When Vince McMahon said that he wanted to shake things up with the Superstar Shake-up, we all presumed that he meant inter-changing Superstars across the two primary WWE brands. Then we thought to ourselves... wait a minute! What if there’s more to this than meets the eye?
A really effective way to spice up the roster with the Superstar Shake-up could be to bring back established stars from the past into the fold again. With WWE Superstars from the past teasing a return to the company, this genuinely is a strong possibility.
At this juncture, we look at the 5 likeliest candidates to make a return to WWE once again.
#5 Jim Ross
Mauro Ranallo may, on paper, be the play-by-play announcer on SmackDown LIVE, but he is no longer expected to be back for the duration of his contract. Of course, that is another story for another day.
However, his absence does create a massive vacuum that we’re not certain Tom Phillips can fill just yet. Enter Jim Ross, possibly the greatest play-by-play announcer in the history of the wrestling industry. To some, he is quite simply, the voice of wrestling.
Ross has supposedly signed a two-year contract with the company, making him eligible for a return to the place he has ruled with his voice for decades - the commentary desk of WWE.
Also read: 5 Superstar Shake-up rumors you need to know about
As we recently witnessed at WrestleMania, Ross can still call a fight and can do so better than anyone on the current roster. If Jim Ross were brought to SmackDown LIVE, it would also make the show feel more important.
Here’s a surprise we know fans are craving for, with all their hearts.
#4 Victoria
Victoria was an integral figure of the Women’s Division, long before the Women's Revolution happened. Some fans may even remember her from TNA, where she worked under the name - Tara.
While she hasn’t been seen in WWE for over eight years, rumours had recently surfaced of her making a comeback to the company. While she did not show up at WrestleMania 33, this Shake-up gives Victoria the perfect opportunity to make a comeback.
With Victoria teasing returns to WWE in the past, it seems like she’s keen to come back and compete with the new generation. Could she be following in Mickie James’ footsteps soon?
#3 Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin is one of the most beloved characters from the Ruthless Aggression Era. Shortly after the brand split, it was announced that he would be making his comeback to SmackDown LIVE before an unfortunate injury put him on the shelf for many months.
Shelton Benjamin had recently announced on social media that he had been cleared to compete once again and this begs the question, when is he making his big comeback to the squared circle?
The perfect opportunity for him to do so would be during the Superstar Shake-up as a big surprise to get a positive reaction from the fans. Benjamin can definitely spice things up on both brands, and maybe even align himself with American Alpha to create an amateur wrestling stable.
The possibilities are quite endless with someone who has Benjamin’s legacy and talent.
#2 Kelly Kelly
Some may argue that Kelly Kelly does not belong in the Women's Division of today, which has more to do with in-ring talent than your looks and your stylish wardrobe. However, Kelly Kelly remains one of the most attractive women in WWE history, and things will definitely get very interesting if she does return.
Recently, it was rumoured that Kelly Kelly had signed a multi-year deal with WWE and was slated to return to the company. What better avenue to make her big return than at the Superstar Shake-up on Raw or SmackDown LIVE?
Hey, Kelly Kelly may not be the best in-ring performer, but it's called sports entertainment for a reason.
#1 Tazz
The ECW legend, known to fans as the 'human suplex machine’, served as a beloved colour commentator for most of his time in the WWE. With the bullying allegations against JBL mounting up, we think it gives an opportunity for Tazz to return and serve as the commentator on SmackDown LIVE.
WWE is a company that stands against bullying on a public front, and with fans from outside WWE clamouring for JBL’s head, it may be a good idea to write him off TV for a while. Tazz could fit right in and even inject some of his trademark energy into the television show.
Hey, it's not like JBL was exactly Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan on commentary. We doubt that many people will miss him if he does eventually get replaced.
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