Post by sungod2020 on Nov 13, 2022 1:20:32 GMT -5
When I mean worked with again, I don't necessarily mean returning to be a full-time in-ring competitor, I mean in any type of working relationship, such as a one-off match, a Hall of Fame spot, a cameo appearance, legends deal, etc etc. Basically anything that suggests they patched things up(if there were any issues to begin with) with the company and are willing to do future business with them. I'm also basing this on their star power and how they left the company, as well as how much time has past.
Here's my list...
Ken Shamrock - A UFC legend in his own right, the Worlds Most Dangerous Man made a splash onto the WWF scene in 1997 to much fanfare. Although never capturing the big one, he did have moderate success as the 1998 King of The Ring, held the IC and tag team titles(with Big Bossman) at the same time, and had interactions with the top stars during his time there(Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley etc etc).
It's a damn shame he left when he did as there definitely was some more mileage for Kenny Boy, as not only did Chris Jericho make his debut(literally a month before he left, and he had an inclusively feud with him that resulted in his last on screen appearance), but guys like Kurt Angle, Tazz, and The Radicalz arrived shortly thereafter, like, all within a few short months. A feud with Kurt Angle over who has the better anklelock would be pretty easy to write if you ask me.
According to The Sportster, here's the reason behind his departure:
"The reason behind Ken Shamrock's departure from WWE is simple to understand, despite having a successful three-year run with the company. Although it's widely believed that Ken Shamrock left to resume his professional fighting career, in an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Ken Shamrock revealed that he left the company because of the hectic travel schedule. Ken Shamrock also stated in that interview that he felt WWE didn't see eye-to-eye with him regarding their creative direction, as he initially thought they did.
Ken Shamrock also stated in a different interview on The Kurt Angle Show that he felt a lack of trust for WWF after the events surrounding Bret Hart's departure from the company and Owen Hart's death in 1999. Feeling that his security with the company was fading, Ken Shamrock believed he didn't belong in WWE anymore."
So going by that, it seems like he left on a sour note, but it didn't come off as completely unrepairable, and while he did return to the octagon(though he lost more often than he won, but that can be caulked up to his age and wear and tear on his body), he wasn't completely done as a pro wrestler as he made quick stops in TNA, New Japan, and the Indy Circuits. I would think based on that, a WWE return wouldn't be too out of the cards for him, maybe get some type of legends deal, but it's been over 20 years and to date, he still hasn't had any type of working relationship with them.
Marc Mero - The former Johnny B. Badd a pretty big(well big for midcard) prospect in the 1990s. First in WCW, winning it's TV title three times, and then he was signed to a big contract with the World Wrestling Federation, winning their IC championship when it still meant something. However, management must've gone quickly sour on him as not only did he lose it to Triple H after holding it for a month, he never reclaimed the belt again. Being out with an injury for the majority of 1997 also didn't help matters.
One of the biggest factors that keeps getting brought up was he was overshadowed by his smoking hot wife Sable, which was parlayed into storyline around the turn of the year(from 97 to 98). While he might've played the abusive and jealous husband well, in many ways it might've hurt him. As 1998 progressed he brought in his new love interest Jacqueline, where he eventually took a backseat to her as well, before quietly leaving the company before the year was up.
And yes, I do get that nagging injuries played a role in his departure, as well as WWF releasing Sable in 1999 for not wanting to go topless, as well as sexual harassment issues she was facing(including suing the company for it). Incidentally enough, Sable got a divorce from Mero years later and even made a return to the now WWE in 2003, so fences between the two parties were mended.
I know in 2007, in the wake of the Chris Benoit incident, he did speak out against steroid use and how it contributed to the deaths of many wrestlers, and of course, it rubbed many not just in the WWE, by the wrestling business as a whole the wrong way, but it's been 15 years already, you'd think they'd work something out at this point. Especially when Vince and co made up with guys and gals who arguably did worse to sour their relationship(Bret Hart, Wendy Richter, Ultimate Warrior, Bruno etc etc).
