Vince McMahon has developed this urge to sign more and more wrestlers from the Independent scene in recent years in order to build a stronger roster. McMahon has been picking out the best wrestling talents from around the world, roping in many excellent superstars in the process. While McMahon isn’t someone to worry about his competition these days, he definitely wants to keep his rival promotions a step below WWE. As a result, he often tries to sign their best talent in order to hurt the promotion’s popularity.
Vince wants to make sure WWE stays atop of the wrestling ladder. However, many superstars he has signed haven't turned out to be as prolific as he would have wanted, leaving Vince with the dilemma as to what to do with them. After some failed pushes and lack of direction for certain wrestlers, Vince has left them toiling in the mid-card and often uses them to put over others. He can easily release these wrestlers and replace them with others, but his fear of other promotions gaining his talent isn’t allowing him to do so.
If Vince McMahon lets certain wrestlers go, other promotions will be there to sweep up his talents. It’s the fear of these talents thriving in rival promotions that prevents Vince from releasing these 20 wrestlers.
20 Tye Dillinger
“The Perfect 10” Tye Dillinger’s main-roster career has been anything but perfect, as he’s struggled to earn a prominent place on the roster. Dillinger’s Perfect 10 gimmick hasn’t worked, as he’s not over enough to earn a big-time push. Vince McMahon has been quite unimpressed by Dillinger’s work and has been including him as part of filler segments. He probably wants to release him but doesn’t want to give away a person who has spent the last decade learning WWE’s art to another promotion. Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro Wrestling would gladly take Dillinger, which is why Vince is making him stay put.
19 Bayley
It’s almost an open-secret that Vince McMahon doesn’t see much potential in Bayley succeeding as a top star on the main roster. After an initial push following her main-roster debut, Bayley’s reputation has taken a hit after losing out on multiple feuds. She has been stuck in a love-hate relationship with Sasha Banks and mostly used as filler for the show. Vince is probably disappointed at how Bayley hasn’t been able to adapt to the main roster and eventually gave up hope on her after the fans turned on her character. However, he also knows Bayley’s potential to soar in promotions like Impact Wrestling or even Ring of Honor, which is why he’ll keep her as this underwhelming mid-carder for the time being.
18 Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin’s return to WWE hasn’t gone as smoothly as he’d thought, as he’s been stuck in the mid-card and hasn’t been able to be a part of any interesting feuds. While Benjamin has played the role of this veteran, technical wrestler well, he’s capable of much more. It’s probably because of him not being over with the fans which have cost Benjamin, whom Vince doesn’t’ see worthy of a big push. Benjamin hasn’t proved to be the “big star” he was in the Independent scene, which is why Vince has kept him in the lower-mid card. McMahon probably wants to replace him with someone better, but his fear of him thriving for other major promotions isn’t allowing him to do so.
17 Bobby Roode
Bobby Roode doesn’t look so “glorious” anymore in WWE, as things have gone completely wrong for him on the main roster. The Glorious One might’ve won the US Championship on Smackdown, but he’s lost all relevance after being drafted to Raw. He’s part of this unnecessary tag team with Chad Gable, and Vince McMahon apparently has no interest in pushing him. Vince might not see him as a top star in WWE, but will not let him walk away to a rival promotion either. He knows very well how rivals like Ring of Honor can benefit with Roode, which is why Vince won’t release Roode despite not having any goals for the superstar.
16 Asuka
Ever since her undefeated streak ended at WrestleMania 34, Asuka has not been the same at all in WWE. She’s lost quite a few matches after that loss to Charlotte and has been degraded into the mid-card. Asuka is currently working as a tag team with Naomi, with her lack of ability on the mic and English-speaking skills costing her dearly. Despite being one of the best wrestlers among the female stars, Vince McMahon doesn’t really see that much potential in her, but won’t release her either. Vince knows how dangerous she can be in a place like Ring of Honor or by going back to Japan, and will not let her be poached away by a rival.
15 Rusev
Rusev has had a very topsy-turvy relationship with WWE over the past few years, in which they haven’t pushed him despite him deserving one. He even got over on his own thanks to his “Rusev Day” gimmick, but WWE is just not willing to give him a championship or big push which he needs right now. Vince McMahon is probably still bitter over Rusev’s antics a few years ago and is punishing him by not giving him the push he wants. However, Vince won’t be releasing him either, as he knows his potential. Rusev’s charisma and incredible in-ring prowess can easily make him a top star at a rival promotion, which is why he’s not being allowed to leave WWE.
