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Not all seeds grow in all soils, and sometimes a change of venue sometimes can help a wrestler's career.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
While this age old axiom may not always ring true, there is a certain kernel of veracity to be found therein. This can be especially true when it applies to pro wrestling because of the subtle nuances and variances found between different promotions.
For example, Rey Mysterio spent many years languishing in WCW before it folded. While he was a cruiserweight and tag team champion, that particular promotion was not going to allow him to ascend to the main event.
But when Mysterio joined WWE a few years later, he quickly became not only a main eventer but would go on to be a grand slam champion. A change of promotions was just what his career needed.
In the modern pro wrestling era, there are a lot of promotions to work for. WWE is definitely the biggest and the most financially successful, but there are a variety of options available for sports entertainers to ply their craft.
Here are ten WWE star who might be better off in another promotion.
#1 Buddy Murphy
Real Name: Matthew Adams
Height and Weight: 5'11" 205 Lbs
Where he wrestles now: 205 Live.
Where he might find more success: Ring of Honor.
For a long time, Buddy Murphy was jokingly known as "Mr. Alexa Bliss." His fiance is definitely in a more visible role in the company, but Murphy's outstanding performances on 205 Live and his strong Cruiserweight title reign have made fans and critics sit up and take notice.
That being said, Murphy might find that he has trouble escaping 205 Live or the midcard if he moves up to the main roster. His lack of size isn't much of a problem as in years past, but WWE still tends to favor the larger athletes.
Why he'd be better off in Ring of Honor: Buddy Murphy is one of the best technical wrestlers in the game today, and his ability to spring off the top rope like a circus monkey would be even more viable in Ring of Honor, which features a more springy mat and tighter ropes. Murphy could easily be ROH World champion.
#2 Baron Corbin
Real Name: Thomas Pestock
Height and Weight: 6'8" 285 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Monday Night Raw.
Where he might find more success: Impact Wrestling.
Baron Corbin was once a professional football player who was once signed to the Arizona Cardinals. However, a scuffle during training camp caused his NFL dreams to go up in smoke.
The former golden gloves boxer turned his attention toward pro-wrestling and signed a developmental deal with WWE. However, despite a strong push from management Corbin has struggled to resonate with the audience. He has been placed in non-wrestling roles, and the crowd was basically asleep during his bout with Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 35. A change of venue might kickstart his stagnant career.
Why he would be better off in Impact Wrestling: Corbin is a medium sized fish, figuratively speaking, in a huge pond of WWE. In Impact, he could expect a main event run at the very least just based on his name recognition alone.
#3 Kalisto
Real Name: Emanuel Alejandro Rodriguez
Height and Weight: 5'6" 170 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Monday Night Raw.
Where he might find more success: New Japan Pro Wrestling.
As Samuray Del Sol, the man now known as Kalisto racked up a great reputation in the Mexican and Japanese circuits, as well as the Independent scene. He was initially offered a WWE tryout in 2011 but didn't make the cut. However, he received a lot of critical praise from WWE, who told him to try again later.
Kallisto earned his contract the second time around. Despite wearing several championship belts in WWE, Kalisto seems to struggle with getting above the lower mid-card and tag team divisions. A change of venue might be just the thing he needs.
Why he would be better off in New Japan Pro Wrestling: The NJPW promotion has the most prestigious and competitive Junior Heavyweight division in the world. Not only would Kallisto have a variety of titles compete for, but he could also take part in NJPW's famous Junior Heavyweight tournaments.
#4 Tyler Breeze
Real Name: Mattias Clement
Height and Weight: 6'0" 206 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Smackdown Live, but has been working NXT events of late as well.
Where he might find more success: All Elite Wrestling
Tyler Breeze is the poster child for the superstar who did fantastically well in NXT but has largely floundered on the main roster of WWE. The former NXT champion was paired with Fandango in the Fashion Police, which was a comedy gimmick.
While comedy gimmicks are fine for getting attention, they aren't much good for being taken seriously as a title contender. Tyler Breeze seems to be floating toward NXT again, but is that the best place for him?
Why he might be better off in All Elite Wrestling: Tyler Breeze has already engaged with Cody Rhodes on social media, where Rhodes dropped hints about Breeze being welcome in AEW. Given his intense in-ring skills, charisma, and good looks, Breeze could do quite well in AEW where his smaller size won't be an issue.
#5 Sami Zayn
Real Name: Rami Sebai
Height and Weight: 6'1" 212 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Monday Night Raw
Where he might find more success: All Elite Wrestling
Though many fans are only familiar with Zayn since his ascent to the WWE, for over a decade he wrestled under a mask as El Generico. An independent scene standout, he also made appearances for Ring of Honor, where he won the tag titles with Kevin Owens (Steen.)
