|BY WILL GLASBAND
Things come and go in life, and this is even evident in the world of professional wrestling. Whether due to injuries, pursuing outside interests, or simply taking time away from wrestling, many wrestlers throughout the years have left and returned to WWE. Some of these
returns have been merely a footnote, such as Kevin Nash in 2011, and others instantly changed the landscape of WWE. Here’s some of the best unexpected returns that we’ve seen in WWE, based on time spent away and the overall impact and longevity of the return. For more WWE discussion and pro wrestling news, tune into “Will Power Radio,” on KKSM AM 1320 every Monday at 3:05 P.M.
5. Daniel Bryan (2018)
While Daniel Bryan’s hasn’t had another match just yet, he makes this list for two reasons: the shock factor of being cleared by WWE doctors and the imminent impact he will have once he does indeed return to the ring. After suffering several injuries in 2014 and concussion issues in
2015, Daniel Bryan had to officially retire from in-ring competition in 2016. Now that he is shockingly cleared to wrestle, the entire landscape of WWE is forever altered: surely Daniel Bryan will be catapulted to the top of the card on either brand, giving the likes of AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins a run for their money.
4. Chris Jericho (2016)
By the time 2016 rolled around, fans had become accustomed to Chris Jericho routinely returning to WWE for a few short stints around summertime to WrestleMania season. What took many fans by surprise, however, was the way in which Jericho reinvented his entire persona. By creating “The List,” and calling his opponents “stupid idiots,” Jericho caught on fire and arguably had one of the best runs in his entire career. Moreover, his alliance and subsequent feud with Kevin Owens quickly became one of the most entertaining parts of WWE programming every week on Raw.
3. The Rock (2011)
After leaving the WWE for a fruitful career in Hollywood in 2004, the possibility of The Great One making a return seemed slim at best. But after seven long years, fans from across the world were shocked and pleased to see The Rock return to WWE in 2011. Although his debut match didn’t occur until WrestleMania 28 in 2012 against John Cena, The Rock immediately injected star power and a sense of fun to WWE during the build to WrestleMania 27. Despite his run only consisting of a handful of matches, The Rock’s return definitely left an indelible mark and gave us fans some legendary moments.
2. Chris Jericho (2007)
As discussed earlier, Chris Jericho was no stranger to reinventing himself. From mid 2008 to 2010, Y2J traded in his Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla persona for three-piece suits and a cold, calculated attitude. Although some fans saw his return coming, Y2J arguably had the best run of his storied career during this period, igniting a blood feud with Shawn Michaels, winning multiple world titles, and truly becoming a despicable villain. Love him or hate him, Jericho’s impact here was undeniable.
1. Shawn Michaels (2002)
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After leaving in-ring competition as a result of a major back injury in early 1998, Shawn Michaels’ days inside the squared circle as a competitor seemed to be over. This is what madehis return back in 2002 so stunning as well as impactful. Once Shawn Michaels returned, he
immediately became a force to be reckoned with, winning the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series in 2002 and continuing to have quality matches that rivaled any of his work from his previous run. The Heartbreak Kid would surprisingly compete for eight more years, until the band tuned up their last rendition of Sweet Chin Music in 2010 following WrestleMania 26.