Or maybe the Marvelous One wanted to stick to his agreement that he would never show his face in the company again if he lost to Duane Gill on that one episode of RAW. You be the judge.
Any names that come to mind in regards to not working with the E after many years of departing?
Here's my list...
Ken Shamrock - A UFC legend in his own right, the Worlds Most Dangerous Man made a splash onto the WWF scene in 1997 to much fanfare. Although never capturing the big one, he did have moderate success as the 1998 King of The Ring, held the IC and tag team titles(with Big Bossman) at the same time, and had interactions with the top stars during his time there(Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley etc etc).
It's a damn shame he left when he did as there definitely was some more mileage for Kenny Boy, as not only did Chris Jericho make his debut(literally a month before he left, and he had an inclusively feud with him that resulted in his last on screen appearance), but guys like Kurt Angle, Tazz, and The Radicalz arrived shortly thereafter, like, all within a few short months. A feud with Kurt Angle over who has the better anklelock would be pretty easy to write if you ask me.
According to The Sportster, here's the reason behind his departure:
"The reason behind Ken Shamrock's departure from WWE is simple to understand, despite having a successful three-year run with the company. Although it's widely believed that Ken Shamrock left to resume his professional fighting career, in an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Ken Shamrock revealed that he left the company because of the hectic travel schedule. Ken Shamrock also stated in that interview that he felt WWE didn't see eye-to-eye with him regarding their creative direction, as he initially thought they did.
Ken Shamrock also stated in a different interview on The Kurt Angle Show that he felt a lack of trust for WWF after the events surrounding Bret Hart's departure from the company and Owen Hart's death in 1999. Feeling that his security with the company was fading, Ken Shamrock believed he didn't belong in WWE anymore."
So going by that, it seems like he left on a sour note, but it didn't come off as completely unrepairable, and while he did return to the octagon(though he lost more often than he won, but that can be caulked up to his age and wear and tear on his body), he wasn't completely done as a pro wrestler as he made quick stops in TNA, New Japan, and the Indy Circuits. I would think based on that, a WWE return wouldn't be too out of the cards for him, maybe get some type of legends deal, but it's been over 20 years and to date, he still hasn't had any type of working relationship with them.
Marc Mero - The former Johnny B. Badd a pretty big(well big for midcard) prospect in the 1990s. First in WCW, winning it's TV title three times, and then he was signed to a big contract with the World Wrestling Federation, winning their IC championship when it still meant something. However, management must've gone quickly sour on him as not only did he lose it to Triple H after holding it for a month, he never reclaimed the belt again. Being out with an injury for the majority of 1997 also didn't help matters.
One of the biggest factors that keeps getting brought up was he was overshadowed by his smoking hot wife Sable, which was parlayed into storyline around the turn of the year(from 97 to 98). While he might've played the abusive and jealous husband well, in many ways it might've hurt him. As 1998 progressed he brought in his new love interest Jacqueline, where he eventually took a backseat to her as well, before quietly leaving the company before the year was up.
And yes, I do get that nagging injuries played a role in his departure, as well as WWF releasing Sable in 1999 for not wanting to go topless, as well as sexual harassment issues she was facing(including suing the company for it). Incidentally enough, Sable got a divorce from Mero years later and even made a return to the now WWE in 2003, so fences between the two parties were mended.
I know in 2007, in the wake of the Chris Benoit incident, he did speak out against steroid use and how it contributed to the deaths of many wrestlers, and of course, it rubbed many not just in the WWE, by the wrestling business as a whole the wrong way, but it's been 15 years already, you'd think they'd work something out at this point. Especially when Vince and co made up with guys and gals who arguably did worse to sour their relationship(Bret Hart, Wendy Richter, Ultimate Warrior, Bruno etc etc).
Or maybe the Marvelous One wanted to stick to his agreement that he would never show his face in the company again if he lost to Duane Gill on that one episode of RAW. You be the judge.
Any names that come to mind in regards to not working with the E after many years of departing?