Getting Over
For years now, thanks to the drama and wild outfits, professional wrestling has been a well-rehearsed show of “ballet with violence.” However, it’s the story-telling behind the crazy spandex onesies, and rivalries over comical perceived slights, that are responsible for the magic of professional wrestling.
There’s no bigger wrestling company than WWE, which has expanded from a regional ‘rasslin business to become a behemoth in the general media space. Vince McMahon, The CEO and head honcho of WWE is universally considered to be the most powerful man in all of sports-entertainment. He’s been the driving force behind altering the perception of the industry on the whole, and is a man who can singularly alter the course of a performer’s life.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon
The downside of having one man, Vince McMahon, as the gatekeeper of your professional fate, is that if the boss loses faith you as a talent, or if you push him just a tad too hard, you might be on the receiving end of what’s known inside the industry as a ‘future endeavors’ letter.
Whether you’re a WWE fan or not, you simply can’t deny the incredible work ethic and talent of its roster of wrestlers. These people learn scripts, as well as all sorts of athletically-astounding maneuvers (what a maneuver, in the Vince-voice!) that make them fan favorites. So the question remains- why do some talents rise to the top, while other seemingly great ones sink to the bottom?
Chavo Guerrero
The interesting thing about WWE is that wrestlers are encouraged to develop their own personas- or at least, they used to be. Nowadays, if Vince McMahon doesn’t think that a performer has “it”, he’ll sometimes choose to let them go, and avoid bringing them back / forget they exist. This can part of the dark side of WWE, and perhaps of McMahon himself.
While Vince has been known to give talent many chances for the most part, there are certain talents that he simply can’t seem to get behind. Sometimes those reasons are clear, while other times they seem almost self-damaging.
Top-Notch Work-Rate
Today we’re going to check out the most popular WWE superstars who have been relieved of their duties by Vince McMahon. Our list includes those who’ve been trying to make a comeback, but for known or unknown reasons, Vinnie Mac simply won’t take them back. Some of the names will feel like a blast from the past, while others might be forgotten favorites.
Hopefully, none of these superstars had to endure a real-life “You’rrrrre….. FIRRRRRED!” moment, and were simply wished the best in their future endeavors…
Simon Gotch
Chavo Guerrero wasn’t originally known as an over the top character, with charisma oozing out of his pores. But over time, he worked his way into becoming one of the more charismatic performers in the company. Rumor has it however that his promo skills on the mic were reason enough to hold him back from receiving a bigger push, and enough to convince Vince McMahon not to re-sign him.
You’d think that a guy like Chavo, who comes from the famous Guerrero wrestling family, would be able to find his way back to the “show,” but that hasn’t been the case quite yet.
When You’ve Gotch Backstage Heat
Although his in-ring work at Impact Wrestling, as well as at Lucha Underground, has been impressive since leaving WWE, Chavo hasn’t landed on any WWE radar, and Vince hasn’t shown any signs of interest in the now old-timer. While Guerrero might be itching to make a return, he hasn’t been given a chance due to the surplus of young talent out there.
This coming year will hopefully offer new hope for Chavo, but if not, he’ll continue to have success outside of WWE, especially with the rising popularity and potential of AEW.
Victoria
Not all wrestlers are good guys, and Simon Gotch is the perfect example of that. It’s been a couple of years since Simon Gotch competed in the WWE, and it doesn’t look like we’re going to see him make a comeback anytime soon. He earned a reputation as a whiner and complainer backstage, and wasn’t good enough in the ring to overcome it.
It also didn’t help matters that he was partnered with the uber-talented Aiden English, who shone much brighter next to him.
MMA And TNA
While competing in NXT, Simon won the NXT Tag Team Championships with Aiden English. Some would argue however that his time in NXT is what led to his downfall, as he was considered the weak link of the Vaudevillains, and was released.
Perhaps more so than his in-ring work though, his backstage issues with everyone from Enzo Amore to Triple H (especially the latter) got him in some pretty hot water. Simon Gotch is an unlikely face to appear on WWE programming anytime soon, although Enzo isn’t around the company any more either.
Darren Young
Victoria’s persona in the WWE was quite intense, as she acted like an out of control berserker in the ring. It was a great act to watch as a fan, but apparently meant more than we knew at the time. After giving her notice to WWE, she left in January 2009, and only appeared once thereafter (Wrestlemania XXV, Divas battle royal).
