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Post by BØRNS on Jan 16, 2021 6:43:52 GMT -5
Cross-pollination is one of the things that always keeps wrestling exciting, fresh, and unpredictable. We've seen people like Drew McIntyre, Christian, and Bobby Lashley (to name a few) leave the company for several years and return to WWE to extend their careers by writing new chapters we never expected. Which former WWE talent who are currently in AEW do you expect to return first? Many probably don't want/plan to go back at the moment, but it is bound to happen. Surely WWE will try to recruit back some of their well-known names - who do you think will be among the first to come back? *Forgot to include Dash and Dawson of the Revival in the poll, feel free to discuss them by commenting.
(Please keep this thread up and here on the WWE page. There's such little discussion as it is and it'd be nice to get the thoughts of longtime WWE fans about this, as it's about the wrestlers' time and potential future back in WWE.)
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Post by BØRNS on Jan 16, 2021 6:59:06 GMT -5
I'll start out by saying I see WWE paying big money for Dean Ambrose to come back once his contract is expired. WWE loves the Shield, and with Reigns as the top face of the company for the next decade, it'd be worth the pay and awkwardness to have Ambrose back for some high profile matches with a reunited shield, or triple-threat match at WrestleMania. Of course, they could use Ambrose in other ways, too, but these are the obvious ones. Ambrose is still only 35 and as he gets older, he may find himself wanting to work more of the methodical WWE style later on in his career.
I'll go on a limb and go with Rusev for another one to come back. Even though WWE did all they could to stamp out his connection with the fans, he would undeniably get a huge pop if he came back. Also 35 years old, he likely still has several good years left in his career. I can see him back to be promoted as a main-event contender for titles like Bobby Lashley was when he returned after WM 34. I could also see him return to be repackaged into something new, or bring back his Russian/Bulgarian heel heat (after turning on the fans, of course).
I know most of the former WWE guys in AEW are bitter toward the company and have been vocal about their complaints, but almost anything has been proven to be forgivable by WWE if it can boost ratings or draw in cash.
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Post by Stuart? on Jan 16, 2021 7:00:57 GMT -5
I can't see any of them leaving, but most likely Matt Hardy to retire together with Jeff and to accept a HOF induction down the line.
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Rocky Balboa
Main Eventer
Down bad for Rhea Ripley
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Post by Rocky Balboa on Jan 16, 2021 7:33:20 GMT -5
Matt Hardy 100%
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celflessness
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Post by celflessness on Jan 16, 2021 8:30:52 GMT -5
I'm guessing Archer & Bourne would be the least bitter.
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Post by tylerbreezee on Jan 16, 2021 8:52:13 GMT -5
If Vince were to step down from controlling creative, I could see Ambrose returning to close his career in WWE
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Post by cordless2016 on Jan 16, 2021 9:24:42 GMT -5
Hardy 100%.
I went with Bourne as #2 just because I don’t really see the others wanting or needing to go back, especially Ambrose. He’s said multiple times he has all the money he’d ever need and was miserable under WWE’s creative (and that micromanaging by the WWE likely won’t stop even after Vince is gone). Maybe a one off appearance for the HOF as a member of the shield years later but I feel Ambrose is in the Punk camp where he just doesn’t need the WWE anymore.
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Post by McBlake on Jan 16, 2021 9:49:10 GMT -5
Can't see WWE wanting any of them any time soon, likewise I doubt any of them are planning on a return any time soon.
Hardy is the obvious one, but considering how little interest there would be in most of the others from either side, I could see Jericho being one of the first to go back to be inducted into the HOF.
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Post by kennyw86v2 on Jan 16, 2021 10:33:53 GMT -5
Just let me get AJ Lee back
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Post by Nivro™ on Jan 16, 2021 10:51:55 GMT -5
The mostly likely would be Rusev just because his wife is still there. Especially once traveling starts up again. Guys like Jericho, Goldust & Hardy wont come back in any sort of full time wrestling capacity, maybe a Hall induction one day but at their age they're closer to retirement than a "last run". I cant see Cody coming back until if/when AEW closes its doors or gets sold to someone else (ala TNA) then I could see him making a jump but even then if/when that happens Cody is 35 now, he could be on the end of his career as well.
Moxley is in the same boat at Rhodes but even then I wonder how many bridges he's burned, if he has since his release.
