16 Best WWE Debuts And Returns Of 2018

3. Daniel Bryan

Even though he was an on-screen character for much of the past two years, it had been nearly three years since Daniel Bryan’s last match when he returned at WrestleMania 34. He was forced into retirement due to injuries, and it didn’t look like he would ever emerge.

Instead, Bryan not only came back, but he managed to close out 2018 by reinventing himself and winning the WWE Championship in the process. He went from being the leader of the Yes! Movement to a no-nonsense critic of consumerism, turning his nose up at everything he disagrees with, calling fans “fickle” constantly.

Bryan won the world title in November, then hung with Brock Lesnar in a surprisingly good match. His new character has started to click and he seems positioned to be in a great spot heading into 2019.