Zayn was forced to abandon his beloved El Generico gimmick when he joined NXT; He has admitted to shedding tears in the car on the way home from his tryout. Ever since that moment, Zayn has struggled to move past the lower mid-card in WWE.
Why he might be better off in All Elite Wrestling: Zayn is one of those undersized wrestlers who might struggle to get noticed in WWE. Moving to All Elite Wrestling, where he can pick up his old El Generico gimmick once more, could be the shot in the arm his career needs.
#6 Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Real Names: Andrew Hankinson and Chad Allegra
Height and Weight: 6'8" 290 lbs and 6'5" 215 ;bs
Where he wrestles now: Smackdown Live.
Where he might find more success: New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Luke Gallows has had an on again off again relationship with the WWE for most of his career. He began as a humble tough enough contestant, then joined Ohio Valley Wrestling--then the WWE's developmental league--and became part of a successful tag team, the Dalton Boys.
For a time he reprised his role as Festus on Smackdown, but after the team split up he became a disciple of CM Punk in his straight edge society. After that, Gallows left for Japan--where he became a major star and founding member of Bullet Club.
It was in Japan that Gallows met Anderson, and the duo quickly distinguished themselves as one of the top heavyweight tag teams in the world. However, once they jumped to WWE the duo has struggled to get noticed in the stacked WWE Roster.
Why they might be better off in New Japan Pro Wrestling: Gallows and Anderson would be welcomed back with open arms, and tag team wrestling is more appreciated in NJPW than in the WWE.
#7 Shinsuke Nakamura
Real Name: Nakamura Shinsuke (Japanese puts the family name first.)
Height and Weight: 6'2" 229 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Smackdown Live.
Where he might find more success: All Elite Wrestling
Shinsuke Nakamura was the most surprising signing of WWE's history when he joined the NXT brand back in 2016. After all, he spoke little English and while he was a huge international star many WWE fans had never heard of him.
However, he would go on to being the most popular NXT champion of that promotion's history. His momentum continued on the main roster until an inexplicable heel turn shoved him firmly into the mid-card doldrums.
Why he might be more successful in All Elite Wrestling: Shinsuke is well known to the Elite, and to their fans. He is a perfect fit for AEW's particular brand of Sports Entertainment.
#8 Apollo Crews
Real Name: Sesugh Uhaa
Height and Weight: 6'0" 250 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Monday Night Raw
Where he might find more success: New Japan Pro Wrestling
When he was in high school, his friends gave Susugh Uhaa the nickname "Uhaa Nation," because he was as strong as a whole country.
Crews also excelled at track and field and displayed a propensity for amateur wrestling. He became a standout on the independent scene due to his strength and agility.
He had some success on the NXT brand, but ever since his elevation to the main roster he has struggled to get higher than the mid-card.
Why he might find success in New Japan Pro Wrestling: Crews has the perfect mix for NJPW: He's just the right size, has a ton of power and speed, and can even bust out amateur old school moves. He could rise all the way to the main event of NJPW.
#9 Kevin Owens
Real Name: Kevin Steen
Height and Weight: 6'0" 266 lbs
Where he wrestles now: Monday Night Raw
Where he might find more success: All Elite Wrestling.
Kevin Owens is another one of those WWE signees that led to a lot of head scratching. After all, Owens doesn't have a chiselled physique like John Cena or Finn Balor. He's a fantastic in-ring performer but doesn't fit the mould of previous WWE World Champions because of his genetic build.
Despite this, Kevin Owens already has Universal and NXT championship reigns to his credit. However, he seems to have slowly slid down the card until his most recent outing, which was as a comedy act with Sammi Zayn. Even though Owens is no longer on the injured list, WWE hasn't brought him back to television yet.
Why he might be better off in All Elite Wrestling: Kevin Owens has one of the deepest move-sets in wrestling and can work a great match with any opponent in any style. This makes him perfect for the fledgeling AEW promotion.
#10 Luke Harper
Real Name: Jon Huber
Height and Weight: 6'5" 275
Where he wrestles now: Smackdown Live
Where he might find more success: New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Luke Harper started his career as a backyard wrestler by the name of Huberboy #2. Despite this unusual track into the world of sports entertainment, he is considered by many to be one of the most technically skilled heavyweights working in the business today.
Luke Harper is one of those big men with the agility to work with much smaller wrestlers. He honed these skills on the independent circuit, where he often outweighed his opponents. Despite his high degree of in-ring ability, he has struggled in WWE.
Why he might be better off in New Japan Pro Wrestling: Harper is a beast in the mould of Stan Hansen or Vader; both legendary big men in Japan.
There you have it; Ten WWE superstars who might be better off in another promotion. Questions or comments? Please leave them after the article and as always thanks for reading.
