Surprise returns are a sure-fire way to get a huge pop from the wrestling audience, especially at WWE WrestleMania. Whether it be a wrestler returning from injury, coming back from another company, or the debut of a new face, returns are one of the best feelings in wrestling. Hearing that music hit evokes a visceral reaction from the audience as they leap out of their seats to welcome the wrestler coming through the curtain.
The concept of a surprise return has been used many times throughout WrestleMania’s history. Big money matches are the biggest drawing point, but the possibility of a surprise return is always at the back of everyone’s mind. These returns get a massive pop, and we witness a triumphant return that no one saw coming.
In 41 years, WrestleMania has hosted the greatest returns the world has ever seen. Returns that helped to define WrestleMania and created buzz amongst the wrestling world. Below, we will look at the best of these surprise returns.
The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania 8)
There are a lot of negatives that can be drawn out of WrestleMania 8’s main event. Hulk Hogan taking on Sid Justice was a flat-out bad choice and match. The WWE Championship match should have closed the show, with Hogan and Justice stinking out the place. It was a boring match that had a terrible finish, including a botched run-in by Papa Shango. Luckily, WWE was able to pull a rabbit out of their hat with one of the greatest returns in WrestleMania history.
When those familiar guitar strums hit the loudspeakers in the Hoosier Dome, the crowd went ballistic. No one had thought in a million years that Hulk Hogan’s former rival would be rushing to his aid. Seeing the Ultimate Warrior run down the aisle was a sight no one could have predicted, and it nearly saved what a lackluster main event was.
