{"id":156566,"date":"2026-04-02T07:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T11:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=156566"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:04:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:04:24","slug":"greatest-returns-in-wwe-wrestlemania-history-thus-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/04\/02\/greatest-returns-in-wwe-wrestlemania-history-thus-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Greatest Returns In WWE WrestleMania History, Thus Far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Surprise returns are a sure-fire way to get a huge pop from the wrestling audience, especially at WWE WrestleMania<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

The concept of a surprise return has been used many times throughout WrestleMania\u2019s history. Big money matches are the biggest drawing point, but the possibility of a surprise return is always at the back of everyone\u2019s mind. These returns get a massive pop, and we witness a triumphant return that no one saw coming.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania 8)<\/h2>\n

There are a lot of negatives that can be drawn out of WrestleMania 8\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, and Steve Austin (WrestleMania 32)<\/h2>\n

The League of Nations was a great, albeit poorly named heel stable. Consisting of Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Rusev, and Alberto Del Rio, they received some great heat when they squashed the New Day. The length of the match wasn\u2019t indicative of what the teams could do, but it was post-match when the fireworks began. The heels were mid-promo, stating their dominance over all things WWE, when some familiar music hit to the roar of the crowd.<\/p>\n

HBK<\/a>, Mick Foley, and Steve Austin took exception to the League of Nations and decided it was time to put a foot in their mouths. Only having one of these legends return to answer the call would have been a great moment, but witnessing three of WWE\u2019s past greats making a return was fantastic. The pops got louder as the men made their way out and gave us the WrestleMania moments that we so crave.<\/p>\n

Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania 21)<\/h2>\n

WWE loves to work great in-ring segments at WrestleMania. They have produced some fantastic moments, perhaps none greater than the return of Hulkamania at WrestleMania 21.<\/p>\n

While mega heel Muhammad Hassan was dressing down and eventually beating down crowd favorite Eugene, the world needed a hero. Someone was going to come down to Eugene\u2019s aid, and the audience was rewarded with the best possible scenario when Real American came blasting through the arena.<\/p>\n

Hulk Hogan had just been inducted into WWE\u2019s Hall of Fame, and having him return was the perfect nostalgic-fuelled moment that WrestleMania needed. The audience went wild when he came to the ring and ran through his Hulk Hogan schtick. It was a perfect return, hitting all the high notes one would want at WrestleMania.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Undertaker (WrestleMania 20)<\/h2>\n

The Undertaker\u2019s American Badass gimmick was a deviation from his regular gimmick. It had some legs to it and was a staple of WWE for years, but the wrestling world wanted the Deadman back. When Kane intervened in Vince McMahon and The Undertaker\u2019s buried alive match, we saw the writing on the wall. Over the next few months, the sound of a gong followed Kane everywhere he went, leading to a great return at the origin of WrestleMania.<\/p>\n

While Kane waited in the ring, the all-familiar druids came out with torches. The lights in Madison Square Garden dimmed, and the way was lit as the Undertaker’s old music blared through the Garden. When The Undertaker came out dressed in his trademark overcoat and hat, there was no better feeling. The man who had terrorized WWE for years had returned to resume his reign. It was a return that could have only happened at where it all began, again.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 33)<\/h2>\n

Being the hosts of WrestleMania 33 might not have been The New Day’s first choice. They wanted to regain their WWE Tag Team Championships, and when they announced that a fourth team would be added to the triple threat ladder match, we assumed it was The New Day.<\/p>\n

The way the trio began to saunter towards the ring was the perfect bait and switch for when The Hardy Boyz’ music hit, and the brothers made their return to World Wrestling Entertainment.<\/p>\n

The Hardy Boyz had been gone from WWE for years and had great success in other organizations. There wasn\u2019t a huge belief that they would return to WWE, which is why the reaction when they did was so visceral. Every person in Orlando was cheering when Matt and Jeff bounded their way onto the ramp. It was one of the true organic reactions that WWE hopes for when heroes return.<\/p>\n

Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 38)<\/h2>\n

Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE in 2022 was one of the worst-kept secrets in wrestling. When the youngest Rhodes brother left AEW, it was only a matter of time before he would be seen back in WWE. This suspicion was heightened when it was announced that Seth Rollins would be facing a mystery opponent on the Grandest Stage.<\/p>\n

He was the perfect adversary for Rhodes, and everyone knew that Rollins would give the world a classic match for the returning Son of a Son of a Plumber.<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

When the lights went down in AT & T Stadium, the crowd began to buzz, and the buzz grew to a fever pitch when we heard that familiar music. Not only had Cody Rhodes made his way back to WWE, but he brought his entrance music with him. Something that had been tied to him for years and gave him that pop factor that so many desire as they come out. It was an incredible return, and one that sparked a new era for WWE.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Undertaker (WrestleMania 40)<\/h2>\n

Cody Rhodes finishing his story was the driving point behind WrestleMania 40\u2019s Night Two main event. It was the story that had dominated WWE programming for over a year, and it looked as if the story would finally be closed. It was a great match, but one that had the deck stacked against Rhodes, what with Roman Reigns having the Bloodline to do his bidding.<\/p>\n

Other stars like John Cena and Seth Rollins tried to even the odds, but the hill appeared too steep for anyone to climb, until a huge return tipped the scales in Cody Rhodes’ favor.<\/p>\n

The lights went out, the gong hit, and when the lights came back on, the crowd erupted as The Undertaker stood behind The Final Boss. The Deadman shocked the wrestling world by coming back to help Cody Rhodes finish his story. His appearance was a complete shock, and one that put the perfect exclamation point on a great WrestleMania main event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4518,"featured_media":146887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7205,2192,4,3],"tags":[98,583,297,396],"class_list":["post-156566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-cody-rhodes","tag-hardy-boyz","tag-the-undertaker","tag-wrestlemania"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4518"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156566"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156609,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156566\/revisions\/156609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}