10 WWE Returns That Were Genuine Surprises

Wrestlelamia

28 Dec 202309:10

Summary

TLDRThis video script from Wrestle LaMania highlights 10 surprise returns in WWE history that managed to stay under wraps until the big reveal. From Christian's unexpected comeback at the 2021 Royal Rumble to Edge's emotional return at the 2020 event, the list showcases WWE's ability to keep secrets in the age of social media. Each entry details the circumstances and fan reactions, emphasizing the excitement and impact of these genuine surprises.

Takeaways

🤫 Social media and digital news have made it challenging for WWE to keep wrestler returns a secret, often leading to leaks that ruin surprises for fans.
🎉 Despite these challenges, WWE has successfully managed several surprise returns, making them memorable events for the audience.
🏆 Christian's return at the 2021 Royal Rumble was unexpected, as he had seemingly retired and was reported to never wrestle again.
🎉 Carito's surprise return at the 2023 Backlash event in Puerto Rico was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, leading to a full-time return contract with WWE.
🔒 Nia Jax's return at Roar 2023 was kept top secret, showing WWE's ability to maintain confidentiality for surprise returns.
👑 John Cena, known for his surprise returns, managed to shock fans at both the 2021 and 2023 Money in the Bank events without any prior leaks.
🥊 Brock Lesnar's return at SummerSlam 2021 was a total shock, as there were no indications he would be back, and his subsequent run was highly praised.
🏆 The Rock's return as the guest host of WrestleMania 27 in 2011 was a major surprise and one of his greatest moments on WWE's flagship show.
🎉 Roman Reigns' return at SummerSlam 2020 was perfectly timed with the event's tagline 'you'll never see it coming', after he had stepped back due to the pandemic.
🤹 The Hardy Boyz's surprise return at WrestleMania 33 was a crowd-pleaser, and their use of social media to mislead fans about their presence was effective.
🎭 Shane McMahon's dramatic return on Raw in 2016 after a 7-year absence was a shock, with no prior indications of his return to WWE.
🥇 Edge's return at the 2020 Royal Rumble after a nine-year retirement was an emotional and unexpected moment, with WWE going to great lengths to keep it a secret.

Q & A

Why has it become difficult for WWE to keep wrestler returns a secret?
-The rise of social media and digital news has made it challenging for WWE to keep wrestler returns a secret, as leaks often occur online, ruining the intended surprise for fans.
How did WWE manage to surprise fans with Christian's return at the 2021 Royal Rumble?
-WWE successfully kept Christian's return a secret by planning it under difficult circumstances of the Thunderdome, where fans expected a lack of surprise returns due to the absence of physical fans.
What was the significance of Carito's return at the 2023 Backlash event?
-Carito's return at the 2023 Backlash event was significant because it was completely unexpected and led to an overwhelmingly positive response from fans, resulting in WWE offering him a full-time return contract.
How did WWE maintain the secrecy of Nia Jax's return in 2023?
-WWE managed to keep Nia Jax's return a secret by not having it leaked in the rundown released online before each of WWE's flagship shows, which usually contains planned returns or cameos.
Why are John Cena's surprise returns considered special?
-John Cena's surprise returns are special because he has consistently managed to return without anyone knowing in advance, even in the age of social media, creating memorable moments for the fans.
What was the impact of Brock Lesnar's surprise return at SummerSlam 2021?
-Brock Lesnar's surprise return at SummerSlam 2021 was impactful as it led to a new top feud in WWE and showcased a new side of Lesnar as a babyface, which was well-received by the fans.
Why was The Rock's return on Raw in 2011 a significant moment?
-The Rock's return on Raw in 2011 was significant because it was a major surprise, and according to The Rock himself, it was the greatest moment he had ever experienced on WWE's premiere show.
What made Roman Reigns' return at SummerSlam 2020 unexpected?
-Roman Reigns' return at SummerSlam 2020 was unexpected because he had taken a step back from WWE during the pandemic due to safety concerns, and there were no hints or rumors about his return.
How did the Hardy Boyz manage to keep their return at WrestleMania 33 a secret?
-The Hardy Boyz kept their return a secret by using social media to their advantage, posting an old picture to make it seem like they were flying home, which fooled most fans.
What was the reaction to Shane McMahon's return on Raw in 2016?
-Shane McMahon's return on Raw in 2016 was met with shock among the fan base, as it was completely unexpected and marked his first appearance in almost 7 years.
Why was Edge's return at the 2020 Royal Rumble particularly emotional for fans?
-Edge's return at the 2020 Royal Rumble was emotional for fans because he was a Hall of Famer who had seemingly retired in 2011 due to a severe injury, making his comeback a significant and unexpected event.

Outlines

00:00

🤼‍♂️ Top Secret WWE Returns: A Challenge in the Digital Age

The script discusses the difficulty of keeping WWE wrestler returns a secret in the era of social media and digital news. It highlights that despite numerous leaks spoiling surprises, WWE has managed to pull off several memorable returns without leaks. The script introduces a list of 10 genuine surprise returns in WWE history, emphasizing the importance of secrecy and the impact of successful surprise returns on fans.

