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Many wrestlers dream of making it to WWE throughout their careers, but for some their arrival as part of the biggest wrestling promotion in the world doesn't go to plan. There are a number of stars who have been able to make decade-long careers out of the business in WWE, but there are others who can't wait to cut ties with Vince McMahon's company and push on to pastures new.
Whether they are issues with the authority figures in the company, the fact that WWE would never ask them to make a return or even just the fact that they have retired from wrestling and that's the way they prefer it, there are many big names who have made the decision that they will never return to the company where they first found fame.
#5 AJ Lee
AJ Lee was one of the women who first pushed forward the Women's Revolution, she was the first woman who refused to sexualize herself for WWE's audience and refused to dress the way that WWE wanted. Lee changed the game and throughout her time in WWE, she inspired a number of female wrestlers to lace up their Chuck Taylor's and step into the ring.
Lee also struggled both mentally and physically throughout her tenure with WWE and detailed this in her "Crazy is my Superpower" memoir which was released last year. The former Divas Champion revealed that she was forced to play a crazy character whilst also struggling with bipolar.
Being in the middle of WWE's issues with her husband and having this sort of strain on her mental health was a huge issue for AJ and one of the reasons why she decided to retire back in 2015. Lee later revealed that she had been struggling with a back injury and the damage caused to her cervical spine was the catalyst to her retirement.
Lee has since become a New York Times Best Selling Author and her autobiography has been commissioned into a TV series, so even though WWE has asked her to make an appearance at Evolution later this month, it's highly unlikely that Lee would ever feel the need to lace up those Chuck Taylor's again.
#4 Enzo Amore
Enzo Amore didn't have a lot of time to make a name for himself in WWE, but he was able to become a draw on the main roster since his promo ability was rated as one of the best in the company.
WWE put all of their hopes in Amore when it came to the budding 205 Live brand and allowed the star to main-event Monday Night Raw in the hopes that it would draw more viewers to the Tuesday night show.
Amore's personal issues then took over his wrestling career and whilst many fans have commented on the fact that there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute so WWE should resign him, this wasn't the reason he was released, to begin with.
The Certified G was made aware of the court case two months before it was made public and he didn't give WWE the heads up so that their PR team could deal with it. Then on the day when the world was looking at WWE, who were celebrating the 25th anniversary of Raw, Amore's name is the one that everyone is talking about and it isn't anything flattering about WWE.
Amore has since spoken out about the fact that he doesn't want to wrestle again and is instead concentrating on his rapping career.
#3 Gail Kim
Gail Kim is someone that WWE shouldn't have made an enemy out of, the former Women's Champion has gone on to become one of the greatest female wrestlers in the world and only recently decided to retire from the business.
The company was perhaps hoping that Kim would make her return as part of Evolution, but the former Impact Wrestling star has assured fans on Social Media that this will not be the case.
Kim was overlooked throughout her career with WWE and there were reports that Vince Mcmahon didn't want to push her to the top of the company because she didn't fit their usual mould when it comes to the Divas Division.
Kim then waited for a live battle royal on Monday Night Raw where she was told to be eliminated as soon as possible, so she eliminated herself, walked out of the arena and out of WWE for good.
Kim has no plans on returning and being part of the Women's Revolution that she has been so outspoken about on Social Media since she believes that Stephanie McMahon could have made it happen much sooner than it did.
#2 Neville
It's hard not to believe that the Cruiserweight Division is cursed, first Enzo Amore, then Rich Swann and now Neville have all been released from WWE after holding the main title on the brand, but The British stars was perhaps the most heartbreaking.
Neville climbed the ranks in WWE and was a former NXT Champion and Tag Team Champion alongside Corey Graves, but he has never utilized the way he should have been on the main roster and when he was moved over to 205 Live, it was obvious that he was unhappy.
Neville was never given the chances that Amore had as Champion, which is why he walked out of an episode of Raw back in October 2017 and never came back. Neville was still under contract at the time and WWE tried to find ways to bring him back but after a year of trying, they gave him the release he had longed for a few weeks ago.
Neville has since returned to Dragon Gate where he plied his trade before he was signed to WWE and appears to be much happier with his life in Independent Wrestling.
#1 CM Punk
The one superstar who has become better known for the fact that he quit the company than he was whilst he was World Champion. CM Punk walked out of WWE more than four years ago and still the WWE Universe long for The Best In The World to make his return.
Punk has moved on to a career in UFC and is now dabbling in the acting business, which shows that he has no interest in stepping back into the ring again. If Punk wanted to wrestle then there are a number of promotions who could happily book him, but he hasn't shown any kind of interest in making a return to the ring which could be why WWE hasn't approached him about a return.
Recent reports have linked him to a match in Saudi Arabia, but Punk has only recently ended a lawsuit with WWE's doctor Chris Amann and has already expressed his dislike of Triple H since the man fired him on his wedding day. It would make no sense for Punk to go back on his comments about the company now when he's happy writing comic book strips and pushing for an acting career instead.
