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Over the years a number of Superstars and joined the WWE and left, with a lot of mainstream wrestling fans forgetting about them.
Today we catch up with 6 released WWE Superstars and legends who are unrecognizable today and take a look at what they've been up to since leaving the WWE.
#6 Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen was already making waves in the indies when WWE signed him up at age 21 as the first one-legged Superstar in WWE history. He was immediately thrust into the top storyline on SmackDown between Mr. America (Hulk Hogan) and Vince McMahon. Gowen was also later involved in a storyline with Brock Lesnar where he infamously got brutalized by The Beast.
However, Gowen repeatedly got a big head backstage after achieving success so quickly in the WWE and reportedly rubbed people backstage the wrong way. He was released in 2005 and since then has overcome bouts with addiction. He has continued wrestling on the independent scene after a run with TNA following his WWE release.
He's much older today and looks a lot more different than the fresh-faced lad we saw on WWE television.
#5 Val Venis
One of the most popular acts on WWE's mid-card during the Attitude Era was Val Venis. Especially popular among WWE's female fans, Venis achieved success in the mid-card, winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice and the WWE European Championship once. He's also a former Tag-Team Champion, a title he held with Lance Storm.
After being released from his WWE contract in 2009, he wrestled in the independents and in TNA Wrestling.
Today, Val Venis runs his own medical marijuana business in Meza, Arizona called Purple Haze Lounge.
#4 Vladimir Kozlov
Remember the Russian powerhouse Vladimir Kozlov? WWE had big plans for him at one point in the Ruthless Aggression Era but he proved to be too limited in the ring in the end and was released in 2011.
Since leaving professional wrestling, Kozlov has successfully transitioned into an acting career and he has appeared in television shows like The Wire and films like Wolf Warriors 2. He's also VP of Quasar Entertainment.
Kozlov looks unrecognizable today and actually looks in much better shape now.
#3 Spike Dudley
Spike Dudley started his career in ECW before WWE signed him as a cousin of the Dudley Boyz. Spike is one of the most popular underdogs in WWE and always gave everything when he was in the ring.
He's taken a number of nasty bumps during his time in pro wrestling but also found a lot of success especially in WWE where he's an 8-time Harcore Champion, a former Tag-Team Champion and also a former European Champion.
Since his release from WWE in 2005, he wrestled for TNA and on the indies. He now works as a financial transition specialist for Merrill Edge.
#2 Rick Steiner
Rick Steiner was one-half of one of the greatest tag teams in pro wrestling alongside his brother Scott. They found success in both WCW and WWE where they held multiple tag-team titles. He also found singles success in WCW where he won the WCW United States Championship. After the demise of WCW in 2001 and the WWE purchase, Steiner had a couple of runs with TNA.
Today, Rick Steiner runs his own real estate company in Georgia and looks completely unrecognizable. He looks like a regular guy and you probably wouldn't recognize him if you met him on the street.
#1 Lex Luger
We all know Lex Luger. He's a legend and the first signing of the Monday Night Wars. He found success in both WCW and the WWE and is 2-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.
Luger was diagnosed with spinal infraction in 2007 and looks unrecognizable today. Since 2011, he's worked behind the scenes with WWE regarding their wellness policy.
