I've often heard wrestlers describe the relationship between talent and company as a rocky marriage. Things started out great, but eventually, most good things come to an end and before you know it, a former champion is sleeping on the couch, trying to figure what he did wrong. Regardless of the reasoning, sometimes things just don't work out.
In today's era of professional wrestling, we can almost predict, within a month or so, when WWE is going to start wishing some of their talents well in their future endeavors. Sometimes it's deserved, other times it's not. Either way, it's a necessary evil in today's wrestling.
Then there are instances in which someone just decides they need to walk away, for one reason or another. Sometimes it's to start a family, sometimes it's a disgruntled wrestler and sometimes there just isn't a clear-cut reason, it's just time to make a break.
As fans, it doesn't take long for us to miss some of the departed superstars. When they're gone, we sit around and think about how much better they are than this person or that person. We talk amongst our friends about how they deserved a certain push, or they should've been put into a better storyline, or maybe they deserved a better gimmick, or whatever the reason is, they just need to come back and get it right.
Today, we take a look at five former WWE superstars that we want back.
5. GOLDBERG
Let's be honest for a moment, we don't want to see Goldberg come back and make a run for the WWE Championship. In fact, we really don't want to see him in some sort of main event storyline. We just want to hear the music, see the fireworks, watch him blow smoke at the top of the entrance ramp and spear the hell out of Roman Reigns, all while we continuously chant "GOOOOLLLLLLLLLDBERG!"
Seriously, Bill Goldberg will turn 50 years old this year. Father time isn't taking a bathroom break, just so we can relive some sort of nostalgic WCW fix. Nevertheless, Goldberg is an attraction, he always was and if he were to come back, he would have to remain an attraction, a brief attraction to get it out of our system and then he will go back to his normal life of classic cars and subpar action films.
4. KAITLYN
Kaitlyn is one of the most underrated ladies of the "Divas" era. She is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous and yes, she could work. She held the Divas Championship for over 150 days, before losing her title to AJ Lee at the 2013 Payback pay-per-view.
At only 29 years old, Kaitlyn could still offer a lot to the WWE Universe. However, she's stated on several occasions that she considers herself retired. Kaitlyn just reached a point where she wasn't content being a professional wrestler. She had a certain vision for what she wanted to do with her life and she decided to pursue her dreams.
Today, Kaitlyn has her own clothing line and she helps her husband, PJ Braun, operate his company, Blackstone Labs.
3. THE HARDY BOYZ
Matt and Jeff Hardy are still considered one of the greatest tag teams of all time, despite the current awkward TNA storyline. They're the innovators of extreme tag team wrestling and are considered the true founders of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
The Hardys are fearless and highly talented in-ring performers. Fans have been begging for the 7-time WWE tag team champions to make one last run in the E. However, things with TNA will likely make a return difficult.
Jeff Hardy has made several social media posts regarding his future and has stated that he sees a return coming, sometime in 2017. Matt, however, has remained pretty tight-lipped about a possible WWE return. In the end, this will probably be a decision that WWE will have to make. Is it important for them to have The Hardys back on the roster for one last hurrah? I guess we will have to wait and see.
2. DAMIEN SANDOW
WWE officials had a golden opportunity on their hands at the conclusion of the MizDow angle. Sandow had used the storyline with The Miz to get over, more so than he had ever been. The fans were on fire for Sandow and the crowds roared at every sight of the Intellectual Savior of the Masses. Sandow was widely popular and his ring work was better than it had ever been.
So what was the problem?
Each and every week, fans would hold out hope that Sandow would come out and get involved in some sort of significant storyline. Unfortunately, the creative powers that be, felt it was better to have him dress up as Daniel Boone, Uncle Sam or some other ridiculous character.
When the cuts were made this year, I never expected to hear the news that Sandow was future-endeavored. Nonetheless, Damien Sandow was released and the masses were let down in a major way.
Sandow is currently one of the hottest free agents in wrestling, getting booked all over the world and from the looks of things, he's enjoying it. Hopefully someone will wake up one day and realize this was a mistake, letting such an underused talent slip away.
Damien Sandow didn't fail WWE...WWE failed Damien Sandow.
1. KURT ANGLE
Even at 47, Kurt Angle has plenty to offer the WWE. The first ever Olympic gold medalist to become a professional wrestler, Angle entered the business with plenty of amateur experience, but many wondered if that would translate into the world of professional wrestling. Thankfully, Kurt was genetically gifted in ways most wrestlers only dream of and yes, he was well prepared for the wrestling industry.
Throughout his WWE tenure, Angle was consistently involved in some of the top level feuds the company had to offer. His matches with Brock Lesnar, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin were just a few of the most iconic rivalries in the history of the sport.
The rumors have ran wild this year, regarding Kurt Angle making a WWE return. In fact, he's mentioned himself that he will likely end his career where it started, in the WWE. When will it be? Well, his indy schedule is packed through the remainder of 2016, so maybe, just maybe we will see him in 2017.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
