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WWE recently released five wrestlers. On April 19, 2024, while SmackDown was being aired, the wrestling media found out about the departures of Jinder Mahal, Xia Li, and Xyon Quinn. Hours later, it was announced that two more wrestlers were cut from the TKO-owned wrestling promotion. Veer Mahaan and Sanga of Indus Sher joined their leader, The Modern Day Maharaja, in leaving WWE.
2024 has featured the return of numerous WWE Superstars, such as Naomi, Andrade, Shawn Spears (fka Tye Dillinger), and The Authors of Pain, alongside legendary manager Paul Ellering. The year has also seen new arrivals such as Tama Tonga and Giulia. According to multiple reports, Jacob Fatu also appears to be WWE-bound.
WWE is fresh off releasing several of their talent. Instead of releasing more wrestlers, the company could look to bring back familiar faces to add greater depth and interest to their on-screen product. Without further ado, let's look at five ways the Stamford-based promotion can bring back former WWE Superstars.
#5. Former two-time SmackDown Tag Team Champion Erick Rowan returns to WWE and teams with Uncle Howdy, the brother of Bray Wyatt
WWE has seemingly been teasing the return of Uncle Howdy on their weekly programming. However, the former Bo Dallas might not be coming back alone. Howdy could be joined by former Bray Wyatt allies, such as Erick Rowan, Alexa Bliss, and former Universal Champion Braun Strowman.
Erick Rowan is a name that's been rumored to be making a WWE return. Rowan was a close ally of Bray, considering that he was one of his followers as part of The Wyatt Family. Rowan returned for one night during the opening segment of the August 25, 2023, episode of WWE SmackDown, in honor of the late Bray Wyatt who had died the previous day.
Rowan was released from his WWE contract on April 15, 2020. Will wrestling fans see Erick Rowan return to WWE and create a faction with Uncle Howdy? It's certainly a possibility that the former Bludgeon Brother will make a return alongside the former Bo Dallas.
On the independent circuit, the former Wyatt Family henchman is known as both "Erick Redbeard" and "Rowan" when it comes to his ring name. According to Cagematch.net, Redbeard last wrestled at WFC Slamzapalooza 2024 on February 24th. At that event, he was on the winning side of a six-man tag team match. Will he find greater fortunes in WWE soon?
Rowan was recently pulled from a scheduled appearance at an ECPW show because of "new contractual obligations." PWInsider Elite noted that Redbeard was seen in Pittsburgh earlier this month, which is a place WWE typically sends wrestlers to receive medical testing before the company signs them.
#4. The Full Blooded Italians go to NXT to work with Tony D'Angelo's Family; Big Vito wants to return to WWE
"The Don" Tony D'Angelo wasn't able to wrest away the NXT Championship from Ilja Dragunov at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024, so maybe The Don can use some extra backup. Maybe the 28-year-old Don could use a wrestling veteran or two by his side to help run The Family's business. There's also the possibility that another mafia family will emerge in NXT to challenge D'Angelo and his associates. If that turns out to be the case, the white-and-gold brand could become WWE's home for mob warfare.
Big Vito, who had previously worked in WWE, has shown interest in returning to the Stamford-based promotion. When a fan wrote on X that he "would love to see [Vito] show up in NXT," LoGrasso responded to the tweet by pointing to the comment and tagging the official Twitter pages of Triple H and WWE NXT.
Vito recently returned after almost two years away from the indie circuit, taking the loss to Joey Avalon at MAW Double Jeopardy on April 14, 2024. FBI leader Nunzio has also recently performed on the independent scene, most recently defeating Afa Jr. in an Italian Street Fight at ECPW Fundraiser For The Ulster County Italian American Foundation on April 19, 2024. Nunzio, also known as Little Guido, has been much more active in independent wrestling compared to Vito.
During his time with Titan Towers, Nunzio was the head of the Full Blooded Italians and became a two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Nunzio was released by WWE in August 2008 after almost six years with the company. Big Vito was released a year prior in May 2007 after working with the Stamford-based promotion for two years.
Vito is perhaps most remembered in WWE for his dress-wearing gimmick on SmackDown, which saw him go on a winning streak. In 2024, will he and Nunzio travel to Orlando to reform The Full Blooded Italians in WWE NXT? Other members of The FBI could also join them, such as Nunzio's tag team partners on the indie scene and his stablemates who recently appeared alongside him in TNA.
The FBI is still active on the indie circuit with Nunzio alongside lesser-known competitors such as Ray Jaz, Tommy Rich, and CJ Bambino. Guido made an appearance on the most recent televised episode of TNA Impact, wrestling Hammerstone in a losing effort. However, Nunzio is still a free agent and could theoretically show up on any upcoming episode of WWE NXT.
