When talent leaves the WWE, there are always questions surrounding their departure. Was there backstage heat with them? Did they lose their smile? Were they simply tired of the schedule and wanted out of their contract? Was there longstanding tension and a huge blowout that led to them leaving?
The speculation ranges from the insane to the ridiculous, to empathetic and compassionate. This past year has seen the departures of Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes from the WWE, among others, but that didn't mean that it was the end of their careers.
Over the years some popular wrestlers have departed the company for one reason or another. Whether it was on their accord, due to financial issues or because of longstanding injuries sustained, their time with the company eventually came to an end.
While it would be ideal to have them all stay, it isn't feasible, but many are often missed. Sometimes, their popularity or success in a different promotion leads to a clamour to have them return. This doesn't necessarily mean that they will return, but it won't stop fans from still wanting to see them once again in WWE.
Let’s check out who made our list of former WWE stars that fans wanted to see return!
#5 CM Punk
Punk called himself the best in the world because of his insatiable hunger to be better, his hotly contested matches and his incredible promos. Punk never rested on his laurels, and throughout his career, he managed to change the way wrestling was perceived while continuing to constantly reinvent himself.
Fans either loved him or loved to hate him, his charm and charisma came naturally, not with luck.
Punk's ability to reinvent himself also meant that he was not only able to get under the skin of beloved icons like The Rock and The Undertaker, but he could also open up about himself personally, and make himself vulnerable, such as during his feud with Chris Jericho. It's a skill very few have.
When Punk left the company the day after the Royal Rumble, it left a void in the main event scene that very few could fill.
Fans have missed Punk greatly since then, and will often chant his name during promos and matches. While it's unlikely that Punk will ever return, that doesn't mean that his fans wouldn't want him to do so.
#4 Matt Hardy
When he was in WWE, Matt Hardy was able to be both liked and hated. As one-half of the Hardy Boyz, there was little need for him to do anything more than put on great matches.
However, when the team had split up, he was given the opportunity to open up and show fans that he could do more than simply put on high calibre matches filled with crazy spots. Hardy was able to establish himself as a solid mid-card wrestler and even had singles title runs.
Many fans will recall his Version 1 persona, which is being replicated today by Smackdown Live's Curt Hawkins. Hardy would also come to the ring with a Matt Follower, or rather, an “ MFer”. This solo gimmick just scratched the surface on what he could do.
With TNA, Hardy has been able to once again reinvent himself as Broken Matt Hardy. The character is considered one of the hottest commodities the promotion currently advertises. With his signature phrases such as 'delete,' and his short film vignettes, Hardy has created tonnes of buzz on social media.
It is this reborn Matt Hardy that fans would love to see come back to the WWE once again.
#3 Trish Stratus
She joined the company after a career as a fitness model, but during her time in WWE, Trish Stratus went from simply being eye candy to being a more than capable, talented competitor in the ring. Her long-standing rivalry and subsequent friendship with Lita has been extensively documented.
However, Stratus was able to run the gamut of being both a face as well as a heel and played both roles extremely well. Whether it was as the tantalising valet for the team of T & A, or the strong female ready to put the likes of fan/stalker Mickie James in her place, Stratus was able to do it all.
Also read: WWE News: WWE is reportedly making low-ball offers to former stars
As a face she was beloved, but as a heel, she was hated for being so cruel. When she left WWE along with the likes of Beth Phoenix, Mickie James and Lita, a hole was left in the female roster. She was an integral part of the division's success and the respect that it had earned along the way.
With the recent time and energy invested in the women's division, fans hope that Stratus may make her return to the ring to augment it. While it is a long shot, fans would love to see her back if only for one more match.
#2 John Morrison (Mundo)
If there was ever someone who started off slowly in his WWE career but elevated himself as he went along, it was John Morrison. When Morrison first came into WWE, he started in their developmental system, and after initially debuting as Johnny Nitro he became John Morrison.
The change in character and his evolution in the ring also showed fans that Morrison was just as capable of being a face as he could be a heel. His singles title runs also showed that he was seen as a valuable commodity for the company moving ahead. But times change and so did the company's use of Morrison.
Since he left WWE, Morrison has not only resurfaced, but has reinvented himself as a rudo (bad guy!) on the El Rey Network's Lucha Underground under the name Johnny Mundo. His matches against Prince Puma have been filled with a lot of energy and awe-inspiring moments.
If Morrison returned to WWE, it would certainly set up some interesting match-ups. A Seth Rollins/John Morrison battle would be highly sought after, as both of them have made comments directed at the other in past interviews.
#1 Kurt Angle
As soon as Angle left WWE, wrestling fans started asking when he would return. He spent approximately seven years with the company, and although he spent more time in TNA, it is his time in WWE that is still talked about most.
In WWE, Angle had incredible matches and amazing feuds; he battled The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Triple H, and also had extended rivalries with Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. He was the consummate in-ring performer.
He has had his share of highlights and lowlights with both the companies and since he departed WWE fans have constantly wondered what could have happened that caused him to leave and what are the impediments to his return.
He has made a substantial contribution to professional wrestling and is still highly regarded for what he can do in the ring, which is matched by very few wrestlers today. Although he would be competing at the age of 46 and is currently in semi-retirement, a part-time contract or even a deal like Brock Lesnar has could transpire into an Angle return.
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