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On numerous occasions, WWE has brought back legends and former stars in order to market nostalgia to fans who long for the glory days of wrestling's past. This is particularly true when the company gears up for their biggest show of the year, WrestleMania.
Last year, under the direction of Triple H, the Stanford-based company developed a habit of re-signing former WWE Superstars who had been released by the promotion in recent years.
When looking through the archives of WWE, there are plenty of past names that have seemingly been forgotten with time. These stars are still appreciated today by a niche audience. However, a handful of these forgotten names can still make an impact if they were to be re-introduced to the masses in 2023.
Without further ado, let's look at five forgotten stars WWE must bring back.
#5. Shane Douglas, former WWE Superstar Dean Douglas
WWE has mended seemingly broken relationships with the likes of Bret Hart and The Ultimate Warrior, so it isn't impossible for the company to do the same with "The Franchise" Shane Douglas.
The wrestler formerly known as Dean Douglas has routinely voiced a negative opinion regarding his time in WWE during the mid-90s. Douglas didn't like the Dean gimmick, and he resented how he was allegedly treated by Vince McMahon and The Kliq.
Douglas is still wrestling on the independent scene, but his former character, Dean Douglas, would make for an entertaining addition to all the drama surrounding Chase University in NXT. Thea Hail and Andre Chase haven't been on the same page in recent weeks, and perhaps Douglas can step in as her new mentor and educational figure. Dean Douglas can also accuse Andre Chase of plagiarism, considering that their gimmicks are pretty much identical.
Following his departure from WWE during the New Generation, Douglas was left with a bad impression of Shawn Michaels. In recent years, HBK has taken on a leadership role in NXT. Considering this, it's unlikely that the four-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion will find himself on the white-and-gold brand or anywhere in WWE.
However, if they do decide to put the past behind them, Douglas still has one run left in the tank that WWE can capitalize on. A dream match between Andre Chase and Dean Douglas would certainly get people talking about NXT again.
WWE could also use the backstage heat between Shane Douglas and HBK and turn it into an angle on NXT. If so, the 58-year-old veteran could finally be able to portray "The Franchise" character in WWE.
#4. Mr. Kennedy, former "Mr. Money In The Bank" Ken Kennedy
When he isn't training students at his wrestling school The Academy, the wrestler formerly known as Mr. Kennedy can still be found wrestling on the independent scene under the ring names "Mr. Anderson" and "Ken Anderson."
However, at one point in time, it seemed as if Ken was destined to become World Heavyweight Champion in WWE. Though to his credit, he did become a two-time World Champion in TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling.
During the latter years of the Ruthless Aggression era, WWE strapped a rocket ship to the back of Mr. Kennedy, booking him to win the Money In The Bank match at WrestleMania 23. However, a misdiagnosed injury led to him losing the briefcase and he would continue to run into bad luck before being released in 2009 after being accused of being an "unsafe worker" by people higher up in the WWE food chain like Randy Orton.
There's a wrestler on the rise right now who is reminiscent of Mr. Kennedy. His name is LA Knight. Both Knight and Kennedy have been compared to The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Both used their natural charisma to gain the attention of the WWE Universe. If WWE were to give Kennedy another chance, it could potentially make for compelling television to have a heel Mr. Kennedy feud with a babyface LA Knight.
If Kennedy partners up with The Miz to push back against The Megastar, Knight could joke about how Kennedy calls himself an "a**hole" (referring to Ken's time in TNA) while The Miz has tiny balls, so it's no wonder they're close. Or maybe we'll see a babyface Mr. Kennedy battle the heelish Miz, who is also very charismatic on the mic.
Earlier this year, Ken Anderson mentioned that he'd like to return to WWE at some point. While speaking with Sportskeeda's UnSKripted podcast, Anderson named Stone Cold Steve Austin as his dream return opponent. However, the wrestler known for announcing his last name twice into the microphone may have to settle for someone currently active, like LA Knight, as his opponent instead.
#3. Damien Sandow, known in NWA as Aron Stevens
Damien Sandow, known in NWA as Aron Stevens, has largely stepped away from his role as a professional wrestler to become the manager of the tag team Blunt Force Trauma, which includes former WWE Superstar Rodney Mack. His last singles match with NWA was a win over Rolando Freeman in a Titanic Tampa Street Fight taped on February 13, 2023.
