The Most SHOCKING Return In Wrestling History

[@narcolepsyboy94]

Edge might be the greatest return ever for the simple fact he was never suppose to wrestle again like ever.

[@ryananthony3104]

This would get my vote

[@cameroncola]

Yep agreed

[@cerebralassassin2185]

Edge's return was great. It definitely has an argument.

[@stephensandridge3784]

one of the most emotional for sure, especially with the lyrics to his music.

[@triomegazero]

Hadn't been following things for months, watched that rumble and got caught completely unawares. Leap off the couch level surprise.

[@HBKStyles]

I still watch Punk's return. Crazy to think that he made a pitstop at that daycare center and now he's back in the WWE

[@selmonbhoi6091]

Day care center 😂😂😂😂😂

[@JONATHANP1619]

Mine would be HBK in 2002. We can agree it is the best second run in the history of the business.

[@GodsShield]

With the factors even in real life considered I agree!

[@cerebralassassin2185]

Oh 100%

[@spacentime77]

That’s what made me get curious about watching again. I saw the street fight stopped watching and then my uncle had free ppv at the time some years later. And got to see Chris v Angle Royal Rumble that was great and just like that I was back!

[@RyanConnell5150]

Cowboy Babyface Brock Lesnar counts as part of his second run and was better than everything he'd done before.

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

Absolute nonsense that was a work - his ''broken back for 4 years'' he just didn't want to be shuffled down the card as he knew Austin was on fire , Rock was on his way up and he couldnt hang with their popularity If people GENUINELY believe Michaels was ''injured'' for 4 years .... I pity them .

[@SirZapdos]

The Rock in 2011 was pretty awesome. At the time, my wish was that it'd be The Rock, but it had been almost 7 years so I knew it wasn't likely, so I expected Bob Barker, as he had been the best Raw guest host up to that point. But when it was actually was The Rock, it was so great. The tease with the high heel exiting the car, the fizzling lightning, the small delay after, it was done to perfection and the arena came unglued. Another one of my favourites, while not technically a return in the truest sense, was Paul Heyman being revealed as CM Punk's driver in 2012. I also really love the Hardy Boyz returning at WM 33.

[@AkseerKhanFiji]

Edge returning at the Rumble after 9 years is wild.

[@russellmia07]

Edge returing at the rumble was a shocker. Cause he made a few appearances before but not a performer. Hardys returning at WM the one that held in orlando was good too.

[@RyanConnell5150]

Only if you didn't keep up on the dirt sheets. A lot of people were reporting they were done in Impact and thought they were heading back to WWE.

[@dwightyboy5324]

I mean I do remember hearing rumors at the time Edge would come back for the rumble, but I didn't believe them back then. People were making rumors for years about guys like Punk coming back, Omega debuting, a lot of things like that, and I just assumed it would be the same for Edge. However, when that theme music hit, it was super electric for me and I didn't think it'd happen for a second. So Edge coming back might be the best one in my opinion

[@bklynzfranchise]

I was in the Garden that night too! The pop for HHH was insane.

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

No you weren't . The amount of weirdos who lie about stuff like this is ridiculous.

[@omkarkulkarni3943]

How is Edge not even mentioned ?!? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@unrepentantoffender188]

Because it was THEIR personal choices, not yours

[@dale444ify]

Cause it wasn’t that big of a

[@uzi978]

3:00 One small addition to what Sam says about HHH here... he's correct that Hunter hadn't done anything, but leading up to his return the WWE ran multiple video packages showing the quad injury and all the physical therapy he was doing in his rehabilitation. He was definitely shown in a kinder light than the 'evil' HHH, him getting a babyface pop in NYC wasn't completely unexpected at that time.

[@jonpoon3896]

Punk in AEW was big because that was the first return from anything. But him going back to WWE was the most surprising. The Triple H, Edge, Daniel Bryan, Cena ones were health related. So once they were medically cleared, they’d be there. But Punk, because of being fired (on his wedding day), and have public beef with a lot of WWE personnel including Triple H. Punk going back to WWE seemed impossible

[@RyanConnell5150]

Edge was retired from severe neck problems. Bryan came back from concussion issues. NOBODY in the fan base thought Edge would ever be allowed to wrestle again.

