10 Biggest Transformations Wrestlers Made After Leaving WWE

From Jon Moxley and Juice Robinson to EC3 and Matt Cardona, these are the 10 biggest transformations wrestlers made after leaving WWE.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown,, and NXT), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@mitchcolburn1216]

Matt Cardona has continually managed to rebuild his brand, reshape his image, and make HIMSELF relevant without having the big corporate machine behind him. You have to respect that.

[@skizzit]

I have always been impressed by Juice Robinson leaving NXT and pretty much starting over completely in NJPW as a young lion. Dude bet on himself and it really paid off.

[@andylin9523]

And now he’s part of a Bullet Club Gold playing a role that’s super entertaining. His unhinged scream during BCG’s entrance is great

[@damaged2810]

Who?

[@connorledwith98]

Juice gives off massive Macho Man vibes, he’s so charismatic

[@shavell9447]

⁠ROCK HARD!!!

[@jaxonjaxoff3291]

He also did something impossible and made, Jim Cornette his biggest fan.

[@vgnrnr]

Honestly, one that really goes under the radar is Mark Jindrak / Marco Corleone, he did so well for himself after leaving wwe for mexico

[@smac919]

Juice Robinson just being maniac as hell is the best part about AEW Collision lol

[@banjaxedandscrewed]

Sami Callahan runs an Indy company as well. Wrestling Revolver. Where many Impact and legends show up and perform.

[@treflosho]

I'd say Tyler Rex had the BIGGEST transformation since leaving WWE.

[@bourqueal]

this is also the first that came to my mind

[@akale2620]

Ohnononono

[@kevinb8212]

Killed it my man

[@Thundasack]

I was looking for this

[@Deadguy2322forreal]

You are NOT wrong. Not even a tiny little bit.

[@SomeDumbKid1]

Dean Ambrose and Jon Moxley honestly feel like two completely different people. It's like Hollywood Blondes Steve Austin vs. Stone Cold.

[@Julian-xj6mh]

An alcoholic scumbag into a parody joke

[@restuvenimoshelios4771]

Couldn’t agree more

[@kevinb8212]

Spot on analysis! The only difference is Austin never sucked and Moxley always has. Other than that, exactly the same.

[@Y3ntiLS0uP]

​@@kevinb8212you're so fucking objectively wrong, but then again, you're entitled to be.

[@restuvenimoshelios4771]

@@six6thdisciple for no reason at all dude 🤣🤣

[@thunderkai7272]

Lance Archer is a good one too

[@otgomario]

Dude honestly I'm so happy matt is doing so amazing but I'll always be a broski woo woo you know it

[@CrowYaeger]

I had no idea Tanga Loa was Camacho

[@thecerebralkingofgames2563]

neither did i

[@BigWheel1224]

Okay the Luke gallows/Festus kinda hurt me cause I’m 22 and sing biscuits and gravy and a weekly basis 😂😂

[@daltonpinell6251]

I used to guzzle WWE's kool-aid for years, and I'm very grateful I stopped because I was able to see just how big the world of wrestling is and how talented some WWE alumni truly are, these days I don't even watch WWE anymore and mainly watch other leagues online like OVW, MLW, NWA, Championship Wrestling, New Japan Strong and others, I also wish I had actually given TNA/Impact a chance instead of purely sticking with WWE because I really missed out on a lot of great stuff

[@missmoanypants]

Drew McIntyre looks like he hit a second puberty. Crazy what a beard and 20lbs of muscle can do.

[@Dairy-Queen22]

Where’s Bobby Lashley? His impact wrestling run was amazing

[@logankerr8090]

isn't Juice married to Toni Storm also? dude is winning

[@noiserocker]

"Old and sad" if you remember a 2010 tagteam? Lol I started watching around 1990.

[@InkedupT-raw]

Cardona, Rhodes and robinson are my favorites on this list!!!

[@Punz18]

Matt Cardona has been amazing. Able to catch him defend his HOG championship title against Homicide on Friday. He truly is the "Indy God"

[@leighlowe1069]

Or Homocide if you ask Tazz lol.. If you don't know, he done the ECW merchandise back in the 90s, & with Sabu, he put the Tshirts as Suicidal, Homocidal, Genocidal, & no-one could tell if he'd misspelt homicidal or if he was taking the piss out of Sabu, because to say they didn't like each other is putting it lightly

[@yeahwrestling]

I'm currently in wrestling school training to become a wrestler and Raven is one of my biggest inspirations, Nevermore.

[@Julian-xj6mh]

Goodluck you look like someone shaved Xavier woods

[@BasementBubbatunde]

Drew's always impresses me. He was always a big lad but he went from "big young lad" to "big man' in his time away Amazing what a bit more size, hair dye, facial hair etc does lol Heck cody too for that matter

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

While not as notable as the ones in this list, I'd say Matt Hardy coming up with the ridiculous yet memorable Broken Matt gimmick during his run in IMPACT is worth mentioning too. Speaking of IMPACT, Steve Maclin (fka Steve Cutler of The Forgotten Sons) alongside wife Deonna Purazzo also prove that they're both great heel performers.

