5 Superstars who shocked WWE by quitting

On this week's Monday Night RAW, former Universal Champion Kevin Owens quit the company, after losing to the Shield's Seth Rollins.

Whilst some fans are hoping to see the Canadian return to the indies, there are many that are hoping he finds a way to return to WWE, either on RAW or SmackDown Live.

But Owens isn't the first star to quit the company, and probably won't be the last. Today we look at 5 stars who shocked everyone by quitting the company and see what happened next.

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#5. Batista

Batista leaves in 2014, with a solemn wave.

What's better than quitting the WWE once? Doing it twice.

In late 2009, Batista developed a mean-streak, attacking former friend Rey Mysterio, after failing to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. In February the next year, the future Marvel star would win the WWE Championship, destroying a prone John Cena.

Cena would re-capture the title the next month, and retain it in a grueling Extreme Rules match the month after. Refusing to take this any longer, a wheelchair-bound Animal famously quits, after RAW GM Bret Hart demanded he wrestles that night.

Flash forward four years, the Animal returns, with a fiery passion that sees him win the 2014 Royal Rumble. But fans had moved on, siding with Daniel Bryan. Clearly dejected, Batista sided with Evolution stable-mates Randy Orton and Triple H, only to quit again after disagreements with the Game.

#4. John 'Bradshaw' Layfield

JBL in 2004, as WWE Champion.

In late 2007, the former WWE Champion returned to action, attacking Chris Jericho in a WWE Title match against Randy Orton. Bradshaw's reasons weren't the best, stating that Jericho had pushed him slightly during the match, whilst the two combatants were brawling near the tables.

Regardless, JBL was back, and captured the Intercontinental Champion in January 2009. In an effort to make history, the millionaire agreed to defend the title against Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 25, the first Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania in 7 years.

Unfortunately for Bradshaw, things didn't go well. Losing the title in just 21 seconds (in his home state no less, a furious Bradshaw screamed "I QUIT" to the 72,000+ in attendance.

Whilst he would later return as a commentator, and now operates backstage, it's interesting that this is the last moment of the career of one of the greatest heels in recent history.

#3. CM Punk

Punk as WWE Champion, which he held for 434 days.

Whilst fans still hope to see the Voice of the Voiceless return, it seems more unlikely with every passing day. Punk has made it clear that he has no intentions to return to WWE, instead focusing on his UFC career.

Punk quit the WWE the night after the 2014 Royal Rumble, later claiming that he had been wrestling whilst sick and injured for months, and said WWE were aware of it. After being suspended for walking out, Punk was later given his termination papers on his wedding day (when he married fellow WWE alum, AJ Lee).

Irate, Punk vowed to never return to wrestling, and despite fans' hopes, has kept true to his word. Nowadays you can find him in UFC, where he has a 0-2-0 record.

#2. Goldberg

Goldberg and Lesnar at WrestleMania 20.

Goldberg was a star in WCW, crushing opponents left and right, and capturing the WCW World Championship.

When the company folded, he did not instantly join WWE, but signed in 2003, debuting and crushing long-term WWE star, The Rock.

Unfortunately, this would arguably be the former football star's peak, as the rest of his year in WWE came and went without notoriety. Despite winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Goldberg would lose it mere weeks later, before feuding with Brock Lesnar.

His WrestleMania 20 clunker with Brock was the final nail in the coffin, and both men left after that match.

Fortunately, Goldberg would return in 2016, and was able to give a proper send-off to the WWE Universe, as well as allow his son to see him wrestle.

#1.Stone Cold Steve Austin

Enter caption

Arguably the biggest star in wrestling history, Austin was a pivotal point in the Attitude Era, and was a key player in the WWF defeating WCW in the Monday Night War.

But by 2002, the company had taken a different turn, without Austin as a main eventer. Not happy with how the company was going, Austin was very public about the change and his negative views on it.

The final straw came in July, when the company wanted the Rattlesnake to lose to a rookie Brock Lesnar on RAW. Instead, Austin walked out, leaving the company at a crossroads. Whilst Austin would later return, and still make occasional appearances now, it will forever be a stain on Austin's record as one of the greats.