5 most unexpected WWE returns of all time

#1: The Rock was revealed as the host of WrestleMania 27 when he returned to WWE in 2011

The Rock slowly became a huge Hollywood star following his first departure from WWE back in 2004. At the time, there was no indication whatsoever that he would end up being the host for WWE WrestleMania 27.

It may sound a bit too strange now, but out of the many names that were rumored to host the show, The Rock wasn't one of them.

Other WWE superstars and the production staff were largely unaware of The Rock's return. On the day of the surprise reveal, he deliberately arrived late to the building. He then posted a photo of himself filming a backstage promo just an hour before his return.

For the first time in almost seven years, The Rock returned to WWE RAW and blew the roof off the arena on February 14, 2011. The overarching purpose behind The Rock's return was to kickstart a long-term storyline with John Cena. This feud produced two unforgettable matches at two subsequent WWE WrestleMania shows.

In the modern era of WWE, a lot of major returns get leaked by the dirt sheets. But The Rock's 2011 return remains one of the few examples that prove otherwise.