The rest, there's really no money to be made with any of those guys so I cant see them getting back to the E at all.
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Post by Yambag Jones on Jan 16, 2021 11:07:33 GMT -5
Matt Hardy
That said, I hope VKM takes Jack Swagger back YESTERDAY.
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Post by Evil Abed on Jan 16, 2021 11:19:08 GMT -5
Thing is with some of these guys they clearly enjoy just wrestling more than the spotlight of WWE. Guys like Neville, Archer, Bourne, and Beretta could wrestle on AEW and the Indies for the rest of their careers.
Goldust and Cody are way too invested in AEW to make a return to WWE, so until something happens to AEW those two wont be back. Which is a shame because Goldust deserves a HOF induction.
Swagger could prob finish out between AEW and MMA
Ambrose isn’t coming back I feel after all the things he said about WWE upon exit.
The only ones I could see returning at some point (and for nothing more than an appearance or HOF induction at this point in their careers) would be Jericho and Hardy, Jericho’s contract is up next year isn’t it?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 11:53:08 GMT -5
None? Like literally zero.
Jericho -- Absolutely would, because he's going to follow the money trail, however he'll make more money through AEW on his side ventures. He couldn't do things like the Jericho Cruise in WWE, and I suspect he's got enough side hustles that he's well out earning anything more he could make through his WWE downside. I don't think he has any particular loyalty to AEW or hatred for WWE, I just think he's 100% about the money, and he'll make more overall through AEW, even if* he could get a higher offer from WWE.
Cody -- Fat chance in hell, I don't even need to explain this one.
Moxley -- Mox was leaving with or without AEW. He wanted out even if wrestling didn't exist anywhere else. He doesn't give a flying rats ass about money, and he's happier than ever now. No way he's ever going back. He'll retire with AEW.
Sydal -- I mean, I don't think he'd had any reason not to, but he's getting up there in his career, I kinda think this AEW run is gonna be his curtain call personally. There's no real reason for WWE to want him back either. He's just a guy in AEW, and would be just a guy there too. He's an awesome "just a guy" but he's not exactly drawing power in either company right now. Not worth a bidding war.
Dustin -- He's running a wrestling school and working with his brother and sister in-law. Does a TON behind the scenes for the women's division in terms of in ring training. He literally cancelled in-ring retirement because he was having too much fun in AEW. He'd go do his HOF appearance but not for anything else.
Hager -- Why would they want him? He'd go back if he could still do his MMA, but why on earth would they want to pay for him? He's not worth it.
Hardy -- I don't think his wife would let him lol. Again, HOF appearance but he's much happier in his current position, and has been pretty outspoken about the stories they've done with Jeff. It's better for Jeff this way too.
PAC -- Again, I really hope I don't have to explain why the guy who willingly sat out over a year of a contract long before AEW isn't coming back.
Rusev -- If he becomes available to WWE again, it's because he failed to get over in AEW. Why on earth would they take him back then?
Beretta -- Beretta was on the top 5 list of the EVP's for guys they wanted in their company. They aren't letting him go.
Archer -- Literally said "Even if I were to never wrestle another AEW match again, this would still be my favourite place to work and I'd never leave". I'm paraphrasing slightly, but the sentiment is 100% correct.
Cash/Dax -- Don't need to be in the poll, they ain't going back.
I think there will absolutely be guys from AEW to head over to WWE (I freaking love Penelope Ford, but I would not be remotely surprised to see her and Kip in NXT within the next year and a half). This list though, isn't the guys. Very different situations than Lashley, McIntyre, etc.
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Post by Next Man’s Knowing Rock on Jan 16, 2021 13:46:11 GMT -5
I would have said Jericho, but he’s become enough of a liability now that even if he were to leave AEW tomorrow, I couldn’t see him back in WWE until the pandemic is under control and until he’s gotten himself in shape or at least cleaned up his act a bit.
Matt Hardy will definitely be back, but I doubt he’ll wrestle again. I’d be surprised if he could even get cleared to wrestle by doctors.
