WWE: 5 Biggest comebacks of 2019

Bray Wyatt and several others have made quite the comeback this year.
Bray Wyatt and several others have made quite the comeback this year.

Comebacks are a very complicated thing to do in pro wrestling and the results will vary depending on exactly how the plan is executed. For example, WWE Creative could have all the ideas in the world for a particular Superstar's return, but if it doesn't resonate with the audience, it's all meaningless.

On the other hand, a comeback can also take the WWE Universe by surprise and enthrall everyone with an engaging future storyline. A well booked comeback can also be a way to build a Superstar back up from the doldrums of the midcard into a main event contender at the very top of the card.

With that stated and another year of magnificent comebacks behind us, here are the five biggest comebacks of 2019. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure tell us what you thought was the biggest comeback of the year.


#5 Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin couldn't just wait to be king.
Baron Corbin couldn't just wait to be king.

What a year for Baron Corbin! King Corbin has run the gauntlet this year and while he has come up short on occasion, he has also won when it counted the most. In fact, between retiring Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 35, winning the King of The Ring in the fall, and defeating Roman Reigns on two separate occasions, Corbin is a man on fire.

Corbin had virtually nothing going for him at the beginning of the year and was still getting heel heat for his failed run as general manager of Monday Night RAW. Fortunately for Corbin, after all that, he was seemingly fast tracked to several high profile spots and has made the most of each of them.

In the end, if Corbin was a before and after photo, he would definitely show great gains made over the course of one calendar year. The before & after would also show a Superstar with limitless potential heading into 2020 and beyond. Whether WWE and Corbin fully capitalize on that potential remains to be seen, but the momentum is definitely there for him to do something big.

#4 Kofi Kingston

What didn't Kofi Kingston accomplish in 2019?
What didn't Kofi Kingston accomplish in 2019?

What a year 2019 was for Kofi Kingston. Sure, it started off with a loss in the final moments of a WWE Championship match inside the Elimination Chamber, but that crushing defeat was what ultimately lit the spark for KofiMania. In fact, between the standing ovation that Kingston received after that match and the way Vince McMahon continued to screw him out of the title picture, it's no surprise that Kofimania was born.

And then, it happened. In the blink of an eye, Kingston went from talented midcard Superstar to the biggest thing in all of WWE. Fans were behind it, the company seemed to be behind it, and it all culminated in what was arguably one of the most momentous title changes in WrestleMania history.

Kingston, a man often overlooked throughout his career, proved many wrong and defeated fellow underdog Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35. He would then go on to hold the title for 6 months and was booked quite dominantly throughout his run. He even defeated Randy Orton at SummerSlam, which only further solidified his WWE Championship reign.

In the end, Kingston lost the title unceremoniously in a 10-second squash match to Brock Lesnar, but even that didn't take away from the magic that WWE created here. Interestingly enough, it seems to have started the underdog story of Kofi Kingston all over again and made him even hungrier to get back to the top.

#3 CM Punk

And just like that, CM Punk set the pro wrestling world on fire.
And just like that, CM Punk set the pro wrestling world on fire.

CM Punk hasn't even stepped inside a WWE ring yet and is still one of the biggest comebacks of this entire year. Of course that probably has to do with the fact that he is a part time co-host on WWE Backstage on FOX, but the internet still blew up over it and wrestling fans all over the world are collectively licking their chops for his return.

Now this doesn't mean that a return will ever happen or that his role on WWE Backstage is permanent, but it has lead to renewed interest in a potential CM Punk return to the company. It has also lead to some of Backstage's best ratings to date, which is at least helping WWE in their relationship with FOX Sports.

Again, nothing in this world is guaranteed, but never say never when it comes to CM Punk stepping back between the ropes. Beyond that, just having him back in association with WWE is huge for both Punk and the company. In fact, it gives CM Punk a chance to erase the memory of his tumultuous exit from WWE and gives the company a chance to get their former top Superstar back between the ropes.

#2 Roman Reigns

2019 was the year that The WWE Universe finally got behind Roman Reigns.
2019 was the year that The WWE Universe finally got behind Roman Reigns.

Roman Reigns was virtually booed out of the building two years ago, especially during his runs in the title picture. He has since become a fan favorite after his heroic return in 2019. Of course some of that had to do with his real life battle with leukemia, which caused fans to shift from booing him to outright loving him.

His battle with the horrific disease is exactly what humanized him in the eyes of the WWE Universe. It was the fact that for a moment, Roman Reigns wasn't a scripted figure propped up and fast-tracked by management. He was a man facing a very serious battle with an illness that kills thousands every year and fans instantly started to relate and rally around the WWE Superstar.

A hero's welcome may have been imminent given his circumstances, but what WWE was going to do with him afterwards was a much different story. Interestingly enough, WWE didn't fast track him to the top this time and have been steadily doling him out and getting fans behind him with a slow build.

From his epic return earlier this year, to re-joining The Shield, to defeating Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 35, to teaming up with The Undertaker at Greatest Royal Rumble, Reigns has done it all this year. He has also won the hearts of the WWE Universe along the way and did so in spectacular fashion.

#1 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt

Who knew Bray Wyatt would take the world by storm in 2019?
Who knew Bray Wyatt would take the world by storm in 2019?

Whether you refer to him as Bray Wyatt or The Fiend, he is by far the biggest comeback of 2019 and maybe even the entire decade. Wyatt is just one of those guys that has been passed over or booked wrong so many times, that when he returned earlier this year as The Fiend, everyone knew there was something special in store. Still, not even the most loyal Wyatt supporter could have predicted how successful a 2019 the WWE Superstar would have.

In fact, from the way WWE built up his eventual debut, to the absolutely devilish theme music that played during his entrance, the company did everything to make Bray Wyatt their biggest creation. They also gave him a nice side gimmick as host of The Firefly Fun House, which has allowed them to hide some pretty sinister symbolism along the way.

In all honesty, The Fiend/ Bray Wyatt persona has created a character that can explain itself much better than the original Wyatt ever could. Sure, there isn't as much ranting and raving, or those long mesmerizing monologues that made Wyatt big in the first place, but maybe that's a good thing.

In the end, WWE did something big with The Fiend in 2019 and it has changed the very landscape of the company. They also created arguably their best supernatural character since The Undertaker in the 1990's and could very well follow up on that with a dream match between the two in the future.

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