[@zanethind]

There's no better example of this than Matt Cardona aka Zack Ryder. He couldn't get what he wanted and what the fans wanted from WWE so he went on the indies and got the money and accomplishments he well deserved also his match quality and work rate went up also he got into the best shape of his life. Even he even said to the current released WWE stars to bet on yourself and you will find guaranteed success

[@Doug-N-Porkchop]

They say Derrick Baitman is a bad name, yet it is no worse than Daniel Bryan. Or Adrian Neville.

[@thecerebralkingofgames2563]

Adrian Neville

[@VannTheDawn]

Are you guys not reviewing Netflix’s Wrestlers? It’s amazing, at least to me it is. I do hope to see some of them make it to either WWE, AEW or NJPW.

[@secondbest2877]

How is it possible that WWE can get it wrong so many times???

[@aaronhurst4379]

Wow I actually forgot Sami Callihan was in NXT lol

[@oliverl.5834]

Is it just me or does Juice Robinson look like a really crazed version of Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson (back from when he had hair anyway).

[@jvfm97]

The thing about Callihan is that eventually he did bring the hacker gimmick to Impact, it wasn't used to it's full potential but it was way better than NXT.

[@keepmovingforward1722]

No Hulk Hogan? Hollywood Hogan is arguably THE best post-WWE transformations

[@BreakingNVain]

Nah, that dude that cut his dick off & got implants

[@theycallmejakefromstatefar3395]

genuinely surprised Brock didn’t make the list

[@FrankieBlueEyes]

He didn't become Hollywood Hogan until he was already in WCW for 2 years.

[@mikethegrunty5968]

As a hemophiliac wrestling fan, I can confirm mox is definitely not someone I wanna be😂

[@taylorwilson4157]

Is it part of Mox’s contract to bleed in every match?

[@jackgonahieu4999]

Tryna get that Abdulla forehead.

[@ragingbackpain]

Tyler. Reks. Commented during the intro lmao

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Jesse and Festus should’ve been tag champs

[@TheNath87]

You missed the bit of Tanga Loa's career where he went to Impact and was part of the trio consisting of Eli Drake (LA Knight), Drew Galloway (Drew McIntyre) and himself know as Micah.

[@jodawa2504]

I remember that time in Impact Wrestling in the mid 2010s. Their stable was known as The Rising. They were feuding with the BDC(Beat Down Clan), which consisted of M.V.P(Montel Vontavious Porter), Bobby Lashley, Kenny King, Low Ki & Samoa Joe.

[@TheNath87]

@@jodawa2504 Yeah me to. Think I stopped watching after Cody's little stint. I just thought the product was getting stale, it looked like an indie promotion with a low budget and there was either no storyline or the storylines were boring I cant remember.

[@jodawa2504]

@@TheNath87 Cody Rhodes' Impact Wrestling stint was surprisingly short. I didn't expect him to show up in Impact, let alone leave so soon after arriving. You sound as though you tuned out of Impact Wrestling post Aces & Eights' storyline, but shortly after WWE's former NXT superstar Derrick Bateman(renamed in Impact Wrestling as Ethan Carter the third or EC3, the nephew of then TNA president Dixie Carter) as people tuned out of WWE during the early PG Era, especially after the failed renegade faction Nexus storyline. I tuned in to WWE & TNA/Impact Wrestling every time as much as I could during that time. I enjoyed the The Rising/BDC(Beat Down Clan) feud. Eli Drake turned heel by turning on Drew Galloway & Micah. At times, you were right about Impact Wrestling lacking in compelling storylines during the mid 2010s. They weren't the same as the storylines such as the Main Event Mafia faction, Fortune/Immortal faction feud, ECW Originals vs TNA Originals feud or, as I already said, Aces & Eights storyline. It started to get good again in 2016, though. Jeff Hardy vs "Broken" Matt Hardy; the new L.A.X(Latin American Xchange, which consisted of Santana & Ortiz) vs The Ogz(The Original L.A.X, which consisted of Homicide & Hernandez, who were joined by Eddie Kingston) & EC3's multi-year undefeated streak being ended by Mike Bennett.

[@TheNath87]

@@jodawa2504 I remember most of that so I must have been watching for longer. I remember Pentagon Jr as Impact World Champ. Think I stopped watching when they went to a red set.

