WWE isn’t for everyone.
Regardless of why they didn’t stay in WWE, many times wrestlers will find themselves out of work at the company. However, there are other promotions around to seek work and opportunity. The main promotion they find themselves at is at Total Nonstop Action or TNA. Lucha Underground, Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling are other promotions wrestlers take their talents to if TNA isn’t their cup of tea.
But in this blog, these wrestlers gave TNA a chance after their careers at WWE were over. Many of them have found success with the company. For them, there was life after WWE and they gained some ground in the world of pro wrestling.
A recent example is Thursday night when the former Damien Sandow made his debut for the company. Sandow made miracles out of what he was given while in WWE, and fans were upset when he was lost in the shuffle, and then shown the door. Perhaps he will have better luck with TNA.
Here are nine of those talents who are currently with TNA.
9. Tyrus AKA Brodus Clay
After two runs in WWE, Tyrus would go to TNA as a bodyguard for Ethan Carter III. It is the complete opposite of his former character. The former dancer took on a mean streak and it has done him some good in TNA. That meant Tyrus was in a major storyline and he was a huge factor in EC3’s success. Since then Tyrus teamed with EC3 until 2016, when he turned on the nephew of Dixie Carter. At Bound for Glory last year, Tyrus would win a gauntlet match to become the number one contender for the TNA Heavyweight Championship. That is more than what he could say for his time in WWE.
8. Maria
The former Diva search contestant has done pretty well for herself in recent years. Since leaving WWE, Maria has been a mainstay in the Independent scene, primarily in Ring of Honor with husband Mike Bennett as part of The Kingdom. She was known as the First Lady of ROH during her time there. Maria has also made appearances in Chikara and New Japan Pro Wrestling. While she mainly does valet work, Maria does occasionally wrestle. She’s been with TNA since January, and is the TNA Knockouts Commissioner. Maria is also a recipient of a WWE sponsored scholarship, as she is currently earning an Associate’s degree in art.
7. Gregory Shane Helms FKA The Hurricane
Helms has wrestled for a variety of Independent promotions since his release from WWE in 2010. In 2011, Helms was involved in a motorbike accident that left him with several broken bones, over 200 stitches and foot reconstruction surgery. The former superhero signed with TNA in 2015 in a non-wrestling role. He is with the company as a road agent and a manager for wrestler Trevor Lee. It is unclear whether he will return to the ring, as he hasn’t wrestled in quite some time. In the meantime, he has been busy with his on-screen manager role and busies himself behind the scenes.
6. Lashley
Lashley has been pretty busy since being released from WWE. He appeared in various independent promotions until he found his place in TNA. He started off in the stable Main Event Mafia. In between his two TNA runs, Lashley is also a competitor in Bellator MMA. Lashley requested his release from TNA to focus on MMA. He also did more independent work until he returned to TNA in 2014. Lashley’s current TNA run has been very successful for him – he is the current TNA World Heavyweight Champion, the X Division Champion and now the King of the Mountain Champion. He has stayed on the main event scene and is one of TNA’s top stars.
5. The Hardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz is perhaps one of the most successful tag teams in WWE history. Following their departures, it wasn’t long until they were both in TNA. During his time in TNA, Jeff had overcome a drug and alcohol problem that made headlines in his Victory Road matchup with Sting in 2011. Both brothers have captured singles Championships in addition to holding the TNA Tag Team Championship once. Jeff reinvented his character in 2012, adopting the “Willow” character. Matt and Jeff are currently feuding against each other, with Matt taking on a “Broken Matt Hardy” character. It has gained popularity over the summer and been the subject of many jokes and memes.
4. Al Snow
Snow has been with the company on and off since 2010. While he doesn’t wrestle often, Snow has been doing other work for the promotion and keeping himself busy in the process. He was a judge on TNA’s Gut Check, which was a monthly competition to sign new talent to the TNA roster. He would have a short feud with Joey Ryan, who was a Gut Check contestant who didn’t make the roster at the time. Snow is also an agent and a producer for TNA’s developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling. He has also done occasional Independent work on the side.
3. Ethan Carter III FKA Derrick Bateman
While EC3 never transitioned onto the main roster in NXT, the former NXT alum has done well for himself in TNA. He was in the main event picture since his debut and continues to be successful in his run with TNA. He was primarily featured in the main event and was part of a major storyline upon his debut as the nephew of Dixie Carter. EC3 would have the assistance of Tyrus as his bodyguard until he recently turned on him. EC3 is currently in a tournament to determine a number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory.
2. Drew Galloway FKA Drew McIntyre
WWE’s loss was TNA’s gain when Galloway stormed onto the TNA roster and made quite the impact in 2014. Galloway became very vocal on the microphone, and was instantly over with a lot of fans. He also gained favor because many fans felt that he was underutilized in WWE; it was a new wave of hope for the fans of the talented Scot. And of course, Galloway has been successful during his time in TNA. He has stayed with the company and has held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship once.
1. Gail Kim
Perhaps Gail Kim is the most successful WWE alum to work for TNA. Kim was the inaugural TNA Knockouts Champion in 2007. Kim has been a mainstay in the Knockouts Division, reclaiming her throne once she returned to TNA from a failed run in WWE. While the move was controversial, Kim got back to business in TNA, capturing the TNA Knockouts Championship several times as well as the TNA Knockout Tag Team Championship. She is the current inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame.
