10 WWE Superstars Who Walked Out in the Middle of Major Storylines
Brock Lesnar
10. Stone Cold Steve Austin
By 2002, Stone Cold Steve Austin was no longer comfortable with WWE’s creative direction for his character. Once the company’s biggest draw, Austin felt his role had stagnated and that his value was being diminished. The breaking point came when he was booked to lose a King of the Ring qualifying match to Brock Lesnar without any storyline buildup or long-term plan. Austin believed such a match deserved weeks of storytelling, not a sudden television loss. When his concerns were dismissed, he walked out. WWE publicly criticized his decision, which further damaged the relationship. However, time eventually healed those wounds, and Austin returned in 2003 to complete his career on better terms.
9. Brock Lesnar
After only two years on the main roster, Brock Lesnar had already reached the pinnacle of WWE success, holding multiple world championships. Despite this, the relentless travel schedule and physical toll left him burned out. In 2004, he made the shocking decision to walk away from a long-term, multi-million-dollar contract to pursue a career in the NFL. His exit triggered legal disputes when Lesnar later attempted to wrestle in Japan, which he ultimately won. Nearly two decades later, in 2022, Lesnar reportedly walked out again during a SmackDown taping following Vince McMahon’s sudden retirement, though he returned shortly thereafter.
8. Jerry “The King” Lawler
Jerry Lawler’s walkout in 2001 was driven not by creative issues but by loyalty. When WWE abruptly released his wife at the time, The Cat, citing backstage difficulties, Lawler quit in protest. At the time, he believed he was standing up for an unfairly treated partner. Months later, Lawler discovered his wife had been unfaithful, leading to the end of their relationship. With the personal situation resolved, Lawler returned to WWE before the end of the year and resumed his long-running commentary role.
7. Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy’s departure in 2021 remains one of the most controversial exits in modern WWE history. During a live house show, Hardy tagged out of a match and left through the crowd, immediately raising concerns about his well-documented past struggles with addiction. Hardy denied any relapse and claimed his actions were a deliberate attempt to exit the company. WWE requested that he enter rehab, which Hardy refused, leading to his release. Despite reportedly passing a drug test and being offered a chance to return, Hardy declined and soon signed with AEW. Many fans believe the walkout was intentionally staged to force WWE’s hand.
6. The Radicalz
Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn, collectively known as The Radicalz, left WCW in 2000 due to deep dissatisfaction with their booking and treatment. Despite their talent, they felt overlooked in favor of established stars. The final catalyst came after an incident in which Chris Benoit felt physically threatened by WCW agent Mike Graham. The group reported the situation as unsafe, which allowed them to legally secure their releases. Their immediate jump to WWE reshaped the company’s mid-card and elevated in-ring quality during the early 2000s.
5. Ryback
Ryback’s WWE tenure ended quietly but contentiously. Frequent injuries, creative frustrations, and dissatisfaction with WWE’s pay structure led him to grow increasingly vocal. He clashed with management over merchandise revenue, social media restrictions, and his overall position in the company. Matters escalated to a direct confrontation with Vince McMahon. Rather than continue under conditions he felt were unfair, Ryback chose not to re-sign his contract in 2016, effectively walking away from WWE while still an active performer.
4. Neville
Neville’s frustration peaked in 2017 when he felt his momentum had stalled completely. Despite strong performances and a standout run in the cruiserweight division, he believed WWE had no long-term plans for him, especially after being asked to lose multiple times to Enzo Amore without a meaningful follow-up. Feeling creatively boxed in, Neville walked out. Unlike others, he was not immediately released and remained under contract for nearly ten months before finally leaving WWE in 2018.
3. CM Punk
CM Punk’s 2014 departure exposed some of WWE’s most criticized backstage practices. By his own account, Punk was physically broken, mentally exhausted, and creatively stifled. He was repeatedly denied WrestleMania main events, blocked from outside opportunities, and expected to perform while injured or severely ill. Punk left the company citing serious health concerns. His termination papers famously arrived on his wedding day. The fallout included lawsuits, public interviews, and eventually significant changes within WWE regarding talent schedules, medical oversight, and time off.
2. Jeff Jarrett
In 1995, Jeff Jarrett abruptly quit WWF following a loss to Shawn Michaels. The match was intended to lead into a storyline breakup with his partner, The Roadie, but Jarrett felt the angle came too early and would permanently damage his career momentum. Brian James (The Roadie) left in solidarity. Although Jarrett briefly returned later that year, the relationship with WWF never stabilized, and he ultimately signed with WCW in 1996.
1. Sasha Banks and Naomi
In 2022, Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of Monday Night Raw during a live broadcast. Both performers reportedly objected to creative plans that would split them up and undermine the tag team division. WWE responded with a rare public statement, stripping them of their championships and suspending them indefinitely. Rather than returning, both women eventually allowed their contracts to expire. Naomi later returned to WWE in 2024, while Sasha Banks went on to reinvent herself internationally before signing with AEW.