[@jodawa2504]

@@TheNath87 Ok. I've been watching TNA/Impact Wrestling since I discovered Jeff Hardy was in TNA in 2004-2006 before he returned to WWE in August 2006 the Monday Night Raw episode after Summerslam. I haven't been able to watch an episode of Impact Wrestling since 2019 when Tessa Blanchard shockingly became the first female Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. Of course, Tessa screwed up that shit & got stripped of the title & fired. As far as Pentagon Jr is concerned, I somewhat remember that time period, but I remember when Eli Drake was Impact Wrestling, at the time Global Force Wrestling, World Champion, lost it to Austin Aries on the night he returned. I remember EC3 beating Matt Hardy to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. I remember Brian Cage defeating Johnny Impact(formerly WWE's John Morrison/Johnny Nitro) for the Impact Wrestling World Championship. I remember the feud between Brian Cage & Sami Callihan, where Sami delivered a piledriver on Brian's wife Melissa at Brian & Melissa's wedding! That shit was hilariously shocking! Anyway, my comment is getting too long, but the last thing is I've been caught up on Impact Wrestling by watching videos & reading online articles to stay updated, along with WWE & AEW.

[@mkottismk]

Thank you for putting these together

[@zanethind]

Ngl it's actually pretty sad to see how NXT had failed some stars. EC3 second run should've been way more in NXT especially with his charisma, physique, and him getting over with the crowd

[@MudSluggerBP]

Matt Cardona has probably held more belts than Cena and Flair combined 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣🤣🤣

[@jimchirdon432]

Since this video EC3 won the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship

[@jerryrodriguez867]

Love the Raven mention

[@georgeedwards384]

I was really racking my brain on who you could put over Cody…well played

[@hhtptai]

EC3 would have been an absolute ace North American Champion.

[@kovulion7777]

Drew Mcintyre was one of 3MB, now he's a top star Jinder got to become a WWE world champion Cody Rhodes left and had a mania return and won a rumble

[@FUNKAF1ED]

KENTA could have made this list. Hell, even Chris Jericho if you think about it.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I always thought Derrick Bateman looks like Andy Samberg in Hot Rod

[@TheNath87]

Yes! My guy Raven at #1 😊

[@Nero--rq4tw]

So Cultaholic... how did you know the news some days in advance??!

[@Meatman8089]

Sami Callaghan was amazing before WWE and after. They shit the bed hard with him.

[@ttvlazer1822]

What about Adam Rose

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Thank For the Top 10 Video 🙊🤯🥰😍😁💗💐🌟🥇🏆

[@NeuraliX]

Damn imagine becoming the best version of yourself after you left WWE 😂

[@ArthurKillingsworthJr]

Where is Lashley, John Morrison, Matt Hardy… all of them became TNA world champs

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Jesse is darker character after The Straight Edge Society

[@thecerebralkingofgames2563]

Festus was in The Straight Edge Society not Jesse

[@claymathewselevator8121]

@@thecerebralkingofgames2563It’s implied that Jesse was Luke Gallows enabler

[@realezabrasilenaroachxbela2559]

Yea I don’t know how PCO only got a 3 second mention on this

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I remember TNA Gut Check

[@lebronakon2324]

I’m convinced glacier is mike chiota

[@TheWrestlingUnderground]

If you don't know about IMPACT, don't talk about it. It's not "TNA" and yes, we remember Gut Check.

[@ColeYote]

Control Your Narrative? More like Control- oh I ran out of time. Speaking of the Straight Edge Society, Serena Deeb might be with a mention too.

[@egd5716]

I actually loved Derek Bateman can't lie

[@Theo_MT]

Zack Ryder once heard the bell ring, ran at SHEAMUS, got Brogue Kicked and got pinned in 5 seconds on RAW - it was a WWE Championship match

[@akale2620]

So did Daniel Bryan.

[@Theo_MT]

@@akale2620 not the same scenario at all

[@varunpadalkar]

Tyler reks should be no 1😅

[@aceblaz5502]

4:32 15 year old me who randomly stumbled onto the NXT game show vids on YT: 🙋‍♂

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Steve Maclin

[@Meatman8089]

In fact, if he goes to AEW I'd spread cheeks for him and moxley to reunite for the switchblade conspiracy group again

[@mortyjr8433]

Tyler reks would be the biggest

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I enjoyed CJ Parker environmentalist NXT run

[@claymathewselevator8121]

@@urbaindelva7869I loved that too 😂

[@joedonnelly2133]

i like this video

[@BreakingNVain]

Alright, #1 has to be that dude....I can't remember his name. You know... Edit: Welp they got it wrong. Left him off the list all together.

[@El-Fuego-_-1]

I didn’t expect Raven to number one

[@WRESTLINGWRITESITSELF]

Does Hulk Hogan to WCW count!??💀😂😂

[@BerylliumGold]

It's FLAVOR-ADE

[@JimEKing]

So...i am fully on board with Cody changing things, but with TKO Group, i really dont think they will let him take the reigns.....get it....the reigns....lol

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Solomon Crowe and CJ Parker would’ve worked better in NXT 2.0

[@stephenhenderson7179]

Commenting before watching... but if the former Tyler Reks ain't #1 then it's bs.

