Ryan Reaves, also referred to as Ryback, was another wrestler who perfectly fit Vince McMahon's preferred profile. While he wasn't very good on the microphone, he was a good athlete who's physique seemed borderline impossible.
And Ryback had a very good run in the WWE, winning the Intercontinental Championship. Other wrestlers didn't like him, though, complaining he was reckless. Once he left the promotion he badmouthed the organization, likely kissing any shot at reconciliation goodbye.
CM Punk
CM Punk was always a popular superstar within the WWE, but by the end of his tenure there, he was on Rock/Stone Cold levels of popularity. At WWE events, especially those in Chicago, fans still chant his name.
But no one should ever expect him back in the promotion. The relationship between Punk and management was strained before he left wrestling for a career in MMA. The WWE went as far as suing Punk and fellow wrestler Colt Cabana for slander. Oddly enough, Punk did take a job with Fox Sports to appear on WWE Backstage as a contributor an analyst, hoping to use it as a way to mend fences.
Cody Rhodes
With everything he had to offer, Cody Rhodes had the makings of a long-time WWE Champion. The grappler had the looks, wrestling ability, personality and pedigree that should have signaled superstardom. While he had a good run in the promotion, he never quite reached those heights.
Since he left the WWE, he's started a rival promotion, AEW, that is a major hit with fans. Vince is not one to take threats to his promotion lightly, of course, so don't expect Rhodes back anytime soon.
Mr. Kennedy
Ken Anderson, who wrestled in the WWE as Mr. Kennedy, quickly rose to the top of the card. Not only did he have significant wrestling ability, but he also had incredible charisma which rapidly put him over with the fans.
Anderson, however, was not as skilled at locker room politics and reportedly feuded with megastar Randy Orton. While he had some success at TNA post-WWE, the last few years have been rough. He is unlikely to be on McMahon's radar at this point.
Big Cass
Colin Cassady seemed like he was created in a Vince McMahon dream. Not only was the 6-10 former basketball player gigantic and light on his feet. He was also about as good at cutting promos as anyone in the promotion.
Once he got to the big stage and was separated from former partner Enzo Amore, he rose fast through the ranks and began to wrestle near the top of the card. He was reportedly disrespectful to McMahon, though, and was cut from the WWE. He has since wrestled for indie organizations like Ring of Honor and House of Hardcore.
Darren Young
Darren Young and his tag team partner, Titus O'Neal were quite popular in the WWE as the Prime Time Players. The duo was frequently in the championship mix and won the title one time.
During his WWE run, Young also became the first wrestler in the promotion to come out as gay. He was then separated from O'Neal and had a singles run that didn't quite get over the hump. He has said that he'd like to return to the promotion, although those hopes have not been realized.
Evan Bourne
Matt Sydal, called Evan Bourne while with the WWE, was not Vince McMahon's type of wrestler. At least during the time he spent in the promotion from 2007-2014. Today, the promotion is much friendlier to undersized high flyers.
That's not to say he didn't have success. His partnership with Kofi Kingston in Air Boom was a particular highlight. He was released after a second Wellness Test failure. Sydal has done well in the Indies, but won't be back in the WWE.
Chavo Guerrero
Chavo Guerrero, another member of wrestling royalty, had a very nice run in the WWE. He had a memorable team-up with his real-life uncle, Eddie Guerrero, as Los Guerreros. He was also a 6-time Cruiserweight Champion and won the ECW Title as well.
The 10-year veteran was released from the promotion in 2011. He's done very well in various indies like TNA, Lucha Underground, and his own Nacion Lucha Libre. As a competitor to McMahon, he is not likely to be welcomed back.
Wade Barrett
Wade Barrett was absolutely everything a wrestling promotion could ask for. He was big, charismatic and had a killer British villain persona. He succeeded fast in the organization winning King of the Ring and taking home the Intercontinental title 5 times.
