5 stars who have remained loyal to a wrestling promotion

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has hit businesses all across the globe and pro wrestling is no exception. WWE released a lot of talent out of the blue following WrestleMania 36. It was another grim reminder of how badly the COVID-19 has hit the business.

Names like Heath Slater, Mike Chioda, Zack Ryder, and Fit Finlay, who have been with the company for as long as one can remember, were released. This was one of the biggest talent exoduses in WWE's history.

While releasing names like Maria Kanellis,Mike Bennett and Rusev, who previously requested to be released or were unhappy with their position in the company was understandable, the release of Mike Chioda was very perplexing. The WWE official has been with the company since 1989 and has officiated some great matches in wrestling history.

Loyalty in pro wrestling has always been a tough ask. Some of the top names in the business have worked for multiple promotions during their career.

While Hulk Hogan jumping ship from WWE to WCW turned the tide in the favor of latter in the Monday Night Wars, the wrestling company not realizing the potential in Steve Austin and him going to Vince McMahon's company are some of the major examples of shifting loyalties in the business.

Here are five wrestlers who have been able to break the mold and managed to stay loyal to a single company.

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#5 Rocky Romero (New Japan Pro Wrestling)

Romero has been hugely instrumental in bringing several gaijin(foreign) wrestlers to New Japan

When we talk about the rise of New Japan globally, one name that is often understated or often ignored is that of Rocky Romero. We don't think that the global expansion of NJPW would've reached the heights that it did if it weren't for the LA-native. Romero performs a wide variety of duties for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Aside from being an in-ring talent, Romero also occasionally does commentary and coaches in the LA dojo. He is also an integral part of New Japan's English Podcast.

Romero has been a permanent fixture in the North American independent wrestling scene for the past two decades. He has performed for major Indy promotions in both US and Mexico. Romero is credited with bringing in some of the top foreign superstars to New Japan. Many superstars have spoken about how Romero acted as an intermediary between them and the New Japan management.

One would assume that Romero would have been a great fit for AEW, given how close he is with The Bucks, Cody and Kenny Omega, but the Junior Heavyweight has remained loyal to New Japan and by the looks of it, he will be with the wrestling company for the foreseeable future

#4 Hiroshi Tanahashi ( New Japan Pro Wrestling)

Tanahashi as the Rev Pro British Heavyweight Champion

It wouldn't be an understatement to say that Japanese Proresu as we know it today wouldn't be where it is today without The Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Much like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Tanahashi helped bring New Japan Pro Wrestling out from its dark phase and become one of the flagbearers of the promotions as it gained worldwide notoriety.

Tanahashi has been with the promotion for almost 20 years and even at 42 years of age, is showing no signs of slowing down. The one-half of the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champion was part of a group of rookies that arrived in the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo in 1999 called 'The Three Musketeers'. The other two were Katsuyori Shibata and Shinsuke Nakamura.

The rise of MMA and Pride FC was a huge blow to Japanese pro wrestling. Many of the great Japanese Pro-wrestlers transitioned to MMA during the heyday of Pride FC with the most notable one being Kazushi Sakuraba. Tanahashi was with the company during this time and by the time Pride folded up in 2007, he had started to gained traction as one of the wrestling company's top stars.

Over the years, there have been numerous unconfirmed reports about WWE trying to unsuccessfully sign The Japanese Ace. The Man himself has spoken about how the Stanford-based wrestling promotion tried signing him in the mid-2000s. But, The Ace has remained loyal to New Japan and continues to be one of its top stars.

#3 Edge (WWE)

Edge looks set for another great run in WWE

Many of you might be surprised to see the Rated-R Superstar's name on the list, but if you have seen the 24 Special covering his return to wrestling and in-ring action, you would know why he made it to the list. Debuting in 1996, Edge went on to become one of the most decorated Superstars in the company's history.

Starting in a tag team alongside real-life best friend, Christian, Edge would rise in the ranks to become one of the most celebrated singles Superstars in WWE history.

The Ultimate Opportunist has been credited with popularising some of the most popular match styles in wrestling like the TLC Match. He was the inaugural winner of the Money In The Bank Ladder match and is one of the only three Superstars (the other ones being Brock Lesnar and Sheamus) to have won the Royal Rumble, King of the Ring and the MITB briefcase.

During the WWE 24 Special covering his return to the squared circle, Edge revealed that he was approached by a rival wrestling promotion, presumably AEW, with an offer to return to the ring, following his appearance at SummerSlam last August.

This, however, isn't the first time that the former WWE Champion has been courted by a rival wrestling promotion. Edge had previously received offers from TNA/ IMPACT around 2008-09. But, he chose to turn down the offer and stay in WWE.

#2 The Briscoe Brothers (Ring of Honor)

The Briscoe Brothers

While 2019 might not have been the best year for the company, Ring of Honor will always hold a special place in the hearts of wrestling fans. During the mid to late 2000s, ROH was the place to be for any budding, young star who wanted to make a mark in the wrestling business. Some of the biggest names in the business have cut their teeth in the Sinclair-Owned promotion. Names like CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and The Young Bucks ( just to name a few) wouldn't be where they are without ROH.

One of the biggest drawbacks of ROH throughout its existence has been their ability to keep their top wrestling talents under contract for a long period. Perhaps, it is the wrestling promotion's reputation of being a breeding ground.

You will hard-pressed to find wrestlers who have stuck with the company for a long period, with a couple of exceptions. The biggest among them has to be Jay and Mark Briscoe, The Briscoe Brothers.

The Briscoes have become deeply entrenched in the DNA of ROH. Widely regarded as one of the best tag teams in the world, the duo has won the ROH World Tag Team Championship a record eleven times. They are the longest-tenured superstars in the wrestling company's history and we're part of ROH's very first event way back in 2002. Jay has also achieved success as a singles star, winning the ROH World Championship on two separate occasions.

They have been with ROH through the best and worst of times. If ROH were to ever introduce a Hall of Fame, The Briscoe Brothers will have to be the very first choice for inductees, given their body of work and loyalty to the company.

#1 The Undertaker (WWE)

Taker is the longest-tenured active superstar in WWE today

WWE has been through a lot over the last thirty years. From the rise and fall to Hulkamania to the company's top babyfaces getting incessantly booed, WWE has been through its share of ups and downs during the last three decades. But, there is an individual who has continued to define what WWE and the wrestling business standa for during that period and that man is none other than The Undertaker.

The Phenom made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 1990 and has been a feature in WWE Programming ever since.

The Deadman has been with the wrestling company through the good, bad and worst times. During the Monday Night Wars, when every major Superstar in both the wrestling companies jumped ship, Taker remained loyal to Vince McMahon and WWE. Apart from being one of McMahon's most celebrated creations, The Undertaker has also been one of the most loyal soldiers of WWE head honcho. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that it is nearly impossible for a wrestler from the current generation to have the kind of longevity in the business that The Phenom has enjoyed.

While there have numerous instances where fans have questioned The Deadman for stepping back inside the wrestling ring, it is no secret that the fans still love to see The Undertaker perform. The fact that the most talked-about match from WrestleMania 36 was the Boneyard Match between Taker and AJ Styles goes on to show he is still relevant. When it comes to the wrestling business, The Undertaker is the very definition of loyalty.