[@donnielovell7536]

No Kurt Angle, or Chris Jericho...... Whatttttt

[@GeordieGunner96]

Isn't the wwe the only sports entertainment company in the world? The rest do wrestling l

[@Hundo_Mo]

You could argue Red and Yellow Hogan to nWo Hogan.

[@BenJohnson0531]

He went to WCW with the same gimmick for years before changing it

[@MasterMewtwo239]

Instead of the big dub, why not call WWE the double-dub?

[@noentry1202]

Mox should be no. 1

[@Dr_1212]

Vince needs to leave WWE

[@andrewberenson5717]

Tyrus should have been on this list

[@akale2620]

The real sentence is " 3 years later he pinned brock Lesnar for the world title IN AN EMPTY ARENA "

[@RichWhiteUM]

Cody Rhodes was, is, and always will be nothing more than an over-hyped mid-carder. At least he had more sense than to pull a Vern Gagne or Jeff Jarrett and keep putting the world title on himself in AEW. I'll give the over-rated mid-card stooge that much.

[@NSShovo786]

Hmmm 100 %over rated or seeing over powers but my prediction after 5 yeare he retain a midcard vouch wrestler just like my enemy. My prediction after several years gone I'm become more rich person & they still lested a money hopper

[@RichWhiteUM]

@@urbaindelva7869 EVERYTHING!

[@williamseneyjr.6277]

Cody never won the world title in AEW, you're thinking of the TNT championship.

[@RichWhiteUM]

@@williamseneyjr.6277 I don't see anyone saying he won the world title in AEW. In fact, I clearly said he had enough sense NOT to put the world strap on himself, when he was part of the booking team unlike Verne Gagne and Jeff Jarrett did in promotions where they had power. Maybe the person you were responding to deleted their comment and I didn't see it. If not, hopefully this clarified my comment a little more.

[@williamseneyjr.6277]

@@RichWhiteUM Yeah, I just realized I misread, my bad.

[@hollowfox]

EC3 shouldnt have come back to WWE lol

[@greggmcdonnell1879]

Jon Moxley will be so surprised to see himself on this list- because he’s so concussed and hurt he doesn’t know what day of the week it is. And good luck hoping the likes of Rick Knox try to protect him in the ring.

[@JanekBandera]

cody rhodes was for me was always a good wrestler. currently, he repeats a lot of moves but before as for me he has a bigger assortment. currently cody rhodes looks a little better, have more strenght, less agility and is amazing on mic.

[@BrockHeyman4L]

What did Cody actually change he was great in wwe he just never got the right spotlight

[@wyldchyld337]

(saying this as a trans person myself) I'm partial, but no love for the Gabbi Tuft? Sure, she's a raging 45 supporter and trans-medicalist, but her post WWE trans-formation is proof that (with enough money!), changes can be made

[@juantorres-sy9ut]

Hogan should have been number 1

[@andrewberenson5717]

I do not think Jon Moxley should be on this list. He is the same character in AEW as WWE, just with a different name. By the end of his WWE run, he had even shaved his head like he wears it in AEW. His match with Brock had a death match aspect to it

[@shockwave1864]

EC3 is terrible

[@johnjohnbingbong]

Jfc, this channel can't help but cream over anything AEW lmao

[@bigdaddy0614]

Cody Rhodes is so overrated. If he weren't Dusty's son, he would be jobbing somewhere..

[@bigdaddy0614]

@@six6thdisciple You never game a damn about Cody before... He had a forgettable IC run and an forgettable tag team run.. He was so dull that they teamed him up with his own brother and even Dustin couldn't make Cody interesting.. The guy is boring.. Boring tone deaf promos. Average in ring ability.. He dyes his hair, calls himself the "American Nightmare" and mentions his dad every opportunity he gets.. He's riding on his dad's name and gimmick.. Why?.. Because he failed to generate any attention on his own.. There is a reason why the "Natural" didn't work but "Golddust" did.. Quit being such a Cody stan.

[@slickpan5374]

Dean Ambrose, or Moxley sucks. He needs a new character rather than just bleed in every match. He’s boring

[@JoeBauers8]

Ehh, he’s not even approaching as lame as his former shield buddies

[@biosilk]

aew sux and impact is nonexistent for me so wwe it is lol

[@OriginalBaconPancakes]

Ftr being left off this list is nuts

[@mimseydemon1844]

Wasn't Festus supposedly on psych meds that "his family made him take", and not booze?

[@Tigersuplex]

Seriously, Raven. Lmao

[@mattwood2981]

You're gonna make fun of him being Named CJ Parker when his current name is literally "Juice"? 🤷‍♂️

[@claymathewselevator8121]

That was his name before WWE