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WWE and before it WWF has been witness to several shocking returns from it’s stars. Many a times the audience has been caught completely off guard, when major wrestlers decided to make their return to the ring. Here's a list of the 10 most shocking returns in WWE.
#10 Ultimate Warrior - WrestleMania VIII
In 1991, Ultimate Warrior was embroiled in a contract controversy with Vince McMahon. He wanted US $550,000 for performing at WrestleMania VII, a guaranteed number of working days, travel accommodations and a higher percentage of merchandise sales. After the talks didn't go out as planned, Warrior was suspended from WWF after SummerSlam. But in a shock move in WrestleMania VIII, Warrior returned to the ring to help Hulk Hogan. He saved the Hulkamania from Sid Justice and Papa Shango, and won him the match eventually.
#9 Hulk Hogan - WrestleMania 21
On April 2, 2005, Hulk Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Hollywood star and friend Sylvester Stallone was present to induct Hulk. The crowds kept on chanting 'One More Match', to which Hogan replied 'someday'. The very next day at WrestleMania 21, Hulkamania ran wild amongst the crowd, as Hogan returned to help Eugene in his match against Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari.
#8 Triple H - Raw, January 7, 2002
A serious quadriceps injury and surgery had kept Triple H out of the ring for over eight months. The Game made his return to cheers from the crowd at Madison Square Garden, at Raw's January 7, 2002 episode. He eventually went on to win the Royal Rumble and beat Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania X8.
#7 Ric Flair - Survivor Series, 2001
On the night of Survivor Series 2001, Vince McMahon was about to hand over the championship title to Kurt Angle. And then Ric Flair walked in to cheers from the crowd. The Nature Boy proclaimed that he was the co-owner of WWF, since Shane and Stephanie McMahon had sold their shares to a consortium. The news was met with rapturous cheers from Flair's home town Charlotte. Stone Cold then walked in to join hands with Flair and the duo attacked McMahon and Angle, forcing them to flee.
#6 Chris Jericho - Raw, November 19, 2007
Chris Jericho's return after a two-year long hiatus had the crowds on their feet. During September, WWE had started promoting the return of Jericho, with cryptic binary code-associated videos. On November 19 episode of Raw, Y2J came back to challenge Randy Orton. He said that WWE needs to be 'saved' from Orton, and he plans to do so by reclaiming the WWE Championship. At Armageddon, Jericho was pitted against Orton for the WWE title. John Bradshaw Layfield interfered in the match, and Orton went on to retain the title.
#5 Shawn Michaels - Raw, June 3, 2002
Shawn Michaels was constantly plagued by a troublesome back injury. The injury put a slight halt to the Heart Break Kid's wrestling career. But after an 18th month absence, Michaels made his WWE return. On the June 3 episode of Raw, Kevin Nash announced him as a new member of the recently reformed New World Order (nWo). Michaels was the only nWo member to have never worked in WCW. He later went on to compete in his first ever match inside a ring after a gap of four years.
#4 Undertaker - WrestleMania XX
In September 2003 at the Survivor Series, Undertaker was put against the WWE chairman Vince McMahonin a Buried Alive Match. Undertaker lost the match with Kanes interruption and Kane later declared that he was gone for good. But at WrestleMania XX, Undertaker came back as 'The Deadman' along with Paul Bearer. Back from the dead, Undertaker scared the living daylights out of Kane, and eventually went on to beat him.
#3 John Cena - Royal Rumble, 2008
During a match with Mr. Kennedy, on October 1, 2007 episode of Raw, John Cena suffered a torn pectoral muscle while executing a hip toss. After surgery, Cena was advised to stay away from the ring for atleast seven months. The unfortunate injury led to Vince McMahon stripping the WWE Championship off Cena. On January 27, 2008, much ahead of his expected return from injury, Cena walked into Royal Rumble. He was the last one to enter and went on to win the event by eliminating Triple H.
#2 Brock Lesnar - Raw, April 2, 2012
After his match against Goldberg at WrestleMania XX (2004), Brock Lesnar announced his intention to quit WWE. He wanted to pursue a career in National Football League, and biid adieu to the ring. Eight long years later, Lesnar returned to WWE on April 2, 2012 episode of Raw. The Beast attacked John Cena and went on to deliver the F5 on him.
#1 The Rock - Raw, February 14, 2011
After having tasted success in the Hollywood movie business, The Rock returned where his heart lies, the wrestling ring. On February 14, 2011 episode of Raw, The Rock was revealed as the host of WrestleMania XXVII. It was his first Raw appearance in seven years. He proclaimed that he was back 'home' and mocked John Cena, calling him a 'big fat bowl of Fruity Pebbles cereal'.
