4. Shawn Michaels Returns... As A Co-Leader Of The NWO
After four years out with a broken back, few people expected Shawn Michaels to return as a wrestler to WWE. Even less people imagined his return would be as the co-leader of the NWO. Not only had he never worked for WCW, but he'd also showed no signs of wanting to return to WWE. He'd done a few gigs for the company here and there since retiring in 1998, but most people genuinely believed he was done as a wrestler. The truth had been that he could have probably returned as soon as 1999, and it was a case of simply not wanting to. His 2002 return was a shock. Kevin Nash announced him as the NWO's member, and Jim Ross on commentary called "Sometimes these announcements fall a little short, but not this one!" Indeed, it was huge, but history has slightly forgotten it, owing to the fact the NWO disbanded quickly afterwards and Michaels' return was re-scripted as a heroic babyface run.