[@harleygray5672]

​@@RyanConnell5150people forget that he speared Elias at Summerslam and edge himself put a pic of his boots up like 2 days on instagram, they was signs

[@drewhoughtaling4017]

@@RyanConnell5150 Edge spearing elias at summerslam kinda spoiled the surprise l in hindsight. Cause at that point it wasn’t that far fetched that if he could do a spear he could wrestle

[@SJKIE]

The best return forever is EDGE

[@zhougongjin2704]

Edge went to a company that fired a guy over some fights or insults.. He is so soft.. the opposite of what a wrestler is supposed to be..

[@michaelmendoza6557]

🤘🤘

[@RyanConnell5150]

​@@zhougongjin2704stop commenting this. Nobody cares.

[@zhougongjin2704]

@@RyanConnell5150 real wrestling fans do. Most of the wrestlers today are jokes and suck, like Edge, which is why most of the real fans left. Let's call out these phonies and inspire wrestlers to be better, so wrestling becomes good again

[@Peacemaker-f2s]

For me it's cm punk 😎

[@Epic_egg_MSM]

Not mentioning Edge is a crime

[@hiteshkalhan4499]

The rock in 2011, it felt like he may never appear or wrestle in WWE during a certain time due to his Hollywood career.

[@HiPHOPx87]

Too some... myself. I was waiting for it. I knew it was only a matter of time

[@packergeek10]

Yep. WWE had been so starved for something different at this point. WWE is always better when him or Steve are involved.

[@TheOuttaPocketVarietyShow]

CVV and Sam have phenomenal chemistry but enough differences to make things interesting. They need to form Voltron and make their own podcast imo

[@johnappleseed6210]

The difference between the First Dance and the Survivor Series returns is that most people had an idea that Punk would return by the start of Rampage. NOBODY knew that Punk was returning to WWE.

[@TheAc550]

Eh, people kinda knew Punk would be there eventually. Punk Fired -> Rumors -> WWE TV hints -> Survivor Series -> Chicago. First dance, we’re going off a 7yr hiatus. I myself thought AEW wouldn’t deliver on a punk return.

[@RyanConnell5150]

​@@TheAc550also Punk posted the newly remastered version of the 2007 rerecording of Cult of Personality to his IG story 2 days before Survivor Series. I saw that and knew he was coming back.

[@sleepinggorilla]

I’ll give him props for that. They handled that return beautifully. Didn’t advertise it on TV other than to say “don’t miss this”. Made it the worst kept secret until the moment his music hit. Amazing. I was so happy to see him back. But he can kick rocks for all I care now.

[@_The_Journey]

Love all the amazing interviews you do with the wrestlers but it’s always nice when you do something like this with just 2 wrestling fans talking and being able to enjoy the things that make us fans to begin with

[@nuwanbandara1605]

Edge 2020?

[@watersandblue6001]

0:50 exactly. Supercena was born! Ppl say Cena was already like a topstar when he feuded with Edge but for me the 2008-2014 peak send him over everything. Cena returning at the 08 Rumble was also like mentioned in the Video a legit surprise. Nobody in that building expected him to come out.

[@PhenomenalOne1000]

If the internet was as big as it is today it would have been leaked

[@watersandblue6001]

@PhenomenalOne1000 2016 (Shane's return) proved that returns still can happen without being leaked. The Internet was wayyy bigger in 2016 than in 2008.

[@PhenomenalOne1000]

@ ur literally proving my point

[@cerebralassassin2185]

That pop was massive. Still arguably the loudest pop ever

[@marktv9886]

Stone cold had a non televised return in 2003 after his "walk out" that was pretty insane live

[@blacknoir1832]

Edges was the greatest in my opinion. I always knew Punk was gonna come back sooner or later. Edge was never supposed to return because of his injury. His return at the rumble was so impactful and emotional and I couldn't believe it for a week after

[@harrygreb3457]

Stone Cold against Kevin Owens....i never in a million years thought hed ever wrestle again

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

HAHA

[@nabbo05able]

The Rock returning 7 years later to start his program with Cena. Loudest pop since the Attitude Era

[@robertpalatsky5017]

One underrated return was when we had vanettes leading to Taker's return, then 3 minutes later, HHH came out. It was such a double wammie in the best way.

