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Pro wrestling returns are one of the easiest guarantees of a huge reaction from the audience. One of the key sayings that is never more true than in these businesses is that "absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Whether from injury or a hiatus from a particular promotion, seeing your favorite wrestler make a comeback will always generate a massive pop from the fans.
Several key factors make for a truly memorable return in wrestling. The timing helps a lot with these returns. The longer a particular superstar is out of action or away from the business, it helps for a bigger euphoria when they come back. The location does everything at the moment as well. The wrestler's connection with the fans allows for greater meaning for these returns.
There are surprise returns that shock the crowd and create iconic scenes. Some build anticipation beforehand and still produce surreal moments that are remembered forever. In this article, let's look at the five greatest pro wrestling returns of all time.
#5 Ric Flair returns to WCW (WCW Nitro 9/14/1998)
Another key factor for incredible pro wrestling returns is the circumstances for why the person was taken away. Even during their best years, WCW had a lot of issues going on behind the scenes. Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff had several differences backstage, but it all came to a head between 1997-1998.
At the start of the year, Ric Flair's contract expired and he signed a letter of intent to sign a new deal during negotiations. However, he refused to participate in a throwaway segment on the April 9th Thunder taping and decided to attend his son Reid's amateur wrestling meet. Flair was suspended and sued for breach of contract.
Although many stars had made the jump back and forth between WCW and WWF during this time, Ric Flair could not get an offer due to the ongoing suit, which forced his return to WCW. Before this, the Nature Boy had dissolved the Four Horsemen after Arn Anderson retired due to a neck injury.
After months of begging from Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and J.J. Dillion, Arn Anderson finally decided to reform the Four Horsemen in Greensville, South Carolina. Arn introduced Steve McMichael, Benoit, and the newest member Malenko to the Horsemen, all with tuxedos on. Anderson then uttered the famous line, "My God! I forgot the fourth Horseman! RIC FLAIR! GET ON DOWN HERE!"
Ric Flair returned to WCW with tears in his eyes to an enormous reaction from the Greensville crowd in the iconic Nitro moment. Flair thanked the fans and then cut a scathing promo, ripping apart Eric Bischoff for how he treated him. It was a masterful return with a loud crowd, a terrific set-up and an all-time great promo.
#4 Triple H returns at MSG (WWE Raw 1/7/2002)
As previously mentioned, location is essential in legendary pro wrestling returns. Madison Square Garden is considered the Mecca when it comes to WWE due to their long history at the World's Most Famous Arena. John Cena had an epic surprise return from injury at Royal Rumble 2008 that is worth mentioning, but nothing was like Triple H's return in 2002.
During the Attitude Era, there might not have been a more dastardly heel than Triple H. The Game was universally hated and was the villain that made superstars like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mankind even more popular. In 2001, he went down with a serious quadriceps injury that took him out of action for almost a year.
In the weeks leading up to his magical return, WWE hyped his comeback via emotional vignettes with U2's 'Beautiful Day' playing over it. This helped build a great deal of anticipation and also helped fans who hated Triple H to gain more of an appreciation for him due to how hard he was working to return.
When his music hit on the January 7th, 2002 episode of Monday Night Raw, there was a visceral roar from the crowd unlike anything heard at that time. In that moment, the fans forgot all of the evil things that The Game had done before and just showered him with love during his return.
It stands as one of the biggest reactions in MSG history and one of the best WWE returns ever.
#3 The Hardy Boyz return to WWE (WWE WrestleMania 33)
WrestleMania is the biggest event possible to have a long-awaited return. Dating back years, the grandest stage of them all has seen Miss Elizabeth, The Ultimate Warrior and Rowdy Roddy Piper make returns. However, there might not have been one any bigger than the return at WrestleMania 33.
In the months leading up to the event, former WWE Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz were in a long dispute with their employer, IMPACT Wrestling. After the two brothers became one of the hottest acts in the industry with their Broken Universe antics, creative differences led to Matt and Jeff leaving the promotion following their contract expiring.