In terms of actual active wrestler returns, I’d probably go with the Revival. The long-awaited feud and match with the Young Bucks was badly blown, and since then they’ve done nothing of note. They’re in pretty much the same position they were in in the big leagues. They haven’t overdone the Fed Bad routine on podcasts/socials since leaving either, which suggests they’re being mindful to not burn the bridge.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 13:58:13 GMT -5
I would have said Jericho, but he’s become enough of a liability now that even if he were to leave AEW tomorrow, I couldn’t see him back in WWE until the pandemic is under control and until he’s gotten himself in shape or at least cleaned up his act a bit. Matt Hardy will definitely be back, but I doubt he’ll wrestle again. I’d be surprised if he could even get cleared to wrestle by doctors. In terms of actual active wrestler returns, I’d probably go with the Revival. The long-awaited feud and match with the Young Bucks was badly blown, and since then they’ve done nothing of note. They’re in pretty much the same position they were in in the big leagues. They haven’t overdone the Fed Bad routine on podcasts/socials since leaving either, which suggests they’re being mindful to not burn the bridge. , ain't that the truth. Like holy crap. Yeah they have been 100% super professional every step of the way in terms of that. The question I think is would WWE even want them back? Similar to Rusev, if they leave AEW it's because they failed to get over there. (They did sign 3 year contracts so they still have a long time left in AEW). If they couldn't get over in the company that gave them everything they wanted and said they deserved (true creative freedom over their characters) over 3 years, why would WWE want them back? I suppose if they asked for a release they could end up back, but if they actually run out their contracts and don't get them renewed, I don't see the incentive for WWE to actually take them back.
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Post by Sizzle on Jan 16, 2021 13:58:40 GMT -5
Sydal and Hardy seem the most likely to me. Sydal I feel could be a guy that comes back to NXT briefly or something eventually but I don’t see it happening. Hardy is probably to retire before a HOF induction.
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Post by Next Man’s Knowing Rock on Jan 16, 2021 14:35:13 GMT -5
, ain't that the truth. Like holy crap. Yeah they have been 100% super professional every step of the way in terms of that. The question I think is would WWE even want them back? Similar to Rusev, if they leave AEW it's because they failed to get over there. (They did sign 3 year contracts so they still have a long time left in AEW). If they couldn't get over in the company that gave them everything they wanted and said they deserved (true creative freedom over their characters) over 3 years, why would WWE want them back? I suppose if they asked for a release they could end up back, but if they actually run out their contracts and don't get them renewed, I don't see the incentive for WWE to actually take them back. In the current environment, there’s no value in taking them back. They’re never going to draw money. But at some point, if live events and touring ever goes back to normal, I could see them back as veterans for newer teams to work with. The lower/midcard veteran kind of role that Hardcore Holly, Val Venis, Zack Ryder and co have played over the years.
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Post by greenjack1992 on Jan 16, 2021 15:09:14 GMT -5
Definitely Hardy and Jericho when they each retire and go into the HOF.
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Post by CM Tusk on Jan 16, 2021 15:29:59 GMT -5
Jericho claims he doesn’t care about the Hall Of Fame but I highly doubt he’d pass up a chance for everyone to kiss his ass. He needs the attention.
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Post by k5 on Jan 16, 2021 16:12:22 GMT -5
, ain't that the truth. Like holy crap. Yeah they have been 100% super professional every step of the way in terms of that. The question I think is would WWE even want them back? Similar to Rusev, if they leave AEW it's because they failed to get over there. (They did sign 3 year contracts so they still have a long time left in AEW). If they couldn't get over in the company that gave them everything they wanted and said they deserved (true creative freedom over their characters) over 3 years, why would WWE want them back? I suppose if they asked for a release they could end up back, but if they actually run out their contracts and don't get them renewed, I don't see the incentive for WWE to actually take them back. In the current environment, there’s no value in taking them back. They’re never going to draw money. But at some point, if live events and touring ever goes back to normal, I could see them back as veterans for newer teams to work with. The lower/midcard veteran kind of role that Hardcore Holly, Val Venis, Zack Ryder and co have played over the years. FTR has made it clear that unless WWE took a stronger focus in tag team wrestling then they would not be going back for the same reasons they left. the viewpoint that they've done little since the Bucks match is subjective, but I'm willing to bet being on a winning streak outside of that match, having a mini angle with Lucha Express, being managed by Tully, and being featured regularly takes far more prominence in their mind than taking up Hardcore Holly's sterile spot.
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