14 The Colons
Despite being repackaged a number of times in the past few years, The Colons have still maintained their impressive in-ring ability and put out good matches whenever given the opportunity. Primo and Epico Colons have become in-ring veterans in their years at WWE and even though they aren’t popular enough to get pushed in WWE, promotions around the globe would love to have them. The Colons could make their way to Lucha Underground or even New Japan Pro Wrestling if WWE releases them, which is why Vince isn’t allowing them to leave. The two even allegedly asked for their departure last year but were denied, which proves how Vince doesn’t want to lose them to rivals in Japan or Mexico.
13 Finn Balor
Finn Balor’s WWE career is stuck in obscurity right now. He’s not part of any top-level feuds and looks uncertain to ever challenge at the main-event scene on Raw again. Balor has mostly put over top talents this year and his lack of mic-skill is causing problems for him. Vince McMahon feels that Balor isn’t “over enough” for some reason, which makes him even frustrated when it comes to pushing the inaugural Universal Champion. Vince wants to release him, but will never do that as he knows the impact he can have at Bullet Club. Balor can still shine as a main-eventer at New Japan Pro Wrestling and give their programming a huge boost, but Vince won’t let that happen.
12 Luke Gallows And Karl Anderson
For Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, life hasn’t really been that good lately in WWE as they’ve fallen down the ladder in the tag-team division this year. The Good Brothers have only given the job of putting over other tag teams in the division and haven’t really featured that much either. It seems like their lack of popularity and “entertaining” tag team skillset might be costing them in WWE. Vince McMahon doesn’t seem interested in them at all and probably wants to replace them, but won’t do that soon. He knows how Anderson and Gallows could give a huge boost to New Japan Pro Wrestling and the Bullet Club if they return to Japan, and won’t release them because of that.
11 Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura has been booked to leak pretty weakly since turning heel at WrestleMania 34, after which he’s lost most feuds and won matches in a dirty manner. Nakamura is being portrayed as this conniving heel who cheats to win, which takes away his credibility as a top-level wrestler. Despite being US Champion, Nakamura‘s booking has been poor and he’s being misused on the main roster. Vince McMahon is probably disappointed at Nakamura’s lack of mic-skills and “stiff” working ability. However, he won’t release Nakamura because he knows how his popularity and star-power can help bring back eyes to Ring of Honor or New Japan. If his rivals sign Nakamura, they gain a top-level talent who can vastly improve their product and hurt WWE.
10 Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn’s WWE career has had some very unfortunate halts in the past due to him being quite prone to sustaining bad injuries. Zayn has been sidelined from the action just when things start to roll for him and despite being an excellent performer who recently attained a great gimmick, he’s just not consistent enough. Vince McMahon is probably frustrated and disappointed with how Zayn has underperformed on the main roster and wants him replaced, but won’t do that anytime soon. He’s more than aware of Zayn’s demand among his rival promotions and knows the consequences of letting him go prematurely. If Sami goes back to Ring of Honor, it'd be a huge coup for WWE’s rivals and Vince doesn’t want that to happen.
9 Sasha Banks
“The Boss” Sasha Banks has a lot much of her dominance in the Raw Women’s Division, as he’s been made to team-up with Bayley over the past few months. Banks has not been that cooperative with WWE officials and has not been able to maintain consistency like the others. She’s also become somewhat stale as a babyface, and it doesn't help how poorly Vince McMahon is booking her. However, Vince knows too well not to release one of his best female talents right now. Banks is still very young and could easily be pried in by Ring of Honor or Impact Wrestling if she’s available, which is exactly why Vince won’t release her anytime soon.
8 Tyler Breeze
Despite being a promising mid-carder at NXT, Tyler Breeze’s time on the main roster has been quite forgettable. He’s been a lower-mid carder who mostly puts over other wrestlers, but did some good work as part of Breezango. While the “Fashion Files” segments became frequent recently, Breeze hasn’t been able to develop a serious character of his own to deserve a strong push. He’s also been limited in the ring and mostly been part of squash matches, which has turned the fans off him. Vince McMahon probably wants to release and replace Tyler but knows of his hidden potential to thrive for a rival promotion. Breeze can probably succeed at Ring of Honor or Impact Wrestling because of which Vince won’t release him.
