And how have those ex-WWE guys done in TNA? Sandow really did them wonders... And using TNA as an example is a terrible idea. They were constantly lambasted for using ex-WWE guys.
Cody is a champion because he is a star. Sandow isn't a champion because he isn't a star. Being a star isn't connected to being in WWE, it's far more common for someone to be a star having never been part of WWE.
And why did Sandow go to TNA and get his little push there? If he was never in WWE does TNA even hire him. And Cody is a star because he was in WWE. If he never went to WWE would he be known at all?
Even the low card guys could leave WWE today and be put at the top of almost any promotion they walked into. I bet if Rusev quit today he would be pushed to the top in ROH or GFW.
Yes the upper tier of WWE pay isn't possible anywhere else, but that's not what we're talking about. It's idiotic to think about it as it's not a goal you can work toward.
What you need to understand is that in WWE there is no career progression path to work up. You don't join as a bottom tier guy and show your skill and get promoted a number of times and end up at the top. There is nothing at all you can do as a wrestler to move your self up the card into those super star spots with the seven figure guarantee.
So Cena came in as a top guy didn't work his way up? Rollins? Ambrose? Even Lesnar started in OVW and worked his way up. Bryan was fired once and came back and went from low card to mid card to main eventing a Wrestlemania. And thats not even taking into account post career progression. Joey Mercury worked in a tag team and now he is back stage. Same for Road Dog. Matt Bloom is 2nd in command in NXT.
Being talented doesn't get you opportunities. The fact that Jordan was chosen over Gable because the office like him should tell you everything but you seem gloss over it. It's the entire point I'm making. Being picked by Vince is the only factor that matters in a WWE career.
Vince picks Cass, Corbin, Reigns, Strowman, Jinder. He doesn't pick Zayn, Dorada, Itami, Gable. Hard work doesn't help.
Yet guys like Owens/Styles/Rollins/Ambrose have all held the main belts over the last year/2 years. Yes Vince's input is important but its not the only thing that matters. But its like that in any business you need the boss to approve of you. Even on indy's only the guys that the promoter thinks will put butts in seats get pushed and maybe they aren't always the most talented guys. *** Eli Drake is GFW champ.
Yes being talented does mean you'll stick around, and you will probably have a decent career. You'll made good money too. But you'll never make that top money without the WWE picking you for a big push, and Vince's whims are the single factor in all of it.
But you're not making more than being outside WWE. You're working a hell of a lot more with very little freedom, and it really isn't the best working environment.
So at that point, what did you gain? You take a big pay cut for for an 1-5+ year stay in NXT (Vince's whims for call ups too), then worker harder for more or less the same pay as before when you make the main roster.
Seems you like to rage against the corporate machine. Evil Vince and evil WWE. End of the day WWE is the biggest game in town and the place to make the most money and make your name the biggest. Even with evil Vince holding you down you can still make more and make your name bigger than anywhere else and you can parlay that into more money outside WWE or a backstage career in WWE.
For some staying outside the machine and making good enough money as their own boss and hustling 24/7 is what they would rather do. Doesn't change that if you go to WWE and become a superstar you are made in the wrestling business.
I bet you would of argued Styles is better off staying outside of the WWE 1.5 years ago and he could make a good living japan and indys and Vince would never chose him.
Here we are half way through his contract and he is a top star in the WWE and probably made more money than he would of outside WWE.
