'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAlp//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAADv/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAAE//xAAgEAACAgEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEEBQAGERITITFB/9oACAEBAAE/AM5ROjiMQ/LLr26RQbewvkCnqgi4Io8z71X2s99dThyTFCwYOFiETAc/I1//xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwACBBL/2gAIAQIBAT8A3sssjif/xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwACBBL/2gAIAQMBAT8Axrq0nsT/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
2020 was a strange year for WWE because of many reasons, with the biggest one being the pandemic that affected the world as a whole. WWE had to change their game plan, as the pandemic led to the introduction of the ThunderDome.
The virtual experience of WWE's ThunderDome cannot replace the intensity matched by an actual, live audience. Despite how impressive their effort has been from a production standpoint, WWE returns are truly the best when the live crowd is taken by surprise.
However, there were a few returns made in the pandemic era that stood out for different reasons. This list will take into account the significance of the returns as well since the live audience factor has been largely irrelevant for most of the year.
Here are the five biggest WWE returns of 2020.
#5: 'The Eater of Worlds' Bray Wyatt made a comeback on the June 19th edition of WWE SmackDown
The Firefly Fun House version of Bray Wyatt had faced Braun Strowman for the Universal Championship at WWE Money in the Bank 2020 in an unsuccessful attempt.
Following the pay-per-view, Wyatt had taken a one-month hiatus from the company.
His feud against Braun Strowman wasn't over yet, as Wyatt returned on the June 19th episode of SmackDown with a twist. Bray Wyatt's pre-Fiend persona, The Eater of Worlds, was resurrected in the same episode to continue their storyline.
This was a huge moment for Bray Wyatt fans, given The Wyatt Family history that exists between The Eater of Worlds and Braun Strowman. It made perfect sense for this to happen, as both Wyatt and Strowman later relived their past in the 'Wyatt Swamp Fight' at WWE Extreme Rules 2020.
Bray Wyatt's aforementioned return as The Eater of Worlds may seem like an odd pick because it took place when both WWE RAW and SmackDown episodes emanated from the Performance Center, and not during the pre-pandemic era or from the ThunderDome.
However, it cannot be denied that the temporary return of The Eater of Worlds was perhaps one of the most significant WWE arcs in terms of storytelling - and Bray Wyatt's complex lore - in 2020.
#4: Ember Moon returned at WWE NXT TakeOver: 31 after being out of action for a long period of time
Ember Moon had appeared on WWE Backstage in November 2019 to reveal that she would be out of action for an indefinite period of time, due to an injury.
Several months later, WWE NXT had started airing night-vision vignettes from September 2020, teasing the arrival of a mysterious person. This figure turned out to be a returning Ember Moon at NXT TakeOver: 31 in October.
The Shenom returned and stared at Io Shirai with a smile after the latter had retained her NXT Women's Championship against Candice LeRae at the TakeOver event.
Moon hasn't faced Shirai for the NXT Women's title yet, but she did team up with the champion by joining Team Shotzi for the WarGames event in December.
Ember Moon became one of the many Superstars who returned to WWE's Black and Gold brand despite being a part of the main roster.
Ember Moon was also one of those WWE stars in 2020 who made the fans happy just by resurfacing on television after a considerable amount of time.
#3: The Undertaker returned at Super ShowDown to establish his final WWE feud against AJ Styles
On the road to WrestleMania, The Undertaker is usually expected to return and kickstart a major WWE feud.
That is exactly what happened in 2020, as The Deadman first appeared at WWE Super ShowDown to win the Tuwaiq Mountain Trophy. The event took place on February 27 in Saudi Arabia. The Undertaker was a surprise replacement for Rey Mysterio in the gauntlet match, and he successfully accomplished a victory by lastly eliminating AJ Styles.
The Phenom would later cost AJ Styles a No Disqualification match against Aleister Black at Elimination Chamber.
Over time, it became evident that The Phenomenal One would be next in line to face The Deadman at WrestleMania 36.
Although anyone can instantly recall the Boneyard match and The Undertaker's final farewell at WWE Survivor Series 2020, his return at Super ShowDown has gained more significance now since it originally kickstarted The Deadman's final WWE storyline before his ultimate retirement.
In hindsight, one can't say that they didn't see The Undertaker's return coming at all. However, it has become a moment of huge significance as mentioned before, which makes The Undertaker's appearance at Super ShowDown one of the biggest returns of 2020.
#2: Roman Reigns returned with a new attitude at WWE SummerSlam 2020
Roman Reigns had mostly been regarded as one of WWE's staple babyfaces until his latest run in the latter half of 2020.
He made a conscious decision to take some time off from his job when COVID-19 had first impacted WWE earlier in the year. This meant that Roman Reigns and Goldberg's scheduled clash at WrestleMania 36 would no longer be the final plan, as Reigns was eventually replaced by Braun Strowman at the event.
Little did WWE fans know that this leave of absence would pay-off in a major way when Reigns eventually returned at the SummerSlam pay-per-view in August.
The Fiend had defeated Braun Strowman in the main event of SummerSlam 2020 for the Universal Championship, and Reigns returned to attack both competitors in an effort to claim back his yard.
It was a miracle that WWE had managed to prevent any rumors from spreading about this particular return, as Roman Reigns is one of the biggest stars in the company today.
Reigns would go on to align himself with Paul Heyman, soon after his aforementioned return to WWE. The Tribal Chief became the Universal Champion in approximately a week's time since he had returned.
It can't be denied that Roman Reigns' return impacted the current landscape of WWE in a major way, as his turn to the dark side has drawn a lot of attention and overwhelmingly positive feedback from the fans and critics alike.
#1: Edge made one of the most exhilarating returns of all time at WWE Royal Rumble 2020
It's no secret that backstage rumors have spoiled many WWE returns over the years, and Edge was heavily rumored to be a part of the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match as well.
However, the fact that he had been forced to retire from professional wrestling in 2011 due to a neck injury still made WWE fans skeptical over whether or not the return would actually take place.
Even when The Rated-R Superstar arrived as the 21st entrant in the men's Royal Rumble match, fans were still in disbelief for a few moments. The live crowd popped instantly during Edge's comeback, and the man himself survived till the climax when only two other WWE Superstars - Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre - besides him were still active participants in the match.
Although Edge didn't win the men's Royal Rumble match, it still went down as one of the best Royal Rumble bouts in WWE history. Edge got involved in a heated feud with Randy Orton that gained a lot of attention in the months that followed.
To put it simply, there was no other WWE Superstar in 2020 who could bring as much returning momentum to the table as Edge's breathtaking Royal Rumble return did.
