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With the formation of AEW, and the growing presence of New Japan, it's clear that there is something of a contract war going on in wrestling.
As the biggest wrestling company in the world, WWE are no doubt hoping to sign the top talent in the world, if nothing else, to make sure they don't work for the competition. But despite having the biggest bank account, some huge WWE signings did much better elsewhere, a fact that the company surely regrets.
Here are six huge Superstars WWE lost to the competition.
#6 Evan Bourne
When Evan Bourne signed with WWE in late 2007, his impressive stints in OVW and FCW led to him being quickly called up to the main roster in June the next year.
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Quickly impressing as an athletic face in ECW, Bourne got over with fans, partly because of his Shooting Star Press, which earned him a Slammy for best finishing manoeuvre.
Despite his incredible skills and popularity, Bourne joined the WWE at a time when the company didn’t have a cruiserweight division. Whilst his smack size and move-set made him a likeable underdog, it also made it very difficult to see him as any kind of title contender.
Having the Missouri native on 205 Live would be great, as the brand continues to try and find a face standard-bearer fans can get behind.
Bourne would’ve been an ideal veteran presence on the show, which still is trying to establish itself despite lacklustre fan reception. Whilst Bourne wrestled a few matches for NXT in 2013, the company didn’t see any future for him and released him in 2014.
Undeterred, Bourne continued to develop and is now thriving on the indies and for Impact Wrestling, where he is a former X-Division Champion.
#5 Austin Aries
Austin Aries is one of the best talents of his generation, both in-ring, and on the mic. Unfortunately, none of his skills quite landed during his brief tenure in WWE, neither in NXT or on 205 Live.
In July 2016, Aries was released from his WWE contract. Whilst initial reports said Aries had requested the release due to being frustrated with the company, Dave Meltzer claimed that Aries was released due to being incredibly unpopular backstage.
So who’s to blame here? Well, we know Aries was scheduled to face Neville at Madison Square Garden for the Cruiserweight Championship, but was replaced by Cedric Alexander after his release.
After his release, Aries faced a 90-day no-compete clause, which can’t have helped the fractured relationship between the company and him.
After the clause ended in October 2016, Aries was rehired by Impact Wrestling, where he has had great success, including regaining the Impact World Championship.
Holding multiple championships across various promotions including ROH and World Series Wrestling, Aries has proved to WWE exactly what they’re missing out on. A world-class technician, and a wonderful jerk heel character, there’s little doubt that the WWE would like a do-over and push Aries as the star he clearly is.
#4 Gail Kim
In her first run with WWE, Gail Kim received an instant big-push, winning the Women’s Championship in her first match.
Initially, an underdog face, later a heel submission specialist, Kim was abruptly released but returned to the company in 2008. This second run saw her barely featured, and Kim has since stated she returned to the WWE only for the money.
In between these tours, Kim did her finest work with Impact Wrestling, playing a valiant face against the monstrous Awesome Kong.
Perhaps if the WWE had treated her better, Kim would be with them now, competing against stars like Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks, at a time where WWE’s women’s division is at an all-time peak.
Instead, the WWE failed her, let her go far too soon, and one of the best women’s wrestlers of a generation got lost in the shuffle.
Kim retired in 2017, an Impact Wrestling Hall of Famer, and one of the biggest booking mistakes in WWE history.
#3 Bubba Ray Dudley
A key part of WWE’s Tag Division in the Attitude Era, Bubba Ray Dudley had plenty of success with his brother D-Von.
Despite a brief singles run in 2002, the company never had faith in Bubba’s abilities as a solo star, and quickly reunited him with D-Von.
After a few more years as the Dudley Boyz, in 2005 Bubba parted ways with the company, joining Impact Wrestling that same year.
As a part of the company, Bubba proved himself as a guy who could carry the company, where his face run as a singles star got over with fans, before he transitioned to being the loud-mouthed heel, World Champion and leader of the Aces and Eights.
His run with the biker gang is probably his finest work, and it’s a shame that he lacked a WWE sized audience for it.
A testament to his abilities, when the Dudleyz returned for a nostalgia trip in 2015, the WWE Universe quickly hoped for Bubba to turn on his brother, and carry on his singles success from TNA.
He now works as a veteran for ROH, describing himself as the last true heel in wrestling, and has demonstrated that he could still have value as a WWE performer in 2018.
#2 Kenny Omega
In recent years, Kenny Omega has established himself as one of the greatest wrestlers in the world today.
One of the most iconic stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling, he has distinguished himself as a remarkable wrestler, as well as having an excellent promo and a being a fantastic character actor.
His accomplished have earned him multiple championships, as well as the number one spot on this year’s PWI 500.
But in 2005, Omega was sent to Deep South Wrestling, a developmental territory for WWE, to be evaluated by Bill DeMott. After impressing DeMott, John Laurinaitis and Kento Kobashi, in try out matches, the Canadian was offered a WWE developmental contract, and assigned to DSW full time.
In interviews since however, Omega has criticised his time in DSW and has been particularly critical of promoters DeMott and Jody Hamilton, as well as trainer Hardcore Holly.
The poor management of the brand led to Omega immediately requesting his release, and the future IWGP Heavyweight Champion returned to Premier Championship Wrestling in 2006.
Since then, Omega has claimed that the WWE have attempted to re-sign him several times but has turned every offer down.
#1 Cody Rhodes
In May 2016, Cody Rhodes felt his role as Stardust was going nowhere, and pitched having Stardust and the Cody Rhodes character be portrayed simultaneously.
After being denied, Rhodes requested his release and was granted it on May 21st.
Hoping to prove his value elsewhere, Cody took a ton of independent bookings, quickly becoming one of the most popular stars on the scene. His break-out role has been joining the Bullet Club, and has represented the elite group in promotions such as Ring of Honor and New Japan.
The former Intercontinental Champion has even hosted his own show, ALL IN, which he co-organised with The Young Bucks.
ALL IN was the biggest independent show of all time, selling out a major arena in Chicago, Illinois, and drawing a very substantial pay per view audience.
At the show, Cody won the NWA Heavyweight Championship from Nick Aldis, the same title his legendary father, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes won over 30 years ago.
Even though Cody and co probably aren’t, and won’t become a meaningful competition to WWE, the company surely would prefer having Rhodes work for them, or at least, not working against them.
