15 WWE Returns That IMMEDIATELY Backfired

15. Bob Backlund (2000)

Would be President of the United States (remember that?!) Bob Backlund became a perennial Royal Rumble surprise throughout the 1990s. He showed up in the match between 1993-1996, then returned at the start of the new millennium in 2000. That one off wasn't what it seemed. The WWF planned to bring Bobby back as a manager for Kurt Angle, which actually didn't seem like a bad idea.

It flopped. Hard.

Kurt has told a story via his podcast about Backlund forgetting they were live on Raw when shooting a backstage skit. This happened shortly after they'd been shunted together as a mentor and protege double act. According to Angle, Bob was a little too "over the top" and erratic during skits, but it was his character breaking moment on the flagship that tipped producers over the edge.

Bob was supposed to put somebody in a submission, but they were sitting down. So, he turned to Kurt and asked if the dude was supposed to be standing or not. This real life bewilderment caused Angle to turn and stare at a WWF writer who was standing off screen. He was a rookie, so he didn't know what to do, and he couldn't believe that a true veteran like Backlund could be so clumsy.

It was a mistake, but a costly one. The promotion decided to go in a different direction with Kurt and take Bob off TV. Oops. So much for high hopes that the celebrated former World Champ would help take Angle to the next level. He got there himself anyway.