A comeback is something people love. Watching a wrestler return after several setbacks, injuries, or retirement can be inspirational. The anticipation in the air, the roar of the crowd as the familiar music hits, and the ensuing chaos are truly thrilling to witness. Let’s revisit 13 memorable wrestling returns that left fans buzzing with excitement!
1. Jeff Hardy – Impact! Wrestling Return (January 4, 2010)
Jeff Hardy makes his surprise return to TNA Impact! at the Tennessee State Fairground Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on January 4, 2010. Photo Credits: TNA.
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After departing WWE in August 2009, following creative frustrations and a desire for fresh opportunities, Jeff Hardy spent nearly five months away from televised competition.
During that hiatus, Hardy negotiated with multiple promotions and wrestled on the independent circuit to maintain ring shape, but rumors swirled among fans and insiders about whether "The Charismatic Enigma" would ever return to a major televised stage.
On the January 4, 2010 episode of TNA Impact!, broadcasting live from Nashville’s Tennessee State Fairground Arena, the Impact! announcers were hyping a standard tag match when Hardy’s music exploded over the PA.
He charged down the aisle in full ring gear, leapt over the guardrail, and cleared Homicide and Hernandez from the ring in less than thirty seconds. Hardy then delivered a Twist of Fate to Homicide before planting his trademark Swanton Bomb, instantly reigniting his feud with AJ Styles and signaling the beginning of his most acclaimed run outside WWE. This return demonstrated not only why audiences had missed his daredevil style but also how a well-timed surprise can redefine an entire promotion’s momentum.
2. New World Order – WWE No Way Out Wrestling Return (February 17, 2002)
Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall reunite as the New World Order during WWE’s No Way Out pay-per-view at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California on February 17, 2002. Photo Credit: WWE.
After WCW was sold to Vince McMahon’s WWE in March 2001, fans eagerly awaited the arrival of arguably WCW’s biggest stars. Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall had vanished from WWE television as the company worked through contract terms and creative plans for integrating the former rivals.
For nearly a year, speculation ran wild among wrestling message boards and fan forums about when—or if—the nWo would ever unite again under the WWE banner.
The answer came at No Way Out 2002 in Sacramento’s Arco Arena. Just as the main event between Chris Jericho and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin ended, the lights cut out and a grainy nWo logo flashed on the TitanTron. Moments later, the familiar strains of Hogan’s theme rang out. Nash and Hall sprinted down the aisle from opposite sides before Hogan appeared through a hole in the stage floor.
In a matter of seconds, the trio surrounded Austin in the ring, stared down the stunned crowd, and reminded everyone why the nWo had once ruled wrestling. The roar from the audience made it clear that this reunion was every bit as electric as their heyday in WCW.
3. Sting – WWE Debut 13 Years After WCW Closure (November 23, 2014)
Sting stands across the ring from Triple H as he arrives in WWE for the very first time to assist Dolph Ziggler and Team Cena against The Authority at Survivor Series 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 23, 2014. Photo Credit: WWE.
Between his WCW finale in March 2001 and that night in Boston, Sting had forged a prominent second act in TNA Impact Wrestling, debuting in June 2003. Over more than a decade with TNA, he captured multiple World Heavyweight Championships, headlined Bound for Glory, and battled top talents like Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, and Samoa Joe, all while honing his "Crow" persona for live crowds around the globe.
The moment arrived at Survivor Series 2014. After Triple H’s entrance, the lights dimmed and Sting’s eerie guitar riff echoed through TD Garden. Clad in his signature black-and-white face paint and leather trench coat, he appeared at the top of the ramp, pausing as the arena exploded in cheers.
Striding to the ring, he confronted Triple H and the stunned members of the WWE locker room, who flooded the stage to witness the historic crossover.
Sting’s arrival signified his first steps inside a WWE ring, fulfilling a narrative that fans had followed for over a decade.
Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring after his surprise return to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in Arlington, Texas on April 3, 2022. Photo Credit: WWE.
When Cody Rhodes walked through the curtain at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on April 3, 2022, it marked his first WWE match in nearly six years.