Barrett, however, had a number of injuries that derailed his momentum. Thanks to those maladies he has not wrestled since 2016 and is unlikely to do so again. He has worked with other promotions like WCPW and Lucha Underground as a non-wrestling talent and is now an announcer for NXT.
Alberto Del Rio
When Alberto Del Rio came to the WWE, it was kind of like in Major League Baseball when a team brings over a superstar from Japan. Del Rio's reputation proceeded him as he had been a massive star in Mexico and Japan.
He was a major star in the WWE winning 4 Heavyweight Championships, a Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank. He was released from the promotion after a confrontation with an official who made a racist remark. He's done great on the indie scene and doesn't seem to be interested in a return.
Eva Marie
Eva Marie seemed destined for stardom from the moment she entered NXT. Thanks to her model looks and cocky personality, she drew plenty of heat from the fans. And when Vince McMahon sees a wrestler rile up fans, he sees dollar signs.
The biggest problem with Eva Marie, though, was her extremely limited wrestling skills. Fans further disliked her after her appearances on Total Divas. The company released her from her contract in 2017. She made a brief return in 2021 before being let go again.
Hornswoggle
Dylan Mark Postl, called Hornswoggle in the WWE, entered the promotion with a leprechaun gimmick. He was later imagined as Vince McMahon's illegitimate son. The good-natured grappler would quickly become a prominent part of WWE.
Hornswoggle spent 10 years in the WWE including a stint as the Raw General Manager. In 2016, he was suspended for a violation of the organization's wellness policy. He has been working on the indie circuit, but McMahon typically has a zero tolerance policy with drug tests.
The Big Show Didn't Like McMahon's Offer
Fans were stunned when it was announced that the Big Show (Paul Wight) would be leaving the WWE in February 2021. Well actually, news first broke that he was signing a contract with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) which meant he was leaving the WWE. So what happened?
The Big Show's WWE contract was up, and he wasn't excited about the renewal agreement that McMahon presented him with. So he decided to take his talent elsewhere. WWE fans are disappointed with his departure, as he was expected to stay in WWE for the long haul.
AJ Lee
AJ Lee dreamed of wrestling in the WWE since she was very young. The promotion often showed a video of Lee meeting former star Lita when she was a tween. Despite her diminutive size, she realized this dream fast, winning the Divas Championship three times in her early 20's.
By 2015, though, her career was over. Even though she was only 28-years-old at the time, she hasn't wrested again. Lee felt caught in the middle of the dispute between her husband CM Punk and the WWE and decided retirement was her best course of action.
JTG
Sometimes things just aren't meant to be. Take, for example, Jason Anthony Paul, who is better known by his WWE moniker of JTG. He initially was made famous for teaming up with Shad, a marriage that didn't last long.
Throughout the rest of his run with the promotion, he changed gimmicks several times, but never found one that would stick. Eventually, Vince McMahon was forced to reevaluate the one time star's status with the WWE. Today, JTG sticks to the indie circuit.
Rob Van Dam
A fan favorite with a long career in the WWE, Rob Van Dam might be too old these days to return. He has also associated himself more recently with other promotions including Total Impact Wrestling, "impacting" the way Vince McMahon likely views him.
Still, in 2019 he made a cameo during a Raw reunion, so maybe he will make an in-ring return someday. Sadly, we don't see that happening anytime soon.
Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock is considered a legendary wrestler today, but that status won't open the door back up for him in the WWE. During his original run with the corporation, he began working as an MMA fighter, eventually making it his full-time career.
After ending his MMA run in 2019, Shamrock signed with with TNA, which changed its name to Impact Wrestling. This decision likely ended any chance Shamrock would reunite with McMahon and WWE.
Victoria
Victoria might have been one of the few WWE stars who was too intense for the promotion. When she was in the ring, literally anything could happen. She was a wildcard with a wild attitude.
When she left the promotion in 2009, we can only imagine Vince McMahon was a little relieved. She quickly began a career in MMA and even tried to break into Hollywood while also making appearances for TNA. Today, she's has made it known she would like to return to the WWE, but her age might get in the way.