If a wrestling fan were only looking at the apex and end of a Hall of Fame wrestler’s career, they would only see the highlights and pinnacle of a great career. What would be missing are all of the stumbles, struggles and early attempts at gaining traction as a new wrestler on the circuit before reaching success. A new wrestling fan who only sees the success a wrestler achieves would struggle to believe that even the most successful wrestler has to start somewhere.

As Cena himself stated during his first heel promo in over twenty years, WWE fans were very quick to point out how much they did not like him when he first burst onto the WWE scene. Given how his career bloomed into one of the greatest that the wrestling world has ever seen, it would be difficult to think of a time when Cena was nothing but another muscle-bound rookie. Cena’s early years outside of WWE were in the California-based promotion Ultimate Pro Wrestling, which also featured the likes of Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe in the early 2000s. At the time, Cena was considered another bland, muscular wrestler who easily could have fallen between the cracks had it not been for the charisma hiding underneath. Cody Rhodes

The Rhodes family name carries a lot of weight in the wrestling world, but second-generation stars often resign to forge their own path by creating a name for themselves. While Cody Rhodes starting out his wrestling career under his family’s legitimate last name Runnels is not the biggest departure, it did start him off without the weight of his family on his shoulders.

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WWE’s former long-time developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling helped train some of WWE’s biggest and brightest stars over the years. Like many before him, Cody spent a year in the developmental system honing his skills before stepping onto the big stage under the Rhodes name. Cody will be the first to admit that he had plenty to work on during his early years but has finally reached his true potential.

Roman Reigns

To say that Roman Reigns’ wrestling career has been a roller coaster would be an understatement. While wrestling fans today know him as the OTC, Reigns’ time in WWE has included fans both loving and loathing him at separate times for various reasons, but he has always had the attention of fans.

However, back when he was in the WWE’s previous developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Leakee, he was easily lost in the shuffle among many other wrestlers in the system. Without a distinct look or much charisma, Roman was just another wrestler on the roster before he was tapped to make his formal debut as a member of The Shield.

Rhea Ripley