Rhodes had departed WWE in July 2016 amid creative frustrations, reinventing himself as "The American Nightmare" on the independent scene before co-founding All Elite Wrestling in January 2019. There, he became one of AEW’s cornerstone stars, capturing the TNT Championship twice and headlining multiple pay-per-views, yet fans always wondered if he would ever reclaim the spotlight on WWE’s grandest stage.
That question was answered during Night Two of WrestleMania 38. After Seth Rollins had bested Baron Corbin, the familiar notes of Rhodes’s theme song hit, and the arena erupted.
Rhodes’ return set the stage for his journey to WWE’s 2023 men’s Royal Rumble victory and eventual World Heavyweight Championship win, cementing his status as one of wrestling’s most compelling comeback stories.
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5. Roman Reigns – SummerSlam WWE Return (August 23, 2020)
Roman Reigns attacks Bray Wyatt after his surprise return to WWE at SummerSlam 2020 inside the WWE ThunderDome at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, on August 23, 2020. Photo Credit: WWE.
After stepping away from television in March 2020 amid the pandemic and a brief hiatus to reassess his character direction, Roman Reigns returned to WWE programming nearly five months later. During that time, he filmed promos at his home in Pensacola, Florida, hinting at a darker persona that diverged from his previous "Big Dog" image.
The moment arrived at SummerSlam 2020, held in WWE’s virtual ThunderDome. Following the Falls Count Anywhere match between "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman for the Universal Championship, Reigns’s music hit unexpectedly.
He emerged and laid them out with a series of Superman punches and a devastating Spear. In announcing himself as the "Tribal Chief," Reigns adopted a commanding new persona, aligning with Paul Heyman as his special counsel and embarking on a reign of dominance that reshaped WWE’s main event scene.
6. The Hardy Boyz – WWE Return at WrestleMania 33 (April 2, 2017)
The Hardy Boyz winning the RAW Tag Team Championship Belt. Photo Credit: WWE.
Following Jeff Hardy’s 2009 WWE departure to heal lingering injuries and Matt Hardy’s 2010 release over creative frustrations, the Hardy Boyz spent the next six-plus years wrestling for various promotions, most prominently with TNA from January 2010 to early 2017.
During that TNA run, highlighted by the "Broken" Matt Hardy storyline alongside Brother Nero (Jeff), the brothers reinvented their in-ring style and cultivated a devoted following, but fans longed for their return to WWE’s grandest stage.
On April 2, 2017, WrestleMania 33 delivered that moment. With The New Day already in the ring as surprise participants in the Raw Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way Ladder Match, "loaded" music teased a fourth entrant.
When the Hardy Boyz theme finally hit, the crowd exploded. Jeff emerged through the ring apron, and Matt slid in from the opposite side, catching the defending champions off guard. Moments later, they climbed the ladder together and retrieved the titles, marking their first WWE championship win in over 12 years and cementing their comeback as one of WrestleMania’s most unforgettable surprises.
7. John Cena – Royal Rumble Surprise Return (January 27, 2008)
John Cena makes an unexpected return from injury as the No. 30 entrant in the 2008 Royal Rumble match at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 27, 2008. Photo Credit: WWE.
John Cena tore his right pectoral muscle during a tag match on the October 22, 2007 episode of Raw, forcing him out of action with an expected recovery of six to eight months.
Despite the lengthy prognosis, Cena underwent surgery and intensive rehabilitation, fueling speculation on wrestling forums about whether the "face that runs the place" would return in time to be part of the upcoming WrestleMania plans.
The question was answered at the 2008 Royal Rumble in Madison Square Garden. As the match reached its climax, the arena announcer called for the final entrant, number 30, only to have Cena’s unmistakable theme hit.
The crowd erupted as he sprinted to the ring, immediately eliminating Triple H with a surprise Attitude Adjustment. With that elimination, Cena won the Rumble, securing his spot in the main event of WrestleMania XXIV and showcasing a comeback that outpaced initial recovery estimates.
8. The Rock – WWE Return After Nearly Seven Years (February 14, 2011)
The Rock cuts his first in-ring WWE promo in nearly seven years, announcing himself host of WrestleMania XXVII on WWE Raw at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 2011. Photo Credit: WWE.
Nearly seven years after his last WWE match, The Rock returned to Raw on Valentine’s Day 2011 to announce himself as host of WrestleMania XXVII.
