5 released WWE Superstars who became champions this year

It's not the greatest moment being a WWE fan, logging onto social media and seeing some of your favorite superstars released. It can be soul crushing, especially for the wrestlers involved. However, when one door closes another one opens.

Over the past 24 months, WWE has been making numerous changes behind-the-scenes, which has involved letting a large chunk of talent go. The company has stated that this has been due to budget cuts, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of those released from their contracts have found new homes working for companies such as All Elite Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and IMPACT Wrestling.

That being said, let's take a look at five released WWE superstars that won championships in 2021.

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#5 Former WWE superstar Mickie James won the IMPACT Knockouts Championship

It was a sad ending to Mickie James' time with WWE. She was called to be advised that she was being released from her contract, and her belongings were also sent to her home in a trash bag.

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon took to social media to apologize, which resulted in the firing of Talent Relations chief Mark Carrano. How on earth such an incident like this happened is mind blowing. The disrespect shown was on a different level, but thankfully, the right steps were taken to make sure it never happened again.

For Mickie James, it left the door open for her to find work and finally once again step back into the ring to perform. WWE hadn't given James many opportunities, so it was time for the former WWE Women's Champion to make her own, on her terms.

She first made her presence felt in the National Wrestling Alliance, as she signed to be the executive producer for NWA's EmPowerrr all-women's event. It was a monumental moment for independent wrestling to showcase such an event, which realistically should have happened years ago.

Weeks later, she returned to her old stomping ground of IMPACT Wrestling. Mickie was hugely popular with the company between 2011 and 2013. Not only did she return to the ring, she also captured the Knockouts Championship for a fourth time, ending the 343 day reign of Deonna Purrazzo.

Mickie is back. If there's anyone out there who can show you how to turn a negative into a huge positive, it's wrestling's resident country singer.

#4 Former WWE Superstars Gallows and Anderson became IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champions

Gallows and Anderson last appeared in WWE during the main event of Night One of WrestleMania 36. They featured in the Boneyard Match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles. They were released just weeks later.

They are no doubt one of WWE's most underrated tag teams and could seriously have been one of the company's best tag teams of the modern era. Instead, it seemed like WWE was unsure how to use them correctly, and in the end their time with Vince McMahon's promotion wasn't meant to be.

Better known as The Good Brothers, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson signed with IMPACT Wrestling. They announced they had signed two-year contracts and would appear at the infamous 2020 Slammiversary pay-per-view, which saw a number of talent make their debuts and returns.

It wasn't long before they were on top of the tag team division as they defeated The North to win the tag team gold at the Turning Point event later that year. They won the titles for a second time at the 2021 Slammiversary pay-per-view, winning a Four-Way Tag Team match.

#3 Former WWE superstar Zack Ryder became GCW Champion

Zack Ryder was with WWE for 15 years, which effectively made him one of the most experienced members of the roster. During his tenure, he became a one-time Intercontinental Champion, a one-time United States Champion, and also can proudly say he is a one-time WWE Internet Champion.

Ryder was released from his contract in April 2020, alongside his former tag team partner Curt Hawkins. His release came stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a number of WWE talent losing their jobs.

Zack Ryder found himself performing for AEW and IMPACT Wrestling, before making headlines with Game Changer Wrestling in the summer of 2021. He made his first appearance attacking then-GCW Champion Nick Gage.

It resulted in the two having a Deathmatch at the GCW Homecoming pay-per-view in July, in which Ryder, using his real name Matt Cardona, won. After the match, fans in attendance pelted the ring with objects showing their displeasure as Cardona claimed he was there to fix GCW to be more like sports entertainment.

He subsequently lost the GCW Championship to Jon Moxley two months later.

#3 Former WWE superstar Aleister Black A.K.A. Malakai Black won the PWG Tag Team Championship

Aleister Black A.K.A. Malakai Black had quite an unusual ending to his time with WWE. He was absent from WWE programming before vignettes were shown building up to his return. He eventually returned for a night on SmackDown in June 2021 before being released from his contract.

Almost immediately after his non-compete clause had expired, he joined All Elite Wrestling and debuted as Malakai Black. As of this writing, Black has only had eight televised matches for the company, but it is a return to PWG that has currently brought him his best post-WWE success.

Black performed for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla before joining WWE, where he made his return to challenge Black Taurus and Demonic Flamita for the vacant PWG Tag Team Championship. He teamed up with Brody King to form The Kings of the Black Throne.

On a special night at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, CA, The Kings of the Black Throne picked up the victory. It marked Black's first-ever reign as a PWG Tag Team Champion, and his first gold since leaving WWE.

#1 Former WWE superstars Billie Kay and Peyton Royce won the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship

The IIconics, now known as The IInspiration, were a much-loved and loathed tag team on the WWE roster. They hit the pinnacle of their tenure with the company when they won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 35 at Metlife Stadium.

Sadly, days after WrestleMania 37 in Tampa, the duo were released. It wasn't quite clear where the pair would land, as being Australian, their work visa came into play. Eventually, they were revealed to have signed with IMPACT Wrestling and found themselves a new home.

They made their debut at the Bound For Glory spectacular in October 2021 as Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay, defeating Havok and Rosemary to win the gold. In the almost nine-minute match, they reminded the wrestling world just what they are all about.

It was an iconic debut for the company and it will be interesting to see just what they get up to during their run with the company.