Little did we know that her in-ring persona was actually very telling of her future plans…
Rich Swann
Victoria (real name Lisa Marie Varon) left the WWE to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, but this didn’t last long. A little over a month after her Wrestlemania XXV appearance, she debuted for TNA Impact Wrestling, where she elevated the Impact Knockouts’ Division and won five Knockouts’ titles.
Varon has been quiet for several years, trying to break into Hollywood, and even angling for a WWE return. The reality though is that she’s almost 50 years old, and her time in the ring has likely come to an end. But when it comes to WWE, we’ve all learned to never say never.
Damien Sandow
Darren Young was one of WWE’s bright young stars, until he suffered a severe arm injury in late 2017. This injury prevented him from competing, and eventually led to his release from the company. Young, most notably, became the first openly gay male superstar in WWE history (while on the roster), which brought in a new segment of the audience.
Unfortunately for Young though, this still didn’t get him as over as Vince McMahon would have hoped, and in spite of his stated desire to return to the company, he hasn’t been offered the opportunity.
When Life Imitates Art
As much as some fans would love to see Rich Swann make his return to WWE, it’s unlikely to happen any time soon. The company and Swann were said to have “mutually agreed to part ways” after the wrestler was arrested on a domestic violence charge, adding that WWE has “zero tolerance” for such matters.
While Swann was a phenomenal in-ring talent, his mic skills were subpar at best, and his personal issues were unacceptable in WWE’s corporate environment. Time will tell if Swann can rebound from this, and find his way back to WWE.
Carlito
Some wrestlers manage to play the role of the bad guy really well, and Damien Sandow is a great example of that. Sandow was so good at being a heel, that the fans naturally started loving him, and his shenanigans as “Mizdow”- and he eventually organically turned babyface. Having not received the push he felt he deserved, Sandow walked away from WWE on his own terms.
Sandow (real name Aron Haddad) has since competed for Impact Wrestling, and NWA Power. But the bulk of his time away from the company has been spent trying to break into acting.
Wade Barrett
While Damien Sandow couldn’t climb the WWE ladder, or even a smaller one (after going to Impact Wrestling), he began tackling acting projects in Hollywood. Haddad is a gifted actor who spent a chunk of his teens and early twenties taking part in acting classes, and has always had a flair for the dramatic.
While now signed to NWA Power, Haddad has been considered persona non grata around WWE parts for some time now, partly based on him choosing to leave on his own terms, and partly based on the fact that he hasn’t gotten over on his own away from the company (like in AEW, perhaps).
Big Cass
Born into a wrestling family, Carlito (the son of Carlos Colon Sr.) used to be one of the WWE’s most over stars. He was on pace to be a major mega-star, but every time he was in line for a big push, he would mess up in his personal life, and have to start the process of earning trust all over again.
He was released from WWE in 2010 after violating the company’s wellness policy, and refusing to get help. He’s still working on the independent circuit, but there’s no doubt that he’d like another cup of coffee in the big time, if given the opportunity.
Ryback
I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news. Wade Barrett, aka Bad News Barrett was a heck of a performer, and seemed destined for stardom from the very beginning. He had great matches with everyone from Daniel Bryan to John Cena, but never got quite the mega-push that the WWE Universe was expecting.
Barrett eventually grew bored with wrestling, and retired from WWE in order to work on a film project in London. As you could probably guess, Vince McMahon remembers these things, and isn’t exactly burning up Barrett’s phone these days. Then again, he’s also proven that he’s willing to do what’s ‘best for business,’ so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Barrett back in a WWE ring eventually.
Ken Shamrock
He’s seven feet tall, and quite frankly- it’s true… you can’t teach that. Truth be told, Big Cass was never a standout performer in the ring, and started performing even poorer once alcoholism got a hold of him. After breaking away from Enzo Amore, he got a brief singles push, before eventually creating so much backstage drama that he got himself fired.
Since leaving WWE he’s been in and out of rehab, and has even sought the help of DDP. Vince loves his giant superstars, so if and when Cass can get his life in order, I’d expect the door to remain open for his eventual return to a WWE ring. But for now, that door is sealed shut, and rather tightly.
Melina
Feed him more. Feed him more. That was literally the issue with Ryback. He was one of the coolest wrestlers to watch during his time in WWE, and was more over than anyone in the company at a point. None the less, almost without explanation, the plug was pulled on Ryback’s mega-push, and he was left out in the cold. He inexplicably did a clean job for Mark Henry at Wrestlemania, and ended up fizzling out in the mid-card next to Curtis Axel.
