The wrestling industry is such a difficult one for individuals to navigate, as there is a lot of creative, financial, and health and well-being issues that bring uncertainty. This makes it immensely hard for performers to have the courage, let alone the know-how, to bet on themselves and make it outside their comfort zone.
5 Wrestlers Who Bet On Themselves And Won (& 5 Who Lost)
While some wrestlers found success after betting on their own talent, others weren't as lucky.There are examples of the business' greatest stars taking a leap of faith and trusting in their own ability to make it work elsewhere after already having success. Sometimes it just takes a change or scenery or a bit of creative freedom to unlock a performer's full potential.
10 Mercedes Mone Cashed In Her Star Power
AEW Has Banked On Mercedes Being A Big Success
- AEW Has Advertised A Show In Boston, Massachusetts On March 13th Called 'Big Business'
- It Is Expected To Be The Destination For The Former Sasha Banks' Arrival In AEW
The most recent example of a wrestler betting on themselves has not entirely come to fruition, but it surely will once Mercedes Mone arrives in AEW. The former Sasha Banks shocked the world by appearing in New Japan last year following her acrimonious exit from WWE in 2022.
Mone is expected to join a reinvigorated AEW women's division, where she will be one of the biggest stars in the company. Mercedes can cement her legacy as one of, if not the best North American women's wrestlers in history, as AEW will give her the chance to work with a whole new roster.
9 Randy Savage Was Not Too Old To Work
His WCW Run Showed He Was Still A Massive Star
- Savage Had Mostly Been Working As A Commentator In WWE Before His Exit In 1994
- WWE Higher Ups Apparently Considered Savage To Be Too Old For A Top Star In The Business
Alongside stars like Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage helped define WWE's first boom period, becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the 'Golden Era.' As the 1990s came around, though, WWE had decided that the 'Macho Man' was best used sparingly as a wrestler with a more full time role as a commentator.
Savage would leave WWE and become a massive star again in WCW, becoming a multiple-time world champion. He proved that he could still do it at the highest level in his 40s, which is ironic as that is about the average age of the WWE roster nowadays.
8 Chris Jericho Finally Became A Top Star In AEW
Leaving WWE In 2017 Was A Masterstroke
- Jericho Decided To Leave WWE After His WrestleMania 33 Match With Kevin Owens Was Demoted To The Undercard
- He Would Go On To Wrestle In New Japan Before He Became One Of The Founding Members Of AEW
It is not surprising that Chris Jericho was apparently disheartened by his feud with Kevin Owens being relegated from Universal to the United States title contention at WrestleMania 33. Goldberg and Brock Lesnar would instead be given the world title match whilst Jericho and Owens tussled on the undercard after their months-spanning storyline went out with a whimper.
Chris Jericho: Age, Height, Wife, Finisher & More
Chris Jericho is one of the biggest stars in wrestling history. There are many things fans should know about the former WWE & AEW World Champion.Jericho would make cameo appearances for WWE in the following couple of years whilst also competing in New Japan, before shocking the world by helping to form AEW in 2019. It turned out to be a terrific idea as he became 'Le Champion,' performing the best work of his long career.
7 AJ Styles Became A Star Outside TNA
He Would Become An IWGP And WWE Champion
- AJ Styles Had Spent Over A Decade In TNA Before He Left The Company In 2014
- He Would Work In NJPW And Ring of Honor Before Signing With WWE In 2016
There was nobody more synonymous with the TNA brand than AJ Styles as he rose out of the talented X-Dvision to become its biggest homegrown star. After over a decade at the company, he decided to leave in 2014, where he would enjoy huge success as part of Bullet Club in New Japan and ROH.
He decided to bet on his talent even more by going to WWE as a shock entrant in the 2016 Royal Rumble, becoming a world champion by the end of the year. Leaving TNA/Impact Wrestling would have been a hard decision for th 'Phenomenal One,' but it ended up being the right one as he has only furthered his credentials in being considered an all-time great.
6 Mick Foley Deserved To Be A Superstar
The 'Hardcore Legend' Defied The Odds To Become WWE Champion
- Foley Had Notable Stints In WCW And ECW Before Joining WWE In 1996
- He Became Known For His 'Three Faces of Foley,' Mankind, Cactus Jack, And Dude Love
Before he joined WWE as Mankind in 1996, Foley had already established himself as a great worker in the business, albeit one that was not slated for the main event. His hardcore matches were what he was best known for, but Foley was a far more technical and well-rounded performer than he could often showcase.