According to CageMatch.net and ProFightDB.com, Stevens last wrestled in March 2023, losing in a tag team match during a cross-branded event between Billy Corgan's NWA and Mexican promotion AAA.
Sandow was once a rising star in WWE who consistently got fan reactions regardless of whether he was a heel or babyface. Damien really nailed down the entertainment aspect of the wrestling business to perfection. Much like Mr. Kennedy, Sandow is a former Money In The Bank winner who never ascended to the top of WWE.
Sandow drew immense heat as a heel for his "Intellectual Savior of the Unwashed Masses" gimmick. He also gained the love and admiration of the WWE Universe while performing as "Damien Mizdow," the stunt double of The Miz who'd mimic nearly everything he did. Together, they'd become WWE Tag Team Champions. Unfortunately, Sandow would be released by WWE in May 2016.
If Sandow is able to get out of his contract in NWA, he'd be a proper fit for WWE in 2023. A returning Damien Sandow could become a major star in NXT, where he could potentially interact with Andre Chase either as an ally or an enemy. If he comes over to WWE with Blunt Force Trauma, he could continue his managing career in a different promotion. There'd also be the possibility of Sandow reigniting his rivalry or partnership with The Hollywood A-Lister on Monday Night RAW.
#2. 2 Cold Scorpio, known in WWE as Flash Funk
2 Cold Scorpio is most famously known for his time spent in Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he held the ECW World Tag Team Titles once, along with four reigns as ECW World Television Champion. He also had a run in World Championship Wrestling, most notably winning the WCW World Tag Team Championship with Marcus Bagwell, later known as Buff Bagwell.
During his time with WWE from 1996 to 1999, and then again from 2006 to 2007, he was known as Flash Funk. His last match with WWE took place on the 15th anniversary of Monday Night RAW on December 10, 2007. On that night, he participated in a battle royal involving numerous wrestling stars of the past. Flash Funk would eliminate Al Snow from the battle royal, but when he eliminated Steve Blackman, Funk ended up eliminating himself as well.
Despite being away from mainstream wrestling for many years, 2 Cold Scorpio still regularly competes on the independent circuit. However, with over 30 years of experience in the wrestling business, maybe Scorpio's talents would be best utilized teaching the stars of tomorrow in NXT.
Besides doing potential work behind the scenes to help develop talent, 2 Cold Scorpio or Flash Funk could be used on NXT programming as a pro wrestler. Maybe this 57-year-old veteran can beat some respect into the snot-nosed brat known as Dominik Mysterio, who is the current NXT North American Champion.
#1. The Headbangers
Mosh and Thrasher of The Headbangers still work the independent scene, much like many of the previously-mentioned forgotten stars. However, unlike Shane Douglas, Ken Anderson, and 2 Cold Scorpio, The Headbangers are currently signed to a WWE contract.
The former WWE World Tag Team Champions' agreement with WWE was revealed in May 2023 after both wrestlers took to social media to show that they've signed a WWE 2023 General Nostalgia Agreement. Thrasher noted in a Facebook post that this deal will include the release of Headbanger-related merchandise.
Despite already being signed by the company in some capacity, Mosh and Thrasher have been kept off WWE television for the time being. However, there's an argument to be made that WWE should bring back the headbanging duo as a tag team featured on weekly programming. They've had decades of experience as a tag team together, and they can help fill up the ranks of a WWE tag team division that needs greater depth.
The Headbangers are also highly entertaining. Though their legacy has been largely forgotten when it comes to the current product, plenty of diehard Attitude Era fans still remember and appreciate the contributions of Mosh and Thrasher during their original run with the company from the late '90s to the early 2000s.
Mosh and Thrasher last wrestled in WWE on the 900th episode of SmackDown on November 15, 2016. On that night, The Headbangers were on the losing end of a 16-man tag team match. Since then, they've kept active by wrestling for various independent promotions. In 2023, maybe it's time for The Headbangers to make a return to WWE television or go down to NXT and teach the folks there a thing or two about tag team wrestling.
Who would you like to see return to WWE? Sound off in the comments section below.
