'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pitting top WWE stars of the past generation against the current crop is always looked at with a lot of excitement. Often described as a "dream match," we get to see WWE legends of the past return to take on younger Superstars.
A vocal part of the WWE fanbase aren't big fans of part-time Superstars taking up big spots at shows like WrestleMania. But it's more accepted when the legend uses that spot to elevate a current WWE Superstar.
We've seen quite a few WWE legends return over the last few years. While some have gone up against fellow-veterans (like Randy Orton vs. Edge, Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg, Undertaker vs. Goldberg, etc.), this list focuses on the big names who returned to challenge current WWE superstars.
#5. Goldberg - Returned to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Title
In the last four years, few legends have returned to WWE as much as Goldberg. While fans thought that Goldberg's return run would last from Survivor Series 2016 until WrestleMania 33 in 2017, it turned out to be more than that.
Goldberg has returned quite a few times since, and he has even won two World Championships in the process. While his initial opponents were Brock Lesnar, Kevin Owens (for 22 seconds), and The Undertaker, he faced Dolph Ziggler and then won the Universal Championship from The Fiend Bray Wyatt in 2020.
While he lost the title to Braun Strowman, this entry focuses on this list's most recent example. Goldberg returned on RAW Legends Night to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the 2021 Royal Rumble.
Since Goldberg was incredibly successful in returning and beating current Superstars for the WWE Universal Title, fans worried that Drew McIntyre would suffer the same fate as Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt.
In an incredibly short-yet-entertaining opening contest, Goldberg ended up losing to Drew McIntyre - who hardly had any offense minus the Claymore Kick. It was a relief for WWE fans, and the outpour of hatred towards Goldberg calmed down.
#4. Triple H - Returned to WWE to face Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins vs. Triple H were aligned together from 2014 to 2015 for over a year - with the former having become the face of The Authority. There was a match between them rumored for WrestleMania 32 in 2016, but Seth Rollins was out of action from November 2015 - being stripped of the WWE Championship due to a knee injury.
It was the worst Superstar it could happen to, since Seth Rollins was considered to be the WWE Superstar of the year in 2015. And a large portion of fans believed that he "carried" the company on his shoulders that year.
When he returned, he was still a heel, but Triple H would return over a week after SummerSlam 2016 to cost him a potential Universal Title victory - with Seth Rollins turning face in the process.
It took a long time for Triple H to come out, but by WrestleMania 33 season, he returned, and the feud began. Seth Rollins faced Triple H in an unsanctioned match, and while WWE fans didn't consider the match very great, it was a testament to The Game - returning to WWE to put over one of his pupils.
#3. John Cena - Returned to WWE to face The Fiend Bray Wyatt
It's been two years now since we've seen John Cena in a traditional WWE wrestling match. He only appears a few times a year and wrestles once if WWE fans are lucky enough.
In 2020, John Cena returned and seemingly indicated that he was done with WWE. However, The Fiend Bray Wyatt - who just lost his Universal Title to Goldberg - pointed at the WrestleMania sign to indicate a challenge.
The former face of WWE, John Cena accepted the challenge, and while it was thought to be a rematch from six years before, it turned out to be quite different.
Having WrestleMania 36 behind closed doors meant that WWE had to get creative. And instead of a wrestling match, we got the cinematic Firefly Fun House Match.
It wasn't a traditional match at all, and John Cena and Bray Wyatt took a trip down memory lane. It was a unique match in its own way, but WWE fans were still raving about the cinematic Boneyard Match a night before.
Ultimately, John Cena still repaid the favor from WrestleMania 36, and by vanishing into thin air, he would disappear from WWE again.
#2. The Undertaker - Returned to WWE to face Roman Reigns
The Undertaker returned to WWE at the 2017 Royal Rumble and eliminated Goldberg. But it was Roman Reigns who eliminated the WWE legend, teasing a match for WrestleMania 33.
When The Undertaker later returned, Roman Reigns confronted him and said, "This is my yard now," before staring at the WrestleMania sign. It was a clear indicator, and WWE quickly announced that the "Dream" match was booked.
It was a non-title match, and it also happened to be the main event of WrestleMania 33. The writing was on the wall, and even Jim Ross understood why he was called back by WWE for the main event of WrestleMania.
The Undertaker's first "retirement" match was a disaster, with The Deadman being a shell of himself. It was painful for WWE fans to watch a revered legend struggle in the ring. Roman Reigns became the most hated man in all of WWE after retiring The Undertaker and defeating him at WrestleMania.
#1. The Rock - Returned to WWE to face CM Punk (and John Cena)
The Rock's return to WWE in 2011 was meant to kick start a three-part WrestleMania appearance. The Rock revealed that despite the "Once in a Lifetime" tagline for his WrestleMania 28 match against John Cena, WWE was clear about the fact that they would face each other the year after that as well.
In that time, The Rock returned quite a few times, but in this case, we will focus on his pursuit of the WWE Title. CM Punk turned heel on RAW 1000 by attacking The Rock - in the midst of his historic 434-day WWE Championship reign.
The Rock would go on to challenge CM Punk months later at the 2013 Royal Rumble. While the Royal Rumble match is a big occasion and always the pay-per-view's main event, this wasn't the case, as The Rock's WWE Title win was far bigger.
And that's exactly what happened. The Rock, part-time legend, defeated CM Punk to end his historic WWE title reign. A section of fans was upset about the decision, but the larger fanbase was overjoyed at the sight of the WWE legend returning to the top of the mountain after 10-and-a-half years.