The Hardys went on an "Expedition for Gold" and won tag team titles across different promotions. Many fans speculated about whether they would make their return to the WWE after all these years.
Before the Raw Tag Team Championships Ladder Match at WrestleMania 33, the New Day came down to introduce another tag team being added to the bout with the Good Brothers, the Bar and the team of Enzo and Big Cass. While many fans believed it would be the New Day themselves, Hardy Boyz's music hit and received an incredible reaction from the Orlando crowd.
Emotions poured out of the WWE Universe. Some fans were crying and hugging those around them. It was the most memorable moment of the evening. The Hardy Boyz had returned home, and it felt so good. They also won the Raw Tag Team Championships in a fun Ladder Match on this show.
It was one of the most unforgettable memories in WrestleMania history.
#2 Edge returns to WWE (WWE Royal Rumble 2020)
With all the fondly remembered returns in WWE, it is crazy to think that the greatest might have just happened over a year ago. Edge is one of the most decorated superstars in WWE history and was a mainstay for the company dating back to the Attitude Era. Generations of fans have seen Edge in one iteration of his character or another.
In 2011, Edge was forced to retire from in-ring competition due to years of damage to his surgically repaired neck. Over the course of the next nine years, Edge would make recurring appearances, but it looked more and more like his in-ring career was in the rearview mirror.
In the months leading up to Royal Rumble 2020, Edge discovered that his neck was stronger than in the years past. He also speared Elias at Summerslam 2019, his first physical action in a WWE ring since retirement. Things were falling in place for one of the biggest comebacks any fan had witnessed.
Edge made his triumphant return as the #21 entrant in the 2020 Men's Royal Rumble Match. The Houston crowd was molten hot for his comeback and showered him with love. This was a man with deep love and passion for the business, who could finally step back in the ring where he belonged. It was a glorious moment in every way possible.
Emotions were written all over Edge's face. The Rated R Superstar was choking up as soon as he made his entrance. He added to an already tremendous Royal Rumble Match and gave the fans a memory that would last forever. This will truly go down as one of the greatest Royal Rumble returns ever.
#1 CM Punk returns to pro wrestling (AEW Rampage - The First Dance 8/20/2021)
It might be recency bias, but fans may have just witnessed the greatest pro wrestling return of all time. For how great it was to see Edge return after nine years away from the ring, CM Punk's AEW debut may have been more special.
In 2014, CM Punk chose to leave the business after a huge falling out with WWE. The Straight Edge Superstar felt mistreated and misused by the company after years of differences with Vince McMahon and Triple H. After walking away and months going by, WWE sent the release papers to Punk on his wedding day to officially sever ties.
For the past seven years, fans across multiple promotions have chanted, "CM PUNK!" at shows. This wasn't always just about calling for the man himself. It was also a rallying cry to push back against what was being given to fans and wanting more from their favorite wrestling promotions.
With so many years going by, many people never thought that they would see CM Punk return. When rumors circulated that Punk was considering an in-ring return, a lot of fans were in denial. It seemed for so long that he wasn't even interested in the industry anymore.
CM Punk's AEW debut had everything fans could have asked for. It took place in Chicago, where Punk has long been a hometown hero. Punk's return to wrestling was with AEW, which has firmly cemented itself as the alternative to WWE. The company is anti-establishment, presenting mainstream wrestling that isn't the norm.
The presentation of his return was pitch-perfect, with his entrance being drawn out and shot beautifully. Emotions poured out of Punk and the Chicago crowd in a way that created a surreal scene. His heartfelt speech was outstanding and addressed everything that it needed to. CM Punk genuinely addressed why he had to leave and why he was back.
CM Punk also set up his return match at AEW All Out against Darby Allin superbly. Regardless of how anyone might have felt about him or whether they experienced the height of his career in WWE, no one could legitimately deny how special this came across. That's why CM Punk's AEW debut is the greatest pro wrestling return of all time.
