For many professional wrestlers, making it to the WWE is their ultimate goal and once they reach that pinnacle of success in the wrestling industry, they have reached the top. However, for a few other wrestlers, the WWE is just a stepping stone to bigger and better things. These WWE superstars leveraged their careers in the WWE to become much bigger stars once they left the confines of Vince McMahon's company.

Some of them became household names outside of the world of professional wrestling. Others took the experience in the WWE and became bigger stars outside the company in the world of professional wrestling. Finally, some were seen as WWE flops but went on to become a star away from the WWE so they could return later and take their place at the top of the WWE. Here is a look at 10 wrestlers who became huge stars after leaving the WWE.

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10 10. THE ROCK

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

Easily the biggest name in the world to ever come out of the WWE is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. While in the WWE, this third-generation wrestler won 10 world titles and numerous other accolades and will one day be in their Hall of Fame. However, once The Rock left the WWE, he became an even star in Hollywood.

As of Skyscraper in 2018, Johnson's movies had earned a lifetime gross of over $3.3 billion domestically and over $9.7 billion worldwide. That is better than most accomplished actors and it proves that this WWE superstar knew exactly what he was cooking when he left his job as a full-time wrestler.

9 9. KENNY OMEGA

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

Kenny Omega got his start in the indie wrestling scene in 2001 before he signed a contract to join the WWE in their developmental territory in 2005. This was at Deep South Wrestling in Georgia and Omega trained under names like Johnny Ace and Bob Holly. He was released in 2006 and moved on with his career.

In 2008, he got chances in Ring of Honor and PWG and then went to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2010 and became arguably the best wrestler in the world outside of the WWE. In 2019, his contract with New Japan comes to an end and rumors indicate that the WWE is offering him a multi-million deal to return -- 13 years after releasing him from their developmental territory.

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8 8. SCOTT HALL AND KEVIN NASH

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were main event stars in the WWE. Under the names Razor Ramon and Diesel, they won major titles, with Diesel a world champion and Ramon an Intercontinental champion. However, Vince McMahon didn't see either man as a star big enough to move the needle and let them walk away to WCW.

In WCW, both men became two of the biggest stars in wrestling history, forming the nWo and starting the Monday Night Wars. The two men that McMahon didn't see moving the needle helped WCW beat the WWE in the ratings for a year and almost helped put the WWE out of business.

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7 7. CODY RHODES

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

Cody Rhodes was the son of one of the best professional wrestlers in the history of the sport. However, it didn't seem to matter what he did for the WWE, they never trusted him enough to move him up the card. They even had him mimic his brother's gimmick and become Stardust and Cody did what he was asked.

Finally, Rhodes realized that he wasn't going to ever make it to the main event in the WWE and he asked for his release. Cody then reinvented himself and wrestled a large number of dream matches before signing with Ring of Honor and New Japan. Now, Cody is one of the faces of the new AEW wrestling -- and one of the biggest names in the indies.

6 6. DREW MCINTYRE

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

When Drew McIntyre first came to the WWE at the age of 22, he had already made his name on the indie scene, starting his career at the age of 15. He was then pushed into the spotlight when Vince McMahon anointed him as the Chosen One. He wasn't ready and it failed. He ended up in a jobber unit called 3 Man Band and then asked for his release.

It was the best thing that could have happened. Taking on the name Drew Galloway, he went back to Scotland and reinvented himself in the ICW as a tough guy who took nothing from anyone. He perfected his new persona, returned to the United States and ended up returning to the WWE and becoming one of their top stars heading into 2019.

5 5. DAVE BAUTISTA

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

Dave Bautista was a main event star in the WWE and one of their top names. However, that wasn't enough for him. Knowing that time was ticking down, as he was in his 40s and wanted to try something new, he asked for his release from the WWE while still at the top because he wanted to make it in Hollywood.

He succeeded and is second to only The Rock when it comes to WWE superstars in Hollywood. He has been in a James Bond movie as the heavy and took the world by storm as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. He is now one of the top big men in Hollywood, leaving the WWE behind.

4 4. JESSE VENTURA

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

It might be hard to believe, but the professional wrestling career of Jesse "The Body" Ventura only lasted for nine years. He made his debut in 1975 and then quit in 1984 after a short feud with Hulk Hogan when he had to retire due to blood clots in his lungs. Ventura then became one of the best commentators in wrestling history.

However, Ventura became a huge star after leaving the WWE.  It all started out with movies, where Ventura impressed with a role in Arnold Schwarzenegger's Predator. However, his true success came in 1998 when the former WWE superstar became the Governor of Minnesota.

3 3. JOHN MORRISON

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

John Morrison looked poised to be a huge star in the WWE. He had the look and the athletic ability to become a major player in the world of professional wrestling. However, despite his look and skills, he was passed over for opportunities in favor of his old tag team partner The Miz.

Sure, Morrison got a chance to lead the WWE revival of ECW for a short time but he never got anything past that. He left the WWE and pushed himself to prove that it was a mistake for the company to overlook him. He became a star in Lucha Underground and is now the biggest name in Impact Wrestling, proving that he could carry a company despite the WWE dropping the ball on him.

2 2. BROCK LESNAR

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

Brock Lesnar came to the WWE with a lot of hype. He was a national champion in college and proved to be an instant star in the company. He became a world champion as a rookie and was one of the best wrestlers in the company at the age of 25. However, the best was yet to come.

Lesnar chose to take a chance and leave the WWE to try to win a spot in the NFL. When that failed, he moved on to the UFC and became more successful than any professional wrestler to attempt an MMA career. He won the UFC Heavyweight Championship and then eventually returned to the WWE even bigger than he was when he left.

1 1. EC3

10 Wrestlers Who Became Huge Stars After Leaving The WWE

The rise of Ethan Carter III in Impact Wrestling might have come as a slight surprise to anyone who watched him when he was in the WWE. In 2009, ES3 made his WWE debut in Florida Championship Wrestling, which would later become NXT. He went by the name Derrick Bateman and worked with names like Drew McIntyre, Curtis Axel, Ryback, and Fandango.

He was then in NXT season 4 with Daniel Bryan as his mentor and ended up in the WWE developmental for four years. He was released and got a chance in Impact Wrestling to reinvent himself. EC3 was so successful there that the WWE soon gave him a new deal and brought him back to NXT while allowing him to keep the name he developed in Impact Wrestling.

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