Ryan (now legally Ryback) Reeves, the man behind the character, hated the corporate environment of WWE, and got his eventual release. He’s since talked a lot of trash about the company, and has found happiness away from it. He’s also achieved moderate success on the independent circuit, and has started his own supplement line. He seems to have no desire to return to WWE, so if a return were to happen, it would take improvements on the company’s part, as well as willingness on his. His being Ryback’s- pronouns, pal.
Alberto Del Rio
Every WWE and MMA fan remembers who Ken Shamrock is. He was once nicknamed the “World’s Most Dangerous Man,” and is an outright legend thanks to his championships in multiple organizations. After having such an impactful presence during the Bret Hart vs Steve Austin match at Wrestlemania XIII, Shamrock went on to capture the Intercontinental Title, and nearly ascended to main event status… but never quite got there.
Vince always felt like Shamrock could have done more, but that he lacked the charisma and innate performing ability to be a true top draw. Now well into his 50’s, Shamrock is still in incredible shape, and would be open to having a one-off match in WWE. But from the WWE side of things, the door seems to be shut on the possibility, as they lack the belief that Shamrock equals box office dollars.
Hornswoggle
Melina was one of the more over WWE Divas back in the 2000’s, but hasn’t been heard from much since. Her in-ring work was always passable (albeit not spectacular), and her connection with the fans was noteworthy (but not remotely comparable to the likes of Trish Stratus or Lita).
Given the climate of today’s Women’s Evolution, Melina would likely be no better than a veteran presence in the locker room, a la Mickie James. That said, there’s always room for fresh (even familiar) female face in WWE, and if the door were to ever open itself for Melina, it’s likely that she’d be more than happy to walk on through.
Rob Van Dam
Allllberto Dellll Rrrrrrrrrrrio! Alberto Del Rio was one of the most over performers in WWE, winning the first ever 40-man Royal Rumble back in 2011, and co-headlining Wrestlemania that year against Edge. Del Rio would eventually go on to capture the title, and stayed a part of the main event scene for quite some time.
Del Rio came and went from WWE twice, and since his latest departure he has heavily badmouthed Triple H. He’s since apologized, but it’s unlikely that Vince would simply take him back with open arms, without so much as a long discussion about his attitude.
Eva Marie
How can you not find Hornswoggle entertaining? Mr. McMahon’s long-lost son was a grand hit for years on WWE programming, even eventually getting revealed as the anonymous Raw general manager! The WWE even went crazy when Hornswoggle made a surprise appearance at the Greatest Royal Rumble Match in Saudi Arabia.
Sadly though, Hornswoggle will likely not be getting another full-time contract from WWE. Vince doesn’t hang on to his occasional comedy talents long-term, and prefers to hire them on a one-off basis, as needed.
JTG
Fans have always loved Rob Van Dam, thanks to his electrifying in-ring work, his unique style, and his laid-back confidence. His extreme athleticism and aerial assault game was fun to watch, but it also left him battered and bruised. This led to much-needed time off, and his eventual departure from WWE.
Van Dam has come and gone a few times, so anything is possible. But at his age, he seems content laying low on the sidelines and focusing on his legal cannabis business endeavors, and a return to full-time competition is highly unlikely.
Vince Russo
Eva Marie was one of the most gorgeous female performers that WWE has ever had on its roster, but her skills in the ring were lacking, to say the least. Fans chewed her apart for her in-ring work each and every time she stepped through the curtain, and she became even less likable when aspects of her real personality were revealed on Total Divas.
Without much of an ability to draw fans, Vince let her go, and hasn’t been interested in bringing her back since. She’s since been making a go at an acting career in Hollywood, but has yet to find much success.
Enzo Amore
JTG was known as one half of the tag team, Cryme Tyme, where he teamed up with Shad. The gimmick didn’t last long though, and he eventually under-went a makeover of sorts. After doing everything possible to get him over, Vince McMahon released him because it just wasn’t working.
JTG has since appeared on the indies, and has done well for himself. Since he resides in LA, he’s also been exploring a career in acting, but has yet to experience much luck. For its part, WWE hasn’t expressed any interest in bringing him back into the fold.
Batista
Former WWE head writer Vince Russo has been talking about coming back to WWE for years. He doesn’t have a great reputation, and is known as more or less a liar- but he does have the right to take credit for some memorable segments on Raw, and even WCW Nitro, during the absolute pinnacle of the attitude era.
