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WWE is the largest pro wrestling company in the world, making it the ultimate destination for the best competitors that the industry has to offer. Being a part of the company is almost every wrestler's dream, as those that make it are promised a great deal of fame and fortune.
This dream, however, can sometimes turn into a nightmare. The nature of the business has taken its toll on numerous Superstars, forcing some of them to depart from the company. WWE's roster is overflowing with a lot of talent, and as a result, a lot of wrestlers find themselves stumbling down the card or not being featured at all.
While most of them chose to remain in the company despite their grievances, others made a contrary decision to further their careers elsewhere. Some of these exits occurred in the middle of a big push, leaving a void in the show and the WWE Universe astounded.
So, without further delay, let's dive in and take a look at the five most surprising departures in WWE.
#5 Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Del Rio was set to be a big star from the time WWE officials laid their eyes on him. He made his televised in-ring debut on an episode of SmackDown in 2010 where he cleanly defeated former World Champion Rey Mysterio.
The following year, Del Rio won the 2011 Royal Rumble match and challenged Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania in what was the Rated-R Superstar's last match in nine years.
That same year, Alberto Del Rio won the Money in the Bank contract and made history as the first person to ever win the Rumble and the briefcase in the very same year. He went on to capture the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight title after that.
WWE was high on Del Rio, and it looked like he was going to remain one of the top stars in the company but that all went downhill after it was shockingly revealed that he departed from WWE in 2014 after being fired for unprofessional conduct. He reportedly got into a backstage altercation with an employee after the latter made an inappropriate joke.
Del Rio returned to the company in 2015 and defeated John Cena to win the United States Championship in his first night back. His second run with the company was quite disappointing, and he was released the following year to a lesser surprise.
#4 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle joined WWE during the Attitude Era days and he went on to become a huge main event star in the company. He also had a successful career in amateur wrestling, earning himself an induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
Although his on-screen run with WWE was phenomenal, Angle was personally faced with some obstacles off-screen. He shockingly departed from the company in 2006 and signed immediately signed with TNA/Impact Wrestling.
Angle revealed that he asked to be released from his contract because he couldn't take time off and he was working while injured, which caused him to become addicted to painkillers. WWE's rigorous schedule also played a factor in his departure.
“Before I knew it, I was knee-deep into my addiction. I was hiding it from WWE, and at that time they weren’t drug testing for medication like they do now. I then broke my neck 2 more times over the next 2 years, and the bad relationship/marriage I was in made me feel more alone than ever. I decided that I could not handle the rigorous schedule of WWE and I felt guilty about being a liability to Vince McMahon. So I asked for my release, and I swore I’d get my life together,” Kurt Angle revealed.
Kurt Angle returned to WWE in 2017 after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He also served as the General Manager for Monday Night RAW after his return, but you already knew that.
#3 Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar arrived on the main roster in 2002 as "The Next Big Thing" who was intended to become that just that, the next huge WWE Superstar. He won the King of the Ring tournament and the WWE Championship just a few months after his debut.
The Beast won the 2003 Royal Rumble match and defeated Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XIX before wrestling his last match at the following year's WrestleMania XX event where he lost to Goldberg. His departure from the company came as a big surprise to many people.
When the fans found out he was leaving, they showed their displeasure by booing him and Goldberg, who was also leaving. After a two year run as a huge star at a young age, his exit was shocking and unexpected, especially since WWE didn't have competition anymore at the time.
Lesnar left because he wanted to pursue a career in the NFL, and he couldn't keep up with WWE's tough travel schedule. The Beast went on to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling and UFC before returning to WWE in 2012 on the fall-out episode of RAW after WrestleMania XXVIII.
#2 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Steve Austin was the biggest star in WWE during the infamous Attitude Era, even bigger than wrestler turned actor The Rock. The latter became a much bigger mainstream star, but Austin was the face of the company at the time.
That's why it left many fans shocked when Vince McMahon publicly announced that Austin "took his ball and went home" on the 3 June 2002 edition of RAW. The internet wasn't as vast as it is today, so many people had little knowledge that this was going to happen or why it happened.
Apparently, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon wanted The Rattlesnake, his biggest star, to put over Brock Lesnar, who was still a rookie, on a normal episode of RAW with no build-up. Austin refused to do the deeds, arguing that the match should take place in a bigger stage with proper build-up.
That sounds like a reasonable explanation, but the higher-ups didn't agree to it, so Austin walked out of the company. He returned to WWE the following year and wrestled his final match against The Rock at WrestleMania XIX.
#1 CM Punk
Every Superstar mentioned in this article returned to WWE after their initial departure, except for CM Punk, who is yet to show up on WWE TV since his release in 2014. In 2011, everyone knew that Punk was going to leave after his contract expired that year, and it was even acknowledged by WWE themselves.
What fans didn't see coming, however, was his departure from the company in 2014. Punk reportedly had heat with Triple H backstage, and his mistreatment in the company as well as being denied an opportunity to main event WrestleMania all played a role in his exit.
After his release, he publicly spoke about his experiences in the company in podcasts and interviews including his medical issues which he accused WWE's doctors of mistreating. This resulted in a legal battle between him and the company.
The Straight Edge Superstar retired from pro wrestling and vowed to never return. His exit was very surprising and unexpected since he was a big star and a former WWE Champion. CM Punk surprised fans yet again when he joined the FOX produced show WWE Backstage in late 2019.
Although he worked alongside current WWE Superstars on the program dedicated to WWE, he is yet to make an official return to pro wrestling.
