10 Legends Who Need To Return To The WWE

HBKWrestlers in the WWE connect with the fans. The successful ones are intertwined with the WWE Universe for eternity. Take the late-Dusty Rhodes, Ultimate Warrior and Roddy Piper for example. All three are WWE legends and will never leave the Hall of Fame. On top of the WWE being so enigmatic, the wrestlers in the ring are there to entertain the masses.When it’s done right, pro wrestling is one of the greatest events on the planet. When those special set of WWE stars depart the company, it’s tough to imagine a company without them. Whether they depart for injury reasons, basic retirement or by simple frustration, they leave a mark that can’t be replicated. Edge is the perfect example of this phenomena. He’s one of the most decorated WWE stars in history.Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to injury-related reasons. Doctors said that if he hit another spear on an opponent, his life could’ve been spent in a wheelchair. WWE made the wise decision to force Edge into retirement, but his legacy won’t be forgotten. Those lucky enough to be able to return are greeted with an uproar of cheers from the fans. However, often times they don’t stay. Batista, Shawn Michaels, the Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Ric Flair make surprise returns and are there for a short period of time.Just recently, the Dudley Boyz returned to a starstruck-Brooklyn crowd. Now, they want to become 10-time WWE Tag-Team champions. This slideshow will take a look at the 10 WWE stars from the past that need to return.

#1 Rob Van Dam

Rob Van Dam has been plagued with injuries

Rob Van Dam returned to the WWE last year for another run with the company at Money in the Bank. He didn’t win a championship while on this run, but WWE fans from all around the world felt the nostalgia the moment his music hit.

Why should RVD return to the WWE? He’s a solid mid-card guy who can help stabalize any new WWE NXT star that jumps to the main roster. RVD isn’t even needed in the main event. When Sami Zayn and Hideo Itami get promoted, they’ll need a solid feud. Plus, a match pitting RVD against Neville is worthy of a co-main event role. Plus, it’d elevate all three men even higher on the main roster.

#2 AJ Lee

AJ Lee’s record is on the verge of being broken

AJ Lee is a future-WWE Hall of Famer. That’s not the issue here, but her absence from the WWE Divas Division is still missed. Each week on WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown, Nikki Bella is parading around with the Divas championship, to which the announcers are mentioning Lee’s name each week.

The Divas Revolution isn’t going according to plan, but it could all change this Monday night on WWE Raw. Charlotte is battling Bella for the Divas title; just one day before she breaks Lee’s record. Would it be fitting for Lee to return and cost Bella the strap? That’s not to insinuate that Lee will return full-time, but the matches she could have with Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Dana Brooke are endless.

#3 Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio has been teasing a return

When Rey Mysterio left the WWE, they immediately lost a fan-favorite. Even though the former-World Heavyweight champion didn’t do much in his last year with the company, he was still a presence to the fans. The WWE Universe is a huge part as to how the WWE can do what they do each week.

If nobody watches, there is no WWE. In an earlier report by the Inquisitr, Triple H and Vince McMahon are at odds about bringing Mysterio back to the WWE. He deserves one final run with the company and even a solid stretch as WWE champion. In 2011, he captures the prestigious belt but lost it the next week to John Cena. Rey Mysterio would add a lot to their broadcasts, but he’ll also help sell a lot more merchandise.

#4 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle’s future with TNA has been uncertain as of late

In the past week, Kurt Angle’s name has sparked controversy among the WWE Universe. He told Mark Madden of 105.9 the X he plans on staying away from wrestling for a year, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to come back to the WWE. “Angle said he will not re-sign with TNA when his contract is up this January.

He also noted that he will ‘NOT’ pursue a deal with WWE either; Angle did not say how long the sabbatical would last but did comment on his current TNA status.” WWE officials reportedly aren’t interested in bringing back Angle because of his health.

Whether that’s fact or fiction, Angle is a WWE legend who deserves a final run with the company. If they are anxious about his health, then working part-time has worked for the Undertaker, Sting and Triple H. If they can do it, so can Angle.

#5 Matt Hardy

Matt Hardy would get a huge pop

Last week on WWE Raw, Edge and Christian were in a backstage segment with Bubba Ray Dudley and Devon Dudley. While the New Day was the third tag-team backstage, WWE fans wished it were Matt and Jeff Hardy instead. That might become a reality soon, as the WWE may be interested in bringing back the Hardy Boyz.

