3 Wrestlers who turned down WWE contracts, and 3 who turned down WCW

For many young wrestlers honing their craft on the independent scene, their dream is to one day get signed to a major promotion. For years, the two biggest territories around were WWE and WCW, and though the Atlanta-based promotion is no longer around, WCW definitely had the money to compete with WWE.

Though working for either show would guarantee a wrestler the big bucks, there were some who had the audacity to turn down either the WWE or WCW. Whether it be out of loyalty, distrust, or family matters, these stars knew how to say no.

Here are three wrestlers who turned down huge contracts from WWE, as well as three who turned down huge contracts with WCW.

#3 Turned down WWE: Rhyno

The Man-Beast is set to leave WWE this year

The last ECW World Champion of the original promotion, Rhyno, has had a historic career.

After the extreme promotion closed, the Man-Beast from Detroit, Michigan did indeed join WWE, holding several titles before departing for a decade in 2005. Returning in 2015, Rhyno has continued his success, and though he hasn't been prominently featured in years, was one-half of the inaugural SmackDown Tag Team Champions with Heath Slater.

This year though, Rhyno made headlines once more when he revealed he had turned down a contract to stay with WWE. Explaining himself, the former ECW star has said he hopes to train the next generation of wrestlers, and can't do that if WWE isn't putting him on the road with them.

With his final contracted date being July 17th (coincidentally the day fellow ECW Champion CM Punk's contract expired in 2011), it'll be interesting to see where Rhyno goes next.

#3 Turned down WCW: Yokozuna

The Superheavyweight held the WWF title twice

One of the literal biggest stars in WWF history, Yokozuna was a tour-de-force during his in-ring career, holding the WWF title twice, with these huge championship wins coming over Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan.

After leaving the WWF, Yoko would never return, but would also never join WCW. According to Konnan, who competed in both WWF and WCW, their was a small window for Yokozuna to join, as Scott Hall offered the super-heavyweight a quick pitch with Eric Bischoff.

"One time Scott [Hall] was with (Eric) Bischoff and he [said to Yokozuna], ‘Man Bischoff is right here. Let’s make this happen.’ Yoko said, ‘I don’t roll like that. You don’t just put someone on the phone and tell me to sign.’ He got offended and he never came in,”.

Sadly, Yokozuna's weight was his downfall, as he died aged 34 in 2000 in Liverpool, England.

#2 Turned down WWE: AJ Styles

The Phenomenal One eventually came to the WWE at the 2016 Royal Rumble

When AJ Styles made his debut in WWE in 2016, fans were rightly shocked. A veteran of TNA Wrestling, the Phenomenal One was a closely recognised to TNA as John Cena is to WWE, so his appearance at the Royal Rumble was a sight to behold.

That's not to say WWE hadn't already tried to get Styles signed to a lucrative contract, as even before AJ joined TNA, he was offered a developmental deal with the then-WWF.

Part of the reason for AJ saying no was his family, as the young Phenomenal Superstar didn't feel right moving his family. Instead, Styles would make a name for himself in TNA, becoming one of the brand's biggest stars. He has had similar success in WWE as a two-time WWE Champion, and former United States Champion.

#2 Turned down WCW: Rob Van Dam

RVD never joined WCW, but competed alongside WCW stars during the 2001 Invasion storyline

As the Monday Night War raged on, both the WWF and WCW knew they needed the most-talented stars, many of whom could be found in ECW. As both companies raided the promotion (much to Paul Heyman's chagrin), one talent that WCW tried to obtain in 1997 was Rob Van Dam.

Van Dam, who spoke on the PW Torch Livecast about the deal, even had a character already created for him: Glacier. A rip-off of Mortal Kombat's Sub Zero, Glacier failed to make any waves in WCW, and even having someone as talented as RVD probably wouldn't have helped.

Instead, Van Dam remained loyal to ECW, signing with the WWF after the extreme company's demise and would be a key player in ECW's revival as a brand in WWE in 2006.

#1 Turned down WWE: Sting

After turning WWE down for years, Sting finally joined the company in November 2014

When WCW folded in March 2001, many fans were intrigued to see which stars would appear in the World Wrestling Federation. Almost everyone did, as DDP, Booker T, Scott Steiner, Goldberg, and the NWO all joined the McMahon-led promotion, though one name was noticeably absent.

Sting.

According to the man himself, Sting was sent various requests to join WWE over the years, but always turned them down. In a 2011 interview, the Stinger said how the track record of other WCW stars made him cautious about ever joining WWE.

Ultimately though, Sting did sign, and made his shocking debut at Survivor Series 2014. Attacking Triple H (who had defeated many WCW stars during his 2003 World Title reign), Sting would have a handful of WWE matches before his retirement in 2016.

#1 Turned down WCW: The Undertaker

The Deadman was reportedly close to signing with WCW during 2000 after a decade with WWE.

One of the greatest stars in WWE history, fans have long-pondered what would have happened if The Undertaker had jumped ship to WCW during the Monday Night War.

Though he was just one star, having the Deadman be the latest in a long line of WWF talent could've been the game changer in the war, if he'd followed in the footsteps of stars like Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart.

According to Kevin Nash, the Demon of Death Valley was indeed offered a contract by WCW, and was close to signing. If he had, Undertaker would've joined the company under real name Mark Calaway, as the Biker character.

Instead, the Phenom remained loyal to the WWF, debuting the new character at Judgement Day 2000, and WCW were gone less than a year later.