10 WWE Returns That Were Genuine Surprises 

I was at WrestleMania when the Hardy Boys returned. Being at Mania is Crazy Awesome. But being at Mania while someone is returning is another level of Crazy

The only returned that took me by surprise was Shane McMahon's. Basically because he really distanced himself from the wrestling business, especially given how his family owned WWE. He wasn't just a wrestler who was out from injury or had retired or been released. That's why his return was the best off this list for me.

Edge's return to Royal Rumble 2020 is still unpredictable & surprise return by far . Same with CM Punk on both his AEW debut in 2021 & returned to WWE in Survivor Series WarGames match 2023

Shane came back during a rough time in WWE. He was completely unexpected and was a nice glimmer of hope for the company at the time alongside having AJ Styles as a new guy.

For me, Carlito’s return at Backlash, in his home country, has to be the best return this year. I’m glad that he’s getting his 2nd run in WWE now. I hope he gets to be WWE champion before he retires.

Edges' return will always be my number, one best return ever. The fact that i was there live when he retun was the cherry on top.

Seeing Edge return at the 2020 Royal Rumble and The Hardys at WrestleMania 33 will always be some of the best WWE moments I have seen live!

I was at Raw when Nia Jax returned, and the crowd really did not care for the most part

New Day deserve credit for perfectly setting up the Hardy’s return at WM33. I was there and never heard a pop like that.

Edge returning to the royal rumble still give chills 🔥🔥🔥🔥

The Dudleyz should be here for their 2015 return, unless it was a known thing. I sure as hell had no idea that it would happen

Edge's return at the royal rumble was an awesome moment one of the greatest returns

Edge is one of my all time favorites and one guy who I genuinely felt would never wrestle again, so his music hitting during the 2020 Rumble blew my mind. It's so rare that wrestling provides any genuine shockers anymore, and I'm glad to have felt that one and to see Edge on what I felt was a damn good late run.

That's what makes moments in wrestling awesome : surprises and not predictability

Shane’s 2016 return is the most unexpected in my opinion. There were no rumors or online discussion about him returning. There were rumors of the Hardys and Edge coming back before they actually did.

I would say that the CM Punk and Edge returns are very closely tied as my fav. Punk because it was nice how Trips reused the trick he use to use in NXT with the little logo popping up on the bottom of the screen, making people think the show is over, then boom, it hits. And Edge, because it was like a feel good moment, a guy who seemed his in ring career was done, but still made a return.

I was at the Anaheim show when The Rock was announced as the host of a Mania. I will never forget that night. sitting by the time keeper right on the barricade and feeling that energy. And I will give WWE credit where it's due. The main event ended and on the tron it showed the Limo pull up and everyone was chanting "Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!" But those bastards came prepared. Limo door opens and a pair of high heels comes out and mid chant everyone in that arena goes "Huh?!?!??!" They stopped that arena in its tracks. Of course the build up and effect slowly gave it away but ya never know til the music hits. When it did... when those iconic words blasted.... man. You have to understand. Honda Center in Anaheim, CA is a small arena in comparison to many of the arenas in this country. I think for a WWE event, its about 18k attendance IF it was sold out... When that music hit, that roof was gone. It's a pop I will never ever forget and rewatching the clip of it does not do it any justice. And the Rock has been around the world hearing the screams of fans. To know I was there and he considers that the best one. Thats pretty cool. It was a special night for sure!

Rock's return in 2011 was great prime days for Rock himself

I'd tend to agree with all of these except Edge - there were extensive news and updates about Edge returning prior to the Royal Rumble and while it was great to see him show up and return, I think it was pretty much expected. The Hardy Boys were almost in the same situation: there were extensive reports and rumours that they were going to return to WWE, but then the fact that they had the match the night before pretty much quelled those for their appearance at WrestleMania - so a surprise, but maybe just a semi-surprise.

My favorite return was the Hardy Boys at WrestleMania. Because the last time I had seen either of them. They were the TNA tag team champions and they were going around trying to become the cosmic tag team champions. By winning the tag team titles off of teams from different promotions. All while still holding the TNA tag belts.

John Cena's return on both MITB 2021 & 2023 were memorable

The Rock on Smackdown a few months ago was a genuine surprise too

Edge blew hearts and minds with that return.

Randy Orton's and cm punk's return made my Wwe experience this year really amazing ❤

Edge’s 2020 return honestly wasn’t a surprise because he speared Elias a few months prior basically confirming he was medically cleared

Nia Jax's return ITSELF may of been nice to not of been leaked. But her ACTUALLY returning wasn't quite as appreciated.

Hardy Boyz got mega pop with their surprise return to WM 33

Without the royal Rumble return aew fans wouldn't have gotten Christian

I attended MITB 23 with my brother and remember the eruption from the crowd during Cena's surprise appearance. Unfortunately, my brother left his seat to buy me and himself some drinks during The Champ's entrance.

