Former WWE Star Shares Honest Thoughts On Departure: ‘It’s All Subjective’

Published: 57 minutes ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 3 seconds ago by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

WWE

A former WWE star has shared their honest thoughts on his departure and the circumstances around that business decision.

Having parted ways with WWE after his contract expired in June 2024, Dijak would share insight into his departure, noting the conversations he wanted “were less about negotiating money and more about my worth as a talent”.

That is a point that still very much stands for the star, as he discussed his mindset following his departure during a recent appearance on Not Just A Hat Rack, saying:

“I try not to look at anything as like a mistake, or you did wrong because, again, it’s all subjective, right? There is no right and wrong.

“WWE is a company is doing an extraordinary job of making money. Like, that’s their job. They’re a publicly traded company, and TKO has done a fantastic job of monetizing everything that they possibly can. So, they’re making money hand over fist.

“I can’t sit back and criticize them and say, ‘Why, they should have kept me!”

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Confidence is a key factor in Dijak’s mindset when it comes to demonstrating his value to any company, with the star’s independent wrestling journey having seen him as a prominent part of MLW, going on to state:

“Yeah, at the end of the day, I’m very confident in myself. I’m very confident that they decided to look at me and strap the rocket to me and make me the face of the company that I would exceed at that.

“But, you know, that it’s pro-wrestling. Lots of guys are doing a great job in those positions.”

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With the host saying that “when the time comes, it happens”, Dijak would reflect on such conversations, saying:

“I wanted it to, and I asked for it many, many times, but yeah, it’s something that I stay very prepared for. I train constantly.

“I have a vision for myself, and I have an expectation for myself and, quite frankly, it makes me happy. I like to challenge myself.”

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With his MLW tag team partner now having returned to WWE, Dijak would also comment on potentially following in Baron Corbin’s footsteps.

Know Your Worth

There’s a fine line between recognizing your worth and any company, be it WWE or your own employer, seeing the value in what you have to offer.

It can seem, at times, that the contributions that some individuals make are undervalued, yet recognizing where you fit within any particular structure can help crystalize where worth can better be realized.

For independent wrestling stars, a future in WWE often seemed like the dream, with AEW now being a desirable destination for many. For former WWE stars, heading to that same independent wrestling scene and the uncertainty of finding bookings of their own must seen like a culture shock, particularly for stars who had no history on that very scene.

Over the years, fans have seen former WWE stars reborn on the independent wrestling scene, arguably going on to be just as recognizable for their work. Cody Rhodes and Matt Cardona are just two examples of former WWE stars who flourished having left the company, demonstrating their worth to fans on an international scale, returning to the WWE when the opportunity arose and seemingly on their own terms.

Worth changes over time as the market shifts to accommodate new sensibilities. What WWE may have dismissed in the past can become desirable years later. History has former stars who buried WWE after an exit, only to find a way back into the company years later. Stars who no longer fit whatever mould existed find that they are once again what is being sought. A career can be reborn in AEW, in another televised company, or on the independent scene, with WWE no doubt keeping an eye on who is doing what, particularly when they’re making waves of their own.

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