[@royfrancis2474]

For me it was and always will be Chris Jericho returning in 2007, monday night raw against Randy Orton with the Save us_Y2J vignettes. I was just returning to watch Wwe again after years and saw this. Instantly became his fan till now.

[@DanielDarts82]

Edge always gets forgotten about 😢

[@richardshortway3859]

Couldn’t agree more with the HHH one. Legit still get goosebumps from it, watched it live and up there in longest ovations

[@samtraynor1846]

The Hardy boyz at the 2017 wrestlemania will always be my favorite

[@AVNGD]

I think edge return at royal rumble 2021 or whatevrr it was was fanstastic. Also the hardys at WM 2017 i think. I love surprises like that. And when nothing is leaked.

[@robertpalatsky5017]

I remember in 2011 when Justin Roberts said, "Please welcome the host of WM 27...". You genuinely had no clue who it was, then the lights went down. I thought maybe it'd be Stone Cold, then The Rock's music hit and I was like "No F'ing way"!!! That was awesome.

[@BlackOut0321]

Undertaker returning at Wrestlemania 20 was my favorite. That build up to him coming back and antagonizing Kane for over 2 months was amazing.

[@ajtheking23]

I totally agree just for the simple fact they announced it and it still was big

[@ScubaSteveO1987]

Under rated return, even though it was announced Kurt Angle in 03 after WM 19. I think he was originally supposed to be out for like a year as well.

[@DeanMoxley87]

He's not a wrestler, but the POP Eric Bischoff got for his return at Raw 25 was epic

[@littletom1978]

Nobody will probably think this, but Bruno Sammartino going back to be in Hof. THAT was shocking after the decades of history/bad blood etc...he was the one you really never thought would do anything with them again. Even thought it was Triple H behind it, Vince and Bruno still reunited and shook hands, and that was a site if you followed the businees for decades to know the history leading to that moment

[@Rolo555]

Ultimate Warrior at WM 8. No internet back then. So it was a surprise.

[@itsLewisLynch]

4 underrated ones Taker at mania 20 Edge at the rumble Rock saving foley from la resistance Kane against un Americans

[@DukesMusic84]

For me, Punk coming back to WWE was IT. I posted something about it on Tiktok and it blew up, all my tweets about it got thousands of views. THAT was a MOMENT no one fully believed would happen.

[@bradburke8232]

4:05 "It's so loud. Sometimes I just watch it back just to hear the crowd reaction" A. Kurt Angle had a dope return like that too in 2003 and he had never been a babyface in his entire career up to that point. B. Chris's "crowd reaction" comment applies the same for me to one moment but it wasn't a return. It was when Austin's music hit (he ran down to interfere) the night Mankind beat The Rock on RAW for the WWF title. Loudest crowd reaction in wrestling history imo.

[@RyanConnell5150]

That's me with Punk's AEW debut and WWE return.

[@zlinedavid]

Angle was a face during the invasion at times.

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

There was very little actual out and out ''babyfaces'' during the attitude era . The Rock was probably the only one - the rest were somewhat anti heroes who people loved to cheer

[@krectus]

Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 8 is still probably the biggest return as some people had thought he had died.

[@MwizeraUwizera]

I thought Punk would go to AEW at some point, but I never expected him to patch things up with WWE. That was a huge shock for me

[@cijmo]

I don't really know how something that was so public/forecast be 'shocking'. The only one that I think that went with no foreshadowing was the time Cena showed up in the UK (last year? Year before?). Otherwise, it had been the talk of the internet for months before it so you were 95% expecting them to be there.

[@Nothereman9999]

HBK in 02 and Edge in 20 take the cake as they werent supposed to come back, there was no indication they were even thinking of trying to come back so when it happened, it was completely out of left field.

