This is particularly true in pro wrestling, where it seems some talent is always being shifted about, either by their own volition or at the behest of their employers.
The fact is, sometimes, changing to another promotion can be good for a wrestler. Many athletes find a new lease on life after they are fired by one of the big promotions, like WWE.
But that doesn’t mean that the company made the right decision in firing them or allowing them out of their contracts. In fact, many times it actually hurts the company to lose said talent.
In the WWE, talent shuffling happens on a semi-regular basis. Here are ten wrestlers the WWE should rehire.
#10 Simon Gotch (Grimm)
Simon Gotch brings old school wrestling and technical precision to the table, mixed in with a generous assortment of Mixed Martial Arts moves. He has a great look and presence to match his top-notch skills.
Why he was fired/Released: Gotch ended up losing his job at WWE due to perceived attitude problems backstage, and his inability to get a decent match out of Enzo Amore (who has also recently been let go.) He was also blamed for an incident with Sin Cara even though the latter was the first to get physically violent.
Why WWE needs to hire him back: Gotch is one of the better technical wrestlers active today, and has a great poise and presence. Much of his backstage problems can be contributed to the fact that he is something of a perfectionist when it comes to his in-ring work. Putting him on the 205 Live roster would group him with peers who also take their wrestling very seriously, and his charm and demeanor would help the struggling division immensely.
#9 Damien Sandow
Talented, athletic, and articulate, Damien Sandow had many false starts in his WWE career, and it seemed that management never quite fully threw their weight behind him in spite of his gifts.
Why he was fired/Released: Sandow got over as The Miz’s stunt double, which led to a red-hot feud between the two. However, WWE then packaged Sandow into a joke tag team with Curtis Axel where he imitated the Macho Man – poorly. WWE decided to wish Sandow ’nothing but the best’ and released him when Hulk Hogan’s racist comments made the angle too controversial to continue.
Why the WWE should hire him back: Sandow is one of the rare gems who can talk, work, and get over with the crowd. With the proper gimmick and push, Sandow could go all the way to the main event, replacing aging stars like John Cena and Randy Orton whose best days are behind them.
#8 Eva Marie
The former Total Divas cast member never really clicked in the ring, but had excellent poise and could speak well on the microphone.
Why she was fired/Released: The WWE really, really wanted to use Eva Marie as in-ring talent, but that just wasn’t meant to be. Eva violated the Wellness Policy and was suspended for thirty days, after which she asked for – and received – her release from the company.
Why the WWE should hire her back: Eva will never be even an adequate wrestler, but she can bump, talk, and is quite attractive. In short, she would make an outstanding manager/valet for another talent.
#7 Wade Barrett
The gravel-voiced former bare-knuckle boxer had great size, a great look, and was even great on the mic. His in-ring skills weren’t quite on the same tier, but he was at least decent when he put his mind to it.
Why he was fired/released: Barrett came to terms with WWE and they had an amicable split when it seemed that their creative team ‘had nothing’ for the Wade Barrett character, despite Bad News Barrett being quite over with the audience.
Why they should re-hire him: Wade kept getting pushed toward the top, then de-pushed so much that the fans lost confidence in him. If he were to get a consistent push to main event level and a title reign, he could become a real marquee player for WWE.
#6 Tennille Dashwood/Emma
The former Emma was a smash hit in NXT, but didn’t really hit her stride on the main roster.
Why she was fired/released: Dashwood asked for and received her release because she didn’t feel WWE was using her to her fullest potential, and most wrestling fans and critics would agree with that assessment.
Why WWE should hire her back: Dashwood is an incredibly talented wrestler, on par with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. She would perform admirably as a member of the women’s roster, particularly if WWE starts their long-rumored women’s tag division.
#5 Austin Aries
When fans talk about the top ten best pro wrestlers in the world, Austin Aries is always in the mix.
Why he was fired/released: Austin and WWE came to terms because Aries felt that he didn’t have enough creative storylines invested in his character. It was agreed that he could leave the company and compete for other promotions without the usual waiting period, which is a strong indicator the WWE is not displeased or angry with him.
Why they should hire him back: Aries vs. AJ Styles would be a guaranteed five-star match, as would Aries vs. Nakamura, or Aries vs. Seth Rollins, or Aries vs. just about anyone who isn’t named Titus O’Neil. He really is that good.
#4 Neville
The Man Gravity Forgot had a lengthy NXT title reign, and is perhaps the single most skilled high flyer in the business.
Why he was fired/Released: Neville grew frustrated with the lack of creative direction for his character, and reportedly asked for his release.
Why they should hire him back: Whether as a part of 205 Live or the main roster, Neville elevates the product. He could entertain fans by wrestling a broom.
#3 Brodus Clay
The towering former bodyguard seemed poised to be a monster heel until WWE turned him into the Funkasaurus.
Why he was fired/released: Brodus was released with a number of other stars due to creative being unable to place him in a decent storyline.
Why they should hire him back: A big man with great agility, Brodus could do well in a feud with the likes of Braun Strowman or Samoa Joe.
#2 Enzo Amore
The Realest Guy in the Room showed remarkable poise for someone so new to the industry.
Why he was Fired/Released: Enzo had a host of issues dealing with others backstage, and was recently charged for rape – a charge which has been subsequently dropped.
Why the WWE should hire him back: Despite his green status as a wrestler and his overbearing personality, Enzo brings the same rock star qualities as a Jeff Hardy or Shawn Michaels. Fans tend to talk about him, whether for good or ill, and there’s no such thing as bad press.
#1 Cody Rhodes
The son of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes has become an international superstar all on his own volition.
Why he was fired/released: Cody asked for his release from the company after disillusionment about his Stardust character’s ’tacky’ costumes, many of which he claimed fit poorly and were difficult to wrestle in, as well as frustration with his inability to climb to the main event.
Why they should hire him back: Cody has proven in New Japan, ROH, and smaller promotions that he can sell out venues and have stellar matches with almost anyone. A feud with AJ Styles or Brock Lesnar would generate a great deal of interest.
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