5 Released WWE Wrestlers Who Came Back Better Than Ever (& 5 Who Never Returned)

Being released from WWE isn't the end of the world, no matter how much it might hurt. Sometimes getting future endeavored can be a blessing in disguise, with stars returning better than ever before, some even becoming world champions. Other times, wrestlers get the pink slip and never make their way back to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Most recently, 10 unfortunate names were released from WWE. There is still hope that they can take this sad news and turn it into a positive, working to be the absolute best in whatever path they choose. But with every epic comeback story, there are plenty more released Superstars who are never able to attain the same fame or success in pro wrestling. There are also those occasions when released wrestlers found greater fame and success outside WWE and, as a result, finding no need to come back.

10 Came Back Better Than Ever: Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar left WWE as one of their top stars. The final match of his first run was at WrestleMania XX where he and Goldberg received a poor response from the MSG audience. After finding tremendous success in UFC, Lesnar made his return to WWE in April 2012, immediately setting his sights on the face of the company, John Cena.

Since returning, Lesnar is treated as such a special attraction that WWE trusts him attaining multiple world title reigns all while barely showing up on TV to wrestle. Lesnar was able to conquer The Streak at WrestleMania XXX, a decade after the WrestleMania crowd rejected him on his way out. Without a doubt, Lesnar is a top-tier candidate to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame one day. His comeback earned him the rank of legend.

9 Never Returned To WWE: Kenny Omega

Yes, Kenny Omega was at one point employed by World Wrestling Entertainment. Although Omega was never promoted to the main roster, he did spend almost a year in WWE's developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling, between October 2005 and August 2006.

Since leaving WWE, Kenny Omega has gained a reputation as one of the best wrestlers in the world. Currently, he is the reigning AEW World Champion. Omega is that rare breed who never returned to WWE but became better than ever as a wrestler outside of the company.

8 Came Back Better Than Ever: Drew McIntyre

"The Scottish Warrior" Drew McIntyre made the best turnaround of his career after being released by WWE. He stepped up his game on the independent scene and at Impact Wrestling, and by the time he returned to WWE, it was like he was a completely different man.

McIntyre left WWE as an absolute joke, a comedic jobber in the 3MB trio. He then made arguably the biggest career turnaround in all of pro wrestling, going from a curtain jerker to defeating Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title at WrestleMania 36. The Scottish Warrior has solidified his name as a bonafide ass-kicker, earning numerous accolades in the process, such as winning the NXT Title, becoming WWE Champion twice, and winning the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match.

7 Never Returned To WWE: Heidenreich

Heidenreich was once one of the top rising stars of SmackDown in the fall of 2004. But sadly, his gimmick was handled very poorly, going from being a serious threat to The Undertaker to reading awkward poetry in the ring. He went from being a psychopathic monster heel to a lovable yet cringe-worthy babyface, and by doing so, sank further down the card before finding some success in a revived Legion of Doom, alongside Road Warrior Animal.

The wrestler infamous for violating Michael Cole in the restroom was released on January 17, 2006. Heidenreich never returned to the company and retired in 2018 after spending the majority of his wrestling career on the independent scene. Although he ultimately failed to become a big name in WWE, he at least got a respectable program with The Deadman and won the WWE Tag Team Championship with a legend.

6 Came Back Better Than Ever: Jinder Mahal

The Modern Day Maharaja gets a lot of heat for his single reign as WWE Champion, which many critics label as lackluster. But it's incredible to think that he went from losing to Ryback in a three-on-one handicap match as part of 3MB to having a 170-day reign as WWE Champion. Not even The Big Guy (Ryback) could win that prize.

Jinder Mahal also returned to WWE with an incredible physique, showing that he didn't allow his time away from WWE to be an excuse for him to get lazy in the gym. Love it or hate it, when Mahal returned, he was able to add his name to a list of legends and may become a Hall of Famer as a result.

3MB's McIntyre and Mahal were both released in June 2014 and came back to become WWE Champions.

