10 times WWE missed the chance to bring back a former Superstar

#1 WCW/AOL contract holdouts (2001)

Major WCW Superstars WWE failed to bring in after the WCW buyout.

After the collapse of WCW in the late 90s/early 2000s and subsequent purchase of the company by WWE, many assumed their biggest stars would be on their way into WWE. Unfortunately, the contracts that stars such as Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Ric Flair, and others had received were from AOL and not WCW, so they could essentially sit at home until the contracts ran out and AOL would have to pay them.

WWE had the opportunity to buy out the contracts and bring in the talent but opted not spend the money and wait out the contracts. While most of them ended up in WWE anyway, the Invasion Angle of the early 2000s struggled mightily because of the lack of star power from WCW.

It may be more feasible than ever before to make a living outside of the WWE as a professional wrestler. Between the other major televised promotions (GFW, ROH, New Japan) as well as the smaller promotions that sell out in any building they are in, the opportunities to make a living are bigger and more numerous than ever before.

The Superstars listed here were in a position to consider their options and ultimately decided to remain outside of the WWE umbrella.