Top Five Returns in Wrestling History

In the game of professional wrestling, returns and disappearances are as common as apple trees in an apple orchard, dear readers. Join us as we take a look at the top five returns in professional wrestling history.

Wrestler’s careers aren’t all that long. In the G.O.A.T., Stone Cold Steve Austin’s case, his career lasted only about 15 years, as far as in-ring action is concerned, but what an incredible 15 years they were.

Very often in professional wrestling, wrestlers get hurt and need to spend some time away, mending their injuries and healing up the many wounds they suffer in the squared circle. Sometimes, of course, they stay away for other reasons: dismissal from the company, a retirement, a brief stint in Hollywood, or what have you.

So when they return, that definitely makes for “must-see TV,” as they say. So yeah, as I previously stated in the lead to this article, we’ll be taking a look at 5 epic returns from the years gone by here today. So join us as we take a look at them, and even dissect them a bit.

5. Brock Lesnar after WrestleMania April 2, 2012, on Raw (Confronting Cena)

After dominating in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, Brock made his triumphant return to the world of sports entertainment, and what a return it would undoubtedly be.

The run that he would subsequently have in WWE would turn out to be his best, but this night was special, as he hadn’t been seen since his match against Goldberg at WrestleMania 20—an infamous match that did nothing special for either of their legacies.

Brock’s presence, as always is something to be noted: one of a man that takes no prisoners. Whatever legacy he left behind in 2004 was forgotten as he made his return all those years later.

Priceless moment: When Cena looks back behind him and to the ring announcer, almost as if he thinks it’s a mistake that they’re playing Brock’s entrance music.

4. Bill Goldberg on Raw on March 31, 2003 (Confronting The Rock)

Two years or so after WWE acquired WCW, Bill Goldberg made his debut on WWE TV for the first time in his already impressive career.

Interrupting The Rock of all people, made a statement all its own.

The night before, The Rock defeated—finally defeated—Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 19 (a match that would mark the end of Steve Austin’s in-ring wrestling career).

So no, we’d never see Goldberg vs. Stone Cold, which is what everyone wanted to see during the Attitude Era, but we got the next best thing.

3. Triple H returns on Raw on Raw, Jan. 7, 2002

Triple H suffered a quadriceps tear in a match in which he was tagging with Steve Austin (they were known as the Two Man Power Trip in those days). It happened in a match in which Steve and Triple H were facing Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit on an episode of Raw on the 21st of May, back in 2001.

The news of the injury made headlines; specifically, because Triple H finished the match even though his quad muscle had completely been ripped off of the bone!

Well, his return to the ring was long in coming. Many months of training and dedication led to his ultimate return, and what an ovation he was met with on Raw.

It was pretty amazing for a man who was mostly known as a heel, especially on his way out at the time his injury occurred.

2. Bret Hart on Monday Night Raw on Raw, Jan. 4, 2010

The Montréal Screw Job is perhaps one of the most infamous things to have ever happened in WWE; the death of Owen Hart these and other darker moments in wrestling that perhaps many don’t like to think about.

But sadly they did occur and after leaving WWE, Bret Hart vowed he would never return. As he states in his promo when he did return after all those years: “…I guess hell froze over…”

This return was long-awaited and for very good reason. For years, Hart didn’t get the respect he deserved for all he had done in the industry and this was the perfect bookend to an incredible although controversial career.

1. CM Punk on AEW Rampage

And seeing CM Punk’s triumphant return to AEW Rampage just this past Friday, how could I have left it off the list.

CM Punk also had been a disgruntled employee of WWE and he made his triumphant return alright, only not to WWE. He joined forces with WWE’s competition, and if you ask me, the odds have suddenly shifted in Tony Khan’s favor for sure.

The addition of Punk on AEW programming has changed the game for the better, and overall.

I was speechless as I watched his promo. Everything was right in the world again, as CM Punk (Phil Brooks) was back where he belonged: in the ring and preaching his word to us, his legions of adoring and respectful fans.

"Look in my eyes, what do you see?The cult of personalityI know your anger, I know your dreamsI’ve been everything you want to beI’m the cult of personality"

– “Cult of Personality” (William Calhoun / Corey Glover / Vernon Alphonsus Reid / Muzz Skillings)

Welcome back CM Punk.