The motto of “betting on yourself” has become increasingly relevant to the world of professional wrestling, especially when geared toward departures stemming from the industry’s biggest company – WWE. While WWE may have long been considered the ideal place to help boost one’s career, growth isn’t always guaranteed. As a result, some performers have opted to explore alternative routes in an effort to rebuild their careers and reinvent themselves.

According to WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, Drew McIntyre stands as the prime blueprint for that course. “I really admire the people in the business today who are willing to take that chance [of betting on themselves]. So, Drew McIntyre is, to me, the best example of somebody who reinvented himself,” Foley said during a recent episode of “Foley is Pod.”

Upon his resurgence to “SmackDown” in 2009, McIntyre seemed poised to be one of the company’s top stars, but unfortunately, WWE reshuffled his booking to place him in a lower-tier stable known as the Three Man Band (3MB). Eventually, McIntyre was released from his contract in 2014. Upon his WWE exit, McIntyre dipped his toes into the independent circuit and later signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where finally clutched his first major singles title, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. After two years in TNA, McIntyre returned to WWE in 2017, soaring through “NXT” and then up to the main roster, where he became a two-time WWE Champion.

Foley added that Cody Rhodes is right up there with McIntyre in the conversation for the most successful reinventions. After leaving the Stardust character behind, Rhodes blossomed into “The American Nightmare,” and eventually, made his way back to WWE as well.