5 Superstars who became Double Champions after leaving WWE

Cody Rhodes became the latest Double Champion in Pro Wrestling
Cody Rhodes became the latest Double Champion in Pro Wrestling

The WWE is quite certainly the grandest and biggest stage in the Professional Wrestling industry today and almost every Pro Wrestler in this business aspires to make it to the WWE at some point in their careers. For the most part of it, throughout the years WWE has witnessed some of the topmost and well-respected stars in the likes of Hulk Hogan, The Rock, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, and John Cena establish themselves as some of the iconic Professional Wrestlers of all time.

However, not every superstar who walks into the WWE gets to share the same amount of success, as we've seen that several talented stars fail to make a name for themselves in the WWE and eventually fail to taste success in the world's biggest Sports Entertainment promotion.

But, there are few who subsequently go on to defy the odds and make a name for themselves on the Independent Circuit instead, the likes of Cody Rhodes, former WWE developmental talent Kenny Omega, and recently released superstars such as the likes of Neville and Rich Swann are some of the biggest examples in the modern era.

Not only do some of these men get to showcase their talent for several notable promotions and other global companies in the world, but some of them also have the privilege of calling themselves a "Double Champion". Today, we look back at 5 superstars who not only found the spotlight they so rightfully deserve on the Indie Circuit but eventually went on to become a Double Champion once they marked their departure from the WWE.

#5 Gail Kim

Gail Kim as the Knockouts Champion and the Knockouts Tag Team Champion
Gail Kim as the Knockouts Champion and the Knockouts Tag Team Champion

Gail Kim is considered as one of the pioneers' of women's wrestling, but I think it is safe to say that during her tenure with the WWE, she pretty much had a torrid time and was part of a lacklustre women's division, which WWE couldn't care less about at that point of time. Sure, WWE did eventually start focusing on their entire women's division with the entire 'Women's Revolution' taking over the company in full force, but as far as Gail Kim was concerned, she was keen on building her own legacy outside of the WWE.

And that opportunity was handed to the former one-time WWE Women's Champion by Impact Wrestling and Kim managed to take full advantage of that one opportunity in a heartbeat. Having initially made her debut for Impact in 2005, Gail Kim went on to establish herself as trailblazer's of the Impact Women's Division, becoming a record seven-time Knockouts Champion and taking the promotion's women's division to new heights at the same time as well.

In 2011, Gail Kim first won the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship alongside Madison Rayne and shortly afterwards, went on to defeat Velvet Sky to win the Knockouts Championship for the second time in her career. In doing so, not only did Gail Kim become a Double Champion but was also the very first woman in Impact history to hold the Knockouts Title and the Knockouts Tag Titles at the same time.

#4 Bobby Lashley

Lashley as the Triple Champion in TNA
Lashley as the Triple Champion in TNA

Much like Gail Kim, former WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley also found a vast amount of success during his time with Impact Wrestling and during his time with the promotion, the MMA veteran was not only a Double Champion but eventually became a Triple Champion.

Currently, Lashley might be under WWE contract but his first run with the promotion came to a disappointing end in 2008. Having first signed with Impact in 2008, it wasn't until six years later when Lashley finally started to find his rhythm in the Impact Zone as he won his third Impact World Title by beating Drew Galloway in dominating manner. Within no short time, Lashley captured the X-Division Championship by beating Eddie Edwards and eventually went on to win another Title vs Title match by defeating James Storm, this time to capture the TNA King of the Mountain Championship, making Lashley a Triple Champion in Impact.

#3 Johnny Mundo

Mundo with three of AAA's most prestigious title belts
Mundo with three of AAA's most prestigious title belts

Ever since leaving the WWE a few years ago, Johnny Mundo has gone on to compete for some of the topmost wrestling promotions around the globe, including promotions such as Lucha Underground, Impact Wrestling, and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, where Mundo seemingly found most of his success post-WWE.

Mundo made his AAA debut in 2015 and quickly adopted an "anti-Mexico" gimmick, which earned him a solid amount of heat in Mexico and to round off Mundo's tremendous heel heat, the former WWE superstar defeated Pentagon Jr. of all people at Triplemania XXIV to win his first title in company, the AAA Latin American Championship.

In 2017, Mundo then defeated El Hijo del Fantasma and El Texano Jr., to not only retain his Latin American Title but to also win Texano's AAA Mega Championship and Fantasma's AAA World Cruiserweight Championship, making Mundo a Triple Champion in AAA in the process.

#2 Drew McIntyre

Drew Galloway as a Triple Champion
Drew Galloway as a Triple Champion

Drew McIntyre's first run with the WWE started off in a promising manner but ended up with the Scottish superstar being paired up with Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal in the disastrous 3MB faction. However, following his departure from the WWE, McIntyre became a man possessed and a superstar who was hungry to make a name for himself.

The former WWE Intercontinental Champion did find success outside of the WWE but unlike others on this list, McIntyre was not employed by any global company and instead opted to make a name for himself on the Indie Circuit.

Shortly after his departure from the WWE, McIntyre became one of the mainstays of Evolve Wrestling, where he competed for three years and subsequently also made a grand return to his home promotion in Scotland, Insane Championship Wrestling.

In his first post-WWE match, McIntyre won the Evolve Wrestling Championship by defeating Chris Hero and went on to rename the belt as the Evolve World Championship, as the Scottish superstar successfully defended the title belt against some of the finest global stars in the form of Ricochet, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Marty Scurll, and even Johnny Gargano.

Simultaneously, on the other hand, Galloway was in his second reign as ICW World Champion as he defended his belt for more than 15 times against the likes of Killian Dain (then known as Big Damo), Aleister Black (then known as Tommy End), and even against veteran Doug Williams as well.

It is definitely safe to say that McIntyre was at the peak of his game right after his departure from the WWE, as he was at the helm of two strong World Championship reigns. In the meantime, McIntyre also won UEWA European Heavyweight Championship, initially becoming a Double Champion in ICW in 2015. And in the very same year, Galloway also defeated Johnny Gargano to win the Dragon Gate USA Open the Freedom Gate Championship to become a Double Champion in Evolve Wrestling.

#1 Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes made history at Fighting Spirit Unleashed
Cody Rhodes made history at Fighting Spirit Unleashed

Cody Rhodes is quite arguably the most successful superstar on the Independent Circuit today and the amount of major accomplishments that he has achieved since leaving the WWE speaks volumes!

Shortly after leaving WWE, Cody won his first championship belt on the Indie Circuit when he defeated Sonjay Dutt to win the GFW Nex*Gen Championship and within a few short weeks, Cody defeated El Ligero win the WCPW Internet Championship, becoming a Double Champion for the first time in his career.

Cody with the Nex Gen and WCPW Internet Title
Cody with the Nex Gen and WCPW Internet Title

However, that wasn't the only time Cody became a Double Champion, as this past Sunday at NJPW: Fighting Spirit Unleashed, a much-developed Cody Rhodes made history when he captured his first ever championship in New Japan by winning the IWGP US Heavyweight Title off Juice Robinson.

Heading into this match, Cody was already in possession of the historic NWA World Heavyweight Championship, a title which he won at his self-financed event All In on the 1st of September. In doing so, Cody made history and not only did he become a Double Champion but eventually established himself as a Triple Champion, as he is also currently in possession of the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles alongside The Young Bucks.

Nevertheless, this was the very first time a superstar had held both the NWA World Championship and the IWGP US Championship at the same time, as The American Nightmare added further gold to The Bullet Club.

2 more stars coming from AEW to WWE? More details right here