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While WWE has stars under a contract, the company owns their image rights, and so can tell any of their employees how they have to look. This can mean that female wrestlers have to ask permission before changing the color of their hair and many of the male stars are unable to have tattoos without asking their bosses.
When stars leave the company, there is often a drastic change in their image because, finally, they can do whatever they want with their look and many are looking to get far away from the character they were once known as.
In recent years, there have been a lot of WWE releases as well as many stars who have requested their release or even retired from the company. Here are just five of the stars who have been released in recent years who are now unrecognizable.
#5. Former WWE star Adam Rose
Adam Rose became a popular member of the WWE roster when he was seen as The Exotic Express and would be accompanied by his Rosebuds. This was a character that Rose played for over a year before the company decided that he should have a complete change and no longer want to party.
Rose had several personal issues without 2016 and the company opted to release the former NXT star after he was arrested for domestic violence and tampering with a witness. It was reported that Rose asked for his release from WWE and it was granted, with the charges later being dropped.
Rose continued to perform on the independent circuit until his retirement back in June 2019, but despite continuing to wrestle following his departure, the star is now almost unrecognizable when compared to his former character.
#4. Former WWE star Eva Marie
WWE pushed Eva Marie into the spotlight after she was one of the winners of the 2013 Diva Search. She then became one of the stars of Total Divas, but it could be argued that she was pushed onto WWE TV too soon.
Marie tried to climb the ranks in the women's division and even headed back down to NXT so that she could learn the craft. After she was suspended for violating WWE's Wellness Policy back in 2016, Marie never returned.
Despite not being released from WWE, Marie didn't appear as a member of the roster for a number of months and started to pursue interests outside of the company. It wasn't until a year later, in August 2017, that WWE announced that they had parted ways with Eva Marie.
Marie has since stepped into the acting business and has even been a cast member on Celebrity Big Brother. The star has thrown herself into fitness and is now an ambassador for Ryderwear and Monster Energy's Reign brand. The former WWE star even launched her own Natalie Eva Marie x Ryderwear collection in early 2020.
Despite stating that she would be open to a return to WWE if the company came calling, Marie now looks very different from her in-ring character.
#3. Former WWE star Viktor - The Ascension
The Ascension consisted of Konnor and Viktor. After showing at NXT that they had what it took to be taken seriously in WWE, the company did not push the team on the main roster.
The Ascension were booked poorly for a number of years despite being former NXT Tag Team Champions and were unable to lift gold on the main roster at any point in their career.
The Ascension were wasted alongside several other teams at the time. Their final WWE match was in April 2019, but they weren't released until December later that year.
Viktor headed back to the independent circuit with a new look, where he shaved his head. He is still part of The Ascension with his former tag partner, but their names are now Big Kon and Vik.
The former WWE star has also hit the gym and is now much bigger than the star that once graced our screens as part of Vince McMahon's company.
#2. Former WWE star Simon Gotch
Simon Gotch will perhaps be best remembered as one-half of The Vaudevillians alongside Aiden English. Much like The Ascension, The Vaudevillians were WWE NXT Tag Team Champions and moved up to the main roster hoping that their unique characters would work in front of the main roster crowd.
The Vaudevillians were pushing for the Tag Team Championships at a time when WWE was focussing on building the division. The likes of American Alpha, Breezango, The Hype Bros, and Enzo and Cass were all dominating the division and the company couldn't seem to give the teams enough air time.
The Vaudevillians were unable to claim gold on the main roster. It was even more surprising that Simon Gotch was released from WWE following WrestleMania back in 2017, leaving his tag team partner Aiden English high and dry.
Gotch has since become known as Simon Grimm and is now a member of the Major League Wrestling roster. As Simon Gotch, he had a very distinct look and as can be seen from the image above, it's hard to tell that this is the same person.
#1. Former WWE star No Way Jose
No Way Jose was a star throughout his time in WWE NXT, but like many stars who come through the ranks in developmental, the company could not find a way to push him on the main roster.
This meant that he was there to make up numbers or as an enhancement talent throughout his WWE career. Jose was even part of the 2019 Royal Rumble, making his debut but lasted just two seconds, which sums up the star's career.
Jose was released from WWE alongside several other WWE stars back in April when the company was forced to make budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was following his release that No Way Jose decided to make some drastic changes to his appearance and it could be argued that he now looks nothing like the star that was once part of WWE.
The WWE Universe became accustomed to seeing Jose with green dreadlocks or with much shorter hair, but Jose has now decided to go with a much more natural look.
