5 Superstars who left WWE in 2010 who will be part of the roster in 2020

WWE has hired several top Superstars during its illustrious time in the business. While the company has pursued many top names in the industry to find a new home in WWE, it has also developed some of the best talents in the world by giving newcomers a chance.

Over the years, we’ve seen several men and women hired or released by the company, with several Superstars going through multiple tenures. While some have had very successful tenures after which they’ve been signed by other promotions, others may not have worked well in the company initially, but were much improved in their second outing.

Keeping that in mind, several current wrestlers were released from the company for various reasons in 2010, but will be walking into the new decade as part of WWE’s roster.

In this article, we will look at five top Superstars who were released in 2010, but will be with the company in 2020.

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#5 Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin has gone through several gimmicks during his run

Shelton Benjamin has been one of WWE’s longest-serving employees. Benjamin signed a contract with the company in 2000 and began working in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He formed a partnership with longtime friend and one of WWE’s top Superstars in Brock Lesnar.

Upon moving to the main roster, Benjamin formed a team with Charlie Haas, and the duo worked with their mentor Kurt Angle. The three men, known as Team Angle, worked together to build a big name for themselves.

Once Benjamin became a singles competitor, he pulled off a few victories over Triple H and went on to become Intercontinental Champion soon after. He won the Intercontinental Championship a total of three times during his run. 'The Gold Standard' was released from his contract in April 2000.

After moving out of the company, Benjamin quickly went onto different promotions such as Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Even during his independent run, he mostly battled as a tag team wrestler.

In 2017, Benjamin was once again signed to the company and began a partnership with Chad Gable. Even though he has been missing from television for most of his current tenure, he will be part of the RAW roster going into the new decade.

#4 Luke Gallows

Luke Gallows can have a Best and Worst article based on his WWE career

Luke Gallows initially tried out for the Tough Enough competition, but failed to make it as one of the final ten contestants. The company still took a chance on him and signed him to a contract, assigning him to the Deep South Wrestling (DSW) developmental territory.

Fans would remember Gallows’ debut on RAW in 2006, as he worked as imposter Kane. Since his physical appearance matched that of Kane's, the company used him generously in a rivalry with the 'Big Red Monster,' and the two battled in Kane’s signature style.

Soon after, the company started using him in more ridiculous storylines. He was involved in a love story with The Bag Lady and later succumbed to a mental breakdown which gave birth to his next character, Festus.

His most notable work came as part of the Straight Edge Society, after which he was released from his contract in 2010. He went on to make a name for himself in Total Nonstop Action and Japan along with Karl Anderson, becoming a part of the renowned Bullet Club.

He returned to the company with Karl Anderson in 2016, and the two have won the RAW Tag Team Championships twice, even though they’ve gone underutilized for several months.

Gallows will be walking into 2020 with best friends Karl Anderson and AJ Styles as The O.C.

#3 Mickie James

The former Women's Champion has been a great asset to the company

Mickie James worked for Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling for a short while before she got the call from WWE. She was signed to a developmental contract in 2003 and began showing her impressive talent to woo management.

She debuted on RAW in 2005 and was given a gimmick where she acted as WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus’ biggest fan. James started receiving backing from the crowd, and this allowed her to become a major figure in the Women’s Division. The story became a major hit, and the company used the same on many occasions to build hype between the two women.

James then went on to win the Women’s Championship and the Diva’s Championship before she was released from her contract in April 2010. James stated that WWE explained her release as a desire to "move in a new direction with their Women's Division".

After spending some time working on her music career, and working with other promotions, the company rehired the popular Superstar in 2016. She was put alongside Alexa Bliss, and the two ran a rather impressive gimmick together.

Even though her current tenure with the company hasn’t been as successful as her first, she has managed to continue making a name for herself and has been commentating for WWE Main Event while recovering from an injury that should allow her to return to the ring in 2020.

#2 Matt Hardy

Hardy has remained a crowd favorite since his debut

Matt Hardy is arguably one of the best tag team wrestlers the company has ever seen. Not only has Hardy attained a high level of success with his brother Jeff Hardy in the company, but he has also helped other talents such as Bray Wyatt get over.

While Hardy was used as a jobber by the company starting from 1994 on different occasions, he was signed to his first full time contract in 1998. During the Attitude Era, Matt and Jeff Hardy took the company by storm and engaged in some very interesting feuds with the likes of Edge and Christian. They then inducted Lita into their team, and The Hardy Boyz became a fan favorite from thereon.

After his relationship with Lita hit the rocks, Matt Hardy was released by the company in April 2005. However, he returned just months later to reignite a rivalry with Edge which became one of the hottest topics in wrestling.

For the next five years, Hardy was involved in numerous feuds and won several Championships before asking for his release from the company in 2010. After his release, Hardy worked in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and several other promotions where he was a top star.

At WrestleMania 33, Matt and his brother Jeff made a surprise return to the company and won the RAW Tag Team Championships in the process. While Hardy was injured in 2018 after an alliance with Bray Wyatt and has remained on the sidelines for most of 2019, he will be part of the RAW roster come 2020.

#1 Daniel Bryan

Bryan has reached heights no one could have ever dreamed of

Probably the most well-known Superstar on the list, Daniel Bryan was signed to a developmental contract by the company in 2000. After training under William Regal, Bryan was released from his contract in July 2001.

Bryan then moved to Japan where he was a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and became famous as the American Dragon. During his time away from a full contract, Bryan kept returning to the company for a few matches in 2002 and 2003.

He was made part of WWE in 2009, and was in a storyline with his mentor The Miz, as well as a member of The Nexus in NXT. He was once again released from his contract in 2010, but returned to the company soon after.

Bryan went on to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match in 2011, and cashed in his contract at TLC to pin Big Show and win his first major World Heavyweight Championship. From then on, Bryan became a huge part of WWE and a figure to look up to for many young Superstars.

Bryan defied all odds and became the leader of the YES Movement which is still one of the most famous gimmicks in WWE. 'The American Dragon' has won numerous Championships in WWE in his current run, and even though an injury forced him to retire in February 2016, he is back in the ring and better than ever.