[@willjohnboy]

Bret hart returns on raw first time in a wwe ring since survivor series 1997

[@Uncle_n00b]

I was there for HHHs real return the night before in Binghamton. He wore the same outfit and got almost the same loud response. I'm never heard a few thousand people make that much noise. It was awesome.

[@RyanConnell5150]

I knew something was up with Punk and Survivor Series because it was in Chicago and 2 days prior he posted the remastered 2007 Cult of Personality to his IG story.

[@christopherbennett4325]

NWO at NWO Jericho coming back after the countdown Cena RR Cody at 38 Hardys returning at WM Punk to WWE HHH in the Garden Edge in the Rumble nobody had a clue Rock as host of Mania

[@HhHh-dn4cy]

Edge return was literally leaked like a month before so people knew

[@HayabusaRyu]

Cody's return was really big for me because I always believed he was gonna be like Omega and the Bucks and stay with AEW until the wheels fell off but when he returned it was so awesome

[@IAmBruceBrown]

technically CM Punk return to WWE was a show call WWE Backstage

[@JpDaKing]

That was years ago and it wasnt a wrestling return

[@9Tick5]

Aj styles entrance in the royal rumble was one of my favorite wrestling moments of all time!

[@scottmcginn2169]

Punk's return at AEW was massive because it was the sudden realisation that AEW was a player. Yeah, they had done well; they had talent, but it was all talent looking for a home. Punk, as far as we knew, had no desire to work in wrestling anymore. Yeah, there have been rumours since that he had been putting out feelers to WWE but was getting rebuffed by Vince. However, most of us thought he was done. Now, that's not taking into account the end result of his signing and what would come, but at that moment, AEW had made a massive move.

[@jacobkarr5180]

The only answer is Edge

[@Pattyomcshaunessey]

Rolled up like a shutter? What a man's man

[@cerebralassassin2185]

The greatest returns ever are punk 2023 survivor series/aew 2021 return, triple h returning at the garden, cena returning in the 08 rumble, and edge's 2019 rumble return.

[@mohsinalam7865]

Sam is a true coniessuer. Man truly understands depth and layering with all aspects of storytelling.

[@adamburke4738]

Edge 2020, Punk 2023, Orton 2023, Lesnar 2021, Bray Wyatt 2022

[@KegOfMeat]

Best return of all time is Edge in 2020.

[@tylerblair318]

Punk returning to wrestling in AEW is by far the biggest return. It's not even close. Edge at Rumble was huge too. Those are the two biggest, nothing else even comes close because every other one was inevitable. Bryan's isn't as big because they stupidly confirmed it before the show.

[@zhougongjin2704]

Edge went to a company that fired a guy over some fights or insults.. he is so soft.. the opposite of what a wrestler is supposed to be..

[@jamm1055]

What’s aew?

[@stevenbryant8160]

Honestly I understand that and not mad it but I feel cm punk WWE return was better because I never thought it would happen imo

[@hobbs12cats]

CM Punk going to AEW was BIG

[@dionius4549]

It wasnt stupid, it's called marketing

[@stephensandridge3784]

Eh, my "the world is settling to normal" in terms of coming out of the pandemic was Wrestlemania of that year, so I didn't feel that attached emotionally at all with Punk debuting in AEW (in regards to coming out of the pandemic). I will say though with the way he LEFT AEW, I thought it was even less likely Punk would wrestle again - so his reaction showing up in WWE does it for me.

[@CVVCLIPS]

At WrestleMania that year, I was sitting next to cardboard cutouts. It certainly didn’t feel normal at all lol

[@stephensandridge3784]

@@CVVCLIPS Wow, they did a pretty great job of conveying it through TV then! (Thanks for the response! Genuinely a fan of your content)

[@AkseerKhanFiji]

Lesnar returning in 2012 doesn't get enough credit as well.

[@donator90]

I remember watching that triple h return at msg live. I was never a trips fan until that moment.

[@blake7799]

I’m bias because I was in the arena but punk at survivor series was absolutely electric ⚡️

[@iliftweight]

Cody , Punk and Edge return to WWE was god tier.

