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Many people want to make their name as a professional wrestler, but only some of them are able to achieve that dream. Why? Well, putting the work in on a daily basis and mostly facing with rejection and failure takes a lot of persistence and courage.
The WWE Superstars mentioned in this list are some examples of that truth. While they were dealt some bad cards, they still decided to persevere.
Of course, just like any human being, these stars also had doubts about the likelihood of their long-term success. They may have thought about quitting their jobs. But instead of submitting to this impulse, they worked harder and proved that they have what it takes to thrive.
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With that being said, here's a look at five WWE Superstars who came very close to quitting the industry.
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#5 WWE Star Jinder Mahal almost quit wrestling
During his first stint with WWE, Jinder Mahal tried hard to make it to the top of the company. But these efforts failed to take him beyond the mid-card. In fact, he was usually used as comic relief. His career was floundering, so WWE ultimately released Mahal in 2014.
Following his exit, Mahal was not signed by any other major promotion. He started working on the independent circuit, but he didn't find a lot of success there. As a result, he thought about stepping away from the wrestling business. But he couldn't go through with this decision.
Mahal was too passionate to hang up his boots. So he gave wrestling one more try. He gave up alcohol, stopped eating junk food, and started going to the gym. With his hard work and dedication, he got into the best shape of his life.
WWE admired the work Mahal did on himself. The company reached out and told him that its doors are open if he wanted to walk through them. Of course, Mahal didn't waste any time and signed with the company in 2016.
Within a year of his WWE return, Mahal made history and won the WWE Championship for the first time in his career. It's fair to say that he made the right decision when he decided to continue his wrestling career.
#4 WWE Star Sasha Banks almost quit wrestling
It's hard to believe current WWE Superstar Sasha Banks would ever want to give up on her wrestling career. She has become of the company's most popular stars in recent months. But a long time ago, Banks, like many other competitors, was working on the independent circuit.
Just like the rest of the stars mentioned on this list, Banks was also trying her best to succeed. But no matter what she did, she struggled to break out in a crowded industry. For this reason, "The Boss" thought about quitting the wrestling industry and finding a new career. Banks discussed this thought with John Cena Sr. during a show in Massachusetts, and he encouraged her to persevere.
Cena Sr. also told Banks that she has a lot to offer the wrestling industry, and it would be unfair to both her and the business if she decided to quit. Fortunately, Banks listened to him, and she decided to give her childhood dream one more chance.
Banks' persistence paid off. WWE offered her a contract, and the rest is history. Eight years later, she's one of the most influential figures in the wrestling world.
#3 WWE Star Kofi Kingston almost quit wrestling
Within a year of starting his wrestling career, Kofi Kingston signed a deal with WWE in 2006. Kingston quickly became a fan-favorite competitor, and he established himself as one of the best mid-card stars in the company.
Kingston initially enjoyed his newfound success in WWE. But after a while, he was frustrated that he wasn't climbing even higher. Kingston felt that he was stuck at the same place. Kingston was so upset that he wanted to quit WWE and the wrestling business behind him.
Thankfully, Kingston didn't move forward with this thought. Big E and Xavier Woods, who were just as unhappy with their positions in the company, wanted to do something to break out.
Big E and Woods pitched Kingston an idea to form a faction named The New Day. Kingston was initially skeptical of this idea, but after some convincing from Big E and Woods, he agreed to join forces with them. The New Day saved Kingston's career, as he has reached new heights alongside his stablemates.
Kingston definitely made the right decision when he opted to continue his wrestling career. Just a few years later, Kingston became the first African-born WWE Champion.
#2 WWE Star Becky Lynch almost quit wrestling
Becky Lynch was just 15 years old when she decided to chase her dream of becoming a WWE Superstar. She started wrestling around the world, but right when she was getting popular, she met a major obstacle.
Lynch suffered a head injury during one of her matches in Germany, and it was so severe that she was having extremely painful headaches, loud buzzing in her left ear, and distorted vision.
To get back to her normal condition, Lynch had to take almost six years off of her in-ring career. Naturally, during this time she had many doubts about her future in the wrestling industry. At one point, she even called her mother and asked if she could come home and work a regular job.
But Lynch's mother told her she couldn't do that because she knew that her daughter loved wrestling more than anything. Realizing that she had no other options, Lynch decided to sleep on her decision of quitting. Ultimately, she persevered and refocused on the pursuit of her dream.
With this reinvigorated motivation, Lynch worked hard, and her endurance paid off. WWE signed Lynch to a contract, and she rapidly became one of the company's top stars.
"The Man" has already made history in her WWE career. She was one of the first female competitors who competed in the main event of WrestleMania.
#1 WWE Star Kevin Owens almost quit wrestling
Kevin Owens has excelled both as a heel and as a face in WWE. His natural talent and his dedication have helped him become one of the most popular wrestlers in the world. But many years ago, he thought of himself as one of the people who didn't know enough about the industry.
In 2005, when Owens was performing at a Ring of Honor show, he noticed Brian Kendrick's in-ring skills. Owens' jaw dropped when he saw Kendrick's impressive abilities as a wrestler. The future WWE Universal Champion doubted whether he'd ever reach Kendrick's level.
Owens was so depressed by this thought that he wanted to quit the wrestling industry. The Canadian Superstar even told his friend, Sami Zayn, about these doubts. But Zayn convinced him to keep working. Owens went on to become one of the top stars in Ring of Honor, and this success continued during his run in NXT.
Owens kept chasing his dreams, and his work was rewarded. Since he arrived in WWE, he has become a world champion and a fan-favorite star.