7 Rowan
Rowan is the kind of wrestler who is generally loved by Vince McMahon, as he’s well-built, strong in the ring and has a really intimidating nature about him. Rowan has impressed with his hard-hitting wrestling work for WWE, but his injury layoffs are becoming a bane for his character. While he’s often been repackaged after returning from layoffs in WWE, Vince McMahon’s patience must be running thin after he was recently sidelined. His layoff forced Vince to change up his long-term plans and he must’ve wanted to release Rowan for it. However, Vince knows very well how prolific a tough and talented wrestler Rowan can easily thrive at ROH or New Japan, which is why Vince keeps him despite his injury issues.
6 Mickie James
After returning to WWE, Mickie James has been given the role of the in-ring veteran who puts over her junior superstars. She’s been used to help Alexa Bliss gain more relevance as a top-heel recently and loses almost every match she faces against a top-level talent on Raw. James just isn’t that over anymore and is also a bit slow in the ring. She can’t wrestle that often, which must disappoint Vince McMahon. He always saw Mickie as a top-level female wrestler and might want to release her for that. However, he knows how Mickie can help revolutionize a Women’s Division for a rival like Ring of Honor or Impact Wrestling and won’t release her because of that.
5 Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder has somewhat lost that charm which made him an extremely popular superstar in WWE many years ago. He was once a darling of the internet wrestling fans”, but didn’t attain the big push he deserved a few years ago. Ryder has lost hope in him ever getting to the top of WWE and has seemingly become somewhat of a lazy worker recently. He’s rumored to be demoted to 205 Live, which proves how Vince has lost faith in him. McMahon probably wants to release him. However, he doesn’t want to see him go and become a big star in a rival promotion like Ring of Honor, which is why Ryder has been retained despite his underwhelming slump recently.
4 Eric Young
Ever since his debut on Smackdown as part of Sanity, Eric Young has hardly featured enough to impress fans on the brand. After what was a delayed main-roster call, Young has barely wrestled a few matches on Smackdown and mostly lost whenever he’s done so. Both him and Sanity have been booked very weakly, proving how Vince probably doesn’t see much potential in them. Young probably won’t receive a big-time push on the main roster and will be kept hanging as this mysterious lower-mid carder. Vince McMahon will not release him because he can go back to Impact Wrestling or debut at Ring of Honor. Young could regain his status as a popular, hard-working babyface and later make Vince regret releasing him.
3 The Revival
The Revival’s stay on the main roster has been beyond mediocre due to their missed opportunities to climb as a top team on Monday Night Raw. Ever since they were called up to the main-roster after having a glittering career in NXT, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder have both been plagued with serious layoffs which hindered their pushes. In the end, Vince McMahon just stopped believing in their potential as a top-tag team due to their injury-prone status, making them an average tag-team on Raw. Vince probably wants to release them, but won’t give rival promotions like ROH, Impact Wrestling or New Japan an advantage by signing the vastly talented tag-team anytime soon.
2 Chad Gable
Chad Gable hasn’t really been able to soar as a top-level tag team wrestler like Vince McMahon wanted him to be on the main roster. Gable has been part of three different tag teams so far and hasn’t been able to prove himself as a top-level talent since parting with Jason Jordan. While he’s undoubtedly excellent in the ring, Gable’s lack of popularity or poor gimmick hasn’t impressed Vince at all. The boss probably wants to let go of him, but knows how a talented in-ring athlete like him can thrive somewhere else. The likes of Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling would gladly take Gable from WWE and Vince won’t release him and allow them to gain such an excellent technical worker.
1 Brock Lesnar
While it’s often a misconception that Brock Lesnar is Vince McMahon’s darling because of how he gets rewarded handsomely despite appearing rarely, it’s probably the opposite. Vince himself also wants Lesnar to work more dates and start wrestling often, but is powerless to do anything about him. It’s because of Lesnar’s incredible power right now that Vince cannot dictate him. As a matter of fact, Lesnar won’t be released because of his draw power which brings in a lot of revenue for WWE. Vince knows how UFC will pounce on making Lesnar their huge attraction if he gets released by WWE.