5 Most Shocking Career-Turn-Arounds
Okay, you interest in the Year-End-Lists showed me you guys really love lists. So i give you want you want. One more list. After i read that the Young Bucks are actually following through with their AEW plans, i remembered how far they have come, it is shocking. So who else did turn around their career in a way nobody expected it to be? Let's find out in this list.
Any other wrestlers i did not think of? Tell me @Walu2go on Twitter
5. Drew McIntyre
Billed as 'The Chosen One' Drew McIntyre was introduced in 2009 as WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's handpicked superstar to lead the WWE into the future. 5 years after that, nothing was left of this hope, as the WWE machine rolled over Drew McIntyre and he was not able to free himself quickly enough, therefore he was released and everything seemed to be forgottten.
10 years after the infamous 'Chosen One' Promo Drew McIntyre is back and he is back with a vengeance. Arguably the hottest male WWE Superstar on the roster, he reinvited himself into the Scottish Phsychopath, a giant monster of a man, who is not afraid to speak his mind and to rip everyone apart who stand in his way. McIntyre just cracked after his WWE release in WWE and was not willing to accept his departure. He massivly improved in all departments and his expected to become WWE Universal Champion as early as this year. A job well done, Drew.
4. PCO
The tale of 51-year-old PCO is unbelievable. He was WWF Tag Team Champion in the early 90s and was then long forgotten. Almost everybody from his generation is either retired, a partimer or haven't wrestled for 20 years. Not PCO. In 2011 he retired from wrestling, following so many of his peers. But it looked PCO did not enjoy retirement and he wanted his career to go out with a bang, so in 2016 he returned to the ring. Despite his age, he shockingly adapted to today's style of wrestling and became a star of the scene. He got so huge, everyone wanted to book and he eventually landed a deal with Ring of Honor in late 2018. What a story. The energy of this man is crazy, a true role-model for everyone in their 50s. He know is looking to become Ring of Honor World Champion, which would be simply historic.
3. Cody Rhodes
The son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, brother of the bizarre Goldust. Cody Rhodes made his WWE debut in 2007 and many doubted that Cody could succeed as everything he would do, would not stand in comparsion in what his father did and his brother already tried or had achieved. Also Cody originally wanted to become an actor, so some questioned his motivation. But Cody shattered these doubts and became a multi-time Tag Team and Intercontinental Champion. He hit his high-point when he began teaming with brother Goldust in 2013 and 2014 having incredible matches every week. When it was time for a change, Cody developed a new character called 'Stardust' but Vince McMahon and Cody had different ideas on what the character should be. Eventually it become somewhat of a Goldust-Clone, which many fans and Cody did not like. After another short-lived WWE Tag Title reign and a promising feud with his brother, which Vince McMahon scrapped before it could fulfill it's full potential at WrestleMania. After that Cody got frustrated and shocklingy left the WWE in 2016. He turned to the independet scene, a though challenge for someone who only learned how to perform in WWE and never saw the world outside of the box. But Cody succeded big time, because that's the talent he is. He won gold in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling, competed in Impact Wrestling and many other wrestling promotions all over the world. He became so huge, he founded All Elite Wrestling with The Young Bucks and Hangman Page, the first legit opponent for the WWE in almost 20 years. Incredible.
2. Jinder Mahal
Nobody saw this coming. In 2011 Mahal made his debut in a storyline with The Great Khali. Because that did not work WWE barely used him and it looked he would become yet another failed venture by the WWE. When he got put with Heath Slater and fellow Career-Turn-Around-Shocker Drew McIntyre he provided some funny and cool moments as the 'Fun One' of the team, but eventually got released 2014 along with McIntyre. Unline McIntyre Mahal was not showing up much and you barely heard of him. Many believed he ended his career, never winning a title, never making waves.
But in August 2016 he suddenly showed up on RAW, attacking Heath Slater to get himself another shot in the biggest promotion there is. But once again it seemed like it would not turn out for him great either. Soon he was back to his 'un-winning' ways.But then Jinder began to work on himself, developing a better in-ring style and an amazing body, which got him a huge push after switching brands to SmackDown Live. There he captured the WWE Champion by pinning Randy Orton. That's right, in 2017 Jinder Mahal became WWE Champion, literally out of nowhere. Today he is a former WWE Champion and United States Champion, something no one ever saw coming for him. He is a regular on RAW these days, flanked by his henchmen, The Singh Brothers. Congrats Jinder, you made something out of nothing and are now forever in the books of history.
1. The Young Bucks
When Generation Me made their way to TNA in 2009, nobody in their right mind would have set they were the ones to create the highest grossing brand outside of WWE with the Elite-Franchise. Two young brothers from California, flying under the radar in TNA, failed try-outs in WWE and some indypendent stints was not really screaming international mega star or biggest tag team in the entire business. But the work-ethic of Nick and Matt Jackson shall not be underestimated. He rose to the top in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor, meeting Hangman Page, Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes, Marty Scurll and others to form The Elite (being part of the Bullet Club). Their approach on how the business should be presented in the modern age and their relentless rebelling against the system already changed the industry and they made true history. But that was not enough for the Bucks, as they now have formed All Elite Wrestling (AEW) with Cody and Hangman Page, among others, the first legit contender for the WWE since WCW folded. Wether you like them or not, these journey deserves a round of applause.
