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Returns are one of the best and most exciting things in all of wrestling, let alone WWE. There's something about seeing an old, familiar face return after a long absence that is always great, especially the initial novelty of it all and the big pop at first.
However, due to various reasons, these runs may not all work out. Whether it's the lack of satisfying creative direction, not as much effort being put in, a run possibly being too short or the crowd turning on that Superstar, there are various reasons for it happening and it may not always be the fault of the Superstar.
For all the great returns there have been, there have been nearly as many that haven't delivered as much as one would have expected. Either way, that's the nature of the wrestling business and in this list, we look at the most underwhelming and disappointing returns to the ring.
Also read: 5 reasons why John Morrison is returning to WWE after 8 years
#5. Rob Van Dam - 2013
This one was a case of bad creative as well as a lack of effort being put in. Sure, Rob Van Dam was still the man he once was to some extent in the ring, but many fans had gotten the feeling that he was phoning it in for a large part.
His role returning to WWE for Money in the Bank undoubtedly got a great reaction, but the storylines and matches that he was a part of during the time were far from impressive. Sure, he would get the nostalgia pop, but there's only so much that it can carry you.
His run saw him challenge for titles and more but ultimately was short-lived and he took a sabbatical thereafter. He returned in April 2014 and had another brief run with the company, having a few better matches.
#4. Trish Stratus - 2011
Trish Stratus' return in the summer of 2019 was undoubtedly a perfect one. She feuded with one of WWE's top woman Charlotte Flair and they had a great match at SummerSlam, filled with good psychology, great athleticism and the women simply had unspoken chemistry that translated beautifully in the ring.
It was the perfect send-off for Stratus as she seemingly closed the book on her in-ring career for good and in doing so, she helped build the present and future. However, not all of her returns were that great.
2011 is an example of a less-than-perfect return where she teamed up with Snooki and John Morrison for a rather forgettable WrestleMania match. For some reason, fans didn't take to Stratus or simply weren't thrilled by the fact that she was being wasted for a celebrity match at WrestleMania. She didn't get the reaction that she would have desired and though she was still solid in the ring, it was clear that something didn't click. Thankfully, that brief run would end then and there.
#3. Alberto Del Rio - 2015/16
Alberto Del Rio was fired from WWE in 2014 after getting into a physical altercation with an employee who he claimed made a racist joke. It wasn't the best terms to be let go of and it would only be a year later before WWE went calling for his services.
Just as John Cena was transitioning out to be a part-timer (and it was after this that his full-time run officially ended) and go and film a TV show, WWE needed to get the United States title off him. He held an "Open Challenge" at Hell in a Cell 2015 and Zeb Colter would come out and announce the return of Alberto Del Rio.
It got a great pop at first and fans were happy to see him win the United States Championship, but there was one major problem - none of it made any sense. Colter and Del Rio were previously bitter rivals and their alliance didn't click at all, and it ended abruptly. He would be in various forgettable storylines until the summer of 2016, after which he requested his release from his contract and was granted it. Underwhelming and forgettable, indeed.
#2. Batista - 2014
Batista officially retired from wrestling at WrestleMania 35 after closing his chapter by facing Triple H at the show of shows. It was the way he wanted to end his pro wrestling career and we're happy that after all these years, he got to do it on his terms.
The desire to return and get it right was probably even more after his 2014 run that ended in big disappointment. He returned as a babyface during the peak of the "Yes! Movement" and when he won the Royal Rumble instead of the man who fans expected - Daniel Bryan, they let The Animal know of their frustrations.
Batista admitted that this run hurt him a lot because of how fans turned on him. He did eventually turn heel in the main event of WrestleMania and put over Daniel Bryan, but it was clear that the whole run was wasted potential. Batista wanted to return as a heel (calling himself the worst babyface ever, which is untrue) and knew that fans would react better to that.
Instead, WWE forced a babyface push and it backfired on them. He did his job and even put over The Shield big at the end right before the three men emerged as singles stars. However, 2014 was a disappointment for him.
#1. The Ultimate Warrior - 1996
There's a common misconception about WrestleMania 12. Many associate it with the iconic Iron Man match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, one that has also been dubbed as overrated.
The reality is that it wasn't Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels who sold tickets for that event, it was The Ultimate Warrior. Warrior was advertised for a big return after 4 years away and fans came in big numbers to watch him face the up-and-coming Hunter Hearst Helmsley, now known as Triple H.
It turned out to be a terrible squash match where Warrior also no-sold Helmsley's pedigree. It was awful and Warrior challenged for the Intercontinental Championship afterward, not finding that same success. However, an internal dispute occurred as Warrior began to no-show some Live Events citing the death of his Father, but Vince McMahon didn't believe him because he was never close to his father, to begin with. This resulted in his contract being terminated.
Warrior claimed that WWF, as the company was then known, sold his merchandise without giving him a cut. While we'll never know the truth, what we do know is that the biggest return to WWF in years was a big disappointment.
