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It's a long process to get to WWE for many aspiring wrestlers and being signed by the company doesn't guarantee that any wrestler will become a huge star. Over the years there have been several WWE stars who were overlooked throughout their careers before being released after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Whilst many former WWE stars loved their time as part of Vince McMahon's company and would love an opportunity to go back, there are others who have made it clear that they don't want to re-sign.
There are many more options in the wrestling business now than ever before, which means that former WWE stars are now happy in Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, IMPACT, and even in All Elite Wrestling. These options have made it much easier for many of the following stars to be outspoken about their time in WWE. With that being said, let's take a look at five WWE Superstars who left the company on bad terms.
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#5. Rusev/Miro
The former United States Champion has already found a new home in AEW as Miro after being released alongside a number of other stars back in April. Rusev's release was a surprise to many members of the WWE Universe since his wife Lana is still contracted with the company.
Despite his wife still, on the payroll, Rusev, who is now known as Miro has been very outspoken about his time in WWE and the fact that he doesn't want to return.
"After I had my shoulder surgery I heard about, you know, Hunter's got all his boys and they're texting every day. They're best friends and after my shoulder surgery, after I give up my life for this freaking company, like not even one person reached out, you know what I mean. Not Vince (McMahon), not Hunter (Triple H), not (talent relations head Mark) Carano, nobody was man enough to be like, 'Hey bud, are you ok? Do you need anything? I know you're in the hospital, you're by yourself because your wife is at freaking work!'
I'm there laying by myself in the hospital and nobody cares man and then at the same time you're like, 'What am I doing?' Like why am I giving everything I have and I understand it's my dream...Thank God, I did enough for my investments, I don't need to work there at all. My wife is happy. Good for her. I'm done. I am done."
The star revealed in an interview with Ryback earlier this year that he knew that he was done with WWE following his shoulder surgery. Whilst he comments that he is happy that his wife is happy in WWE, he knew that it was time to leave.
#4. Former WWE Women's Champion Gail Kim
Gail Kim is still considered to be one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time, even though she was unable to reach her full potential in WWE. The former Women's Champion was later inducted into the IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Fame and went on to change the landscape of women's wrestling in the company.
Despite the changes that Kim pushed forward, she has made it clear that she will never be part of WWE's Women's Revolution since the former star walked out of the company in 2011 and hasn't looked back.
Kim was so frustrated with her booking at that time that she eliminated herself from the Women's Battle Royal on a live episode of RAW, before walking to the back and out of the company.
In the years that have followed, she has been very outspoken about the creative issues backstage in WWE and the struggles that the women were presented with. Kim has now retired from professional wrestling but when asked by fans if she would return to be part of the current product she made it clear that she would only ever return to IMPACT Wrestling.
#3. Former WWE manager Ricardo Rodriguez
Ricardo Rodriguez is perhaps best remembered as the manager for Alberto Del Rio, who helped the former World Champion push forward as a heel for almost three years. Rodriguez was also training as a wrestler but was mostly used by WWE as a manager since he later moved on to manage Rob Van Dam for a short period of time before his release from the company.
Rodriguez was suspended by WWE back in 2013 for violating the company's wellness policy, before later being released the following year. Rodriquez himself later revealed in an interview with Talkin' Sass that he left WWE on bad terms.
"I didn’t leave (WWE) on good terms because I was very angry and bitter when I went and asked for my release. I wasn’t happy being there, and I know I said a lot of (stuff) I shouldn’t have. I regret how I said things. I don’t necessarily take back much of what I said because a lot of people that left after I did said a lot of the same things. But I regret how I said things. I should have taken a different approach… I was angry, I was upset, I had a substance abuse problem, there’s a whole lot of things that went into it… If the opportunity presents itself (to work behind the scenes) I would jump on it immediately.”
Despite the way that his career with the company ended, it appears that the former manager and commentator is still happy to return if WWE ever came calling.
#2. Former WWE star Enzo Amore
Enzo Amore was once one of the most exciting wrestlers on WWE's roster since he was able to cut some fantastic promos. Alongside Big Cass, Amore was able to climb through the ranks in NXT and onto the main roster where he became popular with the WWE Universe but not as popular with the locker room.
Amore had a well-documented backstage altercation with Roman Reigns back in 2017 which led to him being kicked out of the locker room. Amore was pushed into the Cruiserweight Division where he was made the Champion and the face of the brand, which upset WWE when allegations came to light at the beginning of 2018.
WWE was focused on RAW 25 and wanted only positive light on the company, but that day details of the investigation were leaked online and the company suspended the former Champion and later replaced him on the show.
Unsurprisingly he was then released from the company and has since appeared at Survivor Series in an attempt to hijack the show but was instead escorted out by security.
It's safe to say that Amore won't be a star that shows up again on WWE TV anytime soon.
#1. Former WWE Champion CM Punk
It has been almost seven years since CM Punk walked away from WWE and it's still one of the most talked-about exits in the company's history. Punk's last WWE appearance came at the 2014 Royal Rumble before the former World Champion then no-showed the next night's episode of RAW.
Punk made it clear to Vince McMahon and Triple H that he wasn't coming back and after failing to appear for the company for a number of months, WWE fired Punk on his wedding day for breach of contract.
His wife AJ Lee later retired from the business and whilst Punk recently returned to be part of WWE Backstage whilst under contract with FOX, he hasn't stated that he would return to Vince McMahon's promotion.
Punk was very outspoken about WWE in podcasts that he released months after his release and was even sued by the company's doctor for defamatory comments made about him. Punk won the court case and since WWE Backstage has been canceled, the self-proclaimed Best in the World has nothing tying him to the company anymore.
