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WWE Superstars are aware that a career in wrestling can be a short one. Whether it's through injury, age or choice, there are only a select few stars who are able to make their wrestling careers last any more than two decades.
Whilst there are a rare few WWE careers that are lengthy ones, there are others whose time in the spotlight is fleeting. Following their release or departure, many former WWE stars have gone on to have lengthy careers in other promotions after a short stint in Vince McMahon's company.
The following article looks at just five former WWE Superstars who were employed by WWE for less than 12 months.
#5. Former WWE Superstar Cain Valasquez
Cain Velasquez was a major signing for WWE following his success in the Octagon, given his history with former world champion Brock Lesnar. The former UFC star made his debut in WWE as Dominik Guerrero's godfather as part of SmackDown's debut episode on FOX back in October 2019.
This episode was also the 20th Anniversary of SmackDown and was seen as a huge celebration for the company.
Velasquez attacked The Beast Incarnate on his debut before facing off against Lesnar at Crown Jewel in The Middle East just a few months later. This was the first time that the two men had met in a WWE ring, but Velasquez came up short in one of the shortest matches of Lesnar's career at under a minute and a half.
After the match had ended, Lesnar continued the assault with a steel chair and an F-5 before Rey Mysterio was able to make the save. Despite this the damage had been done and Velasquez was seemingly written off TV.
There were then plans for WWE to use Velasquez as part of the 2020 Royal Rumble match a few months later but injury prevented this from becoming a reality. The idea was eventually scrapped and despite several rumors regarding his return, Velasquez failed to appear on WWE TV again.
As part of the company's mass budget cuts in April 2020 following WrestleMania, Velasquez was released from his contract. The 37-year-old was contracted to WWE for just over six months.
#4. Former WWE Superstar August Grey
August Grey was one of several stars who were released from WWE as part of the budget cuts earlier this week. Grey was released alongside the likes of Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Killian Dain and Tino Sabbatelli as the company continued to cut talent for the third consecutive month.
During his time on the independent circuit, Grey found fame under the name Anthony Greene, but when he signed for WWE back in October 2020 he was given the name August Grey.
Grey has made appearances on NXT and 205 Live over the past few months and was released from the company before his match against Grayson Waller on 205 Live was even aired.
The 27-year-old was released on June 25th after his match was pre-recorded on June 23rd. Ahead of the bout on Friday night, Grey took to Twitter to joke that it was changed to a Loser Leaves Town match.
Grey was contracted to WWE for just eight months when his employment came to an end earlier this week.
#3. Former WWE Superstar Curt Stallion
Curt Stallion was reported to have signed with WWE back in October 2020, after he defeated Ariya Daivari in a gauntlet on an episode of 205 Live. Stallion went on to become a mainstay on 205 Live in the months that followed and stepped into a feud that included Tony Nese.
Stallion went on to challenge for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship before teaming with August Grey as part of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic earlier this year.
Although it wasn't known at the time, the 30-year-old wrestled his final match for WWE as part of the March 12th episode of 205 Live where he teamed with Mansoor in a win over the Bollywood Boyz. He suffered a serious wrist injury around that time, forcing him to undergo surgery and put him on the shelf.
Earlier this week, Curt Stallion was one of the stars who were released from WWE as part of the company's continued budget cuts. The likes of The Singh Brothers, Marina Shafir, Tony Nese, and August Grey were also on the list.
At the time of his WWE release, Stallion had been contracted to WWE for just over eight months.
#2. WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page opted to retire from wrestling following his departure from WWE back in June 2002.
The former WCW star is seen as a legend in the business and is even a WWE Hall of Famer, but was only contracted to WWE for around 12 months.
Page initially found fame in WCW and was one of the few major talents to accept a contract with WWE after the company went under back in 2001. Page made his debut in June 2001 where he revealed himself as the stalker of The Undertaker's wife Sara.
Page later suffered an injury and then went on to debut a motivational speaker gimmick, which lasted a few months before he was written off TV following a match at Survivor Series.
Page went on to win the European Championship before he was injured in a match against Hardcore Holly on an episode of SmackDown. The injury forced Page to announce his retirement from wrestling in June 2002.
The retirement didn't last long after DDP headed to IMPACT Wrestling less than two years later.
#1. Former WWE Superstar Frankie Kazarian
Frankie Kazarian has made a name for himself in AEW in recent years but was also once employed by WWE.
Kazarian was signed by WWE in February 2005 and debuted on an episode of Velocity a few months later under the ring name The Future" Frankie Kazarian.
Kazarian defeated Nunzio before going on to remain undefeated for almost two months with victories over the likes of Paul London and Scotty 2 Hotty. Despite his obvious success in WWE, the current AEW Superstar announced on his website that he had left the company just days later.
The former star noted that his reason for leaving the company was based on the fact that WWE had no plans to revamp their Cruiserweight Division.
The now 43-year-old was just 27 at the time of his departure from WWE but had only been contracted to the company for just over six months.
Months after his release, Karazian returned to the Independent circuit and found incredible success working for IMPACT Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and AEW.
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