I remember watching the Hardyz live and if that place would’ve had a roof, it would’ve been blown off.

Oh the things I'd do just to watch Edge's return for the first time again...

Undertaker's return at mania 40 was unexpected af. Everyone thought stone cold was coming out to help cody but when the gong hits, everyone lost their mind

Being at the 2020 Royal Rumble for Edge's return was insane. One of the loudest pops of crowd I've ever been a part of. The roof could've literally blown off and I wouldn't have been surprised.

The rock on smackdown was the best!! Totally unexpected and nearly cried

The Rock's return from this year (2023) was a genuine surprise.

The fact that CM punk wasn’t number one is crazy

Punks return to announcing for wwe (on fox) was a complete surprise

I would add Johnny Gargano in 2022 as an honorable mention. Ten months before, his WWE contract expired after he made his initial last appearance on NXT following 2021’s WarGames. There were no rumors or reports of Gargano ever returning to WWE, but it had to be a complete kept secret. On the 8/22/2022 edition of Raw, it was at one point that Gargano’s iconic theme song started playing to a big ovation from the crowd in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; the exact same city where he and Tommaso Ciampa won their first NXT Tag Team Championship.

Shane McManhon in 2016, Hardy Boyz in 2017, Edge returning in 2020, Brock Lesnar returning in 2021, Cody Rhodes returning in 2022, Randy Orton & CM Punk in 2023 will go down as the most shocking returns of all time. Hopefully Sasha Banks & Aj Lee return next year in 2024!!!

Edge's return in 2020 Rumble is the best

Shane O Macs return was absolutely brilliant

Edge was return was my favorite I never thought he would wrestle again.

Am I the only one who remembers that just a week or so before RR2020, Edge tweeted a pic of his ring gear in a luggage bag? That was the tip-off that he might've been returning, and I personally hate that he did that. Yeah, it was still a major pop when his music hit, but it wasn't quite the shock it could've been if he had not made that tweet.

We need more events in Puerto Rico that crowd was WILD and absolutely had me excited for everything,

I think CM Punk is the best, although it was rumored, it was never outright confirmed. We all thought we were just getting too ahead of ourselves and we knew he wouldn’t return to WWE… lol

Love seeing Christian’s run in AEW. Would love to see him get one last world title run. So underrated

Everybody That returned to WWE over the years were pretty good but it's the return of Edge in 2020 for me

Keeping Nia Jax return secret wouldn't be a hard feat, as no one was clamoring for it to begin with. That said, I've been pleasantly surprised that her last few matches with Rhea, Liv, and Becky have not been terrible.

Edge’s 2020 Royal Rumble return was the greatest return of all time and the timing was perfect because the world was coming off the sadness of losing Kobe earlier in the day. I remember having goosebumps and crying tears of joy when Edge came back. It was the most surprising return ever and the 2020 Royal Rumble as a whole had some great matches so Edge’s return made it the greatest Royal Rumble ever!

The edge return was leaked, I saw it but didn’t believe it. I was so shocked when it happened.

Shane Mcmahon return in 2016 was priceless

I think people already knew that Carlito was gonna be at Backlash, because it wouldn't be Puerto Rico without him coming out.

Social media really had ruined that wow factor of someone returning from injury or jumping from a different promotion.

Brock Lesnar return to Summerlam 2021 made Michael Cole speechless

Brock's return at Summerslam 2021 didn't shock me much because surprisingly enough i predicted he would return at the event and i was correct

Cant ever forget the look on Edge's face when he returned. Just geniune happiness and gratefulness in his eyes and face. That was one of the best

Actually once Edge revealed when he wasn't coming back, I knew he was returning at the Rumble in 2020.

The funny thing about Shane's return is, I was watching that particular Raw and segment live with my oldest brother. I remember joking "Lol wouldn't it be crazy if Shane showed up" because you know it seemed ridiculous and like it wouldn't happen and at the time I for some reason was a big fan of Shane. So when it happened it blew our minds and we even called our Dad into the room and we all watched with amazement. Great moment, sucks that I felt Shane's return wore off it's welcome after the AJ Styles match at Mania 33. Great match but after it is when Shane was overexposed.

Christian had that whole year on notice, WWE,TNA,AEW

How Punks 2023 wwe return isn't on here is criminal

2008 Royal Rumble was still my biggest wtf when John Cena returned. Good old days before social media...

I can't choose between Edge and Punk's Returns. Definitely 1 and 2. 3rd is Hardyz Return for sure !

CM Punk to AEW,John Cena coming back to Royal Rumble 2008 and Edge coming back to Royal Rumble 2020

The Rock, Smackdown in September 2023. Pat McAfee hooked that up at the last minute according to my brother. Very few people even in the back knew IF YA SMELL what I'm cooking.

