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Making it to the WWE and surviving in the world's biggest wrestling promotion are two entirely different things. While there have been many who have made it to the WWE, only a selected few have been able to garner success and reach new heights whilst being associated with them.
The stiff competition has resulted in many Superstars being completely overlooked with the company not being able to decide what to do with the said talent. These superstars are crippled creatively, aren't afforded enough opportunities and used sparsely.
When the company decides that these Superstars have nothing new to offer to the product, they are released from their contract or they themselves request for their release due to creative differences. While some of them fade into oblivion, others take it upon themselves to prove their previous employers wrong and achieve success outside of the WWE.
They make a name for themselves and ultimately the WWE takes notice and offers them big money deals to come back to the company. EC3 and Drew McIntyre are two such Superstars in recent times.
With a lot of Superstars becoming free agents in 2019, the WWE would definitely look to bring back some former WWE Superstars back into its fold. Here are 4 former WWE Superstars that the company should bring back in 2019:
#4 Sami Callihan
Sami Callihan has been one of the most talked-about Superstars in the wrestling circle throughout 2018. He has been one of the pillars of the IMPACT Wrestling and their recent resurgence. His match against Pentagon Jr at Slammiverey was one of the most well-received matches of 2018. Callihan is considered to be one of the best hardcore wrestlers on the planet today and is currently signed to both IMPACT and Lucha Underground.
Not many people may know this but Callihan did work for the WWE from 2013 to 2015 under the ring name, 'Solomon Crowe'. He was put in their developmental territory, NXT, where he had a handful of TV appearances before being released in November of 2015.
Callihan has openly talked about his frustrations during his time in NXT, being stifled creatively and not getting the opportunities that he was promised. He also talked about how he was initially supposed to be a part of the faction -- Sanity, which ultimately didn't happen and Callihan was let go by the company.
But, ever since leaving the WWE, Callihan has proved to be a huge draw in promotions across the world and has garnered notoriety for his 'death matches'. Callihan currently works for IMPACT and Lucha Underground.
But, Callihan has proven to a huge draw in both IMPACT and Lucha Underground and therefore the WWE should contemplate on bringing Callihan back to the company. Callihan has that aggression and ruthlessness that hasn't been seen in WWE for quite some time now.
#3 Chris Jericho
One of the hottest free agents in the wrestling world today, Chris Jericho is in a very unique position in his career right now. On one hand, The Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla is touring the globe with his band, ' Fozzy', being at the peak of its popularity. Jericho's ' Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea' cruise was a huge success and he is planning on making it an annual event. In other words, Y2J is quite a busy man and the entire wrestling world will be closely watching what the current IWGP Intercontinental Champion decides to do next.
Jericho is one of the few Superstars who has reinvented himself time and time again. Since leaving the WWE in 2016, Jericho has become one of the most talked-about Superstars in the business courtesy of his appearances in New Japan and ALL IN.
Jericho shocked the world at New Japan's Dominion event last July where he defeated Tetsuya Naito to capture the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. He then appeared at ALL IN attacking Kenny Omega, dressed up as Pentagon Jr. This led fans to believe that Jericho's relationship with the WWE is very rocky. Jericho himself had declared on numerous occasions that he will never work for any other promotion other than the WWE as it will be disrespectful to Vince McMahon.
2019 is going to be a very interesting year for Y2J and major promotions will be making a beeline to acquire the services of one of the greatest of all time. But, WWE would want to Jericho return. Y2J is in his late 40's and is at the fag end of his wrestling career and given the kind of impact he has had on the wrestling landscape over the past few years, he is more than deserving of another run in the world's biggest wrestling promotion.
#2 Alberto Del Rio
2018 has been a quiet year for the Mexican Aristocrat who was once being billed as the next big thing in the WWE.
Del Rio arrived on the main roster in August 1010 and was immediately put in a feud with Rey Mysterio, defeating Mysterio by submission in his very first match. After feuding with Mysterio for the next few months, Del Rio would win the 2011 Royal Rumble and Challenge Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 28, a match which he would lose. Del Rio won the Money in the Bank in July and would successfully cash-in his contract to become the WWE Champion at SummerSlam.
Del Rio would win numerous World titles before leaving the company in 2014 following an altercation with an employee. Del Rio would then return to Mexico working in AAA and even appearing in promotions like Ring of Honor and Lucha Underground.
Del Rio would finally return to the WWE at Hell in a Cell 2015 and would defeat John Cena to win the United States Championship. Del Rio would leave the company once again in September 2016 due to creative differences.
Del Rio has been at the centre of many controversies ever since leaving the WWE in 2016. His tumultuous relationship with Paige was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Del Rio also had a fall out with IMPACT Wrestling and was ultimately released by the promotion in April 2018 after no-showing an event. Del Rio has expressed his desire to come back to the WWE. He shares a great rapport with Vince McMahon and given the current climate, the WWE should look to re-sign the Mexican Superstar as he is a great performer and a proven draw in the business.
#1 John Morrison
The co-winner of the third season of Tough Enough, John Morrison had a very bright future in the WWE. In spite of winning numerous singles and tag titles in the company, Morrison wasn't able to reach the dizzying height that one would've have hoped. The Guru of Greatness had to play second fiddle to the Miz when he formed a partnership with the A-lister and was never pushed as a main eventer in the promotion. Morrison was released by the company in November of 2011.
Morrison has gone on achieve great success on the independent circuit and has become an even bigger star than he has ever during his WWE tenure. Morrison has been a Champion in every promotion that he has been in starting from AAA in Mexico, where he won the AAA Mega Champion under the ring name ' Johnny Mundo'. Johnny would then go on to become.one of their top stars in Lucha Underground where he won the Lucha Underground Champion. He is currently the IMpact World Champion, which he won from Austin Aries at IMPACT Wrestling's Bound For Glory in October 2018.
Morrison is one of the most recognized faces on the independent circuit today and the WWE should definitely try to bring back the former ECW Champion into its fold. A myriad of dream matches is possible if Morrison decides to return to the WWE. He is in his late 30's which means that he only has a few years before he hangs up his boots. It will be criminal for Morrison to retire without ever returning to the promotion where he began his wrestling career.
Can you think of any other wrestlers who should return to WWE? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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