He launched into a scathing promo, reminding fans why he was "The Great One" and taunting John Cena for holding the WWE Championship in his absence.
Midway through the exchange, The Miz and his protégé Alex Riley blindsided The Rock, only for Johnson to fend them off and chase them from the ring, ending with Cena levelling him with an Attitude Adjustment to cement their feud.
At WrestleMania XXVII on April 3, 2011, The Rock opened the show by restarting the WWE Championship main event between John Cena and The Miz as a No Disqualification match. Seeking revenge for Cena’s Raw attack, he blindsided Cena with a Rock Bottom, allowing The Miz to steal the pin and retain his title.
After the bell, The Rock delivered the People’s Elbow to The Miz before shaking hands with Cena, setting the stage for their WrestleMania XXVIII showdown one year later.
9. CM Punk – Return to Wrestling at AEW Rampage: The First Dance (August 20, 2021)
CM Punk makes his surprise AEW debut as "The First Dance" closes at Rampage in the United Center, Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2021. Photo Credit: AEW.
When CM Punk walked through the curtain at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2021, at the First Dance event on AEW Rampage, it ended a vow he made on his way out of WWE in January 2014. Citing burnout, creative frustrations, and a desire to protect his health after years of grueling schedules, Punk swore he would never lace up boots again.
In the seven-and-a-half years since his final match in WWE, fans speculated whether "The Best in the World" would ever return to a wrestling ring. The First Dance event in Chicago provided the answer.
The sold-out crowd erupted as Punk jogged to the ring, pausing to soak in the cheers before embracing his wife, AJ Lee, in the crowd, in a raw, emotional moment.
Stepping into the ring for the first time in nearly eight years, he pointed to the AEW logo on the mat, raised his fist, and declared that he was "back where he belonged."
The night closed with Punk attacking both Cage and Omega, setting the stage for a nearly three-year AEW run before returning to WWE on October 23, 2023.
10. Ric Flair – WCW Nitro Return (September 14, 1998)
Ric Flair fights back tears as he makes his emotional return to WCW Monday Nitro at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi on September 14, 1998. Photo Credit: WWE.
After WCW World War III in 1998, Eric Bischoff publicly ordered Ric Flair to "disband" the Four Horsemen, then sued him when Flair missed a WCW Thunder taping, reportedly to attend his son Reid’s wrestling tournament. In storyline, Bischoff had fired Flair for "no-showing" and dissolved the Horsemen, leaving "The Nature Boy" off TV for four weeks amid chants of "We want Flair!"
When Nitro rolled into Greenville, South Carolina, on September 14, the evening’s tension peaked. Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were gloating over their latest victory when the lights went out and Arn Anderson’s theme hit.
Anderson emerged to reforge the Four Horsemen, but the true shock came moments later. Flair’s iconic guitar riff echoed through the arena, and he appeared in a black tuxedo jacket and bow tie, eyes brimming with tears.
Stepping into the ring, he paused for the crowd’s deafening ovation before fixing Bischoff with an icy glare and shouting, "Fire me? I’m already fired!" Then, with raw emotion, he called Bischoff a liar, a cheat, and "a no-good son of a b****," before embracing Anderson and standing tall alongside his reunited comrades. It was a masterclass in storytelling and one of wrestling’s most unforgettable comebacks.
11. Ultimate Warrior – WrestleMania VIII Return After 9-Month Hiatus (April 5, 1992)
The Ultimate Warrior stands in the ring on his WrestleMania VIII return after a nine-month hiatus, racing in to rescue Hulk Hogan from Sid Justice and Papa Shango at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis on April 5, 1992. Photo Credit: WWE.
The Ultimate Warrior’s exit from the WWF in late 1991 stemmed from a combination of contract disputes and creative disagreements with management. After headlining Survivor Series in November 1991, Warrior quietly disappeared from television as negotiations with Vince McMahon’s office broke down over salary demands and character direction.
Behind the scenes, he had grown frustrated with the pace of his storylines and sought a new deal that would grant him greater creative control. With no resolution reached, the company chose to part ways, leaving fans puzzled as to why one of the era’s most vibrant personalities had abruptly vanished.
