WrestleMania-weekend is in full swing. It is the biggest weekend in the professional wrestling business. While the focus is on the two-night PLE, the action doesn’t end on Sunday. The Monday Night Raw and SmackDown after WrestleMania are big showcases in their own right and rumors are both will be packed with several big returns and debuts.
Fightful Select reported on Saturday that “there are a number of returns and debuts planned for next week.” Fans were already expecting some returns, but this pushes that speculation to a new level.
At the top of the list, there are individuals like Rusev and Aleister Black. Both were once a part of WWE before making the jump to All Elite Wrestling. Rusev has already re-signed with WWE. He is a heavy favorite among fans to be the one who answers Randy Orton’s open challenge on Night Two of WrestleMania 41.
Aleister Black is the favorite for a return to SmackDown. The video that aired on April 18 pointed to someone coming on April 25, continuing rumors of his return even though there haven’t been any reports that he’s re-signed with the company.
WWE wrote Bayley off of WrestleMania 41, leaving Lyra Valkyria to need a new partner before her match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on Night Two. Becky Lynch is int town and expectations are for her to take that spot, building to a potential feud between the two.
Who else could return and debut in the next week?
Here’s where things get interesting. Those three names were easy guesses, but if more people are set to return, who does that include? There are several possibilities that would inject even more excitement into the roster during one of the biggest times of the year.
Ilja Dragunov has been out of action since September 2024 when he torn in ACL. The initial timeframe for his return was six to nine months. Reports have come out that he’s returned to training, with September reported as the target time for his return. However, if he is ahead of schedule, could he be one of the performers to return during this upcoming week?
Another individual who suffered a drastic injury is Bronson Reed. Reports were that his expected timeline for return is May or June this year. If he’s cleared, he’d be another huge addition to the roster. A returning Reed would fit in perfectly as a threat to the new WWE World Champion, Jey Uso.
The women’s division could also see two big returns as well. Asuka and Kairi Sane have been out of action for quite some time. Asuka suffered a knee injury and Sane injured her hand. Several reports have popped up about their status, causing speculation that they could be on their way back to action as well.
Monday Night Raw and WWE SmackDown are two big shows to watch after WrestleMania. Reports are that fans will get several returns and debuts this week, further packing both shows with some of the best talent in the world.