5 Released WWE Ruthless Aggression Wrestlers Who Came Back Better Than Ever (And 5 Who Never Returned)

The Ruthless Aggression Era was one of the greatest periods in WWE history, with a lot of top talent breaking through the ranks at this time. It was when John Cena and Batista fought their way to the top, while Brock Lesnar, Triple H, and Rey Mysterio all helped build the company up.

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However, WWE is a constantly changing company, leading to releases taking place yearly. Talent being let go is nothing new, and it happened during this time as well. Some used it as fuel to go away and come back again as an improved talent, whereas others never returned, either because they found success elsewhere or simply failed to get back to that level.

10 Came Back Better: John Morrison

John Morrison made his name in the Ruthless Aggression Era and proved to be an entertaining talent. However, when he returned, Morrison was able to step up everything about himself.

He was in physically better shape, he improved in the ring, and his promo work was far better than it ever was, making him a much more confident and exciting talent to watch the second time around.

9 Never Returned: Maven

Maven was one of the breakout stars from the Ruthless Aggression Era. Coming in from Tough Enough and making a name for himself by eliminating The Undertaker from the Royal Rumble, he is someone that fans still speak about to this day.

However, he's never been brought back to the company. It's actually quite surprising he's yet to have made an appearance, even in a comedic cameo or in a Rumble, as it would likely have gained a big reaction from the fans, who still remember him well.

8 Came Back Better: Bobby Lashley

Fans were surprised when Bobby Lashley was first let go by WWE, mainly because he had been pushed as a top star during his time with the company. However, he was cut in 2008, and he went away and continued to dominate in wrestling with TNA as well as starting in MMA.

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He finally made it back to WWE and has never been better. Lashley is in unbelievable physical condition, but he has also gone on to achieve the goal he didn't get the first time around, which was to be WWE Champion.

7 Never Returned: Nathan Jones

Nathan Jones was given a big push early on in his WWE career, mainly due to his size and physical look, which was still crucial at the time in WWE. However, his in-ring ability never quite reached the necessary level, and he did actually end up requesting his release.

WWE happily granted it, and he's someone who was never seen again in the company. However, Jones has found plenty of success away from the ring and has since become a movie star.

6 Came Back Better: Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin is one of the most memorable wrestlers from the Ruthless Aggression Era, but he was also cut from the company during his initial run. However, when he returned, Benjamin was in impressive shape and was out to make a name for himself.

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He has put together some fantastic matches, and when teaming with Cedric Alexander, Shelton was able to be part of wrestling history within The Hurt Business.

5 Never Returned: Orlando Jordan

Orlando Jordan was always a solid hand in the ring for WWE, and during JBL's top run as a dominant heel, he played a big part in the character. However, he was let go in 2006, and he never made it back to the company.

While he was never a main event star, Orlando Jordan still offered something to the product. He went on to work for TNA instead, continuing to perform within the wrestling industry.

4 Came Back Better: The Brian Kendrick

The Brian Kendrick was always a talented wrestler, but things didn't work out the first time around for him. However, when he returned to be part of the Cruiserweight Classic tournament, Kendrick was able to showcase exactly what WWE had been missing.

His work in that tournament and as part of 205 Live was fantastic, bringing a level of experience and star power to the roster, which helped to make it feel important.

3 Never Returned: Heidenreich

Heidenreich had the look to be a major name within WWE, and his eerie gimmick was one that has no doubt stuck in the minds of fans who watched it at the time. But despite an early push, he never did quite catch on.

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He was eventually released in 2006, but he never returned to the company. No matter how hard he worked outside of WWE, he hasn't been seen since, and he will end up simply being known for his segment with Michael Cole.

2 Came Back Better: MVP

It took MVP a long time to get back to WWE, but eventually, it happened and it proved to be an excellent decision. While he's not as sharp in the ring, it is what MVP has offered to the product that has been invaluable.

As the mouthpiece for Bobby Lashley, he has helped finally take him to the main event scene, with The Hurt Business being a brilliant faction. MVP has proven his ability to entertain, and no doubt returned better than ever.

1 Never Returned: Mr. Kennedy

Mr. Kennedy was someone who seemed to be destined for big things in WWE. He had the look, the talent, and all the charisma needed to be a star, but things didn't work out for him and he was let go.

However, Kennedy was always someone fans thought could have returned, simply because he was always booked well. However, that never happened, and he ended up spending the rest of his career with TNA or working on the indies.

NEXT: 10 Ruthless Aggression Era Heels Who Would Not Work Today