Make him an offer, bro! Or don’t. It’s highly unlikely that the real Vince would offer this individual another shot ever again, as that would likely be far too disruptive to the current locker room, and even the executive team.
Hulk Hogan
His name is Enzo Amore, and he is a certified G and a bona fide… outcast? Enzo Amore, real name Eric Arndt, was once one of the most over performers in WWE. At a point however, his backstage reputation preceded him, and he upset everyone in the locker room. After multiple incidents, including being banned from the locker room by other WWE talent, Enzo was cut by WWE in early 2018.
Enzo decided to show up to Survivor Series in 2018, and create a scene in the crowd. He was escorted out by security, and rumor has it that on the way out he shouted for Vince McMahon. While we should never say never with WWE, especially if there’s money to be made, I doubt Enzo will be back anytime soon, if ever.
The House That Hogan Built
Batista talked a lot of smack about WWE for several years after his departure in 2014, and was ignored by both Vince McMahon and Triple H (his former Evolution stable-mate) when he repeatedly reached out to have one last match. After enough prodding though, and perhaps not coincidentally after he had achieved substantial success in Hollywood, Batista eventually got his wish; a one-on-one match with Triple H at Wrestlemania to end his career in the ring.
After a mostly un-memorable feud with Triple H that involved him beating up Ric Flair, Batista stated that he was happy with how his career ended, which were on his terms. Vince likely had to be talked into this idea just a wee bit, but this is a good example of never saying never when it comes to WWE.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The biggest star in WWE history, Hulk Hogan partnered with Vince McMahon to bring to life the global product that is today’s WWE. Throughout the course of history, Hogan has left and returned to WWE countless times, often for reasons related to money, and McMahon has always welcome him back with open arms. In 2015 however, Hogan’s career in WWE came to an abrupt end after a sex tape got leaked, and audio was released of the infamous wrestler making racist comments.
Hogan was blackballed by WWE for nearly three and a half years, and was even erased from its Hall of Fame. As is always the case with WWE though, never say never, especially when it comes to Hulk Hogan. Perhaps as a testament to McMahon’s appreciation and loyalty to Hogan for what he helped to do for the company, Hogan finally returned to WWE in November 2018. Then in January 2019, he appeared on Raw for the first time in nearly four years, to honor his old friend, the late Mean Gene Okerlund, who had passed away earlier that month.
WWE’s Attitude Era Savior
When you literally had a hand in taking the company from a regional, northeast-based promotion to the global juggernaut that it is today, rules and regulations get bent for you. While there’s a lot of controversy that surrounds Hulk Hogan today, it’s undeniable that he’s the biggest name in the history of professional wrestling.
Hulk Hogan headlined Wrestlemanias 1 through 9, with each one ending in either a patented Hulk Hogan pose-down, or a show-stealing moment, even in defeat (think Wrestlemania VI, and to a lesser degree Wrestlemania IV). Considering the PPV buys, house show revenue, and especially the merchandising revenue that Hogan was responsible for, it’s easy to understand why Vince McMahon extends a particularly long rope for this legend.
CM Punk
Believe it or not, there was a time when Stone Cold Steve Austin was unwelcome in WWE. The year was 2002, and Austin was nearing the end of his run with the company. After having been on top of the mountain in WWE for nearly five years, injuries we beginning to take their toll on Austin’s physical well-being, and even his mental well-being.
Shortly after competing against Scott Hall at Wrestlemania X8 in Toronto, Austin was booked to do a job for the new kid on the block, Brock Lesnar, and didn’t see the value in it. He famously ‘took his ball and went home,’ as Good Ol’ JR put it. Vince McMahon was so incredibly hurt that Austin no-showed an event, that he immediately declared that Austin would no longer be welcome in WWE.
Of course, cooler heads eventually prevailed, and in early 2003, The Rattlesnake made his return to the company. He’s since gone on record as saying he wishes he’d never done what he did, but he maintains that jobbing to Brock Lesnar in that fashion wouldn’t have accomplished anything for either of them.
WWE Backstage
Nobody believed McMahon when he said that he wouldn’t accept Austin back in WWE, especially considering it was Austin who was at the forefront of the company’s turnaround during the Attitude era. Prior to Austin’s massive growth in popularity following the 1996 King of The Ring, WWE was crumbling at the feet of its competition, WCW.