Nearly five months later, on April 5, 1992, WrestleMania VIII in Indianapolis provided the stage for Warrior’s long-awaited return. Following the main event between Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice, the broadcast seemed destined to close on a discordant note, until the arena darkened and Warrior’s theme blared through the Hoosier Dome speakers.
Sprinting to the ring in his distinctive face paint and tassels, he cleared Sid and Papa Shango from the squared circle, rescuing Hogan from a two-on-one beatdown and rekindling his alliance with the company’s top star. The pop of excitement from the crowd was instant and overwhelming, marking not just a triumphant comeback but the beginning of Warrior’s final, memorable run in the then WWF.
12. Edge – Royal Rumble Return After Retirement (January 26, 2020)
Edge makes his shocking comeback return as the 21st entrant in the 2020 WWE Royal Rumble match at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on January 26, 2020. Photo Credit: WWE.
Forced to retire in April 2011 after unbearable neck injuries, Adam "Edge" Copeland left the ring at the top of his game, holding both the World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. For nearly nine years, fans speculated whether the Rated-R Superstar’s career was truly over as he watched from ringside, until his name lit up the Royal Rumble lineup in Houston.
When entry number 21 was announced, the arena buzzed with disbelief. Then, his entrance music, "Metalingus," shattered the silence, and Edge burst through the curtain, sprinting down the ramp with adrenaline-fueled urgency.
He cleared the stage of competitors, including Christian and Randy Orton, before climbing into the ring to a deafening ovation. Every "Welcome back!" chant echoed decades of history, marking Edge’s official return to active competition and rewriting the narrative of impossible retirements.
Edge went on to outlast 29 other Superstars, finishing as runner-up to eventual winner Drew McIntyre, and would later capture the 2021 men’s Royal Rumble victory. His 2020 comeback set the stage for a second career resurgence.
13. Triple H – Return to WWE After a Career-Threatening Injury (January 7, 2002)
Triple H stands in the ring at Madison Square Garden as the roar of the crowd greets his return to Raw on January 7, 2002. Photo Credit: WWE.
In May 2001, Triple H suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in WWE history when his left quadriceps tore completely off the bone during a Raw tag match. Despite finishing the bout alongside Stone Cold Steve Austin, he was sidelined indefinitely and faced the real possibility of never wrestling again.
Months of grueling surgery and rehabilitation followed. Then, on January 7, 2002, at Madison Square Garden, after weeks of cryptic video packages chronicling his recovery, the arena lights cut out and Triple H’s familiar theme hit.
Overcome with emotion, Triple H paused at the top of the ramp before marching to the ring, soaking in the applause that moved him to tears. His triumphant return not only completed a remarkable comeback story but also marked the beginning of a new chapter, culminating in a Royal Rumble victory later that month and a main-event showdown at WrestleMania X-8.
Wrestling Comebacks That Truly Stuck With Us
Jeff Hardy, Triple H, and CM Punk are among thirteen wrestlers whose unforgettable comeback returns electrified audiences and reshaped their legacies. Photo Credit: TNA, WWE, and AEW.
From Ric Flair’s tearful resurgence alongside the Four Horsemen to CM Punk’s seismic AEW homecoming, the stories of wrestling’s greatest returns share a common thread: the power to transform doubt into exhilaration.
Each comeback, whether fueled by injury, creative disputes, or long-promised debuts, reminds fans why they invest so deeply in these larger-than-life figures.
Sting’s WWE arrival fulfilled a decade-long question, Cody Rhodes’s WrestleMania surprise reignited dreams of redemption, and Roman Reigns’s Tribal Chief emergence reshaped the main event landscape. The Hardy Boyz soared back to title glory, John Cena defied medical odds to win the Royal Rumble, and The Rock’s return injected Hollywood charisma into WWE’s epic narrative. Ultimate Warrior’s mid-card rescue and Triple H’s emotional MSG homecoming further underscore wrestling’s unique blend of athleticism and storytelling.
These moments capture the essence of the sport: when the lights go dark and one familiar riff hits, every fan knows they’re witnessing something unforgettable.
Through pain, frustration, and uncertainty, the promise of a return keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, proof that in professional wrestling, comebacks are more than storylines; they’re moments of collective triumph that resonate long after the final bell.
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