WWE is the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, even though there are a number of wrestling promotions that are attempting to compete with WWE right now like New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact. WWE has always been in a class of its own which is why many wrestlers dream of making it.

Many wrestlers don't last very long in WWE though since the company is seen to have a conveyor belt system that is always bringing in new stars and releasing the ones that they no longer require. Sadly, everyone in wrestling is considered to be replaceable and WWE has proved that many times over the past few decades.

The good thing about WWE right now is the fact that the stars become globally recognizable athletes, so when WWE opt against renewing their contracts, there are many other companies who will be open to signing them and using their popularity to their advantage.

There are still a number of wrestlers who were released by WWE making money on the independent circuit, but for every thriving athlete, there are many who are struggling to find their feet after being tied to WWE for a number of years. It's a hard thing to predict. Some performers can use the popularity they gained in WWE to earn bookings outside of the company, while others are unable to find the same kind of work and decide to leave the wrestling business altogether.

The following list looks at 10 recent WWE releases who have been able to thrive without WWE's help as well as 10 who are struggling to adjust to a point where they are no longer part of the biggest wrestling promotion in the world.

20 Thriving - James Ellsworth

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James Ellsworth was first brought into WWE as a jobber for Braun Strowman, but was later handed a contract and went on to become a popular star on the SmackDown Live brand. Ellsworth linked up with Carmella for a number of months and even recently made a return to aid Carmella against Asuka back at Money in the Bank.

The door is always open for an Ellsworth return, but for right now the former star is working now working on the independent circuit and has managed to pick up a number of bookings since his WWE release. It appears that his time in WWE has worked well for him and now he can work on the independent circuit for a few months while he waits for another call from WWE.

19 Struggling - Rosa Mendes

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Rosa Mendes came to WWE through the Diva Search and even though she didn't win, she was still signed to the company and shockingly became known as a veteran following her lengthy tenure. Mendes was unable to pick up any Championships throughout her time in WWE and opted to retire on her daughter's first Birthday back in February 2017.

Mendes returned to the ring after a two-year absence back in May and she and Adam Rose were able to pick up the win at MCW Wrestling.

It's been a long break for Mendez and it appears that this return hasn't led to a lot of interest from other promotions.

18 Thriving - Evan Bourne

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Evan Bourne gained quite the following in WWE but has since become known as Matt Sydal, when he was released from WWE back in 2012, he opted to continue to wrestle on the Independent Circuit.

Bourne has since worked for Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Impact Wrestling, but he has been unable to find his feet on the independent scene and announced last year that he was now the head trainer on World Wrestling Network Training Center, it appears that Bourne has decided to take a step back from wrestling and instead concentrate on training the next generation.

17 Struggling - Justin Gabriel

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Justin Gabriel was only ever treated as a jobber in his time in WWE and he had to wait until his WWE release to confirm that he was the superstar who was wrestling under Adam Rose's bunny costume, which shows how low WWE was willing to stoop. Gabriel was released back in 2015 and went on to wrestle on the independent circuit, but he hasn't been as successful as he would have hoped.

Earlier this year Gabriel under the ring name PJ Black wrestled Nick Aldis at NWA in what was his first wrestling match on television in more than a year. He was injured in a base jumping accident back in the summer of 2017 and went on to lose a finger, which is why he was sidelined for most of 2018.

16 Thriving - Cody Rhodes

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One of the biggest success stories coming out of WWE is Cody Rhodes, the son of legendary Dusty Rhodes has gone on to prove that WWE isn't the only place a wrestler can make a living after thriving on the independent scene over the past two years.

Rhodes even linked up with the Young Bucks last month and presented his own show on September 1st called All In, which broke a lot of records when it comes to independent wrestling shows.

Rhodes is expected to make the event an annual thing and continue to break down barriers outside of the company that he requested his release from back in 2016.

15 Struggling - Ryback

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Ryback's only title win in WWE was the Intercontinental Championship back in 2015 and interestingly, the following year he decided to walk away from WWE after an argument regarding the pay scale in WWE. Ryback then went on to appear for a number of independent companies all over the world, before he sustained an ankle injury and while he's been recovering, many promotions have stopped calling. But that doesn't mean Ryback isn't doing well for himself.

Ryback has instead concentrated on businesses that he has outside of WWE and he has even recently released a book since it appears that wrestling is no longer the focal point of his life.

14 Thriving - Emma

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Emma was never given the opportunities she deserved in WWE, despite being one of the women who spearheaded the Women's Revolution ever since she appeared in the final to crown the first ever NXT Women's Champion back in 2013.

It wasn't hard for Emma to find work after she was released by WWE and she currently appears for Ring of Honor under her real name Tenille Dashwood.

Emma recently announced that she had sustained a shoulder injury that would need surgery and that she could be sidelined for a while, but Ring of Honor is expected to hand the star a new contract during her hiatus.

13 Struggling - Damien Sandow

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Damien Sandow had so much talent that he was able to thrive in WWE even though the company didn't give him anything to work with. The stunt double storyline with The Miz was genius and it was Sandow that made it work, but sadly it didn't save his job and he was released along with a number of other stars back in 2016.

Sandow went on to work for Impact Wrestling as Aron Rex and even though he became the first ever Impact Grand Champion back in 2016, it wasn't a character that suited him well. He announced that he was taking a break from wrestling back in 2017 so that he can focus on an acting career instead.

12 Thriving - Wade Barrett

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Wade Barrett left WWE back in 2016 when he opted not to renew his contract because he wanted to pursue a career in the acting business. Barrett has been missing for more than two years now and in that time he has been the general manager at What Culture Pro Wrestling and is now working for World of Sport as a commentator and executive.