05:02

🏆 Memorable WWE Returns: The Art of Surprise and Impact

This paragraph delves into 10 specific instances of WWE wrestlers making surprise returns that genuinely shocked and excited fans. It includes the unexpected return of Christian at the 2021 Royal Rumble after apparent retirement, Carito's return at the 2023 Backlash event which led to a full-time contract, and Nia Jax's secret return on Smackdown. The paragraph also mentions John Cena's repeated successful surprise returns, Brock Lesnar's babyface return at SummerSlam 2021, and The Rock's hosting of WrestleMania 27, all of which were kept secret and had a significant impact on the audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Social Media

Social media refers to digital platforms that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a factor that has made it challenging for WWE to keep wrestler returns a secret, as information can be easily leaked online, thus spoiling the surprise for fans.

💡Digital News

Digital news encompasses news content distributed through online platforms rather than traditional print or broadcast media. The script mentions digital news as another avenue where WWE surprises can be leaked, impacting the element of surprise for wrestling events.

💡WWE Returns

WWE returns refer to the unexpected reappearance of wrestlers in WWE events after a period of absence. The video's theme revolves around these surprise returns, which are a significant part of WWE's narrative strategy to engage and excite fans.

💡Thunderdome

The Thunderdome is a virtual environment created by WWE for hosting wrestling events during the COVID-19 pandemic, where no physical audience is present. The script mentions the 2021 Royal Rumble taking place in the Thunderdome, where the lack of a live audience was thought to limit the possibility of surprise returns.

💡Christian

Christian is a former professional wrestler who was a surprise entrant in the 2021 Royal Rumble. His return was a genuine surprise to fans as he had seemingly retired, and his inclusion in the event is an example of WWE successfully keeping a return secret.

💡Carito

Carito, also known as Carlito, is a professional wrestler who made a surprise return at the 2023 Backlash event. His return was unexpected and was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, leading to a full-time return contract offer from WWE.

💡Nia Jax

Nia Jax is a professional wrestler whose return to WWE was kept a secret, as mentioned in the script in relation to the 2023 Roar event. The successful secrecy surrounding her return is highlighted as an achievement for WWE, given the difficulty of keeping such information confidential.

💡John Cena

John Cena is a prominent WWE wrestler known for his surprise returns, as illustrated in the script with his appearances at the 2021 and 2023 Money in the Bank events. His returns are significant as they consistently manage to surprise the audience, despite the prevalence of social media.

💡Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is a professional wrestler whose unexpected return at SummerSlam 2021 is highlighted in the script. His return was a shock to fans, as there were no prior indications or rumors of his comeback, and it set the stage for a major feud in WWE.

💡The Rock

The Rock, also known as Dwayne Johnson, is a retired professional wrestler and actor. His surprise appearance as the guest host for WrestleMania 27 is mentioned in the script as a moment of great excitement and a successful surprise by WWE.

💡Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is a WWE wrestler who took a hiatus during the pandemic but made a surprise return at SummerSlam 2020. His return was effectively kept secret, aligning with the event's tagline 'you'll never see it coming,' and is an example of WWE's ability to maintain surprise elements.

💡The Hardy Boyz

The Hardy Boyz, consisting of Matt and Jeff Hardy, are professional wrestlers known for their surprise return at WrestleMania 33. Their return was a significant moment that generated a massive crowd reaction, and the script notes the clever use of social media to keep their return a secret.

💡Shane McMahon

Shane McMahon is a professional wrestler and businessman who made a dramatic return to WWE programming in 2016. His return was completely unexpected, as detailed in the script, and it marked a significant moment that built towards a major WrestleMania event.

💡Edge

Edge is a Hall of Famer and professional wrestler who was thought to have retired due to injury. However, his surprise return at the 2020 Royal Rumble is highlighted in the script as an emotional and significant moment, showcasing WWE's efforts to keep his comeback a secret.

Highlights

WWE faces challenges in keeping wrestler returns secret due to social media and digital news leaks.

WWE successfully managed surprise returns despite the prevalence of leaks.

Christian's unexpected return at the 2021 Royal Rumble after apparent retirement.

Christian found out about his return only a few days before the event.

Carito's surprise return at the 2023 Backlash event in Puerto Rico, leading to a full-time contract offer.

Nia Jax's top-secret return on Smackdown, kept under wraps despite weekly show schedules.

John Cena's surprise returns at both the 2021 and 2023 Money in the Bank events.

Brock Lesnar's unexpected return at SummerSlam 2021, setting the stage for a top feud.

The Rock's 2011 Raw return as the host of WrestleMania 27, a moment he describes as his greatest.

Roman Reigns' surprise return at SummerSlam 2020 after stepping back due to pandemic concerns.

The Hardy Boys' shock return at WrestleMania 33, using social media to mislead fans about their location.

Shane McMahon's dramatic return on Raw in 2016, kept secret for a storyline leading to WrestleMania 32.

Edge's emotional return at the 2020 Royal Rumble after being told he could never wrestle again.

WWE's extreme measures to prevent Edge's return from leaking, including a private ring setup.

A call to action for fans to comment on their favorite surprise return.