During the 'Attitude Era', he became one of the biggest stars, which led to him being one of the most unlikely WWE Champions of all time. Despite not having the normal look or style of a top WWE guy, Foley used his skill and connection with the audience to become a superstar.
5 The Outsiders Shook Up The Industry
Nash And Hall Turned The Tide Of The 'Monday Night War'
- Razor Ramon And Diesel Left WWE In 1996, Moving To WCW Using Their Own Names
- The Outsiders Would Later Go On To Form The nWo Alongside 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan
The 'New Generation Era' did not spawn a huge number of stars for WWE, but two of the biggest names that did come around were Diesel and Razor Ramon. This made their departure in 1996 particularly difficult, as Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were ready-made stars for WCW to benefit from.
10 Harsh Realities Fans Of The Outsiders Need To Realize
Even the most popular wrestling acts had some serious flaws, and it wasn't any different for The Outsiders.The Outsiders were smart to move too, as they would be integral parts of WCW's best period during the 'Monday Night Wars,' as the nWo became the most must-see act in wrestling. Nash and Hall were apparently paid handsomely for their time, which probably made the eventual failure of WCW easier to accept.
4 Jon Moxley Broke Free From WWE
The Former Dean Ambrose Became The Best Wrestler In The World
- Jon Moxley Made His AEW Debut At Double Or Nothing 2019 Shortly After Leaving WWE
- He Is The Only Man To Win The AEW Championship Three Times
Nobody could have anticipated the transformation of Dean Ambrose to Jon Moxley in 2019, as the wacky but mostly beloved WWE character only scratched the surface of his main event potential. His AEW debut could not have been more perfect before an incredible G1 Climax run in New Japan showed everyone his in-ring quality once again.
It was undoubtedly a huge risk for Moxley to leave WWE when he was still very popular, especially since AEW had not truly been established yet. Betting on himself paid of big time though, as he would go on to be one of the best World Champions of this century.
3 Sami Zayn And Kevin Owens Stayed In WWE
And They Both Have A WrestleMania Main Event To Their Names
- Sami Zayn And Kevin Owens Were Reportedly Targets For AEW Before Triple H Took Over Creative Control
- After Deciding To Stay, Owens And Zayn Have Both Appeared In The Main Event Of WrestleMania
2021/2022 were very transformative years for the wrestling industry for a number of reasons, as massive business decisions and wrestlers changing company became a regular occurrence. The likes of Adam Cole, Bryan Danielson, and Toni Storm decided to move to AEW, with it also appearing to be a likely destination for the duo of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Their decision to stay may have looked strange on paper as they had not been utilized to their full potential in WWE to that point, but that would change almost immediately. Owens would main event WrestleMania 38 against 'Stone Cole' Steve Austin, whilst Sami Zayn became an integral part of the Bloodline saga.
To cap it all off, the pair would win the WWE Tag Team Championships together against The Usos at WrestleMania 39.
2 The Elite Founded Their Own Company
Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, And Cody Rhodes Made Wrestling Better
- The Former Bullet Club Members Joined Forces With Tony Khan To Form AEW In 2019
- The Promotion Was Formed By The Success Of The All-In Independent Show In 2018
Putting on a highly successful independent show was already a huge success for The Elite, as Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks went 'All-In.' Managing to form a successful wrestling promotion which could, at its best, compete with WWE is a whole other thing entirely, though.
AEW will be The Elite's ultimate legacy, giving the chance to so many more wrestlers who may not have been the stars they are today without the promotion. Only Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks remain in the company, but Cody's influence should never be forgotten, no matter what he achieves in WWE.
1 Cody Rhodes Bet On Himself Twice
And Both Times He Has Been Successful
- Cody Left WWE In 2016, Going On To Work In The Independent Scene, As Well As New Japan And ROH
- He Returned To WWE At WrestleMania 39 After Choosing To Leave AEW, The Company He Formed
Betting on yourself not once, but twice, with industry-changing ramifications proves that Cody Rhodes is one of the most important performers of the 21st Century. Not only did he change the course of his career by leaving WWE in 2016, but he will shake up the wrestling world by forming AEW in 2019.
His shocking move back to WWE in 2022 may have seemed like an even bigger risk given how much work he had done to hinder the company for the years prior. However, it has proven so far to be a masterstroke as he has been the face of the company during its best creative period in decades.
Now, Cody only needs to "finish his story" in order to cement his legacy as one of the best of the modern era.
