5 superstars who were unhappy in WWE

WWE is a dream destination for professional wrestlers around the world. It's the largest promotion in the industry and enjoys a worldwide following.

Its impact is such that, in some nations, wrestling and WWE are synonymous. Thus, it's understandable why rookies dream of wrestling inside the WWE ring.

Despite this, certain superstars feel unhappy about their position in the company. They may feel restricted at a mid-card level without the chance to hold major championships.

Some may never reach the mid-card level either and remain unhappy at the lack of regularity in their televised appearances. Many of these wrestlers eventually get frustrated and ask for their releases, leaving the company for greener pastures.

Here is a list of five WWE superstars who felt unhappy being part of the company:

---

#5. Former WWE Champion CM Punk

CM Punk infamously turned his back on WWE for multiple reasons stemming from the company's constant rejection of his wish to main event WrestleMania.

Punk also had problems with being paid less for his Wrestlemania 29 match than other major wrestlers. He also had problems related to the growth of his character. His unhappiness was such that he felt all passion for pro-wrestling had vanished from his heart.

He no-showed RAW and SmackDown, and WWE began removing him from promotional materials. It all led to the company firing him on his wedding day.

Punk mentioned health issues as a major reason behind his retirement, but he later withdrew his claims of an MRSA infection. Nevertheless, he is back in the AEW ring, where he evidently feels happier than in his WWE days.

#4. Former WWE Women's Champion Gail Kim

Gail Kim won the WWE Women's Championship in her debut match but was released after just two years.

Her second stint with the company ended in an incredibly awkward manner. Frustrated with her position, Kim eliminated herself from a battle royal during an episode of RAW.

Kim went on to join IMPACT Wrestling, where she became a major star. Today, she is widely accepted as one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time.

---

#3. Former WWE 24/7 Champion Mike Kanellis

When Mike Kanellis first joined WWE, fans anticipated strong positions on the main roster for him and his wife, former WWE star Maria Kanellis. The Miracle began his career in the company on a strong note, solidifying himself as a heel. However, personal reasons led them to never capitalize on their initial popularity.

When Kanellis returned, he was not promoted as a major star. After wrestling on 205 Live and being involved in an insulting storyline, Mike and Maria Kanellis requested their release. Surprisingly, their request came just four months after they signed a multi-year contract with the company.

#2. Former WWE NXT Champion Neville

Neville was so frustrated with his WWE career that he walked out of an episode of WWE RAW and refused to come back to wrestle.

He had rejuvenated the entire Cruiserweight division through two dominant championship runs, yet the company wanted him to not lose to a star member of the division, Enzo Amore.

The company eventually froze its contract, and a release was finalized in August 2018. He has since rebuilt himself as a major star in Dragon Gate and AEW.

---

#1. Former WWE Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes was clasped by a mid-card ceiling in WWE for years when a change manifested in the form of a tag team with half-brother Goldust. The tag team was extremely popular, with their Battleground match against The Shield an emotional modern classic.

However, the company failed to bank on the popularity and turned Rhodes into Stardust, a watered-down caricature of Goldust. Rhodes tried his best with the gimmick but steadily turned into a glorified enhancement talent.

Frustrated by his limitations, he decided to leave the company. He managed to rebuild himself as a major star on the independent circuit before proving instrumental in the creation of AEW.