World Wrestling Entertainment remains the largest professional wrestling promotion in the world, a company that hires performers for three major touring brands and also a developmental roster that is meant to produce hoped-to-be stars for future editions of Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view events. All things considered, the overall WWE roster is probably more stacked with talent as of the spring of 2018 than at any other time in the promotion's history; yes, even more so than the Attitude Era. Stars and big names are coupled with some of the best overall wrestlers in the world. The NXT TakeOver: New Orleans show from WrestleMania Saturday gave fans a pair of matches rated five stars by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, which shows the depth of ability currently signed to WWE contracts.

Just as with legitimate sports franchises, there are only so many roster spots available throughout the different WWE products spotlighted on cable television and the WWE Network these days. Add in that only a set amount of people can be pushed to the tops of cards as main-event workers and wrestlers deemed worthy of holding championships at any given time, and it is practically guaranteed that at least a few individuals in the WWE as of the spring of 2018 will leave the company on bad terms for one reason or another. The hope, of course, is that wrestlers fans want to see them pushed and get over in booking and in storylines, but history shows that isn’t always the case. For that reason, any one of these performers could, realistically, make an unceremonious exit from the WWE before 2018 ends.

15 Neville

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We begin with the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion if only because he is probably the most obvious example of somebody who seems likely to end his relationship with the WWE on bad terms. Neville and the WWE experienced a falling out during the fall of 2017, and rumors that the two entities were potentially on the verge of rebuilding that bridge and coming to terms on his return ahead of WrestleMania 34 proved to be inaccurate.

As of the typing of this sentence, there are no real signs that Neville is ready to head back to 205 Live or the Cruiserweight division.

Unless something changes behind the scenes, fans around the world should expect this once-promising relationship to end poorly, leading to Neville heading back to the independent scene.

14 Shinsuke Nakamura

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It sometimes feels as if Vince McMahon and the WWE go a certain direction with a wrestler or character just to swerve fans who thought they knew what was going to happen during a television show or at a pay-per-view. Those who don’t work for the WWE cannot say, with certainty, that’s what occurred when AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34, a result that led to Nakamura turning heel.

It’s as good a guess as anybody can come up with for why the WWE would turn such a charismatic babyface into a heel before he ever had a run as a top face on the main roster.

The booking of Nakamura since he joined SmackDown has been curious throughout his tenure on the blue brand, and it could lead to his relationship with the WWE ending on bad terms if he doesn’t enjoy a lengthy stint as WWE Champion.

13 Dolph Ziggler

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If certain reports that emerged earlier this year are accurate, Dolph Ziggler may have millions upon millions of reasons to be happy with the WWE as of the spring of 2018. One thing Ziggler doesn’t have is a top championship on the Raw brand after making the jump from SmackDown to the company’s main show, and it doesn’t look like he will be rising to the top of cards ahead of the like of Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar in the spring or summer of 2018.

Ziggler clearly has other interests outside of the WWE, such as accepting acting gigs when they are made available. He could leave the WWE on bad terms and still find work either in or outside of the industry if he wanted.

12 Samoa Joe

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Here is another example of where fans around the world hope the chances of a star ending his relationship with the WWE are small even though we all probably know better. Samoa Joe had to wait much longer than necessary before finally receiving a real opportunity to work for the company down in NXT, and he quickly became one of the top heels on that brand. There were signs that the promotion was going to push him on Raw before an injury sidelined him ahead of WrestleMania 34.

Joe joined SmackDown as part of the Superstar Shakeup, but the concern is that the Vince McMahon and others will hesitate to push him because of his look.

We hope that isn’t the case, because Joe has proven he doesn’t need the WWE to get over in front of fans located around the world.

11 Jeff Hardy

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We are adding Jeff Hardy to the list of stars who will end his relationship with the WWE on bad terms because these two have been on-again, off-again throughout the 2000s. Hopes that the Brother Nero character that became famous while in Impact Wrestling seemed to disappear when Hardy was moved from Raw to SmackDown as part of April’s Superstar Shakeup, and his place on the blue brand is difficult to forecast because of the amount of talented workers currently on that roster.

In March 2018, Hardy was arrested on suspicions of driving while impaired, a worrisome sign considering his past. He could be one outside-the-ring incident and one strike away from his relationship with the WWE ending regardless of his wishes.

10 Bray Wyatt

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The Bray Wyatt character who once worked in NXT and who was once presented as a promising gimmick that could, in time, rival acts such as the Undertaker and Kane is now a secondary figure in the Woken Universe who is teaming up with Matt Hardy.

Knowing how the WWE has treated Wyatt over the years, it will probably only be a matter of time until the promotion drops this storyline and, once again, relegates Wyatt down cards.

The shame is is that he is solid on the microphone, good in the ring and has done well to drop excess pounds and get in shape. He may find himself intrigued with the idea of following others in making exits from the WWE if things don’t turn around for his character.

9 Hideo Itami

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It does not seem as if it was all that long ago when Hideo Itami was being positioned as the next top star of NXT. Things did not go as planned, however, as injury issues sidelined the man once seen as one of the best overall wrestlers in the world, and others in NXT replaced him on both the babyface and heel portions of the roster.