[@wcthree420]

CVV, I think you are the Sam whisperer. Normally I find Sam a big cringy but in this interview I see his love for the business without the weirdness!

[@jaybou007]

Triple H in January 2002 has to be up there. It was perfect, in the most iconic arena in the world, even setting a feud with Angle in the process. Undertaker at WM XX was also a moment to remember (much more than his unsolicited political opinions). Punk at Survivor Series is an obvious one. Edge at Royal Rumble. And I also loved the Dudleyz coming back to destroy heel New Day.

[@knightshousegames]

It's interesting how Edge and Punk's returns were like bookends for Lockdown Edge's return feels like it happened in a totally different lifetime, but it was the last full audience PPV before lockdown, while Punk's return was at one of the first full audience shows for AEW. Both of them felt impossible, but I think Punk's was totally on a different level. Punk wasn't retired, it was more like he was Simba in exile, and this was the rightful king returning. Him and Danielson were supposed to be the Rock and Austin of their era, and were artificially held back, and now they were somewhere that, at least in theory, they wouldn't have restrictions and could be exactly who they wanted to be. It was also a moment that, at least for a time, lent AEW itself a ton of legitimacy, since they had who was unquestionably one of the biggest stars in the business on their show, while WWE was absolutely at it's worst point due to late stage Vince booking. For YEARS after Punk left, any time there was a show anywhere in the Chicago area, every wrestling channel on KZbin would be like "CM PUNK RETURNING!?!?!" and every wrestling fan was SURE this was the time, and it never was. We were just at a point where it FINALLY felt like it was never gonna happen, I was even a little cynical about it when I heard about The First Dance because I had heard this rumor so many times since he left, but this time it felt different. And this time it actually happened. It really did make AEW feel like the place where impossible dreams could come true.... For Edge, it felt like we had kinda made peace with his retirement. He got to retire on top of the mountain having just won a world title, he was allowed to make a full retirement speech, and we were able to just accept that he was gone, he wasn't just abruptly taken away from us the way Punk was, so when he came back, it was a genuinely pleasant surprise, but at the same time the WWE he was coming back to was not going to be somewhere where he would have any chance to have any real success, because it felt like nobody could at the time.

[@ShaloomKhokhar-l8d]

John Cena return at Royal rumble was pure masterpiece 😎

[@sgwh2002]

The 2.21.11 returns of Undertaker and HHH should get more love.

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

No , no it shouldn't as WWE kept trolling the fans after Sting rejected them . That was classic Vince ''ahhhh lets just go with it and give them HHH'''

[@phale-fi2fo]

CM punks AEW return was the biggest in history. I have been watching wrestling for 40 years

[@loscaradevergara]

El mejor regreso es el del Undertaker..como el American Badass...cambio de personaje totalmente..y la siguio rompiendo toda..

[@igorpodemski9596]

Most shocking: Edge returns at Royal Rumble Best return: Stone Cold at Raw April 1st 1999 [ still the biggest pop of all time ]

[@javierrosario6723]

My list are Triple h in Madison Square garden Cm punk in aew The rock in 2011 John Cena at the royal rumble Brock lesnar Edge at the royal rumble

[@clintonmerchant6868]

Surprised u guys did not mention the hardy boyz return at wrestlemania 33

[@kjo2130]

Edge return was insane. I’m not even a big edge fan and that got me in the feels lol

[@pktheapprentice]

Edge's return was the best was so emotional he had his career taken from him and wasnt expecting it at all

[@ManeeVaughn]

Top 3: 1. Edge at the RR (2020) 2. CM Punk in AEW (2021) 3. Hardys at Wrestlemania 33 (2017)

[@levisamom5069]

For my top 3 it's 3. Edge (RR 2020) 2. Cm punk (SS 2023) 1. Cm punk (AEW 2021)

[@Sneednfeedn]

The Deadman persona coming back at mania 20

[@miamisoja]

Honestly I'm okay with the last match being a triple threat match with Randy Orton versus John Cena versus CM punk world heavyweight title match CM punk goes over

[@RyanConnell5150]

That match doesn't need to have a title involved unless Cena is holding it by then after winning his 17th just to take Flair off the top co-spot.

