5 Forgotten jobbers who returned to WWE and became champions

As is often mentioned, WWE is the pinnacle, the best and biggest sports entertainment company in the world, and a dream for any pro wrestler.

To reach WWE and then win a title is what every pro wrestler works towards in their journey to the top.

But it's not always a straight forward affair. With the number of talents on their roster, to succeed in WWE involves a lot of hard work, grit, determination, and the obvious - talent.

There have been some who have rocketed to the top due to their phenomenal talent, while other equally talented individuals have had to grind and claw their way to the top. If a Superstar misses out and is let go early in his/her career, it doesn't mean that they will not get another chance - case in point, Jinder Mahal.

But, there are other Superstars, those that are even more talented than Mahal, that were let go early in their career, but returned to win titles in the WWE.

Here we take a look at 5 forgotten jobbers who returned to WWE and became champions:

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#5 Bobby/Robert Roode

Bobby Roode back in 2001

Many current WWE fans may not realise that Bobby Roode has been in the wrestling industry for 20 years! The former United States Champion was an important wrestler in TNA for a decade which earned him a move to NXT and then the WWE main roster.

But Roode was a part of the WWE, appearing in many dark matches as a jobber in the late 90s to 00s. He was on shows like Velocity, Jakked, Sunday Night Heat, as well as in dark matches before SmackDown and RAW shows.

In WWE, he has won the United States title as well as the RAW Tag Team title, since his return.

#4 Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose in one of his three appearances on WWE television back in the mid-2000s

Dean Ambrose, or Jon Moxley as he is known now, is no longer with the WWE, leaving the company earlier this year after a phenomenal career with them. Ambrose was an indie darling, having been known for bloody death matches, following which he went on join WWE's FCW promotion.

The rest, as they say, is history as Dean Ambrose, alongside Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns went on to form The Shield, one of the most dominant factions in recent history. Ambrose himself went on to become a Grand Slam Champion and a Triple Crown Champion, winning numerous titles in WWE.

But Ambrose wouldn't have thought that he would be such a huge thing in WWE when he wrestled three times in 2006 and 2007 and lost all three times on WWE's Velocity and Heat shows. A decade later, Ambrose was holding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship!

#3 Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe on his sole appearance on Jakked back in 2001

Like Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe was another Superstar who became a huge name in the pro wrestling industry after joining TNA in 2005. He was a Grand Slam and Triple Crown champion in TNA, and after a decade of wrestling for them, he joined NXT in 2015.

But Joe, too, was a part of the WWE, having been in WWE's developmental territory Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where he had feuds with a certain John Cena.

Joe, unlike Roode, had just one appearance on WWE television, on Jakked, where he faced Essa Rios. Following that appearance, he wrestled in ROH, TNA, and Pro Wrestling Noah, to name a few.

After returning to WWE, Joe won the NXT Championship twice, and is the current United States Champion, and is considered by many as one of the best heels in the business, currently.

#2 AJ Styles

AJ Styles on WWF Metal

Three of five Superstars in this list have been an important part of TNA, and probably the biggest star in TNA history is AJ Styles.

Styles' storied pro wrestling career began way back in 1998, and in 2001 he got his big break, earning a tryout with WWE, winning his match but did not get a contract.

But he returned a year later and he wrestled in a few matches on Metal where he lost against Hurricane. He was offered a contract with WWE but declined because of personal reasons but then went on to have a legendary career, first with ROH, and then TNA, before arriving at the WWE in 2016.

Since signing with WWE, Styles has won the WWE Championship twice, as well as winning the United States title twice. Styles was recently moved to RAW and is in a feud with Universal Champion, Seth Rollins.

#1 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan and John Cena

Regarded as one of the best in-ring talents currently in the WWE, Daniel Bryan was never meant to be so successful in the WWE. WWE have for a long time had champions who are the opposite of what Bryan is - tall, bulky, and powerful.

But Bryan has battled the odds to return to the WWE not once but twice, and hold several different titles in Vince McMahon's promotion.

He first signed for Memphis Championship Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory in 2000, before being released the next year. He returned to the WWE in 2002, wrestling with the likes of Jamie Noble, Rico, and a young John Cena on Velocity and Heat.

He returned to WWE once again in 2009, wrestling in Florida Championship Wrestling, and then the main roster. Bryan was released once again by WWE after trying to strangle ring announcer Justin Roberts during a match.

His third return to WWE was a successful one, where he held several titles, including the WWE Championship.