10 WWE Wrestlers Whose Second Run Eclipsed Their First

News that WWE doctors have given the green light for Daniel Bryan to return to the ring has got the whole wrestling world talking. After such a stellar first run, including four World Title victories, fans are understandably eager to see what he might accomplish in round two.

Expectations here, however, must be realistic. Bryan has been cleared to compete, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be pursuing a full-time schedule of the kind he was working before. Given his injury history, it's likely that the company will insist on something more along the lines of Brock Lesnar (at least initially).

Then again, we were saying the same thing 16 years ago when Shawn Michaels, whose prospects of returning to WWE competition at one point looked similarly bleak, was preparing to get back in his wrestling gear after more than four years on the shelf - and we all know how that turned out.

The point is that, while most of Vince McMahon's wrestlers hit their peak during their first run, many of them go on to eclipse their achievements the second time around.

We're not saying D-Bry will definitely be one of them - just that there is a whole lot of precedent...

R-Truth's first WWE run was so forgettable that many fans have forgotten that it happened altogether, but we've video evidence that it did. Between 2000 and 2002, he portrayed K-Kwik, mostly appearing on C-shows like Heat and Jakked.

After getting his marching orders, Truth went off to work for TNA, where he remained for nearly five years, capturing the NWA World Heavyweight Championship twice before his main event spot was taken by the likes of Christian and Kurt Angle.

He returned to WWE in 2008 a far more experienced competitor, this time establishing the gimmick we all know and love by entering the ring through the crowd, encouraging fans to join him in a communal rap song.

Under Vince McMahon's employ, he's never quite managed to reach the promised land, but - for a short spell in 2011 - he briefly flirted with a run at John Cena and the WWE Title, something that imaginary friend Little Jimmy must have been absolutely elated with.