WWE Returns That Went Better - And Worse - Than Expected

World Wrestling Entertainment has seen hundreds of notable names come and go throughout the years. While it can be tough to see our favorite names walk away, it turns out that it might not always be for good. In fact, there have been a host of notable comebacks that have seen some huge names return to the ring.

Although many of them have seen wrestlers return to what they do best, some of them haven't gone to plan, so what are the WWE returns that went better - and worse - than expected? It appears the industry hasn't been short of them.

Went better than expected: Cody Rhodes returning to the WWE after time in the AEW

Cody Rhodes enjoyed a tremendous amount of success during his first run in the WWE, but nothing was ever enough to see him take home the world title. Still, a break from the WWE and swapping for a life in the AEW saw great things for Cody, who wowed the crowds when he returned to the ring which gave him his name. Cody's breakout moment came at WrestleMania 38, a match that has long been hailed as one of the greatest of all time. An injury might have paused his reign at the top, but Cody has since returned and been bigger than ever before. 

Went worse than expected: Eva Marie's return didn't close her initial story

Doing well throughout your run in the WWE isn't something every wrestler has achieved. Still, it's something Eva Marie enjoyed for years as a part of Total Divas, with the brand split giving even more to her story. Eva's real-life actions of using the WWE as a stepping stone worked well with her always getting out of matches, and she had a huge fanbase. Sadly, she walked away from the industry before her story ran its full course. When Eva returned, many hoped things would pick up where they were, but sadly it didn't go to plan. Her character was quickly used less and less until she was let go from the WWE for good.

Went better than expected: An injury gave John Cena time to gain more fans

Although he's one of the better-known faces of the WWE, things didn't initially go to plan for John Cena. Younger fans seemed to love him, but Cena struggled to win over the older fans, who were tired of him always coming out victorious. Ultimately, a torn pectoral muscle meant that Cena was going to be out for almost a year, and he sadly missed WrestleMania. While it could have been time for him to walk away, Cena returned in 2008 - much sooner than expected - and won the Royal Rumble as a result. 

Went worse than expected: Aleister Black's character was arguably never developed fully

Being a part of the main roster was supposed to see Aleister Black become a huge name in the WWE. Sadly, many argued that they never developed his character, and he was often overlooked. In 2021, the industry started airing reruns of his matches, and they gained plenty of attention as all eyes were on Black as they anticipated his return. Unfortunately, his character still didn't go anywhere. In fact, he only made it through one run and was let go after weeks of build-up that Black was coming back to the WWE to dominate the ring.

Went better than expected: Stone Cold was forced to retire for a time following an injury

Sometimes, things go wrong. That was the case for Stone Cold, who was unexpectedly injured by Owen Hart in a Piledriver gone wrong. His shortened career meant Stone Cold had to leave the WWE a few years later and was away from the sport for two decades. It was rumored that he was set to return for WrestleMania 38, but many worried his age and time away meant Stone Cold would never be able to live up to his former glory. Thankfully, it turned around as soon as Stone Cold was back to doing what he did best: beating any competition who stood in his way. 

Went worse than expected: Emmalina quickly returned to Emma

It's not every day that someone is named as a person who helps propel women in the world of the WWE. Amazingly, that's precisely what Emma did during her initial run in the ring and often showcased that she was one of the more versatile characters. Sadly, leaving the WWE for a time and returning to the ring as Emmalina was enough to see things go from strange to unexpected. The industry spent weeks showing a huge amount of promotional footage from her original run and was excited to see the birth of Emmalina. The twist? The WWE realized it was the wrong turn, so announced her return as Emma instead during the opening night.

The WWE returns that went well - and the ones that didn't - show that just because your original run goes one way doesn't mean that things will be the same when you're back in the ring.