Barrett has made the decision to return to wrestling and now appears on TV on a regular basis as part of WOS, but in recent weeks he has been hinting that he could be ready to return to WWE, which would be interesting.

11 Struggling - Adam Rose

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Adam Rose was released from WWE back in 2016 after being arrested for domestic assault when he had an altercation with his wife and like many other stars when they are handed their release papers from WWE, he decided to try to continue wrestling on the Independent Circuit.

Sadly, Rose hasn't had it as easy as many other stars and even announced back in 2017 that it would be his final year working in the business.

Rose has continued to wrestle throughout 2018 but it's obvious that his heart is no longer in it and he is now being forced to continue for financial reasons.

10 Thriving - John Morrison

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Before Cody Rhodes was released from WWE, John Morrison was the main WWE castoff success story since he has gone on to prove WWE wrong a number of times over by making a name for himself in Lucha Underground.

Morrison has since continued to work for a number of other promotions including New Japan Pro Wrestling and is now appearing for Impact Wrestling where he is part of a feud with Austin Aries. It was reported following Morrison's WWE release that the company had no idea what to do with him and they will definitely be kicking themselves for allowing him to leave knowing he has been this successful without them.

9 Struggling - Enzo Amore

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The circumstances behind Enzo Amore's WWE release are definitely bleak, but the former Cruiserweight Champion looked to be concentrating on his rap career rather than looking to work on the independent wrestling scene following his departure.

Amore recently stated that wouldn't wrestle again after it being reported that he was booked for a number of independent events where the bookers were hoping to reunite Enzo and Cass. The former partners reportedly have some real-life heat, which could prevent a reunion from happening. Amore has released a single since his release back in January but has recently gone quiet.

8 Thriving - Austin Aries

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Austin Aries was a surprise addition to WWE's NXT brand, to begin with, and after the company tried to push him into 205 Live there was a lot of talk of Aries being unhappy in WWE and he was later granted his release.

Aries sat out his 90-day release clause and then made his return to Impact Wrestling before going on to work for a number of other promotions all over the world, including Ring of Honor.

Most recently, Aries has been working for Impact Wrestling where he is the reigning Impact World Champion and currently embroiled in a feud with former WWE star John Morrison.

7 Struggling - Melina

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Melina was released from WWE a number of years ago now and interestingly is one of the women that hasn't made a return to the company as part of the Women's Revolution. The former Women's Champion was known to have been unpopular backstage throughout her tenure, but it is unknown as to why she hasn't been asked to return.

Melina reportedly retired from the wrestling business a few months ago and instead began working at a number of conventions. However, she has recently made her return to the business and has been pushing for fans to ask WWE to allow her to return on social media.

6 Thriving - Simon Gotch

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Simon Gotch is best remembered as one half of The Vaudevillians with Aiden English, but when Aiden and Simon Gotch were promoted to the main roster, it appears that Gotch made a few enemies and following a backstage incident, he was released from the company last year.

Gotch has since changed his name to Simon Grimm and has continued to work on the independent circuit as part of Ring of Honor.

Grimm has been very outspoken about the WWE locker room since his release and appears to have burnt all of his bridges which would definitely prevent him from ever making a return.

5 Struggling - Rich Swann

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Rich Swann was once one of the most popular stars in WWE, but Swann was suspended and then released from WWE late last year. The former Cruiserweight Champion has since decided to return to the independent circuit where he has gained a lot of negativity from the crowds in attendance.

Swann announced back in March that he was retiring from the business and would no longer be taking bookings. His sabbatical/retirement from the business didn't last long, as he has since appeared for Impact Wrestling and Lucha Libre AAA so his future is still very much up in the air.

4 Thriving - Neville

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Neville has been missing from WWE for more than a year after walking away from the company back in October after he refused to job to Enzo Amore on an episode of Raw. Neville has since refused to return to the company despite WWE attempting to bring him back a number of times and was then granted his release back in August.

Neville finally popped back up on the wrestling circuit at Dragon's Gate a few days ago where he joined R.E.D. Neville worked for Dragon's Gate for years before he was signed by WWE back in 2012 and looks to have finally returned home.

3 Struggling - Summer Rae

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Summer Rae was released from WWE back in 2017 after not appearing on WWE TV in more than a year.

It was reported that the star was looking to follow in the footsteps of many other wrestlers and go into the acting business, but that hasn't been as fruitful as she had hoped.

Summer has made just one independent appearance since her WWE release and this came back in May when she appeared at Battle Championship Wrestling and faced former NXT star Ivelisse in a losing effort. Summer hasn't appeared at another wrestling show since May and it's unclear what her future plans are now.

2 Thriving - Big Cass

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Big Cass's release from WWE earlier this year came as a huge surprise to many fans who were unaware that there were issues with Cass backstage. The former NXT star has been able to pick up a number of bookings since his release and has since changed his name to Big Cazz.

Cass had some experience of the independent circuit before he joined WWE, which is why he has been able to step back into it so smoothly. Even though Enzo Amore isn't open to tagging with Big Cass in the future, Cass seems to have a number of bookings coming his way.

1 Struggling - Darren Young

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Darren Young was released from WWE along with a number of other stars back in 2017 and has since only been able to make one appearance as part of the independent circuit. Young appeared for Chikara back in March but has since been radio silent which is a surprise since many fans thought that Young would pick up many bookings because he was always a solid worker in WWE.

It will be interesting to see if Young makes any future appearances for Chikara, but he hasn't been in a ring for an audience in more than six months, which doesn't bode well for his future.