody Rhodes. He left in 2016, wrestled in Impact, Ring of Honor and New Japan, and helped found AEW. He returned in 2022 and is now a three-time Undisputed WWE Champion. Read how Cody Rhodes became a superstar.
- CM Punk. After leaving in 2014, he seemed finished with wrestling until his return in AEW, in front of a sold-out United Center in Chicago. He later returned to WWE.
- Jon Moxley. Formerly Dean Ambrose, he left WWE in 2019 and reinvented himself as a gritty brawler in AEW, where he became the first three-time AEW World Champion.
- Swerve Strickland. Released by WWE in 2021, he became one of AEW’s top stars and won the AEW World Championship at Dynasty.
- Mercedes Moné. Formerly Sasha Banks, she left WWE and signed with AEW in March 2024, and Strickland has said she has more value now because of her AEW run.
- Kenny Omega. He washed out of WWE developmental in the 2000s, then became one of New Japan’s brightest stars and later an AEW co-founder.
- Drew McIntyre. After leaving WWE, he rebuilt himself on the independent circuit, then returned stronger and eventually became WWE Champion.
Not everyone who left thrived, and the rankings are subjective. But the pattern is clear: a break from WWE can reset a career. For another example of a star rebuilding his path, see our look at how the Bloodline changed Roman Reigns’ career.
Sources: The Sportster, ITR Wrestling, Sportskeeda, Sports Illustrated, All Your Wrestling.