[@miamisoja]

​@@RyanConnell5150 I would rather put the title in Cena earlier so his title reign mean something then have him drop the belt at mania

[@GrampsGaming216]

Man, you wanna talk about a good ass loaded question. There's so many that I like on top of tons that others like. Cody at Mania Brocks 1st return Taker against Orton

[@vikdaddy]

1. HBK 2. Hulk Hogan 3. CM Punk 4. Cody Rhodes = 5. Edge / Daniel Bryan

[@TripleR6000]

cm punk returning in wwe was bigger than aew

[@doshi066]

His aew return was louder and was even longer

[@levisamom5069]

Nah his aew return was one of the biggest return moments in wrestling history... Not only the entrance itself which felt like a long lost hero coming back but also the promo was emotional

[@ganglabesh]

tatanka in mid 00s was pretty shoking lol

[@TheSmackShow]

Edge 2020 The Rock 2011 The Rock 2024 (twice) Cody 2022 Undertaker 2012 Cena 2021

[@lylaznboi01]

Cody Rhodes returning to WWE was definitely the start of the turning point of WWE getting popular again. I think the most shocking return would be Edge. He was forced to retire due to a major neck injury only to find out nine years later that he is cleared to return to the ring all by pure accident. He didn't need to come back, but he wanted to. There were speculations of him returning where Edge tried to squish it as soon as possible.

[@Fishbone0826]

Punk easily then edge then triple h

[@jandrekincannon2085]

The Rock 11 Edge 20 Brock 12 Shane 16 Roman 24 Hhh 02 Cena 08 Punk 23 Wwe top returns imo

[@carguy29-oo5wq]

While Cody's return to WWE was huge, i think the only thing that sucked was that just about everybody knew Cody was the one returning that night so nobody was really that much surprised, while with Punk nobody even knew he was going to return we just hoped, and lol Punk did not return until the very last min the show ended, and than with Edge he wasnt even supposed to be in a ring competing ever again So I'd say Edge has to be the greatest return ever. And I'll put Punk's in 2nd place

[@rickyDakid89]

when kane returned in 2002 to confront The UnAmericans

[@markc266]

Kane in 2000. Go back and watch it the pop is nuts

[@dionius4549]

Biggest returns: Punk in AEW Punk in WWE Edge 2020 John Cena 2008 Triple H 2002 Cody Rhodes 2022 Steve Austin 2022

[@Ray_Petree]

CM Punk’s return in 2021 is an easy number 1. The pop was so loud you couldn’t even hear the music.

[@shubhafpr8577]

Bret Hart returning to WWE was a holy shit moment only because of the history

[@abhishekbabuji6099]

CM Punk >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Edge > Brock Lesnar/Cena/Triple H

[@hadhoda12345]

It's Punk to AEW. I get goosebumps every single time I watch it. The butterfly effect it caused on the entire wrestling business can't be understated.

[@CB-vx9yp]

Cody returning isn’t the start of this era in my opinion. I feel like Roman going heel is the start of this era.

[@gibbo3163]

Cody at 38 was amazing

[@devanvieira9174]

Edge was definitely the greatest because it was the most emotional, he was never ever supposed to wrestle again.

[@damonjank1530]

The fact Edges return wasn’t mentioned pisses me off.

[@carn5haun343]

The greatest return was: Its...Christian....

[@ritchierich2793]

Supercena over CM punk returned its more of injury and fast recovery.. edit: triple H is returned is really underated..

[@1nstantClassic]

I was not shocked when Shane came back. I legit said out loud 30 secs before he came out that "Shane McMahon is about to come out" my friends went nuts when his music hit and I stood there with a smirk

[@DeaconX7]

Same (minus the friends part). That whole segment before Shane came out i thought oh this smells so much like a Shane return, something is up here.

[@defiantking7777]

It’s Cody. Started a new company that was competition Elevated himself to a height he never could reach if he never left Was able to bring the gimmick over WWE could have really tried to bury him in his run It’s Cody

[@CraigWeir-q5v]

You clearly don't understand the discussion. Also , Cody cry babies don't count.