WWE SummerSlam is WWE’s second biggest show of the year, behind only WrestleMania in prestige and importance. Like Mania, the Biggest Party of the Summer has also become a two-night spectacle. Given the significance of the event, WWE pulls out all the stops.
Returns have become a staple in the last decade, and fans can expect a few this year, too. These comebacks have done more than add shock value. In many cases, they set the tone for WWE’s fall season and lay the foundation for important storylines in the last quarter of the year.
Considering the sheer number of returns in the last decade, it’s worth noting a few honorable mentions:
- Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai surprise the world at SummerSlam 2022
- The Demon shocks the world at SummerSlam 2018
- Brock Lesnar returns at SummerSlam 2019
On that note, let’s take a look back at 5 of the top returns at the Biggest Party of the Summer in the last decade.
#5. Edge Spears Elias at SummerSlam 2019: Kickoff
In April 2011, Edge announced his retirement from in-ring competition and relinquished the World Heavyweight Championship. Lingering neck issues brought his career to a premature end. Over the next several years, the Canadian legend would make sporadic appearances, but he never got physical.
However, that changed on the SummerSlam 2019: Kickoff show. Elias was doing his usual shtick, trying to annoy Toronto to the best of his abilities. We could sense an interruption, but few expected the Rated R Superstar to come out to shut down Elias. Toronto was ecstatic to see their hometown hero.
Shockingly, Edge got physical and Speared Elias. This was the first time fans had seen him engage in physicality in a decade. The Spear fueled speculation of a massive return to the ring. Fortunately, as many had hoped, the Hall of Famer made his surprise comeback in the 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
#4. Brock Lesnar Ruins John Cena’s Final SummerSlam Appearance
This one is a controversial pick, but fans cannot deny the shock value of this moment. In January 2024, Brock Lesnar had been implicated in the Janet Grant lawsuit and was immediately pulled from all creative plans. By all means, it felt as if Lesnar’s WWE career was finished.
Fans couldn’t have been more wrong. John Cena had wrestled a five-star classic against Cody Rhodes. He may have lost the WWE Championship, but MetLife Stadium was showering the Champ with immense love in his final SummerSlam outing. Unfortunately, the night ended on a sour note for Cena.
Brock Lesnar’s music hit to a raucous ovation. The Beast Incarnate stepped into the ring for the first time in two years. He F5ed Cena before leaving the squared circle. Given the circumstances, it was a controversial move, but no one saw it coming.
#3. Roman Reigns Makes His First Appearance After His Massive Loss at WrestleMania 40
WrestleMania XL: Night Two was WWE’s Endgame, and Roman Reigns was Thanos in this scenario. Reigns’ empire collapsed as his historic run of dominance came to a crashing halt at the Show of Shows. After the loss, the Tribal Chief drifted away from the spotlight, and his future remained uncertain.
In his absence, Solo Sikoa took over the reins and created a new Bloodline. He put a target on Cody Rhodes’ back, and a Bloodline Rules match was scheduled for SummerSlam 2024. Although the match wasn’t a complete dud, it is mostly remembered for its ending, which saw Roman Reigns return.
Reigns came back with a new theme song. He also added a fresh touch to his character, becoming the OTC. For the first time in 4 years, he was a babyface on the chase. His return at SummerSlam 2024 was noteworthy for several reasons, as it began his redemption arc and planted the seeds for the Bloodline civil war.
#2. Becky Lynch Stuns Bianca Belair at SummerSlam 2021
In May 2020, Becky Lynch announced her pregnancy and vacated the RAW Women’s Championship. The Man was away to become a mother. While that was certainly heartwarming news for the wrestling world, it also put a question mark on Lynch’s future as a WWE Superstar.
The Man remained away from the spotlight for more than a year as she built a family in silence. Then, SummerSlam 2021 came around. Bianca Belair was set to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks, but Banks wasn’t cleared to wrestle. It appeared as if Carmella would challenge Belair, but WWE had a massive surprise.
Lynch, who had been away for a year and a half, returned to a thunderous ovation. The Man made quick work of Belair to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship. In addition to the sheer shock value, this return was also significant as it laid the foundation for “Big Time Becks.”
#1. The Tribal Chief Arrives to Wreck Everyone
The pandemic era was a difficult time for WWE. There were no live crowds in attendance, morale was at an all-time low, and several top stars weren’t available. Due to his past bouts with leukemia, Roman Reigns dropped out of his match with Goldberg at WrestleMania 36. Reigns was gone for an undisclosed period.
His status was uncertain, and it felt as if he wouldn’t be back before the crowds returned. However, WWE and Reigns had other plans. At SummerSlam 2020, Reigns made a shocking return and destroyed The Fiend and Braun Strowman. The interesting bit was the obvious change in demeanor.
The Big Dog was gone, and the Tribal Chief had arrived. Reigns aligned himself with Paul Heyman and quickly won the Universal Championship. The rest, as they say, is history. The Bloodline was born, and Reigns spearheaded one of the most successful storylines of the modern era.
