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WWE: From CM Punk to The Rock – 12 biggest returns in WWE history

By Tom Colohue

Shawn Michaels (R) and Triple H, of D-Generation X, celebrate their win during a tag team match as part of as part of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Crown Jewel pay-per-view at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on November 2, 2018. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Shawn Michaels (R) and Triple H, of D-Generation X, celebrate their win during a tag team match as part of as part of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Crown Jewel pay-per-view at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on November 2, 2018. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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3. CM Punk

There are very few people in the world who leave a company in such a negative, destructive manner and yet somehow still find themselves returning. CM Punk would return to WWE this week via the back door, through a Fox contract with WWE Backstage.

It’s hard to overstate what this means. Punk was easily the biggest name free agent in wrestling. Easily the biggest name free agent in mixed martial arts. Easily one of the biggest names in sport. Now, with his return to WWE, it looks suspiciously like an enormous. Like an acceptance of guilt. Like he’s suggesting to the world and to wrestling across it that WWE really aren’t as bad as they have been portrayed. As bad as they have even been portrayed by CM Punk himself.

Fans will be clamoring for his in ring return for certain now. That’s no longer an impossibility. Punk has repeatedly stated that he has no love for wrestling and no desire to return but for the longest time he said the same about the WWE in general.

It’s quite the turn, quite the climb down. An incredible shock to the system. What next for CM Punk?

2. Daniel Bryan

WWE’s social media may have spoiled the surprise on this one, but was there anything any more satisfying than this particular return? After being part of the company for so long and not being cleared to wrestle, after making it clear than he was running down his contract as SmackDown Live’s General Manager before going back to wrestling elsewhere, Daniel Bryan was cleared to wrestle.

It screwed up the storyline they were building with Shane McMahon against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. It didn’t matter. The return match was completely overshadowed by the end of Asuka’s streak, the debut of Ronda Rousey and the beginning of a monster push for 10 year old Nicholas. Nobody cared. Daniel Bryan was wrestling again and, oh boy, has he done great things with the opportunity.

While the Big Cass and The Miz feuds were lukewarm at best, once AJ Styles was added to the mix, the whole thing got a lot more interesting and we had probably the most entertaining Daniel Bryan run of all time. Eco-warrior, planet saving Daniel Bryan is still for me the ultimate in Daniel Bryan.

The man got his career back and will unquestionably go on to bigger and better things despite having tremendous success already. The man that launched Kofi Kingston into the stratosphere. The man who carried Erick Rowan straight to the top. The man’s now lining up to give the rub to The Fiend Bray Wyatt. What a story.

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