The Rocks one off return on that one smackdown this year was th most surprising

I remembered what the narrator said about edge's return in a past video it was "a surprise fans knew was coming but still jumped out of their seats when they saw him".

Edge’s documentary on Peacock is amazing, as they shifted the focus halfway through from his retirement to his return.

I don't mind wrestling journalists/marks. What I hate is when they go out of their way to spoil something and then blame the companies for that thing, not having the reaction it would've had had they kept their damn mouth shut.

I about almost cried when I saw Edge come out in the Rumble. His face said it all. He missed it alot.

The Hardy Boyz returning was Amazing!!!! I almost knocked over my TV from jumping around so much!!!! 😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤

Nia jax's top secret return was so well kept, because frankly no one cared enough to ask and pry

Bro i knew about the hardy boys as soon as they left TNA i knew

I think brock lesnar coming back ss 2021 was a last minute decision because of cm punk debuting in aew

Another big one was the Rock return to Smackdown 2023 during the screen writers strike

Edge’s return at Royal Rumble 2020 was quite the shocker for me, even the most recent one being CM Punk’s return to WWE via in Survivor Series War Games 2023, they give me goosebumps 😁😁

Fact : The rock return 2004 to save mick foley from La Resistance is one of the greatest returns I have ever watched. It was the most surprising one and even Mick Foley and JR reactions were utterly amazed

True story. Right before Shane returned I turned to my son and said "Shane is coming out." Within 10 seconds his music hit and my son said to me "How did you do that?!" I told him that I've been watching wrestling since I was 6 (with a break in the early 90's and again in the mid 2000's...I'm 48 now) so I understand booking. He was *blown away*....and truthfully, so was I! 🤣

There were so many surprise returns bro has left out in his video, there were Melina,Victoria, Jillian Hall returned at the Royal Rumble which nobody saw coming

I cried when edge returned, and when Christian returned. I freak out everytime Cena returns. A lot of great names in wrestling

Honorable mentions Cody Rhodes returns at Wrestlemania 38 as surprise opponent for Seth Rollins.

that day was a rollercoaster of emotions. lost Kobe Bryant that morning, then Edge returned. same day

Social media ruins the surprises all the time, it's inevitable, no matter what, they will always do this

i was so glad to see brock lesnar return

Shane McMahons return in Detroit was my first ever wwe television event I attended in person. Amazing treat forsure to have been there.

Edge was only a surprise if you weren't following him on Instagram.

My favorite of all is still Edge. That was my childhood so seeing him return felt really special.

Cm Punk's aew and wwe return surprised me but his wwe return made my jaw dropped

When it's often predicted that a wrestler is returning and then they return. It's not a surprise. It was like when Cody left AEW and returned back to WWE. Like, after he left AEW, where was Cody going to go?

For me, The Rock on smackdown this year is the greatest surprise.

How does it feel knowing that you're one of the biggest reasons behind ruining fan's suprises ???

This is why i avoid the vast majority off wwe "news" stuff, i don't get why people want to spoil upcoming storylines isn't that like half the point of watching wrestling in the first place?

Clearly you've only been watching since 2011. Eric Bischoff's arrival in 2003 (or 2002 cannot remember) was CLEARLY the biggest surprise. So much so that the crowd was completely gobsmacked for the whole promo.

Johnny Gargano's August 2022 Raw return was also a genuine surprise for the crowd.

HBKs 2002 return was the biggest surprise ever

I was at the 2020 Royal Rumble. It was amazing. I still get chills

My favorite was the disembodied voice for #7.

Great, now i gotta go search Shane's return to relive that moment haha. Which I'm sure will lead to more searches. Thanks for making me start going down a rabbit hole.

CM Punk in 2023 is number 1 for so many reasons. It’s so hard these days to keep returns from being leaked. Many fans knew that Punk was available, but no one was 100% certain his return to WWE was going to happen. So many wrestling bloggers speculated that he would return, but yet everyone was still shocked and surprised when it actually happened. That’s because CM punk was the person,, if anyone had ever thought, that would never step foot in WWE ever again due to so much bad blood.

Ever get the feeling that TKO brought back CM Punk and not WWE, as it was best for business

When I was there at Royal Rumble 2020, I went into the event with two things in the back of my mind, Roman Reigns was gonna be pushed further for the upteenth time and win the Royal Rumble, and I was gonna see the Fiend in action on the card. As I was watching the Royal Rumble match go down, Brock was there just eliminating everyone in sight, and then Keith Lee began to last a lot longer, allowing more Superstars to come to the ring, then Roman Reigns and Drew came out, and looked like it could've been anyone's match (and Drew was the lowest in my expectations of winning the Rumble), the countdown starts again, whos gonna come out, and then the words hit "You think you know me?". I was absolutely shocke, Edge had returned since his retirement so long ago, truly it was something I never expected to see happen, but it did. Its one of those cases of "You had to be there", and I'm glad I was there to witness his return