Itami eventually received a deserved call-up to the main roster, but he has since been relegated to the 205 Live show and Cruiserweight division. While those of us who don’t personally know him can only speculate on his mindset, it isn’t a stretch to suggest that he probably thinks he could be doing better either overseas or on the independent scene in 2018.

8 Anderson and Gallows

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There is something to be said for Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, two former members of the Bullet Club faction, being able to work for the top pro wrestling company in the world and also remain in North America for the majority of a year. One still has to wonder if these two didn’t expect more upon signing contracts with the WWE ahead of debuting on Raw in 2016.

It initially seemed that they were going to be pushed as one of the best teams on the roster, but they have since become low-card workers who were recently moved from Raw to SmackDown.

One could envision them deciding to return to the independent scene, perhaps to do something with the current Bullet Club members, for one final run.

7 Asuka

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One could not blame Asuka for feeling a bit down about her WWE future following the WrestleMania 34 show, during which her undefeated streak ended at the hands of Charlotte. Per rumors that have appeared online since that contest, it seems that a potential bout involving Asuka, who was thought ahead of WrestleMania to remain unbeaten up through the summer, at least, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is no longer in the cards.

If that is the case, Asuka could become just another woman on the roster.

The talented in-ring performer may want more from her wrestling career, especially if she feels that she has accomplished all there is outside of a run with the SmackDown Women’s Title that will conclude with her dropping that title to somebody other than Rousey.

6 Cesaro

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The WWE has never gone all-in on Cesaro for reasons that make no sense to those of us who have followed his career in promotions such as Ring of Honor before he worked in NXT and the WWE. Cesaro has everything the WWE apparently could want out of a wrestler.

He is good on the microphone, he looks tremendous and he is a talented worker who can create amazing matches with all kinds of guys on the roster. Assuming he and Sheamus aren’t headed for greatness as a tag team after being moved to SmackDown, Cesaro could decide that he has done all there is to do in the WWE. We hope that isn’t the case, because he could still be a singles star in the organization.

5 Bayley

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Pessimistic observers and journalists told those of us who believed that there was no way the WWE could squander the Bayley character who became the biggest babyface in the history of the current version of NXT were putting too much faith in the company’s writers and in Vince McMahon. Each of those people were 100 percent correct, as the booking of Bayley has been so poor that she has actually been booed by fans at shows.

We hope that Bayley is still enjoying living out her dream of working as a pro wrestler, but it doesn’t look like the WWE is going to give her even a moderate push as a babyface or heel in the foreseeable future.

Imagine how well Bayley could do meeting fans at conventions and working for independent promotions. She and the WWE ending their relationship on bad terms wouldn’t surprise us.

4 Finn Balor

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Finn Balor may be the most unlucky person on the Raw brand. Balor was given an astronomical push upon being added to the main roster in July 2016, and the company put the Universal Championship on him. Unfortunately for him, that title run ended roughly 24 hours after it began when he suffered a legitimate injury during his title bout against Seth Rollins.

Little could we have imagined, at the time, that Balor would never be as hot as he was the night he won the championship.

Since returning, Balor has become a mid-card act feuding over the Intercontinental Championship, while AJ Styles is the face that runs the place on SmackDown. Balor could have unfinished business with Bullet Club if his relationship with the WWE ends on bad terms.

3 Rusev

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We cannot understand what Vince McMahon and others working with the WWE are thinking regarding the future of Rusev. It’s clear the “Rusev Day” gimmick has made him a babyface, so much so that the company is selling Rusev-related merchandise on its own website and at events.

Nevertheless, Rusev remains a heel who works against AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan on SmackDown. A plethora of rumors popped-up in late March and early April that Rusev could be considering making his exit from the WWE. Those of us who have followed his character would understand if Rusev, who has the talent to be one of the biggest stars in the company, ended his relationship with the WWE on bad terms and left to work for ROH and other promotions.

2 Lio Rush

It’s possible that we are jumping the gun with this one. After all, Lio Rush turned 23 years old only last November, and he remains a promising talent who could become a star in NXT and, eventually, on the 205 Live show or a different portion of the main roster. It is also worth noting that he made a return to NXT, in dark matches, in April 2018.

His original disappearance from that brand following a Tweet he made after the company’s decision to release Emma, a former NXT and Raw performer, apparently landed him in hot water, and it could be a sign of what is to come. We hope Rush and the WWE are on good terms heading into the summer months, but those running the promotion haven’t always been quick to forgive and forget.

1 Daniel Bryan

The last person we can see leaving the WWE on bad terms either in September 2018 or down the road is none other than Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s emotional return to the WWE ahead of WrestleMania 34 gave fans in attendance and those watching on television goosebumps, but things could quickly turn sour if the promotion doesn’t push him as a top act or if somebody decides that they don’t trust him to remain healthy enough to carry the WWE Championship one last time.

Much like individuals such as Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, Bryan could undoubtedly do well for himself in ROH and overseas.

Truth be told, the WWE may need Bryan more than he needs the promotion if he chose to let his contract expire come the end of summer 2018.