Reports have surfaced that several of the company’s wrestlers want out, like The Revival, Mike and Maria Kanellis, Dolph Ziggler and now the latest person to ask for their release is 205 Live’s Hideo Itami, with it reportedly being granted.
I don’t remember an example in my lifetime where so many WWE talents being unhappy with their position within the company potentially asking to leave. Obviously WCW claimed a few WWE scalps back in the day but recent WWE has gotten away with avoiding a mass talent exodus.
That doesn’t mean that Superstars haven’t walked away from the company in the last few years, in fact there are plenty that have,
Here are five of the more notable ones, but of course there are more!
#6. Hideo Itami
Let’s start with the most recent one shall we? Hideo Itami was on this week’s 205 Live in a gruelling match against Akira Tozawa. Shortly afterwards it was reported that he’d asked for his release from the company.
This was speculated beforehand because like Dolph Ziggler, Itami had changed the name on his Twitter handle from his WWE name, Hideo Itami, to his independent wrestling name KENTA.
After appearing on 205 Live for what seems like potentially the last time, Itami posted the following tweet, and several current WWE Superstars responded in the comments with kind words and well wishes, so his departure seems legitimate.
KENTA was a massive star on the independent circuit and was widely expected to be a huge star in WWE with a big deal being made of his NXT signing. KENTA was supposed to win the NXT Title in Japan but was sidelined with a shoulder injury for a year and has never fully recovered since.
He was recently allowed to return to Japan to wrestle a match there for an independent promotion and received a huge ovation. It’s likely Itami will go back to being KENTA and will simply go back to being the huge well-liked star he was!
#6. Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose has given WWE notice that he won’t be renewing his contract when it’s up in April and will be leaving the company after WrestleMania 35 – something that the WWE confirmed in an official press release sent out to several media outlets.
The unusual situation has people questioning if it’s a work or not, but for now I think it’s best to consider WWE’s press release accurate and true and assume that Ambrose is in fact going to leave.
Naturally people are linking this to similar situations like Kevin Nash and Randy Savage who both announced in advance they were leaving and ended up signing for WCW and said that Ambrose will go to AEW.
But Ambrose hasn’t been back in action long after recovering from an arm surgery and nearly dying from an infection. Before that, he was touring consistently for six years and didn’t miss a day. So I wouldn’t blame him if he just wants a break from the rigorous travelling life that is professional wrestling.
#5. Neville
Neville famously made headlines when he walked out of a Monday Night Raw after losing the Cruiserweight Title to Enzo Amore, and was literally never seen again on WWE television after that.
The ‘King of Cruiserweights’ was not happy with his booking and was particularly against Enzo Amore being the champion of 205 Live. So much so, that he took the dramatic decision to walk out on WWE and sit out the rest of his contract off television.
Neville has now reverted back to his independent wrestling name Pac and started taking indie bookings earlier this year and late last year making appearances for promotions in the UK, US and Japan.
Pac was also a surprise reveal during AEW’s ‘Double or Nothing’ rally as someone who has officially joined the roster for Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks and Tony Khan’s new promotion.
#4. John Morrison
John Morrison’s final match for WWE was the main event of Monday Night Raw in a Falls Count Anywhere match against his former tag-team partner The Miz. Morrison lost the match after The Miz delivered a Skull Crushing Finale onto the state and Morrison was stretchered off.
Whilst he was off ‘injured’, WWE released an announcement saying that Morrison’s contract had expired and he was leaving the company. Morrison later revealed to Stone Cold Steve Austin on his podcast that WWE wanted him to sign another three-year deal but injuries and creative frustration led to him turning it down.
Since leaving, Morrison has starred in films, wrestled for Lucha Underground, AAA and Impact Wrestling where he currently finds himself the World Champion. The door is always open for him to return to WWE but it’s unlikely he would.
#3. Jack Swagger
Jack Swagger was technically fired from the WWE (although the official wording is that he was released from his contract), but it was an outcome that he absolutely wanted so it definitely counts as willingly walking away from the company.
Swagger made an appearance on Chael Sonnen’s podcast and announced that he had requested his release from the company and had started booking independent wrestling dates. Two days later, WWE released a statement saying his release hadn’t been granted. But eventually Swagger and WWE parted ways!
Since leaving, Swagger or Jake Hager has been relatively successful; he’s the reigning Lucha Underground World Champion and he recently made his Mixed Martial Arts debut with a decisive victory for Bellator that even saw the WWE themselves congratulate him.
#2. CM Punk
CM Punk might be the single biggest and high-profile walk-out in the WWE’s history (some might argue that it’s Stone Cold Steve Austin) when he simply didn’t turn up to Raw or SmackDown as scheduled in 2014 and then was never seen since.
Punk later infamously revealed the full details on Colt Cabana’s podcast stating that he was suspended for two months after walking out on the company in January and wasn’t contacted by WWE after the suspension was over, eventually being handed his termination papers on his wedding day. Something Vince McMahon actually apologised for.
Punk’s departure was also allegedly spurred on by health reasons as he alleged he was working through an untreated MRSA infection. Something that would go on to be the subject of a now infamous law-suit.
It’s been five years since CM Punk walked out on the WWE and he literally hasn’t wrestled since then. He did begin an MMA career that unfortunately saw him lose two fights, but seems to be transitioning towards a commentator role.
#1. Cody Rhodes
I’ve saved Cody Rhodes until last because he might very well be the reason why so many names are starting to express their desire to leave WWE this year. Cody’s starting a new promotion backed by a big-money backer, perceived as potential competition to WWE, might have shaken things up a bit.
Rhodes announced on Twitter in May 2015 that he had requested his release from WWE and they granted it the day after. Rhodes cited creative frustrations, particularly around the continued use of the ‘Stardust’ character that he allegedly pleaded with WWE to end.
But it’s what Rhodes did after that is more important. After leaving WWE and joining the independent circuit, Rhodes quickly formed an alliance with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Adam ‘Hangman’ Page and Marty Scurll (Adam Cole and others were also involved at one point or another).
This alliance, known as ‘The Elite’ quickly became one of the most popular acts in wrestling and eventually it allowed Cody and the Bucks to sell out a 10,000-seater stadium in an event that will go down in history as the start of AEW, All In.
Then, Cody and the Young Bucks partnered with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Tony Khan to start a new wrestling promotion, All Elite Wrestling.
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