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| source// wwe.com |
It’s very rare that you’ll ever see a shock return at a WrestleMania event. Why would WWE risk not selling those remaining tickets in the arena or convince those PPV or Network buys at home, just so they get a deafening pop? It’s not what’s best for business.
The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin made shock returns to help kick off WrestleMania 30, while Roddy Piper came back during Mania 19. Outside of those, you’re really struggling to find a shocking returnee.
We’re less than two weeks away from Mania 32 and the card is really hit and miss. While the likes of Shane/Taker, Lesnar/Ambrose and the Divas’ Triple Threat are nailed on to take the breath away, The Dudleys vs. Usos, Kalisto vs. Ryback and New Day vs. League of Nations aren’t exactly capturing the Universe’s imagination.
There’s every chance WWE could spruce up these matches, or provide a shocking turn for one of the better matches, by having a star from the past make a sensational comeback.
Given the number of injuries that have ripped through the roster, there’s every chance WWE could call upon a couple of familiar faces to plug the gaps… Here are 10 returns that could happen at WrestleMania 32…
10. Luke Gallows
You remember Luke, he was in the Straight Edge Society with CM Punk and Serena, while he was also the gormless Festus and the imposter Kane for a while before that.
Gallows left WWE in 2010 and went on to have notable stints in TNA, and New Japan Pro Wrestling as a member of their Bullet Club.
Gallows and Machine Gun Karl Anderson were one of four NJPW stars to sign with WWE earlier this year, and they’re expected to debut as part of Bullet/Balor Club very soon – with NXT Champion Finn Balor leading from the front.
Imagine the impact the group could make if they were to get involved in the Shane McMahon vs. Undertaker match, winning O’Mac control of RAW after a creative interference.
The mind quite literally boggles at that prospect…
9. Shawn Michaels
You remember Shawn, he’s only Mr WrestleMania for crying out loud!
His is a name that just won’t go away. Seemingly the entire world is predicting that he’ll be making a sensational return at Mania, but nobody seems to know what he’ll be doing.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, two ideas have been pitched to the Heartbreak Kid. One would see him guest referee the main event between Triple H and Roman Reigns, while the other “would see Shawn do a run-in during one of the matches, similar to last year’s DX and nWo run-in during Sting vs. Triple H. Shawn would be part of a group with other WWE Legends doing the run-in.”
The second scenario leaves only a few options that seemingly surround the Undertaker/Shane McMahon match.
It just makes sense for Shawn to get involved this year as Mania is taking place in his home state of Texas… It’s only down the road…
8. Seth Rollins
You remember Seth, he’s the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion who was forced to vacate his belt due to injury in November last year.
Even though The Architect was ruled out of action for anywhere between 6-9 months, he’s already back in the gym getting all types of sweaty as part of his CrossFit programmes.
Even though his return to the gym doesn’t mean that a return to the ring is imminent, it shows that he’s fit enough to perform basic movements. This, perhaps, suggests that he could be well enough to run-in and interfere in one of the biggest matches of the night. I don’t know, maybe in the championship match between Triple H and Roman Reigns, swinging the match in the Authority member’s favour…
That would go down incredibly well with a rabid WWE Universe, who don’t want to see The Big Dog win the big belt on the biggest stage of them all.
Even though the odds are astronomical that Rollins will get involved in Mania, there’s always a chance… WWE may just be that desperate if the boos are as loud as expected.
7. Titus O’Neil
Pressure is growing on Vince McMahon to reverse his decision and revoke the 60 day suspension handed to Titus O’Neil.
Initially handed a 90 day ban, the former Prime Time Player was given his marching orders for grabbing Vince’s arm following Daniel Bryan’s retirement speech last month. Even though it looked like absolutely nothing, the boss thought Titus was unprofessional and ruined what was a special moment.
A #FreeTitus movement is well underway in the WWE Universe, while a host of big names including the likes of Batista and Scott Hall have backed the suspended star during his time away from the ring.
The 60 day suspension mean Titus will be missing a Mania payday that most on the card live for. Many see that as a stretch too far considering how innocuous the arm grab was.