5 Never Returned To WWE: Gene Snitsky

WWE tried to get Gene Snitsky over on multiple occasions, but it never seemed to work in the long term. Snitsky showed some promise initially during his feud with Kane in the fall of 2004, but the high point in his career was the "It wasn't my fault" character who refused to take responsibility for causing Lita to miscarry.

WWE tried repacking him as a monster heel with a bald head and yellow teeth. He even attained a winning streak with this character, but it failed to catch on. Snitsky was released on December 11, 2008. He never won a title during his time in WWE and he never returned to the company before temporarily retiring on the independent circuit in mid-2018.

Snitsky returned to the indies in 2019 for one more match. The former WWE wrestler was scheduled to return to the ring for Retro Championship Wrestling on April 24, 2020. However, that event was canceled due to restrictions surrounding COVID-19.

4 Came Back Better Than Ever: Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan was released from WWE right when the Nexus storyline kicked off in June 2010. Bryan was reportedly let go by the company for choking Justin Roberts with his own tie, supposedly crossing the line when it comes to violent content. However, it wouldn't take long for Bryan to return to the company, as he took part in the main event of SummerSlam only two months later.

Bryan would then go from being an NXT rookie with a losing streak to a WrestleMania main eventer. During his time with the company, Bryan has won multiple titles, including five reigns as world champion.

It's also worth noting that Bryan was under contract with WWE as far back as the year 2000 while working as a developmental talent with Memphis Championship Wrestling. Bryan would be let go by WWE in July 2001. He would make various appearances for the company between 2002 and 2003, but he wasn't held down by a contract. While away from WWE, Bryan became one of the biggest names of the independent scene.

3 Never Returned To WWE: Mike Knox

Mike Knox received a strong push during the early days of WWE's ECW brand. However, he failed to spark interest with the crowd as Kelly Kelly's jealous boyfriend. Knox's most notable feud with the company was with future WWE Champion CM Punk, but he failed to pick up any victories against The Straight Edge Superstar.

WWE tried to make Mike Knox work as a member of the Raw roster between late 2008 and early 2009. Knox even earned a place in the Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship at No Way Out '09, but he failed to make an impact and sunk deep down the card into jobber territory.

In April 2010, Knox was let go by WWE. Since then, he's been active on the American independent scene. He also spent a few years in Impact Wrestling, going from a thuggish biker in Aces & Eights to becoming an oddball carnie with The Menagerie.

2 Came Back Better Than Ever: Eddie Guerrero

In November 2001, Eddie Guerrero was released by WWE following a DUI arrest in Florida. However, Guerrero wouldn't let this drunk driving mishap ruin his wrestling career. He was active on the independent circuit before making his return to the company in April 2002.

Following his return to WWE, Guerrero would have the best run of his career. He'd go onto win multiple titles, including both the IC and US titles, as well as the WWE Tag Team Championship, most famously with his nephew Chavo as part of Los Guerreros. Latino Heat would reach the top of the mountain at No Way Out 2004 when he defeated Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion.

During his second run with the company, Guerrero became a main event star and an all-around legend. He successfully defended the WWE Title against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XX. Guerrero also helped turn APA's Bradshaw into the mega-heel WWE Champion JBL. Tragically, Guerrero passed away in November 2005 at the age of 38. But his legacy has become immortal in both WWE and pro wrestling history.

1 Never Returned To WWE: Frankie Kazarian

Yes, you read that right, Frankie Kazarian was also a WWE employee at one point in time. Kazarian is known in WWE for his time spent on SmackDown's C-show Velocity where he picked up victories over lower card wrestlers like Nunzio, Funaki, and Scotty 2 Hotty. During this time, he was known as "The Future" Frankie Kazarian.

Kazarian would be released in August 2005 and never returned to the WWE. Frankie requested his release, unhappy about the direction of the Cruiserweight Division and the company wanting him to cut his hair. Since then, Kazarian has become a multi-time champion in TNA. He's best known for his tag team with Christopher Daniels, with both men currently employed by AEW.

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