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The WWE is the pinnacle in sports entertainment and pro wrestling, having been the undisputed leader in that field for nearly two decades.
Many promotions have come and gone, but Vince McMahon's baby has stood the test of time and gone on to become one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world.
For any pro wrestler, reaching the WWE is the dream, and winning championships is the added bonus. But, some of them may not want to return to the WWE, to pursue other challenges in different promotions, or if they're way past it physically and cannot give their all in the ring.
Here, we look at 4 Superstars who refused huge WWE offers in 2018
#4 Batista
Yes, I hear you screaming and calling me a "stupid idiot", and how Batista did feature on WWE programming on the SD1000 show, but Batista actually rejected an offer from the WWE earlier in 2018.
WWE wanted to induct The Animal into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018, but the former WWE Champion refused it, stating that his in-ring career isn't over yet.
"I haven't accepted a nomination into the WWE Hall of Fame, because I just don't feel like my career is over. I still feel like I have plenty to offer, but now it's a scheduling issue and it's also a creative issue. You never say never, but I'd love to go back," said Batista.
He did return to the WWE later that year for SmackDown's 1000th episode alongside other members of Evolution, Randy Orton, Ric Flair, and Triple H, and then set up a feud with Triple H.
There were rumours that a match between Triple H and Batista could take place at WrestleMania 35, but The Game's injury at Crown Jewel has put that match in jeopardy.
#3 The Young Bucks
Not many would know that The Young Bucks made a few appearances on WWE television when they were signed with the WWE in the late 2000s. They had to move away from the company, wrestling all across the world to make a name for themselves and becoming top tag team stars on ROH and NJPW.
They were the hottest tag team in pro wrestling and were been pursued by the WWE to sign for them after their contracts with NJPW and ROH expired.
Recent reports suggest that The Young Bucks were offered a huge deal, which included a spot on the WWE Network for their program, Being The Elite, while also having a release clause in their contract.
But the brothers chose otherwise and opted to join AEW, a new promotion run by Shahid Khan and his son, Tony. The Jacksons will be executive vice presidents along with Cody Rhodes.
#2 Shawn Michaels
Like Batista, Shawn Michaels also featured on WWE television, for one match at Crown Jewel, but he did a reject a huge offer from the WWE to wrestle the first Saudi Arabia show of the year, Greatest Royal Rumble.
HBK's friend and former WWE Superstar, X-Pac, revealed that WWE had offered big money to tempt Michaels to return to the ring 8 years after announcing his retirement at WrestleMania 26.
X-Pac spoke about the offer on his podcast: "There’s a lot of money being thrown around. It’s an insane amount of money being thrown around. I know that this weekend I was in Baltimore and I was with Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash and we were talking about that.
"You know they wanted to get Shawn, and he was just like, ‘you know what, don’t even bother sending me an offer and trying to tempt me’. Cause there’s huge money offers," said X-Pac.
Michaels did return later in the year at Crown Jewel, when he teamed with Triple H to face off against The Undertaker and Kane. But Michaels will not be returning to the ring anytime soon, as he announced that he's retired and will not be tempted back.
#1 Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes, or known as Cody now, was a part of the WWE for almost a decade, but quit in 2016 after being frustrated with the creative direction that his character was going towards.
He wrestled in the indies, as well as NJPW and ROH, before he signed with AEW in 2019, joining The Young Bucks as executive vice president of the new promotion.
Like The Young Bucks, Cody was also rumoured to have been offered a huge contract from the WWE to return to the WWE, but Cody confirmed that he had passed on a WWE offer late in 2018.
Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that Cody rejected a multi-year deal worth "seven figures", before signing with AEW, where he will have a huge say in the creative direction of the new promotion.