There are two ways to logically summarize a return for Matt and Jeff. A rekindled-feud with the Dudley Boyz is highly-anticipated. Also, they could take time away from younger tag-teams. Either way, both legendary tag-teams would only help the younger guys in the back. Also, WWE fans need to see one more TLC match before it’s too late.

#6 Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels and Daniel Bryan feud would be epic

Shawn Michaels is considered one of the greatest sports entertainers in wrestling history. He poured his heart out into every match he had in the WWE, which translated to his overwhelming success. Aside from a few appearances each year, it doesn’t appear that he has any interest in wrestling in the future.

Stone Cold Steve Austin said the same thing, but he still entertained the idea of a comeback. Michaels’ opponent would have to be perfect, and so would the program itself. The only logical person to face Michaels is Daniel Bryan. If he can get healthy enough to return. HBK coming back could end up being a fantasy, but his health is top-notch and the WWE and he are on great terms.

Perhaps one day Mr. WrestleMania may make a comeback.

#7 Batista

Batista’s last WWE outing was disrespectful to his legacy

Batista’s WWE return in 2014 was shadowed with shame from the WWE Universe. Instead of a young gun winning the Royal Rumble, Batista did it in front of a rowdy-Pittsburgh crowd that evening in late-January. From then on, Batista headlined WrestleMania with Randy Orton.

Before Daniel Bryan got into the mix, that was the main event. Fortunately, Bryan made it interesting. Batista was in a bad situation from the start. WWE fans were geniunely excited for the former-WWE champion to come back. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. WWE fans wanted somebody new. Then again, Roman Reigns won in 2015 and was met with the same scrutiny.

After Batista is done making movies, the WWE would probably welcome him back with open arms. He’s an immediate main event star with newly-acquired Hollywood credibility. That has to aide the WWE.

#8 Goldberg

Goldberg is still in the shape of his life

This may be the only man to never return to the WWE. After his horrendous match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 20, he left the company with frustration and stoicism. Would WWE fans “mark” out if he returned? That’s a guarantee. During his special on the Monday Night Wars series, he mentioned multiple times that he was collecting a paycheck.

Not many people know if he truly enjoyed working in the wrestling industry. No matter the case, he became WCW’s hottest commodity and made a name for himself. This is the biggest stretch of legends in the industry but never say never.

#9 Jeff Hardy

The WWE is wary of Jeff’s drug dependencies

Like it was mentioned before, the Hardyz may return to the WWE in the next year. Matt and Jeff Hardy are WWE Hall of Fame entrants in the future, which is a good reason why they should be brought back. If it happened sooner, rather than later, the Dudleyz are back in the WWE as well.

Cue the nostalgia right away, because those two teams are legends and innovators of the industry. With TNA struggling to keep afloat, the WWE is a perfect place for Jeff Hardy to end his wrestling career. Despite undergoing the grueling bumps, he can still wrestle with the world’s best.

#10 CM Punk

CM Punk has joined the UFC, but you never know

CM Punk left the WWE in 2014. His name is still chanted throughout arenas across the world. It’s nowhere near is bad as it was post-departure, but Punk made a name for himself and cemented his legacy forever. Since Stone Cold Steve Austin’s emphatic moments in the Attitude Era, nobody has received the popularity and approval like CM Punk. Mick Foley went on Facebook to talk about why the women need their own version of the pipebomb.

“Quite simply, we need a women’s pipebomb. Stephanie may have kicked off the #DivaRevolution on WWE Raw – but we need a Diva/woman/female competitor to take that ball and run with it. We can’t just gradually be SHOWN the revolution. WE can’t have the revolution EXPLAINED to us. We need one of the participants to make us FEEL it. We NEED that promo that perfectly captures the time and place, the pride and passion of this revolution. We NEED a CM Punk pipe bomb.”

CM Punk’s still a fixture in WWE history. Will he ever return to the company? If the Ultimate Warrior and Bret Hart came back, then Punk can get over his feud with World Wrestling Entertainment. It may not happen for a number of years, but he’s going to be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame one day. He’ll have to come back for that.

If his UFC career does tank, a return to the WWE is the only way to stay afloat for Punk, that is if he makes peace with Vince and the WWE. But the day he returns, one thing is for sure, he would get a lot of fans back who stopped watching after Punk departed the squared circle for the Octagon.