What odds could you get on Titus returning and winning the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal? It would certainly get WrestleMania day itself off to a fantastic start…
6. Daniel Bryan
You remember D Bry, he’s the little goat faced technician who captured the hearts of the entire WWE Universe on the way to gaining the feel good championship win of this decade at WrestleMania 30.
Given the number of appearances Bryan has been removed from – at his own request mind you – and the fact that it looks like his wife Brie is going to be involved in a 10 women tag team match, the chances of Bryan appearing at Mania 32 appear to be very slim indeed.
Why aren’t we getting a singles match between Lana and Brie Bella with Daniel and Rusev in their corners? Surely that would be the better option?
Nevertheless, there’s absolutely no question that he would be welcomed by one of the biggest pops of the night if he was to return. It would surely be a case of WWE finding a suitable role for him to fill.
5. Stone Cold Steve Austin
You remember Steve Austin, he’s that bald, beer drinking, Stone Cold Stunnering Superstar who is the biggest draw in the history of the business.
Austin’s name is in the same camp as Shawn Michaels’. Given that Mania is in his home state, The Texas Rattlesnake has been linked with it in one form or another.
Heck, some even tipped him to get back into the ring at one stage. But that just seemed to be a pipe dream from the start considering his history with neck injuries and the like.
Nevertheless, Steve’s name continues to be linked with the event, but nobody knows what he will be doing.
I expect to hear that famous glass shatter, but I have no idea why… Surely WWE can’t allow a WrestleMania in Texas to pass Stone Cold by?
4. John Cena
You know John, he’s that Fruity Pebble who wins all the time…
Even though he has ruled himself out of an appearance on this year’s Grandest Stage Of Them All at the press conference for next year’s event, you just can’t rule him out.
The proposed plan for this year’s Mania reportedly saw John taking on The Undertaker in the proverbial dream match for any WWE fan. However, shoulder surgery ruled the 15-time World Champion out of competing at the event.
And while he isn’t fit enough to compete in a match, much like Seth Rollins, he is back in the gym and training at least. He should be fit enough for a run-in, for example.
Who knows, WWE could plant the seed for a Taker/Cena bout at Mania 33 by having John cost The Phenom his Hell in a Cell match with Shane McMahon…
You just never know with Bionic John…
3. Goldberg
You know Bill, he’s the badly who won all the time after eating some fireworks on the way to the ring…
Goldberg’s name is another that just won’t go away when WrestleMania 32 is mentioned. Many reported that Vince McMahon had made the former RAW World Heavyweight Champion an offer; an offer he seemingly rejected.
Nevertheless, with less than two weeks to go his name is still in the conversation. You can’t rule him out.
Surely it’s too late for WWE to build a match with the WCW stalwart, but he could make a shock comeback during one of the matches already announced on the card, setting up a headline match at a PPV down the road…
Anyone wondering why Ryback started wearing plain black trunks might be interested here. Surely WWE see a meeting between the clones as an inevitability…
2. Linda McMahon
You know Linda, she’s the faithful wife of Vince McMahon who kicked him square in the buts at Mania X7…
I’m not saying it’s going to be like WrestleMania 2000 all over again, but there’s a chance that we could be left with a WrestleMania 2000 scenario all over again with all four McMahons involved in the business end of a WrestleMania.
For some ungodly reason that always goes over my head, whenever Linda returns she always receives a huge pop, and there’s nothing suggest that anything would be different if she was to return a week on Sunday.
What role she would play is anyone’s guess, and whether she’d be interested is another matter completely.
Nevertheless, she’d seemingly be a popular returnee if she did.
1. Hulk Hogan
You know Hulk Hogan… Yeah… I’m going to stay clear of this one as I don’t want to get involved in any legal processes. But you all know him, right?
Well since Hogan was awarded well over $115 million by Gawker, his name has miraculously returned to WWE television all the more regularly.
Hulk, of course, was banished from the WWE Universe following those racial controversies of last summer. Now they’re out of the way, and Hulk has turned face again, it seems that a return to a WWE ring is bound to happen. The Hulkster ever said that he’d love to punch Vince McMahon in the nose during a brief interview with TMZ earlier this week. Maybe they’ve already held talks.
An unannounced return would blow the roof off AT & T Stadium. There’s absolutely no doubt about it.
Again, it all comes down to what sort of role WWE’s fabled creative teams could come up with…
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