5 Superstars from rival promotions who deserve to go into the WWE Hall of Fame

Every pro wrestler in the world dreams of making it to the largest wrestling promotion in the world, WWE, and share the WWE ring with legendary Superstars. Every year, we see several hopefuls find their way into the WWE Performance Center, and then work their way up the ladder in the hope of headlining WrestleMania one day.

While many WWE Superstars have managed to achieve that feat, several others have gotten lost along the way and disappeared. While Superstars would not want to leave WWE when they are at the top, several former WWE Superstars asked for their releases for various reasons.

We’ve seen many of WWE’s top Superstars head to other promotions after making it big in the company, and several of these men and women are deserving of a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame, even though they are no longer a part of the company.

To date, there have been 204 inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame, and there is room for several more former WWE Superstars who can one day leave a mark in the wrestling world by being honored with an induction.

With that in mind, we will look at 5 current active wrestlers who once worked for WWE and deserve to go into the WWE Hall of Fame even though they are currently working with a rival promotion.

#5 Goldust/Dustin Rhodes

Goldust made his first appearance in WWE in 1990 and teamed up with his father Dusty Rhodes for a tag team match at the 1991 Royal Rumble before leaving the company.

He returned to WWE in 1995 when he debuted his Goldust gimmick and competed until 1999, after which he became a part of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), but soon returned to WWE after WCW was bought by Vince McMahon.

Goldust had one of the most interesting and bizarre gimmicks in WWE which allowed him to remain unique throughout his career and pull off some great rivalries and matches.

Goldust had an illustrious WWE career

Even though he wasn’t as decorated as several other WWE Superstars of his time, he still managed to win the Intercontinental Championship thrice and the WWE Hardcore Championship nine times. He also enjoyed two reigns as the WWE Tag Team Champion with his brother, Cody Rhodes.

Goldust may have not won a world title in WWE, but he was certainly a very influential character on-screen. He worked hard to put several newer Superstars over and finally left the company in 2019 to head on to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

The former Superstar was fairly successful during his time in WWE, and also very influential, and he certainly deserves a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame for all the work he put in during his time with the company.

#4 Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley

Dean Ambrose (known as Jon Moxley outside WWE) is one of the biggest WWE Superstars the company created in the 2010s. While Ambrose debuted on the main roster as a member of The Shield with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, he managed to make a name for himself as a singles wrestler too.

Ambrose is now part of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and has previously performed in several other wrestling promotions where he has been seen as a top guy. However, it was his work in WWE that allowed him to get fame and recognition.

Dean Ambrose had an eventful WWE career

The Lunatic Fringe won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and the United States Championship more than once, and the RAW Tag Team Championship twice, apart from holding the WWE Championship once.

Ambrose might not be in the good books of the company now as he was unhappy with his character change and the promos that were given to him.

His move to AEW may have burned all bridges with WWE, but his work with The Shield was noteworthy and we will likely see the Superstar find a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame. The Shield are one of the most important factions in recent history, and the impact and success that they had in WWE will eventually see them get into the Hall of Fame

#3 Rob Van Dam

After Rob Van Dam made his debut back in 1990, the world of high-flying wrestling was completely revolutionized. RVD signed his first WWE contract in 2001 and was one of the biggest heels as part of The Invasion.

This did not stop the high-flyer from winning over several fans, and he soon became a crowd favorite.

RVD's high-flying ways vowed WWE fans

RVD’s first stint with WWE was by far his most successful one, as he won the WWE Championship and ECW World Heavyweight Championship once each and the Intercontinental Championship a total of six times.

While RVD might not be with WWE now, and is a part of Impact Wrestling, he is one WWE Superstar who has had a big influence on the WWE Universe, the Superstars backstage, and the high-flying division as a whole.

This should give WWE enough reason to ensure that they give RVD the spot he deserves, and induct him in the WWE Hall of Fame whenever the time is right.

#2 Matt Hardy

The Hardy Boyz, brothers Jeff and Matt Hardy, will forever be remembered as one of the most influential WWE tag teams of all time.

The two men traveled all around the globe conquering several wrestling promotions, but WWE was where they made their biggest impact.

That’s not all, as Matt Hardy, just like his brother, managed to be successful as a singles wrestler too. Matt also teamed up with MVP and Bray Wyatt during separate tenures with the company to win the RAW Tag Team Championships.

Matt Hardy had a successful run in WWE

The former ECW Champion and the United States Champion was also a fan-favorite during his time in WWE. His most recent run in the company came to an end in 2020, after which he made his debut for rival promotion, All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

He is currently part of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), but deserves to be in the WWE Hall of Famer for his work with Jeff Hardy as part of The Hardy Boyz as the two men won no less than eight Tag Team championships in WWE. Matt Hardy's run as a singles star in the mid-cards has also been noteworthy.

#1 Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho has been viewed as one of the hottest prospects in the world of wrestling since ‘The Countdown to the Millenium’ clock went on in WWE in 1999, and even before that in WCW.

Jericho was a part of WWE on and off for nearly two decades years, and the former WWE Superstar has also gone to other promotions to make a big name for himself all over the world.

Chris Jericho, a three-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion

The three-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion was an important part of WWE for quite some time during his career, but left WWE to join AEW, while also wrestling in Japan. Even though Jericho is now a part of WWE’s rival promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he’s already had one reign as World Champion, most of his success has come during his time in WWE.

While Y2J is nearing the age of 50, he is still one of the biggest names in sports entertainment. For his longevity in the pro wrestling business, the different gimmicks that he portrated, as well as the titles he has won, Chris Jericho should be is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.