Once Austin really got going, after turning babyface at Wrestlemania XIII (in the infamous double-turn with Bret Hart), the company’s pay-per-view buy rates, along with merchandising sales, spiked month over month. By April 1998, WWE was clearly in the driver’s seat of the Monday night wars, and by 2001 WCW was owed by WWE. With all of this in mind, was there really ever any doubt that Stone Cold Steve Austin wouldn’t be welcomed back into WWE with open arms?
MVP
CM Punk left WWE in 2014, mostly due to burnout and frustration with both the corporate structure of the company, as well as the creative team. Furthermore, he asserted that WWE’s medical staff completely mismanaged health issues that he had been experiencing, and he simply needed time to heal. After leaving the company, Punk went on Colt Cabana’s podcast and did a tell-all about his departure. To say that this landed poorly would be an understatement.
Punk’s appearance on Cabana’s podcast resulted in him being sued by WWE, and him even getting into a lawsuit with Colt Cabana himself (who was his best friend for many years). In spite of the fact that Punk was, at the time of his departure, one of the most popular competitors in the world, he simply wanted to get away from WWE and control his own narrative and destiny.
Since his 2014 deprture, he’s competed in two professional UFC fights, and has taken part in many creative projects outside of wrestling. After an appearance at Conrad Thompson’s Starrcast in 2019 however, the question came up – is Punk ready for a comeback, and would WWE even be willing to consider letting him come back? It seemed as though an absolute ton of water would be required under that bridge…
Surprise Return
Having not appeared on WWE TV since his departure in January 2014, rumors began swirling in the fall of 2019 that Punk was contemplating a return to WWE. Now we know that it’s happened- sort of. Punk signed a deal with Fox and appeared on WWE Backstage on Fox in November 2019 as a brand new cast member of the show.
Who knows? It might not be long before we get one more Wrestlemania moment from the man who admits he still wants to main event the show of shows just once. If this does come to pass, it’ll be the absolute ultimate ‘never say never’ between Vince McMahon and a former superstar.
Bobby Lashley
MVP was at one point one of the most over wrestlers on the roster, but his popularity dwindled over the course of a few years, and Vince McMahon felt like he could afford to let MVP go. The once-famous wrestler had said on numerous occasions that he wanted to come back, but that nobody had offered him a contract.
Persistence pays off though, and MVP not only continued to push himself personally, but he always acted professionally during his time away from the company.
Alundra Blayze
You may have seen him on the WWE Raw anniversary show and thought to yourself, “Man, MVP’s still got it.” Well, apparently he still does, because two years later, at the 2020 Royal Rumble, MVP made a surprise return as an entrant in the Royal Rumble match itself. From there, he got to compete again on Raw the next night.
MVP was always a pretty well-liked guy backstage, so it came as no surprise when it was announced shortly after the Royal Rumble that he’d accepted a full-time position with WWE.
Hall Call
Bobby Lashley left WWE in 2007, and ventured into the independent circuit, as well as TNA. Upon hearing the news that Lashley was competing in TNA, Vince McMahon was offended and hurt, stating that he felt he was the one to give Lashley his break, and still felt as though WWE offered Lashley his best opportunity at massive stardom. At the time, Lashley became unwelcome in WWE waters.
After working for TNA, Lashley enjoyed a successful MMA career, and proved that he was a legitimate tough guy, as well as a credible main event-level talent. In 2018, after a decade of healing the wound of rejection, Vince made the call to get Lashley back in WWE. The boss thought that the company needed more legit monsters, and who better than the chiseled, uber-athletic Lashley?
Competing under the name Madusa, Debbie Miceli was a legendary performer both in the US and in Japan prior to her arrival in WWE in 1993, under the ring name Alundra Blayze. The WWE women’s division was built around Blayze, and she quickly captured the women’s championship.
After hearing the news in late-1995 that WWE would be discontinuing its women’s division, Blayze quickly signed with rival promotion WCW, and appeared on its next episode of Monday Nitro. It was there that she now-infamously placed the WWE Women’s championship belt in a garbage can on live television. You can only imagine how this was received by Vince McMahon…
Alundra Blayze was immediately ex-communicated by WWE, and her career went almost unrecognized after WWE’s acquisition of WCW in 2001. Eventually though, time heals all wounds, especially in WWE, and Blayze was invited to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with the class of 2015.
20 years prior, this would have been unthinkable. This was a performer who disposed of a WWE championship belt on a live episode of the rival company’s programming. This is arguably the greatest example of Vince McMahon’s willingness to let bygones be bygones, and a true feather in his cap.