#3. Enzo Amore goes back to school at Chase University
Enzo Amore, also known as Real1, is a freelancer and isn't signed to any specific wrestling organization. Real1 has appeared in numerous promotions in recent months, perhaps most notably competing for Al Snow's Ohio Valley Wrestling. He last wrestled in OVW, defeating wrestler Orion during episode 77 of OVW Overdrive, which was aired earlier this month.
Enzo's backstage heat and unproven allegations led to his release from the Stamford-based company in January 2018. Despite being legally cleared of the allegations that caused his dismissal, the company still hasn't brought back Amore. However, WWE has given second and third chances to wrestlers in the past. Perhaps 2024 is the right year to bring back the ultra-charismatic trash-talking New Jersey loudmouth.
One way of reintroducing Enzo to the WWE Universe would be to send him back to school as part of Chase University in NXT. Amore could be the class clown of Chase U, routinely getting into trouble and testing the patience of Andre Chase. It'd be reminiscent of Amore's purported behavior during Dusty Rhodes' promo class a decade prior. WWE could even reenact the fart story that got Enzo fired for a day and fined $250.
Since leaving WWE, the two-time Cruiserweight Champion has ventured into new areas of entertainment, such as acting and rapping. What if Amore challenges the professor, Andre Chase, to a rap battle in class or the wrestling ring? Will the leader of Chase U be able to reform Enzo into a respectable pupil?
#2. Mr. Kennedy returns to WWE SmackDown to seek revenge on Randy Orton and sabotage LA Knight's push
Randy Orton's complaint that Mr. Kennedy was an unsafe worker would quickly get the former WWE United States Champion fired four days after his return in May 2009. Kennedy hasn't returned to WWE since then, but he has previously expressed interest in returning to the company one day. What if he were to return to seek revenge on the wrestler who got him fired?
In recent years, Kennedy has kept busy working the indies and training students at his wrestling school, The Academy. He is currently 48 years old, but he still might have enough gas in the tank for one more run in WWE. If he does return to the Stamford-based promotion, there's an argument to be made that Kennedy should return to the brand where he found the most success, SmackDown.
Mr. Kennedy last wrestled in WWE on the May 25, 2009, edition of Monday Night RAW. On that episode of RAW, Kennedy represented the Los Angeles Lakers in a winning effort in a 10-man tag team match against Randy Orton's team, which represented the Denver Nuggets. This match would lead to the end of Kennedy's WWE career, considering that Orton would complain to management, claiming that Kennedy dropped The Viper on his neck during a belly-to-back suplex attempt. John Cena would allegedly back up Orton's assertion that Mr. Kennedy was an unsafe worker. Kennedy would blame both Orton and Cena for his firing.
What if Kennedy were to return to WWE to seek revenge on Randy Orton and possibly even John Cena? Kennedy could also spark a feud with LA Knight out of jealousy. Mr. Kennedy and Knight have similar abilities when it comes to charisma, and perhaps Kennedy's character is jealous of Knight's push. He could claim that Knight is a 'Mr. Kennedy ripoff/wannabe' who doesn't deserve the push that he should have received many years ago.
Kennedy has remained active on the indie circuit since leaving WWE and TNA. Most recently, Ken Anderson defeated Kit Sackett for the vacant RUGGEDpro Heritage Championship on March 30, 2024. What does the future have in store for Mr. Kennedy...Kennedy?
#1. Mickie James returns to WWE in an authority role alongside SmackDown GM Nick Aldis
Earlier this year, Mickie James signed with Ohio Valley Wrestling. James has multiple roles in OVW, including creative director, head of female talent, and executive producer of shows. However, this hasn't stopped James from teasing a return to WWE.
Despite her current obligations with OVW, Mickie James is still listed as a pro wrestling free agent on Fightful's webpage. Perhaps this indicates that James could potentially work in major wrestling promotions such as WWE and AEW while retaining her roles with Al Snow's Kentucky-based organization. She most recently competed as a wrestler in Australia, defeating Vix Crow (formerly known as Alicia Fox) at OPW H.E.R. on April 12, 2024.
In 2023, there were rumors and reports of Mickie James potentially making her WWE return as an authority figure, alongside her husband Nick Aldis. While she didn't return to the Stamford-based promotion last year, she could join her husband in 2024 and assist him as co-GM of SmackDown. Currently, Aldis is the sole General Manager of the blue brand, but that could change if Hardcore Country comes back into the picture.
WWE has released Mickie James on two occasions. The five-time WWE Women's Champion was let go by the Stamford-based company in April 2010. She would go on to find tremendous success in TNA, becoming a multi-time Knockouts Champion before returning to WWE in 2016. The former Divas Champion went titleless during her second run with the company before she was released in April 2021 and controversially had her belongings sent back to her in a trash bag. Will the third time be the charm for Mickie if she decides to return to WWE?
