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Sure, WWE boasts some of the best homegrown talents in the world, be it Charlotte Flair, Braun Strowman, Big E, or Bray Wyatt.
But the landscape of WWE is very different from what it used to be, where so many top guys from other promotions have made their way and earned their stripes.
Here are five men who were made Superstars before they even stepped into the hallowed WWE halls. Be sure to chime in with more names in the comments section below too.
Also, let us know which names you'd like to see in this list, if a Part 2 was to be made, in the comments below.
#5 WWE RAW star AJ Styles, who made his name in TNA and NJPW
AJ Styles is one of Vince McMahon's top lieutenants at this point, as a mainstay in the WWE RAW brand, where his presence commands a lot of respect. However, he is not a WWE creation and was the face of TNA for many years before he came to the company. Can you believe that he was the first-ever X-Division Champion during his stint in TNA, in addition to everything he achieved during his time in the company?
But that's not all he did outside WWE. AJ Styles was a very important member of the Bullet Club during his time in NJPW and even won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on two occasions. His match with Shinsuke Nakamura in Japan was so perfect that it was recreated in WWE as well, with mixed results.
What a journey it has been for this talented pro wrestler, who goes into WWE TLC 2020 this weekend to challenge the WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, for the title he so very proudly holds.
#4 WWE RAW announcer Samoa Joe, who is one of the all-time TNA greats
Those who have only seen Samoa Joe on WWE RAW in his current 'color commentator' role may not be aware of what a trailblazer and pioneer the man was, during his stint in TNA, as one of their top stars.
Despite his size, Samoa Joe was a part of the X-Division, something that helped set it apart from the WWE and WCW Cruiserweight division. The X-Division wasn't about 'weight limits', but it was about 'no limits', earning the division its own place in the pro wrestling world.
While there have been several memorable undefeated streaks in the business, Samoa Joe's streak in 2005-2006 put the company on the map, as did his legendary feud against WWE and TNA Hall of Famer Kurt Angle.
Samoa Joe was also the ROH World Champion for 645 days, a feat that remains unparalleled to this very day.
One has to believe that Samoa Joe will return to the WWE ring when his injuries are healed and that he still has a great career ahead of him in the company as a top singles star.
#3 WWE SmackDown star Sami Zayn, who is a world-traveled Champion
Long before the current WWE Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn, signed with the company, not knowing that he would be the first-ever two-time recipient of the Sami Awards, he wrestled under a mask. Yes, Sami Zayn used to go by the name El Generico before he arrived in WWE.
Yes, even though WWE SmackDown Superstar Sami Zayn is of Syrian origin and hails from Canada, he wrestled as a luchador from Mexico, under a mask, and earned many stripes in PWG, ROH, and Chikara, among other promotions. He's even held the ROH Tag Team Championship with someone else who made his name in WWE, Kevin Owens (maybe this list needs a Part 2?)
One has to admit that it is strange that Sami Zayn, one of the most expressive men in WWE concealed his features for so very long under a mask, but one cannot undermine his run as El Generico at all. It's really cool that his feud with Kevin Owens from other promotions was recreated in WWE as well.
#2 WWE SmackDown Superstar Robert Roode, who was a huge star in TNA
The glorious Robert Roode had quite a career in TNA before he arrived in WWE, especially as a member of the tag team- Beer Money, Inc with James Storm. Between the two of them, Robert Roode and 'Cowboy' James Storm have multiple title reigns. You may even remember Robert Roode's time in Team Canada, in the early days of TNA.
Yes, Roode earned many tag team accolades while he was in TNA, but he was also a legitimate singles star, as fans may be aware. He's been the TNA World Heavyweight Champion on not one but two separate occasions during his stint with the company. Robert Roode carried this momentum to NXT as well, where he captured the NXT Championship, but his main roster stint hasn't been nearly as...glorious.
Bobby Roode is one of those guys who is destined to go into the TNA Hall of Fame someday, once he's done wrestling in WWE. However, at the age of 43, he's showing so signs of slowing down at all.
#1 WWE RAW star Ricochet, who was Prince Puma on Lucha Underground (Top NJPW star too)
SK Wrestling has put together a list of Superstars that failed their first WWE tryout, and once you're done reading this article, you should check the video out. It contains, among others, the man we're going to talk about right now.
Long before he adopted the 'One and Only' persona in WWE, Ricochet wrestled under a mask in Lucha Underground, where he was known as Prince Puma. Wrestling fans may even be aware that he's the first-ever Lucha Underground Champion, which is a truly commendable feat.
Additionally, Ricochet also wrestled in NJPW as 'King Ricochet', where he bedazzled the world with his athleticism and won many hearts and titles. While his run in WWE has been riddled with ups and downs, one has to imagine that the future holds a lot of promise for this talented young man.
Ricochet also wrestled for Dragon Gate USA, PWG, and many other promotions before he went to NXT and his career went to brand new heights.
